Meet the Member Modays- Rachel D

Hi everyone, my name is Rachel Darling, and my husband, Nick, is an MS-4 prior service (Submarines) Navy student…graduating in May 2014! We don’t have any children yet, but one beloved cat named Taylor.



I grew up about an hour outside of Philadelphia in Boothwyn, PA, and then my family moved not so far away to West Chester, PA when I was in college. Since then, I’ve lived in Kingsland, GA, then Groton, CT, and now here! Next stop for us is Portsmouth, VA, where my husband will be doing his internship in Internal Medicine. Funny enough, almost ten years ago, I spent many a weekend down at Portsmouth while my husband was stationed there on the USS Florida SSGN 728, as were dating at the time. So the trend for us seems to be moving up and down the east coast, and who knows where we will go next!

I graduated from West Chester University in 2003 with a degree in Elementary Education, but then quickly discovered that was not my calling to be a teacher, at least not in a classroom type setting. So since then I’ve been doing mostly administrative type jobs, working with animals, tutoring, as well as a short stint at a mutual fund company. I currently work at USUHS, and I really love working with the students. It is a lot of fun to know what your husband is going through as he moves through different parts of the curriculum, and it really gives you an appreciation of all the hard work and long hours they put in to learning to be a doctor.

It is sometimes difficult to be a military spouse and finding work at each place you go, as you often feel like you are starting over each time. I’ve been fortunate to find employment each time we have moved relatively quickly, although I always like to try and take a few months off when we first arrive to a new duty station to get used to a new place, get myself settled, and meet some new people. I highly recommend for all working spouses to do that if you can, as it helps you feel more connected to your community.

My husband and I got married in 2007, and he was commissioned in 2003, so we are in the Navy for the long haul. I have enjoyed being a military spouse and getting to move around the country and meet new people, and often run into old friends at previous duty stations all the time! We are very fortunate that my husband has wonderful job security, we have great healthcare, and that the military pays him to go to school…can’t beat that for sure.

I’ve also enjoyed being a member of the SSC, and being in the role of Treasurer for two years. SSC not only provides invaluable information and resources, but it is also a great place to make new friends, and to be amongst people who are going through the same thing you are, and the members are an excellent system of support for me. Although I don’t always make it to meetings as much anymore, when I can come, I always look forward to meeting new people and enjoy catching up with everyone.

It’ll be hard to leave here, but I know that our next duty station will also have great people to get to know and bond with, to help us start the next military chapter of our lives.