My DH is in the Navy, currently an E-5, and he's been in for the last 7 years. Coincidently, we've also been married 7 years. Our experience with his employer
is not unlike anyone elses experience with a long term employer. Some good, some bad. We wouldn't still be involved if we felt like it was a bad way to raise our daughter.
We've lived in the same place for the last 5 years, bought a house, and have saved quite a bit. Later this year we'll experience our second major move since DH joined. Thats 2 in 8 years. I know civvies who move a lot more often than that. Moves really depend on the branch of service.
I work outside the home in a management position. Because we haven't moved much I've become fully vested in my retirement plan. When DH is accepted to officer school in a month or so (yes, I'm counting my chickens before they hatch; I'm THAT confident) I'm going to be a stay at home mommy for a while; I'm looking forward to it. We also would like to spend a few years in Europe while DD is young. I speak French and I'd like her to be exposed to other countries/cultures and different languages as well.
The military paid for my DH to get his undergraduate and graduate degrees and my VA benefits (through my dad) paid for my master's degree. They also allowed DH to leave work 2 hours early, twice a week to attend his classes.
His command and coworkers were also extremely supportive of our adoption plans and offered us gifts and well-wishes.
Our community of friends is probably a lot more diverse than the average bear. People come from all walks of life and in a plethora of racial, ethnic and religious backgrounds. Most families include two parents.
On base and off, a wealth of activies and experiences are available to us, including in home daycare and childcare center options. DD and I currently participate in mommy and me swim lessons twice a week. Physical fitness is important to us as a family so we spend quite a bit of time outdoors and active.
Guess that's all I have to offer.
Just an aside tho, regardless of your rank, your pay is adjusted to cover living in high-cost areas.
