Tuesday, March 23, 2010

help (?)

I keep hearing about these wonderful support networks out there to help families deal with issues during deployment - and as usual the organizations/networks seem woefully unavailable to me.

Hubby's unit has a Family Readiness Officer, I know this for sure, but my attempts to get info, pre-deployment briefing schedule, etc. have yeilded only more frustration and more questions. Since hubby's unit is not ALL deploying (he is going with a small detachment to support another battalion) they are just not that interested in helping, apparently.

It doesn't help that we live about an hour and a half away from the reserve center.
Everyone keeps telling me to join a military spouse meetup, but there ISN'T one where I live.....I have been a member of a milspouse meetup down in San Diego (over an hour away) for a couple years now, and the girls are a fabulous source of support for me ONLINE - but I can never make it to the regular meetups because they are too far away.

Near the end of our first deployment, I accidentally found out about the Key Volunteer Network, which hubby wanted me to 'stay the hell away from' because of all the b.s. politics and gossip that are apparently the reason they no longer exist - but I went to a KVN dinner and a banner making party to prepare for homecoming, and met some fabulous women who probably saved my sanity, if not my life. One in particular was awesome, and ended up being instrumental in me finding the house we bought shortly after our Marines returned (Thanks D!)

Between being pregnant and being unemployed, I am already really feeling hubby's absence to a painful level, and this is only a 3 week training.....how am I going to get through the actual deployment without SOME sort of support network?

I am blessed to have family nearby, but they don't have a clue what I go through during deployment. Why is it so hard to connect with the wives/girlfriends of the rest of my hubby's detachment so we can support one another through the next 8 or 9 months?

3 comments:

Goodnight moon said...

Okay, so I guess I should've read this post before I responded to your last one.

I actually don't involve myself with the battalion events that are set up for me with my husbands unit. All the wives that I have come into contact with through FRO meetings...are CRAZY! So, I stay away from them. I get my support through my other friends here. We all lean on each other. I wish I could help you with info, but all my stuff is for Camp Lejeune, NC.

I have 4 children myself, and am a SAHM....I loose my mind almost everyday....but I just keep telling myself that everyday down, is a day closer to his homecoming! Easier said then done.

Seriously, if you need anything, let me know.

Gaile said...

Amber, thanks so much! It really is great to talk to all my online military wife friends :) I enjoy reading your blog, and find so much comfort just in THAT, in knowing that I am not the only one going through all of this.
This will be my first time dealing with deployment without the distraction provided by a JOB - but the SAHM thing keeps me plenty busy, of course. My kids are 19, 15, and 10, and baby #4 is due on September.

USMCWIFE said...

Not sure how I found my way to your blog, but I did. Ive been reading some of your post. I am familiar with I&I and active duty as well as reserve and a bit on the volunteer thing. It's kind of annoying that people "write off" the FRO program and they are usually people that have never or have very little involvement with the program. I see in your previous post you said you were an assistant. Have you ever tried Military One Source. Even us active duty spouses use it when we don't have resources at the base we are at, yes trust me when I tell you, when you are posted at a place like 29 Palms you can feel as if you are on a deserted island. What does your hubs do in the Corps? Anyhow glad I found your blog, sorry you have so many problems finding some help.

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