Millennials (anyone born between 1982 and 2000) make up for more than 83.1 million of the population in the United States- successfully outnumbering baby boomers who make up around 75.4 million. In the United States, millennial outnumber baby boomers on a large scale and take up about a quarter of the population.

Now let's narrow this down even more. Another fun fact: 0.5% of the population serves in the Armed Forces of America. Compared to the era of World War II which held 12% of the population joining, we as America have decreased the amount of citizens joining our Armed Forces.

Now let's focus on an even smaller group of those people: The military spouses that stand behind the 0.5% that join. These millennials, some as young as 17, are watching those they adore step foot into a whole new world. They get swept into the military lifestyle and are introduced to a whole new battle themselves.

Society today is filled with endless Facebook posts about how love "should" be. Everyone around them is a part of this society that craves constant contact, instant messaging, and a 24/7 reassurance of feelings. Everywhere they look among social media, school, or other public places there are people constantly displaying PDA. So what happens when this society you once were a part of isn't the one you're in now?

Millennials everywhere are constantly fighting a battle of society and their values. The millennials are facing a battle all within itself with the new age of what relationships are “meant” be. They can’t scroll through Facebook without seeing a text post saying “When bae hasn’t messaged you in 5 minutes. ):” and instantly being mad that the generation that they are in is so accustomed to this world of constant contact. They are facing their own war against their norms; they’ve resorted back to love letters and cherishing each and every moment with their loves. They’re adapting to this sacred style and “out-dated” love that just is not what society sees.

So while their closest friends rant endlessly about how their significant other treats them poorly, or when they complain that they haven't been messaged in five minutes, or even that they don't respond fast enough it kind of creates a sense of detachment to their peers. They simply can't relate.

Millennial military spouses adapt to a new way of life. They adapt to a life where every single moment with the person they love is cherished and appreciated, no matter what is happening. They no longer look at letters as a nuisance, but a daily routine to make sure that the ones they love know that they are loved. They no longer crave the attention their society says they need to crave. They become these independent, willing, strong people who are going against the norms of today's millennial society.

In a world of showcasing every high and every low all over social media, millennials have been held back because they realize that now, what they post about their significant others can be seen as a threat to them if they post too much. (Seriously, look up OPSEC.) They can't tell the world certain things that they want to broadcast like their peers can. From being able to post anything as they please online to now being censored to protect their loved ones, it's a major culture change.

Millennial military spouses are fighting a battle of their own. They're fighting a battle against their societies. When the world demands instant messaging, they're waiting for their next letter in the mail. When the world posts endless detailed status's, they're checking to make sure no landmarks or dates or names are in their photo/status. When the world is complaining about not seeing their significant other, they're watching the countdown on the calendar count down the months until they see theirs. In a world that glorifies a "new" era of love, they're falling in love with the "old out-dated" era of letters and appreciation.

So while some of society glorifies the strong military love, it's a lot harder than people think.