The Color of Heather

Friday the 13th of November, 2015 my husband, Petty Officer Third Class (ET3) Drew Siemer, graduated from one of the most academically grueling programs the US Military has to offer and is now a certified nuclear operator! The graduation occurred on an old WWII Aircraft Carrier, the USS Yorktown. We didn’t get to stay for a tour, since I was feeling really unwell due to motion sickness (emergency sewing a patch onto dress blues while in a car does that apparently), and so we went home and ate lunch instead.

{{pics to come}}

For those of you who do not know, my husband is a Nuclear Electronics Technician in the US Navy, known as “Nukes”.

A LOT of people have been Emailing and IMing me asking a bunch of questions about what’s going on with my wedding plans. At one point we had decided to go to Las Vegas in December, and another point maybe just something private at his moms house…

Let me clarify something: There are no longer any immediate plans. YES, we are still getting married. Just follow me for a second.

About a month ago, Drew found out that if he was to take holiday stand down (basically christmas/new year’s vacation or hanukkah if that is what you prefer) he would get back to base and the NEXT DAY he would have to take a comprehensive final that dictates whether or not he graduates from this phase of his naval schooling. YIKES!

Normally people would go “Well, study while you’re on vacation!” which is something I would both do and say… HOWEVER, due to the classification of said study material (correct; I don’t even know exactly what he’s learning. Stuff about nuclear reactors and circuitry last I checked) he can not bring this material outside of the classroom building. Therefore, for the holidays in order to study for this final, he wants to stay near base.

Therefore: In December I will be flown out to South Carolina to see him.

Now, whether or not we use this time to sign in legal documents for marriage in order to apply for military housing allowance, military health insurance, etc. is honestly up in the air. A marriage ceremony (if we have one) wont be until next year, when we can save for it, plan correctly and he is not swamped in school work that could honestly dictate our future.

On this point; He graduates in January. Fun note though–we STILL do not know where he’s going to end up after this phase of school (ATM the  possibilities are upstate New York and where he is now, South Carolina). This means we will not be making any final decisions on when and where I move out to until we know for sure we’ll be there long enough to find an apartment to rent.

Now you know as much as we do. That’s the crappy thing about being a military spouse; everything is just kinda last minute and thrust on to you. As soon as we have more information about actual ceremony dates (IF we have one), I will post again. Until then, it’s pretty much play by ear.

If anyone has any advice with being a military wife (or a wife in general) that would be fantastic…