Our service members make plenty of sacrifices to protect our country, but their spouses often make many sacrifices of their own that go unrecognized by many. Many of our troops wouldn’t be where they are today without the support of their spouses and loved ones.

If you’re a new military spouse, you may not know what to expect or how to navigate the challenges you’ll encounter from being a part of military life. We’ve compiled this guide so you can learn more about what challenges to expect and what steps you can take to overcome these challenges and lead a successful life as a military spouse.

Common Challenges Military Spouses Face

Serving in the military comes with plenty of challenges, but being a military spouse presents challenges of its own that can be hard to manage. Some of these challenges include:

●Frequent relocation, which can disrupt relationships and careers

●Separation from your spouse and loved ones

●Difficult continuing or changing careers

●Feelings of isolation during deployments or relocation

●Lack of a local support network

●Missing out on important events

Many military spouses make sacrifices for the sake of their partner’s career, and their sacrifice should be acknowledged and respected.

Tips for New Military Spouses

If you’re a new military spouse, you might not know what to expect or how to navigate the different challenges you’ll experience while you’re loved one is in the military. We’ve compiled a list of tips to help you prepare for life as a military spouse.

1. Take Advantage of Employment Opportunities

Military spouses often have difficulty maintaining their careers because they have to move every few years when their spouse moves to a new duty station. It can be difficult to hold down a job for long or receive promotions. Just because there are challenges with holding down a career as a military spouse, it doesn’t mean it’s impossible.

You can start by trying to find a remote job in your field. While this isn’t always possible and some remote jobs are hard to come by, they can offer plenty of flexibility and allow you to keep working the same position if and when you have to move.

If you can’t find a remote job, there are many other ways to find employment as a military spouse. You can use websites like Recruit Military, which is an organization that partners with employers to find talent in different career fields. There are many companies that also have hiring preferences for service members and their families, so you can look into working for one of these companies since they’ll be more understanding and accommodating to the struggles you face as a military spouse.

Military spouses also have access to Spouse Education and Career Opportunities (SECO), which is a program through the DoD that offers spouses career guidance and education. You can use this resource to look for educational opportunities, search for jobs, and build a resume. You can also conduct your job search throughUSAJOBS. This site lists federal employment opportunities, and you can find plenty of jobs that give preference to military spouses.

If you’re the entrepreneurial type, you may want to consider starting your own business. You’ll want to weigh the pros and cons of starting a business, including the risk. While starting and owning a business is a great way to find job stability while you’re a military spouse, it’s not the best choice for everyone. Keep in mind that online businesses are generally best for military spouses so they can work remotely.

2. Look Into Childcare Options

Many military families rely on childcare, especially since PCSing often takes military dependents away from their loved ones and support networks. Whether you need just a few hours of childcare a week to handle your responsibilities or full-time childcare to maintain your career, it’s important to analyze your childcare options.

The first thing you need to do is decide what you need or want from your childcare. For example, do you want to use your childcare options on base or look off base? Are you looking for in-home care or do you need specialized care for a child with disabilities?

Once you’ve decided what you need and want, you can start searching for childcare providers that match your needs. You have a few ways of looking for childcare as a military spouse, which include:

●Militarychildcare.com

●Care.com

●Military OneSource

You can use these sites to find information and providers that meet you specific wants and needs, ensuring you’re children have the care they need while your spouse is serving and you’re handling your responsibilities.

3. Establish Powers of Attorney

Having a spouse in the military means you could suddenly be solely responsible for running your entire household if your partner receives orders to deploy. While you may be given notice for your spouse’s deployment, it’s also possible to have as little as 24 hours' notice. You and your partner should set up powers of attorney, which allow the spouse to make decisions and take action on the service member’s behalf.

4. Reach Out to Your Community

You don’t have to go through the challenges of being a military spouse alone. Being a part of the military means you’re automatically part of the military community and support is available to you whenever you need it. For example, if your spouse is deployed and you’re busy with work, other spouses may help you with childcare or cleaning up your home if you reach out to your community.

You can even find support online with social media groups full of spouses of service members. In these groups, you can share tips, ask questions, and look for support when you need it. Additionally, nearly every unit has an enlisted or officers club where you can connect with other spouses, such as the Air and Space Forces Spouses' Club (ASFSC) and Officers' Spouses' Club (OSC). You can find lots of information, tips, connections, and even support through these clubs.

5. Learn How to PCS

If you’re married to someone in the military, it’s likely you’ll receive orders to PCS at some point during your spouse’s career. Moving somewhere new can be exciting but it can also be overwhelming and stressful.

The good news is that we’ve created a guide you can use to successfully PCS. You’ll find plenty of useful tips to help you prepare for your move, such as creating a budget, creating a checklist, and researching your new duty station.

6. Communicate With Your Partner

Your spouse understands that military life is stressful, and you can talk with them if you’re feeling overwhelmed by some of the challenges you’re facing. Being directly involved with the military, your partner can help you find the different resources you need to get help. Having someone to support you through your struggles can also significantly affect how you handle your stress and challenges.

Self-Care for Military Spouses

There’s a lot you can do to adjust to military life as a spouse to help reduce your stress, but it’s still important to make an effort to take care of yourself so you are in the best position to manage your challenges. Some ways you can prioritize self-care include:

●Taking care of your body: It’s important to take care of your physical health so you can adequately care for your mental health. That means getting enough sleep each night, eating healthy, and exercising regularly.

●Establish a routine: It can be easy to lose track of your routine as a military spouse, which can create more stress on top of what you’re already dealing with. Make an effort to maintain your routine, whether it’s keeping up with work, fitness, hobbies, chores, or something else.

●Connect with loved ones: Spending time with friends and family when you can go a long way for your mental health. If you’re separated from your loved ones, you can make new connections with other military spouses and families to find a support network that’s close to you.

●Learn stress management techniques: It’s important to learn how to manage your stress in an effective and healthy way. There are plenty of techniques you can try, including breathing exercises, yoga, meditation, and more. Find a technique that works for you so you can manage your stress as you encounter different challenges.

●Do things you enjoy: Participating in activities or hobbies that you enjoy is important in maintaining your mental health. Continue to engage with your hobbies, whether it’s playing games, going on hikes, painting, journaling, or something else.

Find Gear for You and Your Spouse at Military Luggage Company

Your spouse will need gear to be successful in their career, but you will also need high-quality bags, packs, and cases to help you carry your belongings, whether it’s for work, travel, errands, and more. Regardless of why you need a good bag, Military Luggage Company has you covered. We offer a wide selection of gear, ranging from assault packs and wheeled loadout bags for your spouse to totes and backpacks for your needs. Get started by checking out our complete selection, or contact us today with your questions.