Military life has a lot of nuts and bolts. You know, the little military-esque things that make up just an ordinary day in the military life but are totally foreign concepts to everyone on the outside.
That's because not only does the military have its own lingo, it also has its own social structure, traditions, expectations and a whole host of resources that we are all supposed to somehow be aware of without even trying.
At Military.com, we know about that stuff. We know because we are living it. We are military spouses, just like you.
So how do you tackle the nuts and bolts? How do you ace military life 101? You read on, that's what you do.
You're new here.
Everyone is the new person sometime. But that doesn't mean you have to be clueless, and it definitely doesn't mean you have to stay clueless. Still planning the military wedding? This could help. Looking for advice on how to make it through boot camp? Go here. Need help diving into military life? Read this. Baffled by military spouses and family benefits? We've got help for that, too.
Have a social life
Studies show that having just one real life, in-person friend can make all the difference. And military family officials really, really want to make that happen for you. That's why the military is packed with clubs and support systems to help you know people in your military unit and beyond.
Maybe you want to get involved in your military unit. The first place to start is your Family Readiness Group with this handy guide. Want to join an on-base spouse club instead? Read about that here. Looking for something a little less traditional? Your base probably has a variety of options, such as a Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) group or a running club. For information on those, contact your base family services office. They'll be able to tell you what other clubs are held on your base. Or turn to Google and search for those things in your area.
Know the tradition ropes
Military life is full of things that are done because they are tradition. Ceremonies, military balls and pretty much any official event is the way it is thanks to tradition. Sometimes the traditions make sense. Sometimes they don't.
If you are looking for a little help understanding those traditions and protocols, we've got information on that here. Got a military ball coming up and want to know what to expect or how to act? Read about that here. Don't know what to wear? We've got that covered here.
