If you learned your ABC's as "Alpha, Beta, Charlie," and understand the phrase "If you're on time, you're late," you may have grown up in a military family. If you have, you know that the military culture has influenced everything about you – from your earliest memories to your later life lessons. Here are 10 signs you grew up in a military family.
To everyone else, it may be the grocery store, but to you, the place to shop for groceries will always be called the commissary.
2. You always ask for a military discount.
3. Telling someone where you're from can be complicated.
4. You get the urge to move every 3 years.
5. You speak in acronyms like it's a second language.
Instead of saying "We just had a permanent change of station from overseas," you say, "We just PCS'd from OCONUS." Why say each word when it's so much easier to speak in acronyms?
6. Your respect for military men and women is epic.
If you grew up in a military family, you know what kind of sacrifices your family made. Today, if you see a man or woman in uniform, you never fail to thank them for their service.
7. You think MREs are an underrated dinner option.
Sure, the idea of pouch-wrapped food sounds disgusting to some, but you know that Meal, Ready-to-Eats (MREs) are actually quick and easy options for dinner. Pass the toasted corn kernels and heat pack!
8. You're an excellent bowler.
No matter where you were stationed, there was always a cheap bowling alley on base. As a result, that's where you had your birthdays, family game nights and random get-togethers. Today, it comes as no surprise that you've got mad bowling skills.
9. You still get confused when the movie starts without "The Star-Spangled Banner" being played.
Even after seeing countless movies off base, you occasionally catch yourself waiting for the anthem to play.
10. You have friends all over the world.
Moving from station to station meant you had to say goodbye to friends. But now you have friends in every exotic location and a free place to crash when you're traveling!
As anyone who grew up in a military family can attest, these are just a few of the experiences you might have enjoyed growing up with. At Navy Federal, we're committed to serving those who serve. Join us as we celebrate military families everywhere this month and share your experience as a military family in the comments below.
Navy Federal is the world's largest credit union with over 8 million members, $91 billion in assets, 319 branches, and more than 17,000 employees worldwide. We serve the men and women of the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, the civilian employees of the Department of Defense, veterans and their families.
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