What lasting effect has your military career had on your family?

2015-07-28T13:48:10-04:00

Think about your military career, no matter how long or short it was or has been. What lasting effect has your time in uniform had on your immediate family? On your extended family? What would you change, if you could?

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Jul 28 at 2015 1:50 PM

2015-07-28T13:50:33-04:00

While I don't know if it is the only lasting effect, I hope my service and what I have done since, serves as a guide for my kids to follow and to use as a way to understand the importance of serving others.

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Jul 28 at 2015 1:51 PM

2015-07-28T13:51:29-04:00

Learining to work with each other to make things work. To love one another no matter what the problem is. God First, Family Second.

Response by CMSgt Mark Schubert made Jul 28 at 2015 1:54 PM

2015-07-28T13:54:13-04:00

I think it's made them much more patriotic than they would have been otherwise. :-)

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Jul 28 at 2015 1:58 PM

2015-07-28T13:58:41-04:00

CH (MAJ) William Beaver Unfortunately in my case it has had a negative affect. First, I missed a lot of events because of my constant military duties, secondly; I went through a divorce and was separated from children from the time they were 10 and 12 up today. I didn't get to talk with them much even though I tried very hard through deployment and being gone for 18 months. I can say now that I have a great relationship with them at age 22 and 24 and they are both attending college that I paid for myself (their mother didn't attend and wouldn't have sacrifice to get them through college. If I had to change it at all I don't think I would want to. If I said I shouldn't have married their mom in the first place then they wouldn't be here, so I wouldn't change that. I would have tried to find more time to be at special events after the age of 10 and 12, prior to that I was their baseball coach, basketball coach at the Boys and Girls center. I tried to be there for everything, but once the family split and the deployment back to back it all kind of fell apart. We are good now and they coming to spend time with me here in California in August. The good news is that their mother and me get along better now, which is important for the two girls. I have a new stepdaughter now that I'm raising and getting ready for college. Life is good after retirement.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Jul 28 at 2015 2:02 PM

2015-07-28T14:02:59-04:00

CH (MAJ) William Beaver. The long hours away from home and some of the harsh work conditions led only one of my sons to join the Army. In general the values which seem to have stuck with my sons can be attributed to my faith in Christ primarily and my military service secondarily. My sons learned to treat all people with respect and several of them learned to stand up for those unable to defend themselves. They have all been through challenging situations and they seem to have learned that while we may not be responsible for what happens to us or what is said to us we are responsible for how we respond.

Response by SPC Greg K. made Jul 28 at 2015 2:15 PM

2015-07-28T14:15:02-04:00

The Army Values....Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage (LDRSHIP). I've grown up with it from being an Army Brat and from being in the Army myself! These values were passed on to me, I use them today, and I will pass them on to my children....

Response by SGT Christopher Churilla made Jul 28 at 2015 2:27 PM

2015-07-28T14:27:39-04:00

It has made my immediate family much more aware of the military. If a story comes up in the news regarding it, one or more of them will contact me, asking for my opinion on it.

It has also made them more patriotic, particualrly my mother. Whenever she encounters a Servicemember, she will thank them for their service.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 28 at 2015 2:49 PM

2015-07-28T14:49:27-04:00

My son is still very young, so there is still much to see as far as how he will be influenced. To this point, however, my service is the reason for my family! Had I not left my hometown and taken this adventure, I never would've met my husband!

Response by SPC Misti Hornof made Jul 28 at 2015 4:17 PM

2015-07-28T16:17:33-04:00

It has an amazing effect on my family. I really miss putting on my uniform every morning knowing the job I do is part of a big family that forever will be connected. I have two son-in-laws who joined the Army and one still serving at Ft Bliss and the other just got out for medical after having his shoulder tore up. He was also stationed in Ft Bliss. With every place I had served me and my husbands co workers are still in contact and have visited a couple and did a lot of catching up. Days I wish I could go back and take care of my knees better so I could have retired. Proud Veteran and would put on the uniform again if they would let me back in.

Response by MSgt John Grollimund made Jul 28 at 2015 4:53 PM

2015-07-28T16:53:55-04:00

We learned not to sweat the small stuff. Our family became our support circle. My wife and children learned to become self dependent.

Response by COL Charles Williams made Jul 28 at 2015 5:01 PM

2015-07-28T17:01:15-04:00

Hard telling CH (MAJ) William Beaver. Memories, more than we can ever replace or replicate. I joined in 1980, and was married in 83, to a girl I met in HS... we spent 33 years in Army, my kids were born and raised in the Army. My wife works for the Army, as does my daughter, and I still do as well. But, that said, making a family work in the Army takes work, and you need (NEEDD!!!) to make your family a priority. My goal for everyone I ever worked with, was to ensure their family was intact after they hung their boots up. My goals as a leader were always (1) model a balanced lifestyle by personnel example, (2) make a difference everyday, and (3) leave everyone organization better than I found it.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 28 at 2015 11:36 PM

2015-07-28T23:36:08-04:00

Destruction

Unfortunately.

Response by CPT Wayne Douet made Jul 29 at 2015 5:31 PM

2015-07-29T17:31:44-04:00

Unfortunately for me, it has had a negative effect on my family. Approximately 2 years after returning from my 2nd deployment to Iraq, My wife and I separated on valentines day, I was served divorce paperwork on 5 March and The divorce was finalized by 16 June of the same year. I had no clue, did not see it coming, but quickly realized there was nothing left to fight for.
I now struggle to maintain connection with my 2 boys ages 12 and 9 as they have moved back to TX and I am residing in IA. I tried my best to maintain a balance with family and work, but constant in and out, ebb and flow took its toll. I have done well in the military, I have done well in life, all the experiences have made me who I am right here right now...I have no regrets, I would not have changed a thing.

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Oct 15 at 2018 3:23 PM

2018-10-15T15:23:31-04:00

Security.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Mar 24 at 2019 4:06 PM

2019-03-24T16:06:29-04:00

I don't have a sense of "home".