Pusser
Army.ca Veteran
- Reaction score
- 32
- Points
- 530
No one can give you a definitive answer as to what to expect because every service member is different and so every career is different. Two members in the same occupation can end up having very different experiences. However, as a general rule, any officer in the CAF (which all pilots are) can expect to live a reasonably middle class lifestyle. I own a four bedroom house with a two car garage. I've got two kids and a cat and a dog. Although I've done four sea tours and two overseas missions, I've still managed to find time to volunteer as a scout leader and minor sports coach (a few different sports). With the exception of being at sea or on a mission, I'm pretty much home every night. Even when I was posted to ships, I was still at home more than I was away.
The bottom line is that being married to a service member will mean that you will on your own more often than your friends who are married to guys in "average" jobs, but your life could be anything, but "average." Some of the opportunities are amazing, not just for the serving member, but for the whole family. Whenever my wife complains about having left a good job with 13 years seniority to follow me (usually with tongue in cheek and a smile), I remind her (also with tongue in cheek and a smile) that it was to move to Europe! We've been very lucky in that she has a very transportable and in-demand skill so that she's had a job everywhere we've been, thus she's built up quite a resume herself.
Carpe diem.
The bottom line is that being married to a service member will mean that you will on your own more often than your friends who are married to guys in "average" jobs, but your life could be anything, but "average." Some of the opportunities are amazing, not just for the serving member, but for the whole family. Whenever my wife complains about having left a good job with 13 years seniority to follow me (usually with tongue in cheek and a smile), I remind her (also with tongue in cheek and a smile) that it was to move to Europe! We've been very lucky in that she has a very transportable and in-demand skill so that she's had a job everywhere we've been, thus she's built up quite a resume herself.
Carpe diem.
