Definitely right on the dynamic being the same for service couples, zipperhead_cop, at least in my experience. My wife and I are both navy and the relationship is stronger for it in many regards. In the past three years alone I've spent on average about 8 months away per year and never so much as a "why?" or "again?" in our conversations. She understands my work intimimately, as she was once the same MOC, and has no delusions about what I'm up to at work. She never even batted an eyelid when I told her I was going submarines, just a sly grin and a snyde comment about if I would fit down the hatch. Downside is when you are returning from deployment, anxious to see the missus, only to look through the binos and realize that the ship on your port-side is your wifes...going out to sea! As for working together, we have been lucky that it's never been an issue - always different units - and I've had some pretty understanding bosses. One occassion I was called into my Combat Officer's cabin and told I was going to sea on an exercise to sort out some manning issues...was told I had pick between either the Montreal or VDQ...he paused, asked what ship my wife was on...VDQ, I replied... "Montreal, then I take it?" was his response. "Yessir". No issues, or hassles...all in all I've found my chain of command supportive.