For better, for worse, for Uncle Sam . . . Today’s military has changed dramatically—and spouses need to be prepared. Approximately half of our 1.4 million fighting men and women are married. And for a military spouse, information and support are not easy to find. Included here is: • How to enroll in the Child Development Homes program • What to do before a permanent change of station (PCS) • How to prepare for the deployment—and the return—of a spouse • Easy ways to calculate benefits, allowances, and special pays

Life as a military spouse is especially tough these days, and information is not easy to find. Today's military has changed dramatically in just the last four years. For example, the introduction of Individual Augmentation (taking a service member from his or her current job and sending him or her to Iraq or Afghanistan for a year, usually with very little notice) has dramatically changed the level of preparedness expected of families. Shore duty no longer means a spouse will not end up deploying-something spouses need to be prepared for. The author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Life as a Military Spouseis a military spouse herself, and in her book readers will find- How to enrol your child in the Child Development Homes program. What you need to do before a permanent change of station (PCS) move. How to prepare for deployment andthe return of a spouse. Little-known but important information such as the fact that a spouse can use his or her spouse's GI bill to further his or her education if they are stationed overseas. Easy ways to calculate benefits, allowances, and special pays.

Expert advice on all aspects of military life A Family's Guide to the Military For Dummies is for the millions of military dependents, family members, and friends who are looking for straightforward guidance to take advantage of the benefits and overcome the challenges unique to life in the military. This comprehensive guide covers such key topics as introducing military life to readers new to the armed forces, financial planning, relocation, deployment, raising kids alone while a partner is away, and taking advantage of the available benefits. It offers tips and advice for dealing with emotions that surround events like deployments, deciphering the acronyms used in daily military life, forming support groups, keeping track of a loved one's whereabouts, and surviving on a military base in a foreign country.

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Everything you need to know to get through the FIRST YEARS as an army spouse or significant other. Revised and Expanded 2nd Edition.No one hands you a guidebook when you enter Army life; you either learn the hard way or stumble upon resources on your own . . . until now. Intro to Army Life gives you the tools and resources necessary to make your transition into the Army lifestyle easier, less stressful and more fun. You don't have to learn the hard way--all the information you need is here, ready to help you make the transition. Along with engaging personal narrative and stories, this book includes:-Army hierarchy and social structure-15 tips for dealing with a deployment-Perks of a military ID-Top 25 Army acronyms-Military discounts and how to find them-Top 10 resources for military children-Fun facts, such as where the term military brat originated-and much moreIntro to Army Life is a North American Book Award winner, and a must-read for any military spouse or significant other.

Let's take the guesswork out of military life! Join me, along with hundreds of other military spouses, and grab your copy of Modern Military Spouse today. It has everything you need to survive the ups and downs of military life! After reading this book, you will be able to... - Prepare and navigate PCS moves, military homecomings and military deployments easier. - Understand terms, acronyms and abbreviations all in one convenient location. - Gain instant access to over 22+ printable checklists. - Learn how to navigate getting an education and managing your career as a military spouse. - Build a budget that will work for your military family, using our step-by-step guide for finances and a downloadable spreadsheet. - Learn the keys to nurturing a military marriage that will survive the challenges of military life. - Help your child through military life using key resources and best tips for parenting military kids. Here's what's included: 14 comprehensive chapters 20+ printable documents and checklists (Including deployment, PCS, marriage, and resume). Receive a link in the book to download the printables. 3 bonus sections (Including acronyms, abbreviations, and terms) What you'll learn: When You Don't Have a Ring What to Do When Your Service Member's Gone Preparing for a Successful Military Marriage Creating a Budget That Works Hitting the Books Military-Style Military Proofing Your Career Building a Strong Support Network Becoming a Good Military Spouse Navigating Military Life with Kids Step-by-Step to PCS Moving and Living Overseas Using Social Media Safely Complete List of Resources for Spouses Abbreviations, Acronyms, and Terms Defined And more! "Jo, JD, and Lauren did the hard work for all of us! They took an overwhelming amount of confusing and out-of-date information for military spouses and turned it into a fun, modern book. This guide helps you understand military life and find the resources you are looking for." - Jen Pilcher, Founder, MilitaryOneClick.com "Finally! A military spouse handbook that I can recommend to new spouses! This book is the friend I wish I had when I was a young Navy wife. I wouldn't have felt so alone, so unusual and so un-military if someone would have given me Modern Military Spouse along with my dependent ID. Modern Military Spouse is a mentor, a drinking buddy, and a confidant for today's military spouse." - Michelle Volkmann, managing editor, NextGen MilSpouse

The Unofficial Scoop on Military Life Whether you're dating, engaged, or married to an active military servicemember or reservist -- or you've just signed up yourself -- you may feel as if you've somehow married the United States military! While there are plenty of orientation books for him, there are almost no handy, user-friendly resources for you. Meredith Leyva, a military wife and founder of CinCHouse.com, the Internet's largest community for military wives, girlfriends, and women in uniform, details everything you need to know to manage day-to-day issues and get on with the adventure of military life. From relocation to deployment, protocol to finances, and career to kids, Leyva offers time-tested advice about: ? Keeping your love life together during deployments ? Relocating yourself and your family around the world ? Maintaining your own career when you're expected to move every three years ? Understanding what pay and benefits you're entitled to -- and how to maximize them ? Translating those odd acronyms and jargon Written by a seasoned military wife, this smart and savvy guide will help you take control at every point of your servicemember's career -- from filing marriage papers as newlyweds to choosing prenatal and child care when you start a family to figuring out his pension when he's ready to retire.