"A somber and enlightening look into the lives of the wives of junior enlisted men, too often anonymous and unheard in the military community. The author interviewed hundreds of spouses, Army personnel, and others in the military community and here selects three women whose voices convey the dilemmas faced by many junior enlisted families: Dana, a young, almost stereotypical wife of a junior enlisted soldier; Jennifer, a teenage wife and mother managing a limited lifestyle; and Toni, a more mature, educated, ex-paralegal who leads her husband's unit's Family Support Group."--Jacket.

"MR-1223"--P. [4] of cover. "MR-1223"--Page 4 of cover.

Background of the Research --Why the Army? -- A Word About Locations -- Selection and Description of Research Locations -- Ft. Stewart, Georgia -- Ft. Drum, New York -- Selection of a Unit at the Research Locations -- Spouse Interviews -- Selecting and Interviewing Spouses -- Dana's Story -- Relationship with Family -- Family Plans -- Financial Issues -- Career Ambition and Current Work -- His Future in the Military -- Deployment -- Family Support Group -- Rank Among the Spouses -- Army Policy on Families -- Housing -- Friends -- Household Responsibilities -- Jennifer's Story -- A New Army Wife -- Their Relationship -- Friendships and Family Support Group -- Her Future -- Financial Issues -- Employment -- Parenting -- Toni's Story -- Their Relationship -- Why He Joined the Army -- Off to Basic Training -- Welcome to Ft. Stewart -- Finding a Home -- Getting Busted -- Financial Issues -- Her Pregnancies -- Family Relationship -- Her Friends -- Problems in the Unit -- Family Support Group -- She Has an Influence -- Overview of Dana's Experience -- Overview of Jennifer's Experience -- Overview of Toni's Experience -- Stereotypical Women?.