Army couples share challenge of raising children

Balancing family life with the demands of the military is not easy - especially when both parents are serving in one of the UK's largest Army garrisons.

Two couples based at Tidworth Camp in Wiltshire, home to thousands of service personnel and their families, have been sharing what it is really like raising children while working in the Army, balancing family life with a job that's not the usual 9-5.

Situated on Salisbury Plain, Tidworth is a major military base where many families live with the pressures of Army life, including long hours and time away from home.

Sergeant Aishlen Taylor and Staff Sergeant Craig Ratcliffe have been together for 15 years. Taylor serves with the Adjutant General's Corps (AGC) while Ratcliffe serves with the Royal Tank Regiment.

They formed a bond while serving out in Afghanistan, soon after tied the knot, and now have two children.

"I think it comes with its challenges," Ratcliffe reflected. "It's not the most ordinary profession.

"Every parent feels that pull between work and parenthood.

"The army does sometimes ask a lot of you but there's also a lot of flex that people probably don't realise in the military."

Taylor said raising children while both are serving can be emotionally difficult.

"It's definitely reduced me to tears at times in terms of being a parent to a service child," she added.

"It was quite rare that our children had both of us home."

But she said support from the military community makes a difference.

"I genuinely cannot fault the support the army gives to parents.

"Our kids know that we enjoy our job and they have a really good life as a result of it."

Like many families in Tidworth, they rely on that support to balance work demands with raising children.

For Lance Corporal Daniel Stapley and Corporal Chloe Stapley, who both serve with the Royal Welsh, family life is about managing competing pressures.

The couple met on her first posting eight years ago and now have a young son.

It was only when she was leaving for her next job three years later that they properly got to know each other, and realised they'd make a good team.

"We created a bond and here we are now three and a bit years later, we're together, married with a beautiful little boy," said Chloe.

Daniel said being part of the Army gives him a strong sense of purpose.

"We're part of the most senior regiment in Wales and being a proud Welshman that matters a lot to me," said Daniel.

"I love that you're part of a bigger picture, not just in the military context but in societal context as well."

But he said the reality of daily life can be challenging.

"We're fortunate that we're in the same unit. We're looked after and our work relationships are really good," added Daniel.

"They understand what we've both got on and what workloads takes priority."

"They've been very supportive of both of us, they've been amazing so far," said Chloe.

But Daniel reflected: "Balance is hard, it's not a normal 9-5 job that we do, and obviously there are times when we're both required to be away. "

Despite that, both couples said they are proud of the life they have built.

"And just normal life stuff, you still want to get out and do things as a family. But we get by alright."

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