Abstract: The men and women who volunteer to join America’s armed forces don’t serve alone. Virtually every soldier, Marine, sailor, airman, and Coast Guardsman who serves this nation is, in turn, served by someone else—often a spouse or partner—who keeps the home fires burning. The spouses of military personnel typically set aside personal goals and even their identities to serve as caregivers, cheerleaders, and coordinators, helping their service members succeed in their missions. Later, when these service members retire from active duty and transition back to civilian life, they continue to rely on the people who love them, especially their spouses and children. Family members support their veterans’ job searches, coordinate medical appointments and benefits, and help them establish new, post-military identities and senses of purpose. For some partners, this support extends to helping their veterans recover from injuries and other long-term effects of military service. Certain of these conditions shadow veterans—and their families—for the remainder of their lives. For spouses, caring for their veterans requires learning not only how to navigate the healthcare system operated by the Veterans Administration but also becoming adept at recognizing and responding to the signals of conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).