Support for Military
Quick guidance & answers
If you are marrying someone in the military, you are about to join an elite community of people who have committed to serve their country in a profound and meaningful way. You’re on track to grow stronger and more self-assured and meet remarkable people and lifelong friends.
Make no mistake, military spouses are a vital part of the military itself — your marriage plays a major role in keeping service members happy, healthy and ready to serve.
Below are some things to know as you begin your journey as a military spouse:
There is no military spouse pay or stipend, but the military offers several benefits for military spouses.
After the wedding, visit your nearest military ID card issuing facility to enroll in DEERS, the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System. Once enrolled, spouses can access military benefits, including:
Military spouses have access to the same benefits as their service member, funded by the Department of War.
The military is not a job in the traditional sense. Service members are honor-bound to complete their duty, even when their responsibilities conflict with what’s best for your marriage or family time.
In addition to deployments, service members often are assigned to shift work, unconventional hours, temporary duty stations, training programs and other responsibilities that take them away from home.
Service members often work during important holidays and life events; they may even miss the birth of their children or have to leave very soon after they are born.
Striking a balance between duty and family may be more difficult than a new spouse expects. Remember, it’s not personal, it’s their duty.
The military is full of traditions, protocols and rules; you may have experienced some of these during your wedding. Some military protocols are steeped in tradition and meaning, some are fun, and others keep your service member safe and ready for duty.
Even though you’re married, there are rules about public displays of affection, social media posts, base security, standing for the national anthem and taps, and more. Some examples of these are:
There are also special ceremonies for promotion, branch- or rank-specific rites of passage, and lots of opportunities to show your military pride.
Your personal and professional growth will benefit your marriage. No matter where you are in your career path, support and scholarships are available for military spouses who want to find a job, advance their career or head back to school.
Many military spouses pursue remote or portable careers that can move with them, or they find federal jobs and positions on military bases. If you’re looking for a job, browse the SpouseWorks job board of companies committed to hiring military spouses.
Other programs also offer scholarships and financial help to pay for college, certifications and other trainings. SpouseWorks (formerly Spouse Education and Career Opportunities) is a great resource to learn about your options; log in with your DEERS account to get started.
There are several official resources to help spouses adjust to and understand military life, including:
In addition, there are several unofficial support systems including Facebook groups, meetups and more. Some commands have very developed spouse networks, while others are less active. Either way, you must be proactive if you wish to meet people. Your new spouse will likely be your best resource as you look for ways to join their military community.
Your significant other has already made a major, life-altering commitment — to serve their country. Before your wedding, it’s important to understand some of the ways and available resources to help you embrace marriage, and military life.
As a new military spouse, you will have a lot of questions. From learning military acronyms to taking advantage of the many new benefits available to you, call on Military OneSource for support at 800-342-9647 or log in to start a secure live chat.
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