Her Need: Family Commitment
In addition to a greater need for income and domestic responsibilities, the arrival of children creates in many people the need for family commitment. Again, if you don’t have children yet, you may not sense this need, but when the first child arrives, a change may take place that you didn’t anticipate.
Family commitment is not just child care – feeding, clothing, or watching over children to keep them safe. Child care falls under the category of domestic support. Family commitment, on the other hand, is a responsibility for the development of the children, teaching them the values of cooperation and care for each other. It is spending quality time with your children to help them develop into successful adults.
High Ops Tempo and Family Commitment
Many fighter units are executing a “six-on-six-off” schedule – they are gone for six months, then home for six months before leaving again. Tanker and transport pilots continue to see high workloads. It is not uncommon for a heavy pilot to be gone 250-300 days out of the year.
Over time it can take a toll, especially on those with families. There are many articles on the emotional and psychological effects a high operational tempo can have on the families of those who deploy. While difficult to show family commitment in these situations, it is not impossible.
Evidence of this need is a craving for your spouse’s involvement in the educational and moral development of your children. When he or she is helping care for them, you feel very fulfilled and when he or she neglects their development, you feel very frustrated.
We all want our children to be successful, but if you have the need for family commitment, your spouse’s participation in family activities will deposit carloads of love units. In the same way, your spouse’s neglect of your children will noticeably withdraw them.
Prince William and Prince Harry
A “Royal” Family Commitment to Fly
The British royal family is full of military pilots. Prince William served as a search and rescue pilot at RAF Valley in Wales. Prince Harry, his brother, flew Apache helicopters with the Army Air Corps, serving in Afghanistan.
Their uncle, Prince Andrew, was a career naval officer who flew helicopters with distinction in the Falklands War. Their father, Prince Charles, qualified as a military helicopter pilot at RNAS Yeovilton in 1974.
Even their grandfather, Prince Philip, is a qualified pilot. He earned his Royal Air Force wings in 1953.
Prince Charles flying with Prince Philip behind him