For Your Situational Awareness

"For Your Situational Awareness" (FYSA)

While the phrase "Situational Awareness" may have many (mostly military) definitions, the definition that most resonates for this space is this: taking steps to become more aware of one's surroundings and circumstances and respond accordingly and appropriately.

If you're at all like me, you have learned many, many things the HARD way. Grin. :)

And now I find myself firmly entrenched in a community that is full of traditions and unspoken expectations (oh, the irony!). It's a beautiful community and I've been so, so fortunate to have the most incredible women who, for some crazy reason, have been gracious enough to coach me step-by-step through some of the most complex social and formal military functions.

And I am digging it and just soaking it all in.   

And it makes me realize that just taking just a few moments to familiarize yourself with the expectations and protocol is EASY and it can mean the difference between your comfort and unrestrained embarrassment. And, let's be honest - absolutely no one wants to be the recipient of a "Bless her heart!" comment. Choosing to abide by proper protocol is not about "putting on airs"...it is about showing respectful or courteous regard...and, it's about fitting in.

Did I mention it was easy? With Google, it is possible to find etiquette information about absolutely anything so, even if you don't have your own small army of advisers, the information is never farther than your very own computer!

I'll try to post some of the things I'm learning here, so if you want to check-in and read (or, better, make recommendations on what is important to know!), here's the place to see it all in one spot!

HOLIDAYS

Memorial Day (part 1)
Memorial Day (part 2)

MEMORIALS/FUNERALS

EOD Annual Memorial Ceremony (or other formal annual memorial ceremonies) 

PARTIES & FORMALS

Reception/Receiving Line (how to negotiate a potentially confusing tradition)
What to wear to a formal (practical thoughts & tips on how to dress for a formal military function)

EVERYDAY LIVING

Rules of the road (tips for what to expect driving on an Army Installation)

DEPLOYMENT

Care Packages (an interview with several folks "in the know")

GRIEF

Death (how to avoid saying the wrong thing at the wrong time to families who are grieving)
Wounded Warriors (how to avoid further wounding Soldiers & Family members when injury has occurred)
Deployment (things to keep in mind when trying to encourage those with deployed spouses)