Duty First

Good morning and welcome to wwwblogs. Today, we’re talking about the military family and the things they experience. A married military member has two duties—to their country and to their family. It’s a difficult situation to overcome and has led to harsh words but those willing to go the distance do their best to smooth the troubled waters.
One thing that is pounded into someone’s head once they take their oath of service is that duty comes first. This is especially difficult for a person who either enters the military with a family or has one after a few years. Family can provide military members with a release after the end of a long day or deployment, or they can add to frustrations building within the person. Either way, the military member has to learn how to compartmentalize those emotions and work through their frustrations without losing their cool.
Sounds pretty harsh. Right?
I’m a veteran. I also had a family while I was in the service. Yes, it is harsh to have to mash down your frustrations and deal with family when all you want to do is relax after a long day or deployment. One of the first things you’ll learn if you’re ever in this position is that you aren’t alone. There are always people you can call on if you feel things are moving far too fast for you to control.
While duty must always come first because you took the oath, that doesn’t mean your family should be ignored. It’s up to the military member to learn how to put away their frustrations at the end of the day and be Mom or Dad for a good time with their kids. They need to be aware of their spouse’s feelings too. In turn, the family needs to be aware that Mom or Dad, while seeming to be normal might need for everyone to leave them alone for a while, while they decompress and release the things they’ve seen or experienced throughout the day.
Actually, that sounds a lot like a non-military family. And it very much that way. Just because you wrote a blank check to Uncle Sam for up to and including your life doesn’t mean you can’t have the normalcy those who aren’t in the military enjoy.
One of the things my family and I did while overseas in Germany was to participate in Volksmarches on the weekends we had free. Quite simply, a volksmarch is a planned walk of 10, 20, or 40 kilometers. You move at your own pace. Once the walk is over, you stick around and enjoy the party with the locals. Saturdays and Sundays provided this much needed decompression time while also allowing my family to make wonderful memories and be together.
There are other ways to become part of the community outside your base if you have a family. This will prepare your kids for the day when you’re retired or take your discharge and aren’t in the military any longer. That transition is a lot harder than most people realize, especially for the kids, who you expect would dive into it enthusiastically.


About K.C. Sprayberry
Living a dream she’s had since she first discovered the magic of books. K.C. Sprayberry traveled the U.S. and Europe before finally settling in the mountains of Northwest Georgia. She’s been married to her soulmate for nearly a quarter of a century and they enjoy spoiling their grandchildren along with many other activities.
A multi-genre author, K.C. Sprayberry is always on the hunt for new stories. Inspiration strikes at the weirdest times and drives her to grab notebook and pen to jot down her ideas. Those close to her swear nothing or no one is safe if she’s smiling gently in a corner and watching those in the same room interact. Her observations have often given her ideas for her next story, set not only in the South but wherever the characters demand they settle.

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