I've Been Told I'm A MILSO

Acronyms.  They slay me.

I entered a land that speaks a foreign language.  One with so many freakin acronyms.  Thankfully my phone has that google speak where I quickly look up these letter bunches and I can act like I'm fluent in military terms, but sometimes I don't get the luxury of such searches and therefore I have to wing it.

I sat across a lady who asked me how well I was familiar with "MWR", so candidly I spoke of how I hadn't much experience with the program but was confident I could get to know how to use it (go ahead you veteran MILSO's- smack your head now.  Go ahead.)

For any of you reading this, like me, who have never heard of such a thing, MWR stands for Morale, Welfare and Recreation.  It's not an object, tool or program like I assumed.

She looked at me blankly then proceeded to the next question.  I was proud of my quick response, although I had no idea what she meant when she said MWR and carried on my conversation.  It wasn't until I was home that I googled and slid down into my chair in utter embarrassment.  What a NEWB!

In my new world I hear MPF, AFSC, MRE, DFAC, and the ever TOO often mutter of MILSO.  What the heck is a MILSO?  Apparently it stands for Military Significant Other.  My new label.   I like it a little better than "Civilian" which I am called in the most formal sense, but I'm not much of a fan.  However, it's my new reality now.  I'm a MILSO.  Branded.  Labled.

Yes.  I pick up ABUs scattered all around the house.

Yes.  I plan my calendars around TDY's and PCSing.

Yes.  I study, filter, and know my OPSEC.

I am a MILSO, or at least that is what I've been told.