If the Marine Corps Wanted You to Have a Wife, They Would’ve Issued You One…
Posted on: April 21,2025There’s an old saying that floats around —one that makes seasoned spouses chuckle and new ones raise an eyebrow: “If the Marine Corps wanted you to have a wife, they would’ve issued you one.”
The implication? That we’re somehow extra baggage—an unplanned addition to the well-oiled machine that is the Corps. That family life and military life don’t mix. That if we exist in this space, we do so on our own, without support, without resources, without acknowledgment.
But let’s be real: times have changed. And thank goodness for that.
Back in the Vietnam era, Marines deployed for brutal tours, often with little to no contact with their families. There were no emails, no FaceTime calls from the barracks, no unit Facebook pages updating spouses on homecoming dates. Letters (if they made it) were slow, sporadic, and sometimes gut-wrenching.
And when those Marines finally came home? There was no reintegration training, no spouse workshops, no support groups. Just a handshake (if they were lucky), a “welcome home,” and a silent expectation that they’d figure out how to be husbands, fathers, employees, and civilians again—immediately. Their spouses? Left to navigate their own version of reintegration without guidance, community, or even acknowledgment that their sacrifices mattered.
Fast forward to today. The Marine Corps still isn’t issuing spouses, but they are investing in us.
We have Family Readiness programs, Deployment Readiness Coordinators, marriage retreats, financial planning services, childcare subsidies, employment resources, counseling, and—dare I say it—even social clubs designed to keep us connected. We have PCS support groups, education benefits, and entire summits dedicated to making sure we have what we need to thrive in this crazy, chaotic life.
Are these resources perfect? No. Do they always work seamlessly? No. But they exist, and that’s something our predecessors never had.
Here’s the thing: if these resources exist, but we don’t use them, we can’t really complain that support isn’t there?
Yes, we have to advocate for ourselves.
Yes, we have to show up.
But unlike the spouses who came before us, we don’t have to do it alone.
So let’s ditch the outdated notion that we’re on our own out here. Let’s embrace what’s available to us, demand improvements where they’re needed, and take full advantage of the fact that, in 2025, the Marine Corps kind of does issue a spouse support system.
Resources:
PCSing & The Global Household Goods Contract
Career Readiness & Hiring our Heroes
Career Readiness & Job Market Preparation
Family Member Employment Assistance Program
Additional Spouse & Family Resources
About the Author:
Krista Ickles is the Program Coordinator for the Marine Corps Association’s Behind the Camouflage program, where she is dedicated to supporting and empowering Marine Corps spouses by fostering community connections and providing resources to enhance their personal and professional growth. In this role, she works to ensure that Marine Corps spouses have access to opportunities that strengthen their sense of belonging and engagement within the military community.
Throughout her journey, she has focused on advocacy, operations management, and military family support. Prior to her current role, she served as Operations Manager for AtEase, an online platform providing government-approved lodging for military families during PCS moves. Before that, she was theHeadquarters Lead Advocate for the USMC PCS Advocacy Council, where she worked to improve relocation experiences for Marine families by engaging with senior leadership and driving policy discussions.
In addition to her professional experience, Krista is a mother of four and has been a proud Marine Corps spouse for over 25 years. Her deep connection to the military community fuels her passion for advocating for military families, enhancing spouse networks, and building strong support systems.
