Inside the

Military life is not for the weak. However, I must enjoy being a military spouse somewhat. This is my second marriage to a member of the service. I knew what it was all about and what it entailed, yet I did it again. No complaints here. Well…maybe just a small one.

My first marriage was to a man in the Navy. He wasn’t in the part of the Navy that went out on ships; he was a Seabee. He was part of a Naval Construction Battalion. The Seabees’ job was to build and repair whatever the military needed and go wherever they were needed and go wherever they were needed to do it. It could be stateside; it could be overseas. I will have to say that having a Seabee in the family can be pretty handy. You basically have your own carpenter, electrician, or mechanic right there, ready to put those skills to use.

During that adventure, I had taken some time off from college to really just figure out what in the world I really wanted to do for the rest of my life. I only changed my major three times during my four years in college, so clearly I had it all figured out.

I worked for a while until we received orders to move to Pensacola, Florida. A couple of months after buying a house and having my first son, the entire unit was moved to Key West. So terrible; I know.

But this was the first time I had moved far away from my family—and not only was I moving away, but I was taking my parents’ first grandchild. We went home when we could to visit, and of course, they came to visit us, too.

Those two transfers put a tiny wrinkle in any plans I had to get a good job right away or go back to college. I eventually found a job I loved working in the personnel office at the Navy Exchange on base. We lived in base housing, which was a blessing because living anywhere off base was pretty pricey. I had a great job, good friends, and everything seemed to be just moving along nicely.

But guess what happened?

Yep! We got orders to move again.

This time, Sicily.

Obviously, this move was going to be much harder and much more emotional since this time we had to cross an ocean. Once again, I left my friends, my family, and my job behind.

The move would delay any chance I had of going back to school or finding another job I enjoyed. It also meant starting over socially again. There were some very lonely days.

I eventually got a job after fighting for it through a military spouse clause the Navy Exchange had for its employees. I was finally placed in the same type of position I held in Key West, but it was completely different because the Navy Exchange employed both Americans and Italians, which could get a little complicated. I can’t say I really enjoyed myself in that position anyway.

Eventually, I moved to accounting, and that turned out to be much more fun because I worked with a girl named Tracy. She had me cracking up laughing all day long. We are Facebook friends now, of course, so it is nice to see how her life after Sicily turned out. She looks like she is doing well.

Next, we moved back to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, the place where we had met. Now, I could finally see my family whenever I wanted. We had another baby boy, and I did finally go back to college and graduate with a bachelor’s degree in education.

I finally had a career, too.

We did not stay married long after we moved back to Gulfport, Mississippi. Maybe two years or so. It’s not something I need to keep track of anymore. As far as friendships go during that time, I honestly can’t remember many people from those years.

I taught at the middle school in Pass Christian, Mississippi. This was my very first real teaching position, but it didn’t feel like the beginning of something great. It was not a good experience for me, to say the least.

My next—and longest—teaching position was at a middle school where I first taught 7th-grade ELA and then 8th-grade ELA. This was a time when so many friendships and memories were made. I loved teaching at that school in Gautier, which was a nice distance away from that other middle school.

Many years later, another child, a marriage—which we will not speak of—and a divorce later, I met my current husband.

And guess what?

He is an Air Force man.

What are the chances?

Well, living on the coast, the chances were actually pretty good.

Sooo…we got married and were almost immediately given orders to San Antonio.

Here we go again.

This time, though, I had spent 10 years at the same school. Leaving was different. Breaking away from those friendships was hard. Knowing I wouldn’t be there to see any more of my former students graduate was heartbreaking.

There were a lot of tears shed over this move. I wasn’t just leaving my school home. I was leaving my family again and starting over once more.

It took me a while to get my teaching license taken care of so I could teach in Texas, but it finally happened. I worked as a substitute and a day tutor for quite a while until a position opened at my daughter’s elementary school.

Eventually, it did.

I taught 1st grade until COVID rocked everyone’s world. I had the privilege of teaching those first-graders for almost two years before we got our next set of orders.

That move hit me hard, too. There were so many incredible people I worked with who had become my friends.

We didn’t know it at the time, but this would be our last military move.

We were headed to Little Rock, Arkansas.

Since moving to Arkansas in 2021, I have worked at two elementary schools. I spent two years at the first one. My first year was great! My second year was a nightmare in more ways than one.

I pictured myself walking out of that school every single day until I finally did on that very last day of school.

Ironically enough, that was also the day I was offered a position at my current school in Cabot.

I just started my fourth year there.

I began in 3rd grade. Then, the following year, I was moved to 2nd grade, and that is where I found my people.

I can’t picture myself working with a better team, in a better school, or in a better school district.

When I look back at all these moves, schools, jobs, grade levels, and changes, I clearly see how much shifting and adapting comes with living the military life as a spouse. There is so much more involved, of course. This is only one small—but important part of being a military spouse.

Don’t get me wrong here. I’m not complaining at all. I knew what I was signing up for both times. I don’t regret the experiences or the people I met along the way. I have taken so much knowledge with me from each place I have been. I have gotten experience in so many different grade levels, which helped me find the perfect fit. I have learned from so many people and carried those experiences into each new classroom.

Because of the many military moves, I believe the experiences shaped me into the teacher I am today.

I haven’t even discussed the sacrifices military children have to make on this journey, too. But…that’s a story for another day.

Top left to the right: Pass Christian Middle School (Pass Christian, MS) trailers for a while after Hurricane Katrina, Gautier Middle School (Gautier, MS), Edmund Lieke Elementary School (San Antonio, TX)

Bottom left to right: Bobby G. Lester Elementary (Jacksonville, AR), Magness Creek Elementary (Cabot, AR)