21 Reasons To Be Thankful for Military Life

November is usually the time of year when people consider all they have to be thankful for. We begin to express our gratitude for the important people in our lives and all the things that make our lives enjoyable. With all the ups and downs that come with military life, we sometimes need to take a step back to find the positive, and this time of year is the perfect time to do it. When taking a deeper look, there are plenty of reasons to be thankful for military life and this journey we’re on that civilian life simply can’t provide.

Here are 21 reasons to be thankful for military life:

1. The spouses who seek to help their communities.

They do this in so many ways, but a few include: Building up Family Readiness Groups that bring people together to do good work for service members and the community; ensuring barracks service members return home from a deployment to a bed already made up with clean sheets; supporting low-income families with a box containing all the fixings for a Thanksgiving and Christmas meal; and welcoming new babies with a free bag of essentials or a few nice gifts.

2. The opportunity to live around the country. 

From New England, to Hawaii, and everywhere in between, these are places you might not otherwise choose to live, let alone visit. Plus, you can use them as a home base to discover regions rather than just the state in which you reside, however temporary. 

3. The opportunity to live around the world. 

From major hubs like Germany, all the way around the globe to tropical islands like Kwajalein, there are plenty of places to get stationed. While it can be scary when the opportunity first arises, please, snatch it with both hands and enjoy the ride. Which brings me to the next point…

4. The chance to travel to amazing places you might not otherwise see. 

There is no shortage of travel opportunities to popular tourist destinations or little gems off the beaten path. Even better, you can often save money than if you didn’t have the military to help you get closer.

5. An opportunity to be apart from our service members.

In addition to allowing us to not take them for granted during the times we do have them, separation helps us understand our own growth. Everything can quickly change with a deployment, so it’s always important to understand and be grateful for what we have.

6. The brave souls who agree to be our “in case of emergency” person.

It’s inevitable that you might have only known them two weeks before you ask them to be your stand in emergency person for your child’s school. So it goes when extended family is too far to assist.

7. The fun that is creating care packages. 

I loved doing themed ones each month for my husband, decorating the insides of the boxes and including special treats.

8. Friendships that stand up to time and distance.

You’re fortunate in civilian life to have lifelong friends, but military life offers it up so easily. Nurture them.

9. A marriage that stands up to time and distance. 

We’re pros at finding what works, but if it’s failing us, there are support networks to help us bridge the gaps. Use them when you need them, and keep the base of your relationship as strong as possible.

10. Being able to miss our partner. 

And the excitement of welcoming them home.

11. Writing, saving, and rereading handwritten letters.

Whether love letters or journals or stories from a time apart, I bet you have at least a small bundle tucked into a drawer somewhere.

12. Beautiful homecomings.

Sometimes they’re alone, other times it including surprising our children, but reunions are always sweet and bring a tear to our eyes.

13. Offering our children unique lessons for their future. 

Resiliency isn’t just a buzzword.

14. Exposure to a variety of cultures, faiths, traditions, races, and relationships.

It shows what the world is really like. Service members come from all walks of life, and it’s amazing to see how different we all are. It’s something to celebrate.

15. Benefiting from nonprofit organizations. 

There are so many that do good, but a few close to my heart include Sesame Street for Military Families that performs special shows for our children, Operation Homefront that hosts special events for military spouses and families, and the USO that helps keep us connected or takes care of us during a layover in an airport in a safe location. So many organizations do so much good for service members, spouses, and children.

16. A health care provider that doesn’t require us to pay out of pocket for our care.

It’s a big expense, but we’re fortunate to not have to worry about co-pays and unexpected costs under TRICARE Prime. And sure, sometimes you get what you pay for, but we also have patient advocates to help us when it’s needed.

17. Knowing we will have a roof over our heads. 

Not only do we receive a BAH to cover our housing costs, but it’s usually fairly easy to find a place to live either on or off the installation.

18. Having most of what we need in one location. 

The commissary, gas station, health clinic (or hospital), PX, library—military installations offer most of what you can find in any small town.

19. Stores that (sometimes) help us save a bit of money. 

Discounts on gas, affordable groceries, and name-brand goods at lower or tax-free prices can help stretch paychecks just a bit further.

20. An appreciation for what our nation stands for. 

Our service members fight to preserve the ideals of our country. Many of those ideals are something to be thankful for.

21. Support when you need it. 

Whether it’s financial support, education support, employment support, legal support, family or marriage counseling, or the support that comes from an FRG, military installations are equipped to assist. If your problem can’t be solved by any of those entities, there’s always your dependable friends.

 

Sure, this life isn’t always easy and it certainly isn’t perfect, but there is a lot to be thankful for.

Are we missing anything? Sound off in the comments below with what part of military life you’re thankful for.