Who Protects the Military Spouse??

In this country men and women are being uprooted and relocated because their loved ones are serving selflessly in the Armed Forces of the United States. The big difference in their relocation is that the Soldier or Marine (depending on the branch they serve with) are protected by laws in nearly every state in the Union. They can keep their home state driver’s license and vehicle registration. They also don’t have to pay taxes over again on personal property they bring with them and can easily keep their home of record in the place from which they enlisted. Essentially ensuring that when they return home after service they can resume their lives as though they never left – almost.

Here in lies the problem. Military spouses have no such protections. Everytime they relocate they have to get new driver’s license – if they choose to work. They must deal with the bureaucracies of the local Motor Vehicles Department – if they want to keep some sense of indendpence and not put their vehicle in the service members name.

So again I ask – who fights for the military spouse?

No one apparently, see veterans have so many organizations and the members themselves, well the installation personnel have no shortage of contact with local legislators who both want and need some many things for the installations.

The military spouse has no one that concerns themself with the practical problems of relocation that really impact them. Even local politicians don’t even consider them amongst the voting public because they are only “implants” into the local community and not expected to be there very long.

The only real interest they generate is that of the retail establishment because they represent an enormous customer base from which to increase their bottom line. Yet from them you get sales that aren’t really sales, deals that really aren’t that big a deal and jobs that pay far less then military spouses got at their last jobs.

Only time will tell if anyone steps forward to provide the much needed support of this underrepresented group of hardworking, sacrificing and patriotic citizens.