A Family's Guide to the Military For Dummies [Paperback]

Sheryl Garrett (Author), Sue Hoppin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 27, 2008

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.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Your personal how-tohandbook for living yourbest life as a military family

Looking for a clear, concise guide to military life? Whether you're new to the armed forces or planning your latest relocation, this plain-English handbook has expert tips for overcoming the challenges and taking advantage of the benefits unique to life in the military. From living on a base to financial planning to deployment, you'll see how to find all the support your family needs.

• Grasp the boot camp basics — understand rank and military hierarchy, find your way around a base, and connect with others in the community

• Take charge of your finances — decipher military compensation, handle your taxes, build credit, and invest for your family's future

• Understand your military benefits — obtain health and dental insurance, utilize the family support centers, explore retirement benefits, and more

• Raise a happy family — from housing and childcare to education and recreation, take advantage of all the military offers

• Handle deployments — prepare for deployment, help children cope, stay connected with your loved one, and manage stress and anxiety

• Transition out of the military — assess the financial benefits, retire from service, and plan for your next career

Open the book and find:

• An overview of military versus civilian lifestyle

• Your place in the military structure

• Educational and employment opportunities

• Family support centers, groups, and associations

• The best benefits for military spouses

• How to avoid scams against service members

• A family's guide to military acronyms

• Programs outside the military you can turn to for support

About the Author

Sheryl Garrett is a financial advisor, author, and speaker. She founded the Garrett Planning Network and is the author of Personal Finance Workbook For Dummies.

Sue Hoppin is the Deputy Director for Spouse Outreach at the Military Officers Association of America. In 2007, Military Spouse magazine placed Sue on their 2007 Who's Who of Military Spouses list.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies (October 27, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470386975
• ISBN-13: 978-0470386972
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #243,252 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Military Spouse Coach, November 29, 2008

By 

Krista Wells "The Military Spouse Coach" (West Hartford CT) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Family's Guide to the Military For Dummies (Paperback)

This book is a must have for military spouses. I am a career counselor for military spouses and I recommended the book to all my clients. It is just packed with resources on dealing with deployment, navigating your career, and understanding all the resources that are out there for military wives and families. The book is a great value and I highly recommend it!
Krista Wells
www.militaryspousecoach.com

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Military Life - a good beginning guide, November 24, 2009

By 

K. E. Francis "MilSpouse" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Family's Guide to the Military For Dummies (Paperback)

As military wife of many many years, and the very proud mother of a former soldier, this book really hit the important points. For a "newbie", I'd highly recommend it as a great starting point, as a reference to finding the information you need and places to get more information. Sue doesn't try to be all things to everyone, she gives a choice of links/hints and educates on some of the finer points that are often forgotten or never told to the newest members of this little world. Believe it or not, there are still "teas" and "balls" and dining ins/dining outs - all of which have their rules, and if you flub that one, your servicemember WILL hear about it later.

Knowing that information in the military is often changeable, and fluid, she give you links to find out those important things, pay, BAH, etc. Sue "translates" the jargon, she reminds you of the "little things" that are sometimes overwhelmed by the day to day life of a deployment, or training. This book doesn't sugarcoat our lives, doesn't wave the flag or denigrate the service, which is all too common in books about the military life. There is no judgment, no placing the military on a pedestal or dragging it through the mud - but her pride in this lifestyle shines through.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hits the Mark!, May 27, 2009

By 

Kate Midden (Florida, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Family's Guide to the Military For Dummies (Paperback)

Sue Hoppin hits the ultimate mark with her book "A Military Family Guide for Dummies". As a military spouse and Gateway Talent Management and Corporate Development Manager for the "Military Spouse Corporate
Career Network" (MSCCN), I know first hand that job readiness can only be accomplished when a military member and their families have control over their military life.

Sue Hoppin takes the military member completely through the military life cycle in her book, something most "military-minded" books never do.
This book is absolutely complete! For instance in Chapter 11 of the Military Family Guide for Dummies, Sue Hoppin provides resources and guidance which assists job seeking military applicants maneuver the many pitfalls of a job search, and maps out meaningful real life employment solutions for military families stretched to the max due to multiple deployments. Once the military life is managed - a job search can be organized in short order. The MSCCN recommends this book to ALL military members and corporations alike when trying to understand the nuances of military life, job readiness and force protection at it's best.

Kate Midden, MSCCN