Customer Reviews

The Army Wife Handbook: A Complete Social Guide

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

As a new Army spouse I found this book to be quite a lifesaver! The Army Wife Handbook details the etiquette and protocol for almost any situation an Army spouse may encounter from Family support groups to planning a military wedding. I now teach tradition and protocol classes for soldiers and family members and this book is my favorite resource. I encourage any Army spouse-husband or wife- to read this book today!

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 am the wife of a lower enlisted soldier and thought I would never need this book after reading the first few chapters while my hubby was in AIT...BUT then I became a FRG Leader at his first duty station and it became my bible. There is a lot of good information in this book, and you don't have to be an Officer's wife to need to know the proper way to address a Christmas Card. You only need respect for the protocols and traditions of our beloved Army !!

I purchased this book when my husband first enlisted. I wanted to know what life would be like in the army for me, the spouse. This book was such a disappointment that I promptly put it back up for sale! I didn't even bother to finish it. Now, I know that it's a "social guide" and it's probably helpful in its own way, (the only reason that it got two stars) but I wouldn't say that it's a must have for every military wife. There's so much more that we need to know as wives, so much more than just how to act at a ball. My advice to all military wives would be to spend your money on other "military wife handbooks" that will be useful in times other than social ones. Believe me, you'll use those other books far more than you will this one.

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.

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.

or thinking about it.

My boyfriend of 3 years is taking me to two Military ball this year(!) and is thinking of going back active. Not having any idea what to expect on either night, I got this, and I can honestly say it has been a great help, and will most likly continue to be one when he becomes active again and I join him in his travels.

It is a great book that covers everything from First Impressions to Military living on post and overseas.

Mrs. Ann Crossley and Carol A Keller have the history and the knowlage and the know how to back this book up, and I am very greatful that they did!

This is a great reference book for new Army wives. From social dinner parties to the proper way to address an invite, rankings, ect. I would recommend this book!

I bought this book for my daughter, at first I hesitated to buy a used book because I wanted to present it to her in front of a group. When the book arrived, it was in perfect shape, like new, and I was happy to give her a book that she would use and be proud of.