Posted on Jan 4, 2016
What has been your greatest blessing and greatest challenge in being a military family?
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Military families are unique. I believe they are some of the most resilient people in America. What about you? What has been the biggest blessing in your military family? (Hey, I'm a Chaplain. I can ask that question!) What has been your biggest challenge? (i can ask that, too.)
Posted in these groups: 
56A: Command and Unit Chaplain
Military Family
56A: Command and Unit Chaplain Military Family
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 14
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Coming home to a wife who wanted out after 15+ years.
It very nearly killed me.
My new challenge is being a single father in the military. It is difficult, to be sure, doing this alone. But it has brought me closer to my children and so far it isn't more than I can handle.
It very nearly killed me.
My new challenge is being a single father in the military. It is difficult, to be sure, doing this alone. But it has brought me closer to my children and so far it isn't more than I can handle.
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1SG (Join to see)
Capt Seid Waddell - don't I know it.
Tough day yesterday... there is a reason God intended two parents.
Tough day yesterday... there is a reason God intended two parents.
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Capt Seid Waddell
1SG (Join to see), the one thing I have noticed in my life is that when God kicks me through a door and slams it behind me He always opens another door in front of me that leads to a better place than I had been in before. You may well find another even more special wife just ahead when you least expect it.
All we can do is to do the best we know how and to trust in Him to lead us and to provide for our needs.
God Bless.
All we can do is to do the best we know how and to trust in Him to lead us and to provide for our needs.
God Bless.
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CH (MAJ) William Beaver
I am sorry she wanted out and hate it for your kids. Let's just say I do know what that is like. I also know there is hope after that. Met the RIGHT person here four years later
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Greatest Blessing: Meeting my wife and still being with her after 12 years. Also getting the opportunity of being a platoon sergeant and squad leader for some of America's finest.
Greatest Challenge: Missing almost the first five years of my daughters life. Between deployments, field, NTCs, JRTCs, gunnery, and multiple other Army excursions; by the time she was 5 I had only been around for a total of a year at best.
Greatest Challenge: Missing almost the first five years of my daughters life. Between deployments, field, NTCs, JRTCs, gunnery, and multiple other Army excursions; by the time she was 5 I had only been around for a total of a year at best.
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... the greatest blessing .... is my wife still wanted me .... for now. My son is old enough to recognize while I start wearing my NWU ... he know I will be disappearing ...
biggest challenge is to keep the family together ... even with the thought of without me ...
biggest challenge is to keep the family together ... even with the thought of without me ...
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Spent 19 years as a single Airman and Soldier. 6 deployments. I even waived dwell time for one of the deployments. I heard countless briefings from higher ups that the Army cares about families. I watched Soldiers get sent home from deployments for HS Graduations, Weddings, Births, Spouse Having Cancer, and Deaths. I drank the Army Family Kool-Aid. Here I sit in Afghanistan, my wife due in less than 30 days with our first child. My brigade deployed with about 1/4th of our total unit. I am a UAV Warrant and we didn't deploy with any UAVs. We had a BDE Safety guy (DA Civilian) that couldn't deploy because he was broke. So they picked me out of an entire division filled with able and WILLING people to be a ground safety guy. I used to take pride in the fact that I was always deployable and ready to do. I used to think that when the day came for the Army to let me take a knee so I could take care of my family, they'd do the right thing.
To anyone on the fence about getting in the Army, my advise is to do it only if you plan to stay single. If you are in the Army and trying to decide to stay in or get out, get out unless you plan to stay single. If you conduct yourself in an honorable manner with the hopes that one day the Army will return the favor, let my story be a warning for you. The Army couldn't give two flying ducks about your family. If they had wanted you to have one, they would have issued them to you.
I will say that my opinion is based solely on my experiences. I have been in other units that would have done the right thing. In this particular situation, this current unit really is to blame. If you have a choice in assignments and 10th MTN DIV or any of its subordinate Brigades are on your list, take this warning. 10th MTN DIV does an excellent job of holding up the stereotypes of Infantry, 11B, Meatshields, Knuckledraggers.
If the Air Force had Warrant Officers, I'd be one.
F the A! F O!
To anyone on the fence about getting in the Army, my advise is to do it only if you plan to stay single. If you are in the Army and trying to decide to stay in or get out, get out unless you plan to stay single. If you conduct yourself in an honorable manner with the hopes that one day the Army will return the favor, let my story be a warning for you. The Army couldn't give two flying ducks about your family. If they had wanted you to have one, they would have issued them to you.
I will say that my opinion is based solely on my experiences. I have been in other units that would have done the right thing. In this particular situation, this current unit really is to blame. If you have a choice in assignments and 10th MTN DIV or any of its subordinate Brigades are on your list, take this warning. 10th MTN DIV does an excellent job of holding up the stereotypes of Infantry, 11B, Meatshields, Knuckledraggers.
If the Air Force had Warrant Officers, I'd be one.
F the A! F O!
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CH (MAJ) William Beaver
Brother, you want to get home to be with your wife and baby. Let's say a for instance. For instance, your wife is 'panicking' and 'having complications.' Squeaky wheel gets the grease. For instance you receive an upsetting call or skype from her. For instance you go to the unit Chaplain. Emergency leave might be a possibility, even though you would have to return. But something is better than nothing. Call your wife, brother.
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CW4 (Join to see)
Everyone in my chain of command, chaplains included are aware. She is panicking. She has been seeing a counselor on post since we found out that I was deploying while she's pregnant. I've received emails from her that are quite shocking and upsetting. I've forwarded these emails up the chain. Nothing. I talk to the wife twice daily.
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every duty station and deployment made me stronger as a person and a couple
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My biggest challenge is trying to keep my family together. My husband PCSed to Korea a few months ago and it's looking like our next duty stations won't match up despite being enrolled in the MACP when he gets back. There is one location, if we both get it, that our kids would have to live with my parents for three years or pretty much live with a short term care provider most of the time because of the rotation schedule.
My biggest bonus was meeting my husband. We debate, challenge one another, partner up and butt heads like no other.
My biggest bonus was meeting my husband. We debate, challenge one another, partner up and butt heads like no other.
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The greatest blessing living with my parents is that i have gotten to see the world and i have gotten to see what great things our military is doing to keep america free and getting to learn of the familys big involvment with the military and i hope to continue that. The greatest challenge i have had is when my dad would deploy.It was harder and me and my mom and borther when we were younger but it still is hard to see him leave because we knew it menat he might have to miss more big moments in me and my brothers life.
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I was single when I was in, and I loved the travel and the life. It was not so easy on married men though; three men in my crew in Viet Nam got "Dear John" letters during my tour.
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