It seems like this would be a statement that goes without saying. But lately it seems I've been hearing many stories about wives believing they wear the rank of their soldier. And surprisingly, it hasn't been just an officer vs. enlisted mentality. Some of the most recent stories involve just enlisted wives. Wow!

As an Army wife, it is very easy to get wrapped up in your husband's career. It is, after all, one of the few career paths he can choose that involves the entire family. I can't think of too many corporations that have family support groups or social gatherings for spouses only. But whether you're the 4 Star General's spouse or the spouse of a PV2, you're just a spouse! No more, no less. Or in the eyes of the Army, you're a dependent (I hate that word by the way!).

Your husband's rank has no bearing on who YOU are as a person. When I was Director of Marketing, my husband didn't go around telling everyone he was a "Director's Husband". Though that would have been kind of funny. Seriously, rank should never enter the equation. Sure you are proud of your husband's accomplishments and rightly so. We all are. But they are just that...his accomplishments. If anyone receives special treatment for rank, it will be him because he is the one who has earned it.

The best gatherings I have been at among wives are the ones where no one knows the rank or job of anyone else's husband. At a recent gathering, the subject was actually changed when it was brought up by a newer spouse and I thought it was great. It reflected well on the ones who refused to discuss it.

Let's all agree that we each have something (and someone) to be proud of as Army wives. We all have reason to be equally proud because no matter the rank, our spouse volunteered to serve our country and protect our freedoms. They took the same oath and they defend the same flag. Let's all stand together, support one another and let the word "rank" become taboo.

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