First, if you're now a seasoned military spouse then you remember those times when you weren't and how difficult they were. If you find yourself engaged or recently married to someone in the military, it can be very overwhelming. This is where Allison's book comes in.
This book is an easy to read introduction to all things Army life. The book covers understanding your soldiers LES (Leave Earnings Statement), navigating the PX and Commissary, rank insignia, and so much more. Allison didn't leave a stone unturned when she wrote this book. It also includes visual guides to help you understand even further, including how various uniforms are to look.
I was able to read it in a matter of a couple hours and even though I'm no longer a military spouse myself, I couldn't put it down. It's great for the newbies, but it's also an awesome refresher to have on hand for all of you seasoned spouses out there. Truly, more books like this need to be out there to help make navigating military life less complicated. Knowledge is power ladies, and knowing protocol and how military life works will get you far. Take the time to educate yourselves and pick up Allison's book. It will impress your soldier beyond belief and make his job so much easier. You won't regret it!
It's available in paperback from Amazon for $10.95 or the Kindle version is only $2.99!
Allison was kind enough to answer a few interview questions so below are her responses. Check it out!
1.) What inspired you to write "Intro to Army Life?"
When I entered the Army lifestyle, I had no idea what to expect nor did I know that there was such a difference between civilian and military lifestyles. I found it was a steep learning curve and that you had to transition very quickly - especially if faced with a deployment. I wanted a resource that gave me a "basic training" of everything I may encounter when I entered the lifestyle and I also sought to understand why, when in uniform or on base, my soldier acted the way he did. There are many great resources out there for Army spouses, but I wanted to create one that compiled all of that information a newbie would need to know in a fun and easy to read format.
2.) What is the most difficult part of being a military spouse? The most rewarding?
The most difficult part of being a military spouse is the frequent and often long separations from your soldier. Soldiers can be called upon at a moments notice - for training, deployments, temporary duty stations, and if in the National Guard, for disaster response.
The most rewarding part of being a military spouse is the pride you have for your soldier and for our country. The friends you meet through the military and the places you travel can be really rewarding experiences as well.
3.) What are your favorite resources available to military families?
There are SO MANY resources available to military families! Honestly, the more you seek them out, the more you can find. Our dependent military ID's come with a lot of perks, so the every day military discounts offered by business owners and corporations have to be one of my favorite resources. The perks available through MWR (Morale Welfare and Recreation) are great too!
4.) What are your favorite words of wisdom to offer to new military spouses and significant others?
In the book, Intro to Army Life, I talk about the attributes I believe will help those in the military lifestyle - positivity, optimism, flexibility, patience and resilience. It can be challenging at times with deployments, PCS's and PTSD situations. I encourage new military spouses to be informed, seek resources available to them and to surround themselves with a positive support network.
Thanks again to Allison for allowing me to review "Intro to Army Life." Such a fabulous book! As always, I was not compensated in any way for this review. I was provided her book free of charge and all opinions are honest and my own.
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