So, I am so fortunate that my husband calls me nearly every day. Hearing his voice so often makes me realize that I can make it through this deployment. We’re in month 2 and we’re going strong. Before Jay left, I promised that I would stay on top of the latest military news. Of course, I decided to get involved with the FRG and I began to regularly read the Army Times. The day before Jay left, I subscribed to Military Spouse Magazine. I thought this would be a great addition to my already large queue of magazines that I read: Shape, Self, Marie Claire, Runner’s World, Money, and Rolling Stone. Magazines are one of my guilty pleasures since I used to work for a magazine company.
I got my first issue of Military Spouse Magazine last week. I AM SO DISAPPOINTED! The editorial features were very weak and lacked substance. I felt like the magazine was constantly talking at me. Instead of featuring military spouses who are angry about deployment, the magazine includes thoughtless banter about deployment anger in a very general sense. The only articles that included actual stories about military personnel were sponsored by companies. Home Depot had a Career Profile and so did USAA.
The publication also had an article called, “OPSEC, Part II.” The article never explains the acronym in any of its 500 words or so. I am a military spouse, but I can’t remember every single acronym. I also felt like Military Spouse Magazine was talking down to me with articles such as “How to Buy a Car” and “Get a Job.” I think the tips in these articles are no brainers for anyone over the age of 19.
Some of the most intelligent people I’ve ever met have been military spouses. These women (and a few men) are courageous, generous, and have more life experience than most people in the world. These are the people you should feature in this magazine. They have a wealth of advice and words of wisdom when it comes to military life. We need to see photos and articles with military spouses in this magazine, not generic stock photos and meaningless non-military-related articles (i.e. “Tell the Flu to Split”). I did like the Obama/McCain spread and the article on autism in the magazine, but nothing else was substantive.
I hope the next issue gets better, or I’ll have to sell the remainder of my issues on eBay!
The milspouse.com web site is so much better than the magazine!
I’m a subscriper too and I am with you — so disappointed! Many of the articles are so generic and can not keep my attention. And most of the information they are putting in the magazine you can find anywhere. Unless it gets better, I will not be renewing my subscription!
Hmm — i’ve been thinking about subscribing to that. Let me know if its gets better. Or, this may be a good opportunity to start writing your OWN articles and sending it to them. Who knows, you may get published!
Then you can be telling them what really matters as a military spouse.