If you think March Madness is just about basketball, you’re wrong. The event pulls more national television revenue than any other postseason sports franchise. It rakes in a whopping $1.15 billion. Who else benefits from the games? Doctors. They report 50% more vasectomies than usual during the NCAA tournament. Another survey claims Americans eat a lot more pizza; WalletHub says pizza orders go up by 19% as the best teams in America go toe to toe on the court. But let’s talk about a different kind of madness. PCS season isn’t far off; it’s already time to start registering children for the next school year in some cases; and with political uncertainty when it comes to the Isis crisis…deployments could pop up sooner than you expect. So, in order to keep your sanity in military life…let’s talk about March Madness in terms of what makes a military spouse tick.
Careers…or lack thereof
“Every time I start a new job, it is like I’m starting my career all over,” a military spouse confided. “I tell my hubby, it would be like him starting at Lieutenant every time we changed duty station.” Ain’t that the truth! Keeping a career on track is tough for a lot of people, but it’s even harder for a military spouse. And for those who manage to make it in their field – hats off to you! Finding a way to climb the corporate ladder or excel as a volunteer despite moves every 2-3 years proves what a dedicated individual you are. Lynette Leighton is currently standing behind her spouse stationed at NAS Whiting Field and said someone had the audacity to say something very hurtful to her: “Wow, you’re really smart for a military spouse.” What in the world is that supposed to mean? Is your blood boiling right now? Is your hair raised? “For a military spouse?” Are we a subclass of society? Excuse me…Kate Middleton is a military spouse. Her husband may serve for another country, but would anyone have the audacity to stay that to her? No ma’am…