Danger of the career

It was a small detachment, way out in the country, and he gets called out late at night. Regular thing, right? So now, you’re lying in bed at four in the morning, wondering if he's going to come home again. You can’t help it. We might not talk about it, but everybody feels it. It’s tough. Believe me. It’s really tough. - Family Member

I worried about dad a lot when he was away. And I know it was really hard on my mom. - Family Member

The dangers on the job can result in ongoing fear and unease for the spouse and family. This is true whether the serving member is away on military deployment for several months or is an RCMP officer at risk every time they respond to an event.  

Family members often report living with some level of fear or anxiety when the service member is away.  While this may be the life the spouses “signed up for”, knowing the dangers and living them every day are often very different things. The strain increases when there are children in the family. Spouses can be worn down by years of hoping for the best, but on some level, being prepared for the worst.