Navy Life Coming to An End

Today is Military Spouse Appreciation Day. I have been a Navy wife for a about 3 years now and I do have a lot of respect for our armed forces, a lot more than I did before we embarked in this adventure. The Navy has been good to us. It helped us feed and clothes our kids. I think I had to pay twenty dollars to have my babies, for that I am grateful. Our time in the navy is coming to an end, in 30-90 days we will no longer be a navy family. Joe was able to get an "early out" and get out of the navy two years early. We chose to get out because Joe knows that the navy isn't in his future and why waste the next two years when he would be done with school by the time he gets out. I do realize that our pay will end and our free health care, housing, and perks will end. But we will be stuck in this same situation in two years. It will be really hard but we have great support from our parents. Joe qualifies for 100% of his G.I. benefits so he will be using the G.I. bill to go to school to become an Air Traffic Controller. The school is a year and a half to two years. The next two years will be hard but I think its the right thing to do for the future of our family.

Thanks Navy, I wont miss you!

In honor of Military appreciation day I am posting a talk from Master Chief Petty officer West.

WASHINGTON (NNS) — Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON)(SS/SW) Rick D. West and his wife, Bobbi, Ombudsman-at-Large, released the following Military Spouse Appreciation Day message to the Fleet May 6.

“Shipmates and families,

Bobbi and I would like to say thank you to all Navy spouses and families for your steadfast support of your Sailor, our great Navy and our nation.

We know that the lives of a Navy spouse and Navy family are unlike any other. The Navy asks for you to give us your husbands, wives, sons and daughters for months at a time. The Navy asks for your support and understanding of weekend duty, deployments, missed holidays and birthdays, and we owe you a huge debt for the sacrifices you make.

Your role in your Sailor’s life and the Navy is vitally important to family readiness and has a direct impact on your Sailor, their job satisfaction, performance and retention. A strong family support structure enables your Sailor to excel both personally and professionally. Our Navy simply would not be the Global Force for Good it is without your contributions.

Communication is key. It’s important that you stay engaged with your Sailor and your Sailor’s command through your ombudsman and family readiness groups, as well as each other. We encourage you to take advantage of the numerous command, and fleet and family support center Web sites available, as well as Facebook pages and other media to stay up-to-date on the issues. Through these channels, you will be better connected to the programs and policies that affect your lives as Navy spouses.

Thank you, spouses and families, for what you do every day and for your continued service and dedication to your Sailor, our Navy and the United States of America.

Very Respectfully,
MCPON and Bobbi”