The Army Wife Handbook: A Complete Social Guide

This is a good start to your reference library when becoming an official Spouse for any career soldier. I say start early. Good to know info for even E1. And to the snob who said it was SO rare to see a junior enlisted spouse as an FRG leader - take your nose out of the air! Per the FRG Regulation, it states the FRG Program belongs to the company commander, but the leader can be anyone who steps up to take the responsibility. And you stress AFTB - well, AFTB programs EMPHASIZE that there is to be no rank in the FRG. It's people like you pointing out trivial crap like this that makes others not want to participate in the FRG. Quit being such a snob & realize that E1-08 - all are part of the big picture.

For those ladies looking for a book about the day to day life of an army spouse, this isn't it. As the army gets more socially casual, a lot of the information included in this book may seem "stuffy" to many people. However, it is still good information to have. There are still commanders out there who require calling cards on New Year's Day, etc. (Don't know what a calling card is? Read the book.) This book helped me tremendously when my husband and I got married. Among other things, it helped me word my invitations correctly for our military wedding and advised me on how to give our chaplain a gratuity. When I was a brand new spouse, The Army Wife Handbook also helped me become comfortable with using titles properly when addressing soldiers. (i.e., I didn't know Warrant Officers were addressed as "Mister".), how to pay proper respect to "The Colors" at parades, balls, and changes of command, and how to go through a receiving line. The chapter on coffees helped me tremendously. (I still remember how nervous I was before my very first coffee... Do I need to bring something? What do I wear?) The chapter dealing with how to dress for certain occasions is a must read for any spouse who attends army functions. I'm a bit old fashioned and have always followed etiquette rules growing up as a civilian. This book is just a natural extension of that in my 'current life' as an army spouse. Enlisted or Officer spouse, new or seasoned, if that describes you too, then you'll find this book to be a valuable resource as well.

I was once a Commissioned Officer's Wife. I called myself a COW-tess after my ex, whom I was married to at the time, passed OCS and became an officer. I didn't take myself (or him) too seriously and had a blast being married to the military but wasn't enamoured of my husband (and that is another story for another time!) This book was a life saver for me. I had learned proper etiquette in high school at my parent's private expense, then thought that I'd never need it again. I did. This book is wonderful for *you* as one who cares about the little things like how to write an invitation, how to correctly set a formal table, etc. needs to know them. I used it. I still have it and while I don't need it any more, it makes a great reference and when not in use, it's bulk doubles as a delightful flower press.If you have an axe to grind or don't think that you will need this book, then for goodness sake, don't buy it! I liked going over to the other side. I liked being invited to parties where the wives who had once not had a reason to be interested in me were inviting me to lunches. I liked that I could entertain with flare. The problem with living on a base is that fraternisation causes gossip. You can't confide something personal lest it gets out, be it to a lower ranking person's spouse or a higher ranking person's spouse. (Call your mother and tell her!) Learn the rules and they will protect you-- it's a good lesson for any way of life.

I think this book is excellent. Those others who wrote dissapproving comments probably have NO IDEA what or how to enter a receiving line, what to talk about, how to dress, etc... This is not a book to teach you how to live as an Army Wife, it is a book to help you learn how to ACT as an Army Wife. I wish more younger spouses would sit down and realize how foolish they make their soldiers look to his superiors because of their ignorance to the customs and courtesies. Most of the younger ones are right out of high school and they think they know-it-all after a few months or maybe a few years. I have been doing this for 17 years, and I know. For all of those Know-it-alls, why don't they try AFTB!! And see how much they REALLY do know it all.

This is an excellent, practical book for the military spouse. My husband is Major in the army and this book is a terrific guide to army life. I wish that more etiquette books were written with this sort of down-to-earth, real-life advice. I highly recommend it to any army wife.