I have the utmost respect for every service member. They sacrifice everything to defend our country. Not only do they put their lives on the line, but they also give up their personal lives. Since my boyfriend has left for basic training, I have developed a new found respect for military wives and girlfriends enduring deployment after deployment. Eight and half weeks have been terrible for me and I can only imagine how hard a year apart would be. During our time apart, I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m not only dating Matt, I’m dating the U.S. Air Force.
1.We work on 3 different schedules.
When life gets hectic, it gets hard juggling two different schedules when trying to plan a date night. In a military relationship, you add in the military’s schedule. The military may say there is a five-month gap when your significant other has to be gone. That may throw a curve ball in planning a date night or a vacation. After the military gives you their schedule, then you can start working around your own personal lives.
2. PDA isn’t a group decision.
Military relationship rule #1: No touching while in uniform. When the Military says no touching, they mean no touching. It’s unprofessional to show any sign of PDA, while they are in uniform, except in reasonable circumstances. These reasonable circumstances include hellos and goodbyes. That’s pretty much it.
3. We’re kind of old fashioned.
In today’s society, most people keep up with their significant other through social media and texting. Well in a military relationship that is not the case. You keep in contact through a couple phone calls and a lot of letters. Yes, getting to hear their voice is great, but that time is mainly used to deal with important details. Letters are how you communicate about your daily lives and everything that has been going on in your world. After writing 50 letters to Matt, I have a new found respect of older generations who wrote letters all the time. They are time consuming, but so worth it when you receive one in return.
4. You learn how to share.
It is a good thing my parents taught me the importance of sharing when I was a child because that is all a military relationship is. You share the most important person to you with not just their military branch, but with the U.S. When they’re away they are giving their time and sometimes their lives for this country. Even though being selfish would be the easiest thing to do, it’s not that hard to share when you see the pride they have in themselves in the work they are doing.
5. No other relationship would be better.
Even through the tears, heartaches, and long periods of silence, there is no other relationship that could even compare. I love the love triangle I am in not because of the uniform or a title. I love my love triangle because of the person I am in it with. The military has given my boyfriend a new sense of self pride and provided him with more opportunities. I am so proud of the person he has grown into and I am so happy to see where this crazy love triangle takes us.
