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    Living on Base as a New Military Spouse

    Life as a new military spouse is an adjustment. Not only are you adapting to marriage and the regular challenges that come with that, but you're also learning a completely different way of life from the civilian lifestyle you were most likely raised in.

    One of the variables that will affect your military spouse experience is where you live. Where you live in proximity to the military installation will in turn affect who your friends will be, how involved you are, and how you feel overall about your new military life.

     

     

    We've discussed on this blog the pros and cons of on base housing vs. living off base in Military Housing vs. Living Off Base: Making the Decision. Now let's discuss some expectations of life on base as a new military spouse!

    Living on base for the first time?

    Pros of Living on Base

    Base living as a new military spouse will give you a crash course on military life. Very quickly, you will learn not to drive over the base speed limit, that you need to pull your car over during Retreat, and that alarming sounds just mean that service members are at work.

    When we lived in military housing at Pensacola NAS, I would feel startled every time the Blue Angels flew overhead and rattled our whole house. Eventually, I learned their routine and avoided making calls or watching TV during that time.The noises seem alarming initially, but once you learn the new normal, you can tune them out.

    Living on base also places you in the heart of the community. You live close to your spouse’s work, the commissary, exchange, gym, and organizations where you may be interested in volunteering or working. 

    Cons of Living on Base

    It's possible that you'll feel disconnected from the civilian life you once had. As convenient as it is, living where you shop, exercise, and socialize gives you few reasons to exit the front gate.

    You may have to put in even more effort to maintain friendships with people outside the gate. My husband and I lived on base within the first year of his active duty service. When I found a job off base, I struggled to find anything to talk about besides his career and military life. Civilians unattached to service members don’t understand and, quite frankly, most do not care. That doesn’t mean that you won’t make wonderful civilian friends over the course of your spouse’s career, it just means that you might have to work a little harder to create that initial bond.

    Manage Your Expectations

    Expect to learn a lot, have little privacy, and make the most of every situation. You're going to run into service members of every rank, and one morning you will wake up and know all ranks by heart. You and your spouse will learn to be on your best behavior!

    Even though my husband was a student while we lived in Pensacola, we lived in military housing next door to the base Company Commander (CO) and Executive Officer (XO), and the Blue Angels CO and XO. While we had our own space, we found it extremely important to be sensitive to our neighbors. This is obviously no different than living in an apartment off base, except that your neighbors on base might be your spouse’s superiors.

    The Culture of On-Base Living

     Living on base is similar to living in a small town. Everyone appears to know everyone and your neighbors are the same people you volunteer and attend events with. Wherever you go, you'll run into people you know. It's wonderful if you're looking to get further involved and immersed in the military community.

    It takes little effort be a part of your military community while living on base. I appreciated this fact because I desired to be in the middle of everything when I was first introduced to the military lifestyle. I wanted to learn everything there was to know and build relationships with every spouse I met. Just a few years down the road, I still stand by this.  When we've lived off base, it took more effort to stay involved.

    Regardless of where you live as a new military spouse, you will make wonderful memories. You'll make friends, learn new things about your new community, and likely travel a lot. Living on base is a wonderful way to get involved and learn about your new lifestyle. 

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    Living on base as a new military spouse

     

    Danielle Keech

    Author

    Danielle Keech

    Danielle Keech is a writer and content creator for MilitaryByOwner Advertising. She writes on military life topics, highlights clients’ open houses on social media, and manages the Military PCS Facebook group. She especially enjoys covering financial topics and helping military families exercise financial responsibility and plan for the future. Danielle has been a Marine Corps spouse for ten years (and counting!) and is a momma to four littles and one fur baby. She and her pilot spouse have lived in Virginia, Florida, Texas, California, Hawaii, and, most recently, Okinawa, Japan. And yes, you guessed it, Hawaii is her favorite duty station to date! Find MilitaryByOwner's Millitary PCS group here.

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