Whether married or single, parent, partner, cousin or child of a soldier, we want you to tell us all about your Army family. Follow #OurArmyFamily on Twitter and Instagram for more stories. This issue, Kelly Ball tells us about Army life with soldier husband James, seven-year-old son Logan and dog Barney…


We have been an Army family for just over eight years. I think Army life is extremely hard, but I have definitely enjoyed it more since working, having my own identity and not being ‘dependent’.

You aren’t always going to get on with everyone but that’s no reason not to try. I’ve made some amazing friends whilst moving around, but sometimes it’s taken me a whole year to feel like I have met people I can be close to.

Those friends are the best thing about Army life. it’s so nice to have someone wherever you may be that you can talk, laugh and cry with. Another plus is my son having the  opportunity to see things he never would have done usually.

Arriving in Germany when I was seven months pregnant and didn’t know anyone was tough. I hated living in a block of flats as the only couple with a child. Those two years were the worst, I felt so alone, with no family around to help in a new country. Fortunately, James doesn’t often go away for long spells so we have been lucky so far. When he went to Kenya, my son had nursery and I had work, which helped us both, and then on weekends I just kept him busy.

After this posting we will have lived overseas for half of our Army life. However, with video messaging we catch up plenty with family back home. I do get sad that we don’t see them as much, but we will be back one day and then they won’t be able to get rid of us!

All of our postings have had good and bad points. I was nervous to come back to Germany but luckily we have a house this time, our neighbours are lovely and I’m doing a job I thoroughly enjoy. There is so much to do here and the school is very good at getting my son out on trips and seeing some great places.

My advice to others is to get out there. If you can, take some time for yourself, get a job, meet people and enjoy it. Laugh a lot and take everything with a pinch of salt!


Do you and your loved ones want to share what makes up your #OurArmy Family? Send your details to editor@aff.org.uk

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