Hello my dear friend! It is so good to have you here! We are so excited to share this amazing resource with you!
Let me lay a scenario out for you. Your SO is packing, getting ready for your family’s first deployment. You help gather the necessities, packing that bag to its maximum ability and checking off the packing list. They are leaving for months…months…You didn’t want to think about it. They are leaving in the morning and your mind is going a hundred miles per hour. What are you going to do with your time? How are you going to stay SANE?
After all, you have been told that deployment is “normal”.
Then you try looking at the LES, and note that the SDGI is higher than you thought and you wonder why you are getting BAS, BAH or COLA. Plus they are going TDY OCONUS soon and probably should just GOBach but you are trying to decide if you should PCS along with them…
Wow…
Speaking of PCS, should you do a DITY or a PPM move? How are you going to find the best pediatrician, dog park (can you even move your dog?) or should you even get on the waitlist for on-base housing? What about finding new friends and a support system? As a NEW MILSO, all of these situations can come into your mind.
And you may be wondering how to find the answers to your questions!
Having a spouse as a member of the Armed Forces, it likely doesn’t take you long to figure out there’s a whole lot about military life that can be downright confusing. Many times we have wanted to scream, or throw our hands up and just run away.
That is why we created this guide! This guide focuses directly on you as a new MILSO and gives you some insight into some of the more frequently asked questions. Whether you are male or female, with kids or without, we all have questions when we begin this military life.
Does This Sound Like You?
- Feeling alone in military life?
- Confused by all the acronyms?
- Experiencing your first deployment?
- PCSing for the first time?
- Is TRICARE stressing you out?
Then you need this guide!
No matter what you are experiencing as a new MILSO, this guide is here for you—like a best friend pushing you along on this new journey! Look through the chapters and print-ables to give you some simple yet helpful insight, tips and tricks as you navigate.
Noralee and Julie hope that this guide will give you the confidence to begin and steps to take in order to make your years as a MILSO the best you can! Because as we have learned over the years, sometimes the hard way, military life will continue to surprise you, but with the right information you will be able to not only survive, but THRIVE!
Hear What Other MILSOs Have to Say!
“Julie and Noralee have, once again, gone above and beyond for military spouses. Their MILSO 101 book is perfectly titled, a summary of key basics any military spouse or significant other might want to know. Whether it’s deploying, moving, or just finding your footing in your new military life, Julie and Noralee give you things to think about, actions to take, and provide their typical style of realism and comfort. Even after 15 years in military life, I found some nuggets. I appreciated their checklists and an appendix of resources and links, divided by chapter, making it incredibly easy to locate additional information on topics covered.”
-Jen Pasquale, Founder of Pride & Grit
“I so wish I’d had this book when I first became a Navy wife! Even now, seven years later, I learned so much! Whether you have questions about deployment preparation, where to live, a PCS or even how to see the doctor, Noralee and Julie have your back! In true military spouse fashion, these ladies have a wealth of knowledge and a heart for sharing it with others. I cannot recommend taking advantage of their experience enough!”
-Rachel McQuiston, Owner and Chief Care Package Maker, Countdowns and Cupcakes
“Where WAS this book ten years ago!? Encouraging, informative and insightful- “The Newbie’s Guide to Military Life” is the gift I wish I had for myself as a brand new military spouse. It’s also the gift I plan to give to those I love as they begin their own military spouse journey. Noralee Jones & Julie Provost have taken what you can only learn through years of experience and distilled it into a single resource. This guide would have saved me untold hours of research, frustration, trial and error.“
– Becky Hoy Founder, Brave Crate
Included in this guide!
- 10 Chapters based on the most frequently asked questions from new MILSOs
- Handouts and worksheets to supplement chapters and bring solutions!
- Resources list with links and specific posts broken down by topics
- Guide for Acronyms, PCSing list, and more!
- PLUS a guest handout from Rachel with Countdowns and Cupcakes!
Let us help you journey from confusion to confidence as you navigate the first few years in this new life. Read it from cover to cover or take it one topic at a time as they come up. This guide is perfect for personalizing to your needs!
Don’t Delay! Grab Your Copy Today!
And don’t forget to visit my amazing co-writer, Noralee, at MrsNavyMama and sign up for my mailing list for even more military spouse support!!!