Families where both spouses are service members have a unique challenge.

While dual-military life is rewarding, time apart can strain communication.

For one local couple, they did not; however, let their dream of serving in the Army put a strain on their relationship.

Aram and Auri Molina’s relationship blossomed almost by fate.

The couple first met in college, and unknowingly followed each other to their place of work.

“Me and my wife we met years ago because we were in school together we actually went to college we were in a class together but we never talked and then years later we have been to end up working in the same spot over in San Luis high school and she was right next to my room,” Aram said.

“I don’t remember him in college even though we had a class together so when we first met it was actually my interview to be at San Luis high school and I was going to the principal’s office and he was coming out and he winked at me,” Auri added.

Three months after they began dating, Aram popped the question.

Since the beginning of their relationship, the couple was considering marriage.

Auri admitted , “when I met him I actually told him if you don’t ask me to marry you within a year we’re going to break up I’m not going to waste my time so we had talked about marriage weeks after we met.”

They were married only eight months later and have now begun their journey as newly married, and newly enlisted in the United States Army.

Having been sworn in only two weeks ago, the couple is excited to see where they will be placed.

“With us getting married, I didn’t know if she was all right with me joining the military at that time as it turns out she just wanted to join with me,” Aram said.

For Aram and Auri, their competitive nature and love for teaching others encouraged them to go for their goal together.

“He told me about him wanting to join the military and I was so excited because I had always thought about that in the back of my mind I just love the physical aspect and the possibilities of going to school and then working and being more hands-on and getting to be more of a leader,’ Auri said.

Aram and Auri agree that they are lucky to be side by side during this big life transition.

Aram said, “It’s everything, I’m glad that she supports me.”

“I think just both of us having similar struggles or being able to support each other, I think that’s going to be helpful that we’re both driven to do the same things,” Auri added.

For Auri, she says it would have been difficult if their dream to join the military had been one-sided .

“We actually talked about me not being in the military before I decided to go in with him and I did not like that option because I felt like I was going to put my dreams or my aspirations on hold so that part would’ve been hard,” she said.

Recently, couples have been coming to the newlyweds asking for advice in joining the military.

“I think that if they’re interested I think their heart is in it and they should just go for it,” Aram said.

Auri encourages military wives or girlfriends to to find balance in their everyday lives.

She said, “I think the advice would also be to find a balance between being in a relationship and for them to individually growing as a person and as a professional.”

The couple believes that their similar dream and personality has allowed them to be stronger as a couple.

“He makes me so much better as a person and also as a human being around the house, that’s an everything with school professionally as athletes and then also in our relationship with God I really really love that about him that he always expects the best but he always gives me his best as well,” Auri said.

“She pushes me to be better and I just love that, this just made me a better person and I think once were well situated in the military I think it’s going to play a huge role in how we do it together,” Aram added.

The couple will be celebrating Valentine’s day in San Diego, with a date at Phil’s BBQ.