I’m retired Army and have the same wife I did when I was active.
I take offense to your blanket statement.
SunTzuWu didn’t say your wife or all military wives were unfaithful or regarded their husbands as meal tickets. Obviously there are many, my mother among them, who are fiercely loyal and supportive. But the “dependapotamus” phenomenon is indeed common. Many have tried to prey on my Marine son and his friends. Stop being offended. It wasn’t about you.
No need to take offense - it’s a very, very common thing and has nothing to do with you or your wife personally. I saw it all the time when I was in the Navy - townies with bleak futures trying to hitch their wagon to lonely and unsuspecting kids barely out of bootcamp. The wonder is how many fall for it. I saw way too many 19 year old E-2s becoming fathers...
I take offense to your blanket statement.
Except it's true and if you're retired Army, you know it as well as this active duty Sailor does.
I see it all the time. The divorce rate in the military is horrible. Infidelity during deployments by one or both spouses is rampant.
You're married to the same women as when you were active duty? Congrats! So am I. But let's be honest. The military sets their service members up for failure when it comes to marriage. First and foremost by adding a financial incentive to get married. I see it all the time. Guys barely out of high school marry girls barely out of high school so that they can get dependent BAH and move into an apartment out of the barracks. Long deployments away, long working hours at home, money in the bank an independence and freedom for a young spouse who has yet to sow her wild oats and we all know what happens.
I see it all the time. All the time. I could write a book on marriage disasters I've seen during my 11+ years so far in the U.S. navy.
Blanket statement? Sure. And for the most part, an accurate one.
Obviously you are the exception to the rule.