Question:
The military goes to great lengths, IMO, to provide for a military
member's family, to make it so that remaining married is as easy
as they can make it from the financial/benefits side of it. Not,
though, because of any 'service' the family member are pro-
viding for the military. Quite honestly, it would be *easier*
and far cheaper if military members *didn't* have families.
I'm sure it would be. OTOH, if only single people joined the military, it
would be a heck of a lot smaller. In terms of "best interests of society",
that might not be desirable.
I've never been connected to the military, and don't really know much about
how it operates/provides for dependents, etc. I do hear stories about
military dependents being forced to rely on food stamps, etc, however.
How difficult is it within the culture of the military for spouses to develop
independent careers that would 1) provide better for the family and 2.)
allow the spouse to provide the benefits for him or herself that you have
made clear that the military doesn't owe them? In other words, since I've
been unclear, is it feasible for a military spouse to provide these things
for him/her self while within the framework of a military marriage?
Answer:
Question:The military goes to great lengths, IMO, to provide for a military
member's family, to make it so that remaining married is as easy
as they can make it from the financial/benefits side of it. Not,
though, because of any 'service' the family member are pro-
viding for the military. Quite honestly, it would be *easier*
and far cheaper if military members *didn't* have families.
I'm sure it would be. OTOH, if only single people joined the military, it
would be a heck of a lot smaller. In terms of "best interests of society",
that might not be desirable.
I've never been connected to the military, and don't really know much about
how it operates/provides for dependents, etc. I do hear stories about
military dependents being forced to rely on food stamps, etc, however.
Answer: Yes, there are. What is rarely shown, though, is that, many, many, many
times, it's because of choices the military member and family members
have made. Nothing much is said about an employee of McDonald's who
is on food stamps because they are married and have three kids. An
E-1 or E-2 who is married and has three kids gets a news story though.
And nothing is said about the many other E-1's and E-2's who are
married and have three kids who *aren't* on food stamps.
Question: How difficult is it within the culture of the military for spouses to develop
independent careers that would 1) provide better for the family and 2.)
allow the spouse to provide the benefits for him or herself that you have
made clear that the military doesn't owe them? In other words, since I've
been unclear, is it feasible for a military spouse to provide these things
for him/her self while within the framework of a military marriage?
Answer: Yes, it's feasible. Is it as easy as showing up at a new duty station
and finding a job that day? No. There are certain careers or job paths
that are fairly easy and there are others that are near impossible to
pursue.
