Army wives speak their own language. We know loads of military specific acronyms like PCS (Permanent Change Of Station), TDY (Temporary Duty), SCO (Squadron Commander) and MFLC (Military Family Life Consultant). We also know when to use the acronym in a sentence as in, “we’re PCS’ing in July” or when to make the acronym into its own word, as in “The Sco (SCO) is having the emflac (MFLC) put on a presentation.” It might seem like a complicated language, but it doesn’t take long to get the hang of it. I’ve actually been impressed by how quickly young wives go from not knowing where their spouse works (as in his Brigade, Battalion, Company) to being able to speak fluent Army.
What always gets me though is the way Army wives talk to each other. We say things that no one who isn’t in this life would ever say. We’re not insane, but we probably sound insane to “civilians.” I polled some of my Army wife sisters asking about the crazy things they’ve heard or heard themselves say. Here’s what we came up with.
“I told my husband I would only move once while I was pregnant.”
“He’s deployed, but it’s only for six months so it’s not a big deal.”
“As long as we find a bed at the army hospital by the time the baby comes, I’ll be fine. We move so much I don’t bother trying to find the right doctor.”
“I know that every time the light bulbs start to burn out it must be time to move, because I only replace them during a PCS.”
“Once I start seeing someone I know every place I go, I know it’s time to move.”
“You know it’s time to move once you’ve found the short cuts around town, the best local restaurants, and made friends you love like family.”
“We will see the claim reimbursement for the busted furniture just in time to watch it get packed back up and beaten again.”
“I’ve spent more than half my marriage separated from my husband – how do you think we’ve survived so long?”
“I’ve spent more than half my marriage away from my husband; I don’t know what I’ll do during retirement.”
“When I buy curtains, I always wonder if I should buy extra just in case my next house has more windows and I can’t find those same curtains again.”
“My polish pottery is more than just dishes—-they’re memories.”
“I think I might have another baby so we can get a four bedroom instead of a three bedroom.”
“I miss Germany and being able to drive to another country In less than an hour.”
“I’m tired of fighting the retirees at the commissary.”
“My husband is leaving soon for a month and I am kind of looking forward to it. It’s the one time that we get control of the remote, feed our kids breakfast for dinner and the covers on the bed aren’t being hogged.”
“I wonder where we can go next.” (Said after only 1 year with 2 left to go, until the next move.)
“Roger that.”
“Opening up these packing boxes feels like Christmas!”
“Remember when we lived in a hotel for 6 months?’
“You look familiar. Is your husband military?”
“Do you have a military discount?”
“Embrace the suck!”
Niiiiiice. I’m glad I’m not alone.
Not by far I don’t think!
I was a Navy brat and fortunately my father was only ever moved within the state of Virginia. So we made Kentucky/Virginia moves quite often. My exhusband was army so all of that I know well as well. But he went from NJ to Colorado.. yeah culture shock for both of us little hicks.
We military families experience a lot of culture shock, don’t we?
Yes. This all sounds familiar…
I love that we all speak the same “language.”
I’ve often wondered, how much longer do you have in the state of freeze? It’s been two years at least, right? And then where? Dare I say…California?
We leave this summer! WOOT WOOT!
Love this! I was saying USAREUR as military say it, an acronym said as a word, so you-sa-rah and my friends back home thought I was crazy! Good post!
We say USARAK, as a word up here, you-sa-rack.
These are awesome. A lot of them are soooo true. I don’t feel so alone in all the craziness. Ive only been married for 3 years to my amazing husband and we have lived at JBLM, Camp Humphreys Korea, and Fort Gordon. And in a month or so we will be in Schweinfurt until they close next year and then another base in Germany. Embrace The Suck, Roll with the punches and This too shall pass are used a lot around my house.
Those are all good ones too:)
This post is perfect. I am so sharing ths. sharing it with the zeal of a PVT at The Outback after an NTC rotation where he only ate T-RATS and MREs for that pre-deployment exercise in suckage. You got that, right?
HAHA that is how JRTC was for my husband lol MREs. How many wives here can say there isn’t MRE’s in their homes somewhere..and hasn’t found themselves stealing the candy haha
We have MRE’s, I’ll admit it!
You’re awesome, Tricia!
Drink Water and Drive on is what is said when your kids are whining lol
And if you’re sick have some Army candy. (Ibuprofen)
You forgot the one word sentences, “HOOAH”, “Tracking”, & “Later”. After hearing them much you don’t realize how silly you sound to civs when your mom says, “Remember we’re having Thanksgiving at Grandma’s house at four.” and you answer with “Tracking.”
Seriously! I can’t believe I forgot those! And “Airborne” say that all the time too!
I have a lot of questions.
1) how long have you been in Palin-land?
2) what does your husband do/rank/etc?
3) when will you move again?
also, thank you for what you do. Yes, your husband is a hero for his sacrifice and service, but you keep your family together and do it with a sense of humor and your own honor.
I don’t think I could do anything without a sense of humor;) Thanks, Lance.
I love how Army Wife speak is its own language. If I talk to a regular wife in Army Wife which I have done that I get the look like I am completely Crazy. I love it and it is a language you don’t forget!
I certainly hope I never forget it!
My sister’s in the Coast Guard so I”m sure she’d relate!
I bet Coasties have some of their own to add to this!
Definitely sounds more complicated than speaking jive!
I haven’t mastered Jive. Yet.
Pcsing for the sixth time in eight years this summer (2 with Germany). Three kids under five and a golden retriever. Want to come stage my house because we fell for the trick that we would be here four years and bought a house?
I miss the army life…40 years! 20 as a brat, and 20 as an Infantry wife. Retired now 13 years and I still throw in a few oldies when referring to my active duty son or a friend without realizing it and get a few funny looks. We didn’t completely leave, my spouse is DOD so the acronyms are still around the house.
27 total moves! Almost every year when I was growing up! Now my basement is full…..I haven’t had to get rid of stuff to meet my weight allowance maximum! I’m in VA anybody need anything, I might have it in the basement.