What's the best advice you can give for strengthening military marriages?

Money, Money, Money,

I may not buy happiness but it will buy a HEMI which is close enough.

Agree to hold fast to an "in it to win it" state of mind. A few months ago during drill I heard a MSG tell a young soldier that before he got married to his then-serious girlfriend he needed to have arrangements in place to get out; separate bank accounts, pre-nup, the whole nine yards. If you go in with that attitude, you are doomed from the start, because when the first troubles appear you are popping smoke. Fight for your spouse. Burn the ships, leaving no one to cling to but one another, especially early in your marriage.

Comunication
Comunication
Comunication

Are you a military couple looking to strengthen your relationship? The Strength at Home Program is currently enrolling participants in a free 10-week program. Learn more at http://www.strengthathome.org. Couples may be compensated up to $300/couple.

Remember communication from the beginning is always the key and it helps everything else to fall into place and stay in place!!

Communication and understanding

Communication

You are married to the Military first, the other marriage is your mistress or mister, but know that one marriage will try to kill you or cripple you while the other might break your heart; laugh and enjoy life.

Having been both the military member with a spouse and being the spouse of a military member has given me a bit of insight. The relationships forged so strongly as we serve with our military brothers and sisters give us a family in many ways. We spend all day/night working beside them, with a common language and many things that require no explanation, both home and deployed. Although we technically "wear our uniforms 24/7" when we go home to our spouses and families, we must set much of that aside and build bonds through shared activities, clear communication and a willingness to put your marriage first when you are home. Leave the acronyms at work. Make sure you do the little things even on the tightest budget. Lots of little things trumps one big thing once a year. We all love our buddies but they just got most of your 24 hours. When you are home focus on the one you love and skip the calls to coworkers unless absolutely necessary. Remind each other of shared moments and make more.

What are the best tips for strengthening marriages, based on your personal experience?