LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. -- When civilians marry into the military, they may not fully understand what they are getting themselves into. Deployments, temporary duty assignments, frequent moves and day-to-day work issues can add stress to any marriage.
To make it easier, Luke Air Force Base has an enlisted spouses club and an officer's spouses club, which introduces new spouses to experienced spouses. Each club meets once a month and volunteers in several events in the community.
According to Holly Ruiz, enlisted spouses club member, being part of a spouses club has a lot of benefits.
"I have learned so much about the military and have made some really great friends in the process," said the Army National Guard spouse. "Being with others who are familiar with the local area, the base and have been military spouses longer than you really helps out in many different aspects of your life."
Mrs. Ruiz said she joined the club about three years ago right before her husband deployed.
"I knew I could probably get some support from others who'd been there when that time came," she said. "Plus, I was really unfamiliar with military, Luke Air Force Base and the services available to me."
Sherrie Pospisil, enlisted spouses club president, said her club participates in Relay for Life and volunteers at the Children's Crisis Nursery, Ronald McDonald House and battered women's shelters.
"As a club, we raised nearly $10,000 for Relay for Life this year," Mrs. Pospisil said. "Two members of our group are cancer survivors, so not only do we raise money, but we support them too."
According to Amira St. James, enlisted spouses club member, there are a lot of genuine and caring people in the enlisted spouses club.
"Each meeting is always different and I usually walk away learning something I didn't know before," Mrs. St. James said. "Anyone who is interested in joining our group is allowed to attend two events before they need to sign up and pay dues."
Mrs. Pospisil said the enlisted spouses club offers members support in all aspects of life.
"Besides deployments, we have gone through births of babies, illnesses of children and deaths in families," she said. "If someone has a baby or surgery, we cook dinner for them for a week."
The enlisted spouses club meets the second Tuesday of every month at 6 p.m. at the Balfour Beatty Community Center. All branches of the military are welcome.