Synopses & Reviews
The first time I attended a National Guard family event, I felt like I had been abducted by aliens recalls Mary Corbett, the author ofNational Guard 101: A Handbook for Spouses. I didn't understand anything I had never been in an armory before. I didn't know the difference between an officer and enlisted soldier. I didn't even know how to address the commander or his wife
Mary decided to wing it, rationalizing that since her husband was just a Guardsman she wasn't a real military wife. After all, military spouses lived on bases, operated within a strict structure of rank, and dealt with long deployments-right? Thank goodness she didn't have to worry about those things
On September 11, 2001, everything changed. Since that horrific act of war, virtually every unit of the National Guard-a force the size of the entire active Army-has served on active duty for one or more of the deployments at home or abroad. The last time the entire National Guard had been mobilized was during World War II. And Mary realized that she and others like her had been real military spouses all along.
America's 365,000+ National Guardsmen and their family members live and work as civilians in nearly 3,000 communities across the United States and her territories, and fight abroad in the defense of our country. National Guard 101 is the only military lifestyle book written specifically for this unique audience.
Corbett's unique book covers a broad range of topics, from practical knowledge about the history of the National Guard and understanding rank to softer subjects like social life in the Guard and family programs. Corbett also details the benefits and assistance resources available to Guard families and guides readers through the process of setting up a Personal Assistance League (PAL) to provide support during deployment.
Acronym-free and written in a lively and informal style, National Guard 101: A Handbook for Spouses demystifies the Guard's unique hybrid civilian-military lifestyle. It is a must-read book for every National Guard family member.
About the Author: Mary Corbett is a professional writer and National Guard wife. She has appeared on The Today Show, Fox News Channel, local television affiliates, and nationally syndicated radio. Her first book, The List: 7 Ways to Tell if He's Going to Marry You in 30 Days or Less was published in 2005. Mary lives in Alpharetta, Georgia, with her husband Major Jon Roscoe, ARNG, their children Holly and William, and their dog Rumsfeld.