Military Singles
From LoveToKnow Dating
Dating can be tough for military singles. Being in the armed forces can mean moving often, including overseas. And the war in Iraq adds another level of uncertainty. Whether you're a soldier or interested in dating one, here are some tips to help you make the connections you want.
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Finding Military Singles
People who live in military towns are used to meeting single soldiers. Norfolk, Virginia, has a major naval base, so you're likely to meet military singles everywhere from church to the local nightclubs. It's the same in Annapolis, Maryland, and every other city where a branch of the military has an organized headquarters.
If you're not in one of those areas, though, you might find the person you're looking for online. While there's no official military dating site (in spite of what some of them claim), there are sites that specialize in making matches with military singles.
- USMilitarySingles.com is part of TangoWire, a larger network of dating sites.
- MilitarySingles claims to be the oldest and largest military dating community.
- UniformDating includes members of the military plus police officers, fire fighters, and other uniformed professionals.
- DateAHero also has military singles, police, and fire fighters.
- MilitarySpot features forums, news, and videos of interest to members of the military. It also has a personals site.
The Military Life
It's hard for non-military people to understand what military life is like. Many members of the military must pack up and move any time they're asked. There's often little that the armed services member can do if an assignment changes. Yet, members of the military proudly accept the challenges and often feel honored to be able to serve.
For military spouses, it's not always so clear-cut. Moving will mean leaving friends behind and pulling children from familiar schools. When a husband or wife is sent on an overseas mission, the spouse often is left to deal with loneliness and the stress of managing the home, financial concerns, and facing any emergencies alone. If there are children, the non-military spouse is essentially a single parent during that time. Plus, if the mission is dangerous, there's the very real worry that the soldier won't come home.
Soldiers, often brave, honorable, and kind, can make wonderful partners. Before getting involved with someone in the military, make sure you understand what you're getting into. If you've fallen in love, sit down and discuss what to expect.
Some Thoughts for Single Soldiers
Some military singles find dating easy. Others struggle to find their perfect match or even to make connections outside the military world.
Dealing with Loneliness
If you're a soldier stationed far from home, loneliness can be a real issue. Finding a relationship would be wonderful, but finding a local community is important too. Plus, the more people you know, the better your chances of meeting someone to date. Consider attending a church, synagogue, or temple. Many religious communities welcome military singles, understanding that you're on your own and need a safe, friendly place to go. Volunteer opportunities can be another good way to make local connections.
A Bit of Good News
Not all Americans support the Iraq war, but most people are firmly behind the troops. You might find that people are more interested in you once they learn you're in the military. If you're in uniform, strangers might come up and thank you. When you're out, people might want to buy you a drink.
Of course, you don't want to take advantage of people's good will; but it doesn't hurt to let people know you're single and looking. People tend to think of soldiers as reliable and trustworthy and someone just might want to set you up with a reliable and trustworthy friend.
Learn More
This page has been accessed 2,290 times. This page was last modified 00:43, 3 November 2006.
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