active duty?

Kathleen - posted on 02/21/2010

we like it. hubby is AF. Everything is good. Hours change. My hubby while in Misawa, JP worked pretty much 6-2 or 9-5 every day except during an exercise. We live on base as well. Each base is different with housing so please I can't stress enough to visit before you promise to rent on base. Some bases are good some aren't. Yes as everyone has said so far. Dream sheets are just though however depending on what is on there you could get it. My hubby usually changes it every time he's up for a PCS and changes it according to what's avail and in order as he wants it. Where we are now was not at the top of the list but we chose it. You are not really promised anything out of the ordinary so I guess we got everything we were. Our medical is taken care of, we have options for dental. We have housing when we need it. If we're moving they pay for the travel including pets. So as for being at home depends on job. Depends on TDY assignments as well as deployment. Overseas you will have another family. I found MIsawa had a great support with his squadron and activities. I agree with Tesha. It's not easy but it's a good life. Military wives I think sometimes have it the hardest. Not knowing, waiting but the benefits do outweigh the sacrifices we make as well.

Tesha - posted on 01/01/2010

My hubby is an AVS tech and generally works continental shifts. He has done 3 tours of duty in Afghanistan and lots of short trips, training and whatnot. The time that he is away makes me appreciate him all the more when he is home and the time he is away seems to go by fast. He more than makes up for the time that he is away while he is here as he actively helps clean and cook. The spec pay career that he chose has enabled me to stay home with the kids and only work pt. We own our second house and have been lucky enough to have been posted to the same place for 7 years so far. We also purchased a brand new boat in the fall so I'd say life is pretty good!!! The benifits far outweigh the sacrifices as an AF wife in my opinion. It is not easy sometimes but well worth it.

Katherine - posted on 11/15/2009

Ive been a military brat my whole life my Dad was Army and now my hubby is AF.The benefits are good and right now living on base is the best choice for us.Id say our housing is ok but what can you do about that lol.My hubby normally works an 8 hour shift but his flight is critically maned so they are starting to work him a bit more but he gets time off and weekends so it dosent feel like a lot to me ( maybe to him lol).

Michelle - posted on 04/06/2009

Military life is like no other in the world. I have been in for 10 years and it has been great. Schedules depend on what job he gets. I am aircraft maintenance (though I am working in an office right now) and 12s are a common occcurance with TDYs thrown in there for fun. My husband is ops and his hours vary on if he is flying or not (flying is usually from 1000-2300 and non-flying 0800-1700) with many TDYs and deployments. Cops work longer hours, but have more days off with many deployments and office workers work a normal 0800-1600 so it all depends on what he is trying to do. My husband absolutly loves it, but I don't but that is mainly because of my boys. The benefits are great and I can pretty much tell you that you won't find anything better. Like Teyaka said, dream sheets are just wish list and you don't always get your top five or even 10 choices, but I am sure that they do what they can to match you up. It all goes off of if there are openings at the bases you want to go to or if there is even his job there (my job only gives me a choice of 5 bases). My biggest recommendation is not to go off of everything that the recruiter tells him and you and to do some homework. It is a great life, but you can't come in wearing rose colored glasses. If you have more questions, let me know and I will be happy to help if I can--Good luck with what ever you decide

Teyaka - posted on 04/01/2009

First let me say the dream list is just that. A dream. it is possible to get something on your dream list, bust usually that means there is an overseas tour involved, or he's been in for a while. I heard that you could also get something on your dream sheet right before you re enlist, but that is only a rumor.

I love my benifits. The job, its just like a regular job. My hubby works 8 hours and sometimes there are longer shifts invovled. But I love the active duty life.