The percentage of couples who make up the dual-serving demographic of the U.S. military is small, approximately 1.8% (excluding the Army at time of reporting), according to the latest findings from the Department of War. But for those building simultaneous careers in uniform, it can be “a unique and rewarding experience” with key benefits.
Marines Staff Sgt. Andy D. Galvez, 26, and his wife, Sgt. Vanessa Galvez, 24, both attached to Recruiting Station (RS) Milwaukee in the summer of 2025. The couple, married for four years, shares a 2-year-old daughter named Yaretzi. They also hail from the same 0111 military occupational specialty (MOS), but Andy is currently “working the streets” as a Marine Corps recruiter. As anyone who has served on recruiting duty knows, making mission requires long hours — with one Marine citing 65 to 80 hours as a typical workweek (including weekends).
Andy, who enlisted in 2018, volunteered for recruiting because of its reputation for career progression along with the skills it offers for a future career in the civilian sector. Vanessa, who enlisted one year later, is originally from Wisconsin and says they strategically picked that location for his special duty assignment.
“It’s nice to have family close both for the extra help when we need it and to share this experience with them.”
The couple spoke to Military Families Magazine ahead of the 250th birthday of the Marine Corps last month about the experience of being attached to an RS.
“(It) gives us a shared understanding of the challenges and expectations that come with the Marine Corps lifestyle, especially in a recruiting environment. We know what long days, and high demands look like, so there’s a lot of mutual respect and teamwork in how we support each other,” the Galvezes shared in a joint email response. “It’s not always easy but being part of the same mission — helping shape the future of the Marine Corps, makes it all worth it.”
Communication and balance
Aside from growing their careers, they’re also building a family. Yaretzi turns 3 this coming February. The Bureau of Labor Statistics found that nearly half of American households have two working spouses, but unique to the Galvezes’ career situation is the added requirement for Andy to meet recruit quotas. (Marine Corps Recruiting Command has hit its recruiting goals for every year since 1994, including FY25 — a statistic the Marine Corps Commandant touted in this year’s Force Design Update.)
“We make it a point to stay on the same page whether it’s scheduling, family time, or just checking in on each other mentally. Some days are longer than others, so we remind ourselves that it’s a team effort and that supporting each other through the tough days makes the good days even better,” Vanessa said. “Other things that we do as a couple, is we attend high school sporting events together as well as fairs and other events that Andy is a part of while recruiting.”
They admit though, it is not always easy to make the stars align. “There are moments when our schedules don’t line up or we have to make sacrifices for the mission but that’s where teamwork and communication come in.”
That’s also where the benefit of joint service comes in. They both say that their commitment and discipline as Marines helped to create “a strong foundation of respect and support.”
“We push each other to grow, both personally and professionally, and we get to celebrate milestones together that not everyone fully understands unless they’ve lived it,” they said.
Advice to other dual-serving couples
- Always keep communication at the center of everything.
- Be patient with each other and remember that you’re on the same team, even when the military throws curveballs.
- Don’t compare your paths; support each other’s goals and celebrate each other’s wins.
- No matter how busy life gets, make time for moments outside of work that remind you why you’re doing it all together.
Vanessa and Andy both plan to continue long-term careers as Marines, with a focus on developing themselves as leaders and mentors. Among the benefits that have helped them to-date, professionally and personally, include tuition assistance, financial advising and the Veterans Affairs home loan.
As the Marine Corps marked the milestone of 250 years last month, the Galvezes planned to celebrate at the annual birthday ball, which is a reminder “of the legacy we’re part of. Being a Marine means belonging to something bigger than yourself. It’s about pride, discipline, and carrying on a tradition that’s been built by generations before us.”
