Question??

[MissK]

Hi I'm new. My husband will be entering the Academy in December. Can anyone tell me what to expect from the spouse side. I understand that I won't be hearing from him on the phone very much, but is there anything else I should expect when he's there.

This is a great forum.

Thanks

[octbb]

Well MissK, congrats to your cadet. Cadets need lots of understanding and encouragement from their spouse/significant other - for starters. Your new cadet will sometimes call and be frustrated or just plain exhausted from all the fun educational daily activities in the academy, so you need to keep your conversations happy (even when your going crazy with the children, if any, and don't talk about what bills need to be paid). and when he comes home on the weekend, he may want to just get lots and lots of rest -there may be no time to send him on errands or go for a weekend getaway. So be patient and give your cadet lots of motivation!!! Good luck!

[MissK]

Thanks for the advice Octbb. Are you a cadet too?. or an officer?

Since Sac. is far away from our home, I'll be making the visit to my husband. I'll keep your advice in mind.

Thanks Again!! :smile: :smile: :smile:

[dlg2k6]

MissK-

The first 2 weeks were the hardest so far for my cadet (he is in the Sept class). He was never in the military and so I think it was a HUGE culture shock for him. Definitely be extra supportive during that time, as he is going to wonder what possessed him to embark on such a career and he is going to wonder if he is cut out for it. Remind him that the academy is not the job and how great the rewards are at the end if he should make it through.

This is going to be difficult for you too, especially if you have not been apart for any length of time. So be prepared for that and try to find something to keep yourself busy. You should be able to talk to him on the phone every night except for maybe the first week. Just be sure and communicate and make sure he knows how proud you are of him and encourage him to share stories of what he is going through. It will help you to feel a part of the process.

Congratulations and good luck to both of you!

[octbb]

Well said dlg2k6...couldn't have said it better myself...

[pupdog]

I don't know if this applies since Sac is far, but I'll throw it out there because it can only help others. Granted I only lasted through 1 liberty weekend...

-Offer to clean & press his clothes with LOTS of heavy starch. Make sure those 3 military creases are even. Do NOT wash them in the same load as his white towels (he'll have already discovered in the dorm that he needs to keep those towels as far from his clothes as possible in the closet).
-He'll have a shopping list. I know it's the holidays, but be prepared to go to Target & possibly Michael's on a holiday shopping weekend.
-Work on your grip strength. He needs and deserves several deep massages.
-If home stuff that he used to handle come up, don't say a word, just handle it yourself. The older version of "Academy Blues" had something I don't recall seeing in the newer, which was a recent grad talking about how his wife never told him about the little things going wrong at home or with the house, and how that was VERY important to him.

[MissK]

Thanks for everyone who has given me advice. It really helps me understand what he may/will go through in the academy.

Thanks again!!! :smile:

[KRM]

My husband is in the Sept. class. I moved up to Sacramento to be closer to him and it has been the best thing for both of us. I am only 10 minutes away from the academy so he doesn't have the long drive home every weekend.