That’s a challenging situation for sure, and it’s different for every couple, you have to be patient and wait to see how things work out.

I have to ask though– have you ever met each other in person or done live video calls? Because it’s not normal to extend deployments for an individual service member like that. Entire units are extended all the time, but usually only for a few weeks or a month, not for 6 months at a time. And typically, any service member who is gone for more than a year is entitled to a week of “R&R” away from their deployment zone. Many travel back to the States to visit family members during that time. So there are some elements of her deployment that sound like red flags to me for an online scam. Please be careful, protect yourself, and do your research. I’m happy to answer questions about what is “normal” in military life and deployments if you have any concerns.