Finding love when you're in the military might be tough. You're often away for long periods of time, and you're required to live a selfless lifestyle of commitment to things that don't always involve your significant ‘other'. As a military single, you might be wondering where to even start to find that special someone who will stick by you through thick and thin. Take heart! The modern world is full of resources for people just like you.

First off, you should realize that there are plenty of people out there who, for whatever reason, are open to or actively seeking a relationship with a military person. Maybe they grew up in a military family and learned to appreciate the military way of life - the long-distance relationships that can create extra closeness, the dedication to one's country and family, the life of moving to interesting new places every couple of years. Maybe they know that a military husband or wife is likely to make a good, dedicated, selfless partner for life. Or maybe they just like the look of a man or woman in uniform.

Secondly, you should keep in mind that there are plenty of resources for you out there. With today's technology, you can access the internet from even your most remote outposts. You can date online through email and personal sites like Facebook and MySpace. The once-a-week letters between lovers that took ages to get to the front lines, and the single worn photograph of a loved one are things of the past. Now, you can connect online in an instant. You can even chat through the computer and see your partner's face and hear his or her voice. Take courage, military singles, there is plenty of hope for long distance relationships in this day and age.

As you're looking for someone to date, be sure to take your time in the initial phase, since you don't want to waste your time on a relationship that won't work out. Be sure the person you're considering dating is committed to trying a long-distance relationship if that's necessary at this point in your life. Also, be sure he or she knows what to expect from you. Having been in the military for a while, you're probably disciplined, in good physical shape, and you might be something of a neat-nick. If so, make sure such things are clear from the beginning so you don't end up in a relationship where one party or the other is only going to be unhappy in the long run.

As things move along, find different ways to communicate with one another. If you are overseas for a while, you'll want to keep in touch as much as possible. The great part is that even at long distances, military singles have plenty of ways to communicate with potential partners. Try emails, voice and webcam chats, Facebook posts, whatever. But don't be afraid to go old-school, either. Sometimes the most fun form of communication to receive is an old-fashioned, snail mail letter. Since hardly anyone sends these anymore, your girlfriend or boyfriend will be really surprised and appreciative.

However you communicate, be sure that you're talking about things that matter. The advantage of being away from someone is that written words are often more revealing and can be more personal than spoken ones. Don't be afraid to ask and answer tough, silly, or interesting questions on your way to finding that long-term relationship you're seeking.

If you're not quite ready for the long-term thing yet, don't worry about that, either. You can use online military singles sites to find friends and flings as well as serious dating relationships. Talk to lots of people; send lots of emails and see what happens. If you find someone you want to be more committed to, go for it! Being in the military, you probably know how to take hold of something and keep on going, so don't be afraid to take hold of that casual friendship and turn it into something ‘special'.

 Sure, being one among many military singles can be tough. You're always on the move, and your life belongs to something bigger than just you. But there are plenty of ways to find new relationships and to make them work. You just have to start looking!