I wouldn't have it any other way!

The Army holds a special piece of my heart. I guess it always has. When I was 5 years old, my daddy took me to an air show where I saw the Army's parachute team, The Golden Knights, perform. I looked at my daddy and said "I wanna be in the Army when I grow up". And Join the Army, I did. I knew BCT would be hard, I was prepared for that. What I wasn't prepared for was the 'relationship BCT' that I would go through after I met my husband!
After being in the same Brigade for nearly 4 years, he and I finally connected. Both of us had been on the same installation for the duration of out careers, with the exception of our respective combat tours. It seems like that all changed when we had our first date, and one date was all it took, we were both hopeless! I was a newly promoted E-5, he was a newly promoted E-7. We basically had 2 months together before the Army sent him to ANCOC for nearly 3 months. While he was away in training, our prayers were answered and he was accepted to Warrant Officer Candidate School. 2 months home, and he was back in training. When he graduated from his Candidate Course, he had 2 months home and it was back to school for Basic course. 3 months this time! It was easy at times to get tough on the Army, but I had to keep reminding myself that "at least you know he's safe, he's not in a combat zone, and he's coming home... Other wives aren't so lucky!" Deep down I knew he was realizing his lifelong dream, and I was blessed to be able to be by his side and support him every step of the way.

During ANCOC, I sent him an E-card every day, I never missed. I even drove 14 hours straight one four day weekend he wasn't allowed to have a mileage pass, with his dog and my 2 children to surprise him. I pulled in the parking lot about midnight, and realizing that the CQ couldn't let me enter the building to go knock on his door, I had to do the only thing I could think of and set off the alarm on his Jeep. I'll never forget the look on his face when he saw the four of us standing there! I've never missed a graduation of his, and consequently, he was able to concentrate on his studies and not worry about the home front!

We got married in May after discovering the Army's "Put up or shut up" policy on newly transitioned officers dating enlisted service members. We had one year from the date I pinned his warrant officer rank on his dress blues to either get married or cut all social ties. No pressure though :) We got married knowing he would deploy in the fall. He actually knew before he graduated from WOBC that he was headed to the white sandy beaches again. It's getting closer now, it seems like our lives are moving at rocket speed. Every day brings something deployment related to our table. Time lines, RFI, packing, POA's. Whew. I feel blessed that I've been deployed before, and I know all the work that goes into it! I would be completely lost! But at the same time, just like all brand new Army wives, I'm trying to get involved in the FRG as much as possible, and most importantly... We treat each and every day together as if he deploys tomorrow!!! One day not too far from now, I will hug him and watch him get on that bus one day, and I will cry just like all the other wives, but I know we won't have any regrets. That's a non-negotiable for us!

I hope you enjoyed getting to know me, and I look forward to getting to know all of you, too! We're a special brand of women, ladies! Until next time, HH6 out!

Cassie