What is Military Families
Today's military family faces a lifestyle that is comprised of frequent deployments, which results in increased family separations. This often proves to be a stressful challenge fo...
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My best friend just joined the army...
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My best girfriend left over a month ago to go home and be with her mom and sister for a while before her boyfriend came back from Iraq. Once he got back they were supposed to move into an apartment together a few buildings from where I live. I've been looking forward to this for a while. But she told me today that she broke up with her man yesterday because he wasn't sure he wanted to move in and wasn't sure he staying in the US, that he might go overseas. So he told her to wait 2 months for him to make up his mind, but she said no, went back home and enlisted.
i was shocked by this. she never implied that she was interested in going into the army. and she waited for this guy to come back for 7 months, and now she just enlists on what seems likea whim. and i haven't even seen her in over a month, now she's packing up to go to bootcamp in missouri. i live in alabama and she meant the world to me. we haven't known each other for a long time, but i felt a strong bond with her and i feel like i'm losing a friend almost. i'm feeling down because i can't be there when she needs me, i can't be her shoulder to cry on, i can't talk to her anytime i want, and i can't spend time with her like i want. i just need some advice on how to cope with this. i am the kind of person who doesn't have a lot of close friends, and especially best friends. i know i am being overdramatic and am sure i'll be fine, i'm just going to miss her so much. i already do. any advice to cope, or ways to let her know i support her, and really anything that i can do on my part for her, would help. Posted on 03/30/09, 03:03 pm |
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I'm sorry that you are having such a hard time with your friend enlisting in the ARMY. Whatever her reasons for enlisting, you should try to be supportive of her no matter what. Just because she's joined the ARMY doesn't mean, ya'll can't be friends anymore. There are always letters and phone calls (just letters while in boot camp). The way I deal with my husband being deployed is by staying busy and active. I write to him daily (only mail once or twice a week though--stamps get expensive!). The letters and cards we send them really help them get through boot camp! If you ever need to talk, we are all here for ya! 
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You have become close friends obviously. But the key here is you CAN be there when she needs you, you CAN be her shoulder to cry on and you CAN talk to her anytime you want.
The thing is, people that join the military NEED to keep friends. THey are out there on their own and alone so much. But it give them a great sense of self and peace knowing they have someone at home they can call or vent to whenever they do get the chance. You may not be able to call her or see her at the drop of a dime but by standing by her and supporting her will be invaluable to her. She will know that when the going gets tough and she needs someone to talk to that YOU will be there for her. Just don't see it as losing her, see it as having a strong friend who is going to fight for her country and be proud of her. She will need that. Show her by supporting her, help her pack/move if you can. Offer to hold some of her stuff while she is gone. Send her things when you can. Just make sure she knows your there for her no matter what. I promise you, she will need that. Especially since her relationship just fell apart, we both know our girlfriends are always there for us before any man is.... :)
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