When you marry a service member, you’ll likely find yourself taking on new roles, adapting to changing schedules, learning different ways of doing things and developing creative ways to compromise. The adjustments become much easier if you have the right information and helpful resources at your fingertips.

Here are a few ways to make the adjustment to military life as smooth as possible:

Understand the lingo.

You might be wondering what those stripes and bars are on your spouse’s uniform. Those symbols represent rank — the higher the rank, the more responsibility. Having a working knowledge of ranks in the military and how to greet each rank can make you feel more at home in a military family. We provide guidance on what all the military insignia means, so that you feel more confident and part of the gang.

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Connect to the community.

Joining a community of military spouses provides a place where you can ask questions, offers support and allows you to make lifelong friends. There are many opportunities to build your network of friends and fellow military spouses, including at your installation’s Family Readiness Group, the Spouse Ambassador Network and through Blog Brigade.

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Strengthen your marriage.

Keeping a military marriage strong requires a different skill set than a civilian marriage. Deployments and frequent relocations can add stress. Here are a few ways to strengthen your marriage bond: free, confidential relationship counseling through Military OneSource; marriage enrichment programs offered by each military service branch; and Love Every Day, a fun, interactive mobile solution that prompts you and your partner via text to connect in new ways.

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Manage a marriage with two service members.

When you and your spouse are service members, the dual military life can be a challenge. Trying to stay connected while juggling the demands of two hectic careers can strain even the best relationships. Give yourself a leg up by learning techniques to help you balance work and family life and develop strategies for dealing with aspects of military life.

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