Enlisting as a Marine wife

[thedrifter]

Enlisting as a Marine wife

LINKS helps women adjust to military life

By Linda McIntosh
COMMUNITY NEWS WRITER

August 23, 2003

CAMP PENDLETON ? New Marines have boot camp. Their wives have LINKS.

The acronym stands for lifestyle, insight, networking, knowledge and skills.

LINKS handbooks and classes are available on base to help new Marine wives make the transition from civilian to military life.

"The military can be a scary place, but you learn to handle it, and LINKS helps," said Wendy Keith, a LINKS mentor.

Keith should know. Her husband has served in the military for almost 14 years. He recently returned from his sixth deployment.

As a volunteer mentor, Keith helps teach LINKS classes on base. Her specialty is deployment.

"We explain the emotions and talk about tips for staying in touch," Keith said. "It's important to know we're all in it together."

That takes away the loneliness.

Teachers and students have a big binder with information and tips. But the class is more than that. It's a chance to meet others in the same boat, tackling the same problems. Spouses share stories and tips.

To illustrate each of the topics, there is a game. Bingo on ranks and quiz bowl on base services are favorites. Chocolate is the most popular among the prizes.

LINKS classes cover many practical matters, such as understanding leave and earnings statements, interpreting military lingo and dealing with frequent moves.

Seasoned Marine spouses discuss the traditions of the Marine Corps, the history of the base, volunteer opportunities, military perks, rank and etiquette.

The class is open to all spouses regardless of their husband's rank.

"We don't tell what our husband's rank is," Keith said.

But they do explain how to figure out a Marine's rank based on stripes and insignia.

"Rank is earned, and it is important to respect it," Keith said.

Spouses learn that early on.

Under the heading "What is your Marine telling you?" wives learn to decipher military acronyms.

They start with a typical voice mail message: "Hi hon, lots going on. I'm stuck on the MSR in Stumps. Forgot to PM the truck. I'll be back by 20:00."

PM stands for preventive maintenance. MSR is the main supply route or main street, and Stumps refers to the city of Twentynine Palms in California.

When in doubt, wives learn to help each other out.

"We say it's their Marine sister sitting next to them," Keith said.

For information about LINKS, call (760) 725-2335.


Do you have a story idea for Camp Pendleton? Contact Linda McIntosh at (760) 476-8214 or linda.mcintosh@uniontrib.com. For special events, please alert us at least four weeks in advance. We work ahead!

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Sempers,

Roger