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Life Off Military Bases
Depending on where you were sent, you weren't always stationed on a military base. Some bases have a chronic shortage of base housing, forcing military families to live "off base", also referred to as "living on the economy" if you were stationed overses.
For many Military Brats, the majority of their childhood was spent living on a military installation, with only a few months spent living "off base".
For some families, living on the economy was a great experience, and for others it was was a hardship, especially for those living overseas with a fixed housing allowance, when the dollar is weak against the local currency.
Many soldiers retire before all of their children have completed Junior High School or High School, which can lead to not so great memories as teenagers struggle with growing up and graduating, while dealing with living in a civilian world.
Joe E. Wheeler - The Good Shepherd
- Article
- March 18, 2011
- 2 comments
Like many Military Brats, I left my family to begin my own life. This essay covers 6 years of my life, living in Columbus, Georgia, near Fort Benning, and my memories of Joe E. Wheeler, who touched the lives of many people in the military, their spouses, Military Brats and the community in which he lived.
Hurry Up And Wait
- Article
- August 2, 2010
- 2 comments
All Military Brats know the joys of "Sick Call" and waiting their turn to be seen by a doctor when sick. Here are some observations of on Military Brat.
The End Game
- Article
- January 31, 2010
- 4 comments
What happens when we leave our Military Brat life behind us?
Living on the Economy in Florstadt, Germany, 1973
- Article
- December 4, 2009
- 1 comment
It was called, "living on the economy", and depending on your viewpoint, it was either a great experience—or not. For our family, and from my Military Brat viewpoint, our second trip to Germany in 1973 was a great experience.
Living on the Economy Overseas
- Article
- November 8, 2009
- No comments
"Most of the places we lived overseas we lived on the economy before moving on base. The one exception was Japan. We went to Japan in 1948, not long after the war, and dependents were not allowed to accompany the men there. We had to wait for a house on the base. Dad went 8 months before us. It took that long to get a house."
Columbus, Georgia—Military town and "home"
- Article
- August 10, 2009
- 1 comment
Where there is a military post or base, you will find a military town. Sometimes there is a love-hate relationship between the "townies" and the military, but one thing is for sure: military towns are where many career military men and women retire, and paydays guarantee towns ongoing economic prosperity. And, for many Military Brats, military towns become "home", even if you are not born there.
The Praying Mantis
- Article
- July 8, 2009
- 2 comments
Living "On The Economy"
- Article
- May 28, 2009
- No comments
