Greeting a loved one after a long deployment is one of the absolute joys a military spouse can experience.
But the months before, the time spent apart, can be the hardest. And it's not just the absence.
Some issues are the day-to-day things many of us take for — like a permanent home, a job, education.
"Military spouses, a lot of the stress rests on their shoulders, particularly if they have children in the family," said Rep. Elise Stefanik, (R) 21st Congressional District.
Stefanik is pushing for a bundle of bills she believes would help ease that stress and allow spouses to become their own people in their new community.
They'd no longer be forced to quit a job or school at a moment’s notice, and instead get six months to figure it out.
In another, they'd no longer be required to establish a new residency with each move, which eliminates tax and voting headaches.
They'd also get some much needed financial help and an expedited timeline with updating a job license in every new state.
"So to have that bureaucratic red tape on top of that, we want to ease the burden for military spouses," said Stefanik.
"The benefits accrue not just to the Fort Drum community, but they accrue to the civilian community," said Brian Ashley, FDRLO director.
Ashley, who directs the community organization that lobbies in support of Fort Drum, says military spouses can have the skills and knowledge to improve the North Country and we can't be making it harder for them to do that.
"Think about that. Somebody comes with a talent, comes with a profession, comes with a professional license and we can take advantage of that right away, or in a short period of time, that's just so good for us," said Ashley.
Stefanik also hoping these bills will fast track into law. She says they've passed the house with zero opposition.