How do you know you're a Milie? Here's how I know:
You speak in acronyms so much, you often forget to translate them for your non-milie friends and family members.
You see a Soldier with long hair, and want to yell "Hey, Soldier! Don't you think it's about time for a hair cut?!"
You see men - in general - with "long" hair and want to escort them to the nearest barber shop for a high-and-tight.
You catch a Soldier without a cover on and immediately want to say something about it.
[If you're a newbie like me,] You try and identify everyone's rank as you pass them and silently applaud yourself for "getting it right."
You sometimes forget that there are people who don't buy groceries at the commissary. Or even know what that word means.
You panic if you can't find your ID card when you're pulling up to the gate on post.
You wonder what the "protocol" or SOP is for certain non-military situations. And then you chide yourself for thinking "SOP/protocol." {Totally did that one today...}
You post silly pictures on Facebook with captions that include the words: operation, mission, success caught, captured. =P {Also did that one this week.}
You yell - yes, yell - at Army Wives when they do things incorrectly. For example: giving a fresh private a combat action badge and flash pin, NOT forming berets to "soldiers" heads, and saying FOB like F.O.B. Everyone knows the Army pronounces its acronyms. Sheesh.
***
When did it happen? When did I start thinking and speaking in acronyms? When did I realize that TriCare would be my BFF and my worst enemy at the same time? When did I start taking my commissary shopping benefits for granted? When did I start feeling more at home on post than off? When did I start to find comfort in seeing those ACU's? When did I start longing to see those boots in the hallway? When did I start wishing for PT-induced early mornings? When did I start crying when the national anthem is played and the flag is saluted? When did I fully realize the sacrifice that our Soldiers (Sailors, Airmen & Marines) make?
When did I become an Army Wife?
'Cause I think I missed it...
10 comments:
I very definitely practice identifying rank. I'm gonna be so screwed at the ball when they're not wearing it on their chests and I have to figure it out otherwise!
And I catch myself thinking how guys need haircuts all the time! (I work at a semi-hippie place, so I see lots of them.)
I totally try and identify peoples ranks and smile to myself if I get them right. I dont think I realise how much I have missed living by a post this year and I never thought I would say this but I am excited to move close to one next week!
You are so right! I mean of course some of your acronyms mean nothing to me since I'm the Canadian side of the military, but non the less I totally get what you're saying. Its really kinda funny actually. Now I've been married to the military for almost 7 years and I watch the new wives come in and out of where we are posted, and I see the lost look when a conversation is 90% acronyms. I do my best to share the knowledge, cause I was once them.
I love your list!! I have been working on my own "You Know You're an Army Wife When..." list for awhile now, but this one is way better than what I have!!! Isn't it crazy how much our life changes?? It's kind of hard for me to remember what it was like when he was still a civilian...
I ALWAYS check my wallet before I head out of the gates just to be sure my ID is in there. I have a mini panic attack each time until I see it safely in its place.
Haha...I SO do the rank thing! I still am learning all the enlisted ones. It's harder! You have to add up the number of chevrons and half-moons....it's math, dangit! I don't do math! ;) But yeah, I know what you mean. When I was on my flight home from OCS - alone - I always sat *near* (but not creepy-close) to the nearest ACU (or ABU, lots of those around, too). Just made me feel somehow "at home."
I just love this.
that was a great post!
when my husband was deployed... i tried to see how long i could stay on base. 2 weeks, then i got stir crazy. but really, you could never leave and you'd be just fine. im so lame.
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