Military Wives and Families

I can't comment on the Army, but as for the Airforce and being with someone who isn't an officer. They don't do anything. We're pretty much on our own.

In saying that the Officer's wives seem to have more of a group thing going on, especially if they live on Base.
But then a lot of Officer's wives don't work, lucky them.

I have heard Linton can be very clique, and some women will only be-friend you depending on your husbands rank.

They do sometimes offer support when your partner is on overseas deployment, but again this mainly applys to those living at the Camp.

Oh I will be spending a lot of time on here at nights I think - watch that post count climb

Unfortunately the army is the worst out of the joint forces, but still there is support, you just need to look for it.

I can't really comment on what happens in Linton, but if you live in the housing area down here there are fortnightly newsletters that have events being organised in it etc.

The biggest shock for me was that ranks don't end when they walk out of camp at the end of the day. They take them home and if you are a low rank you get treated with no respect. Although when we lived out there we were quite young (I was only 19 at the time) and had no children so it didn't help.

If you rent off the army, it's very cheap (although it is state housing), and if you have your own home you can apply for a DTLS (Defence Transfer Land Subsidy). PM me if you want to know how much etc. I have never heard of a free babysitting service in the army, but they do have a list of cheap babysitters. They usually run coffee groups too.

When hubby goes away, you can contact the DSO (Deployment Services Officer) 24 hours a day with an concerns (like if you hear anything on the news). They will run monthly meetings to catch you up on info and to socialise with other partners of deployed people.

The first time DH went to Afghanistan, we'd only been living together for a few weeks and I really didn't know how to cope. The best thing is to busy yourself with activities with the kids, spending time with friends and family and starting new projects. They pay really well when they are on deployments so there's extra money there to get someone to mow the lawns or look after the kids if you want to use it for that.

It does get a lot easier - the first time away was the hardest for me. DH has been away for over half of our time together, and you may or may not remember that he almost couldn't make it to our wedding and was also supposed to be going back to Timor last week but got pulled from the trip. He'll be away in May/June next year for 6 months.

The good thing with you guys being up north is that their trips overseas are slowing down at the moment (they're being given to our guys) and because Nigel's only starting out, he shouldn't be going overseas for at least a year anyway.

Wow, this was really long, sorry for the massive post! Remember, PM me anytime, it's hard doing the army wife thing. I don't see myself being able to work full-time until our kids are much older due to them sometimes leaving at the drop of a hat and we are the ones that pick up the pieces.

Hi Mikaela

I hope your weekend goes well with P. Wow 2 months, he'll definitely notice a difference.

Wow 2 months he won't regonise him.

We had the induction type meeting today and I learnt a few things. I think the hardest thing going to be for me is that I have 2 young children at home with me (well in daycare), I am going to be studying fulltime and I don't have my parents in the country.

simsam I'm the same as you...5 generations of family in the forces(airforce) but i didnt enjoy the lifesytle(i seem to be the only one) :) both my parents were in it..and my Dad was away a lot..i do agree about rank though we were treated better the further up he got..

It was hard on my Mum but she coped(and did a great job) and fortunately for me they came back from Singapore when they got pregnant with me..and I only had to move 4 times.. but not the lifestyle I wanted for my children..having said that my cousins are in and loving it and for them it is a fantastic lifestyle..so to each their own..:)I think it's just cause I'm a wimp!

you may not have family suport Becks, but you have US!!!! and I can hop over and babysit if you need some time out, or whatever. Am also very good with typing assignments etc.

He's is a littl elucky with the IOT as well as his cousin's hubby is going to be on of the Staff Sergents up there; so he has already told me that I will get extra phone calls home after 10pm just for me. We have a deal - I help him out next year with 1 year of uni if he is nice to Nigel for those first 7 weeks .

He wants to be in the Engineering Corp after he has finished NCC, but it totally depends on if there are spaces for officers there. If he does get in there then we go to Sydney for the 6 months and that time they will take us over there. Just now slowly collecting everything that he has to take up with him.

Hey just lurking

First of all Welcome to Oh Baby!!


Navy wife whereabouts are you in New Zealand? There's bound to be some girls on here that would be keen to meet up with you for company?

Join up to your baby's birth month thread that can be found in the First baby section. There's a great bunch of ladies floating around this site...

So sorry to hear that your partner has had to go away when you baby is so young.