Toast of the Army!

Isn't that cute?

It's actually the very first line of the division song for the Big Red One (or "BRO" - which commonly referred to as "America's Warfighting Center," "The Fighting First," "The Bloody First," and/or "The Big Dead One.")

Interesting fact: the Big Red One is the oldest division in the United States Army. 

At every formal ball we attend here, every Change of Command Ceremony, and any other formal function that's held at Fort Riley, we're going to be singing this song. I am trying to brush up on the lyrics...which is tough. The first few lines are fun and just kind of roll off the tongue, but then I really stall out. I'll copy the lyrics here...along with a link so you can hear the song played/sung and read a little more about the history of the song!

The Big Red One Song

Toast of the Army,

Favorite Son! Hail to the brave Big Red One!

Always the first to thirst for a fight.

No foe shall challenge our right to victory.

We take the field, A grand sight to see.

Pride of the Infantry.

Men of a great division,

Courage is our tradition,

Forward the Big Red One!

You can see that it's a very simple song...so I'm not sure why it is such a challenge for me to learn! It's kind of like an Alma Mater song...of course, I never learned any of those songs (of the 4 schools from which I matriculated) either...

More often than not, you can hear me around the house belting out "Toast of the Army, Favorite Son!" before humming the rest... :)

Our Army Household

Fact: There are things in every brand new marriage that are new and/or unexpected. 

My mister & I have been married for almost 6 months...and have lived together, in the same household, for a little more than 2 months. As we're adjusting to our new life together, there's certainly been no shortage of laughable moments! I find myself looking at my new home and can't help but feeling that I've indeed arrived on some foreign planet so I took the camera with me everywhere for 1 afternoon....and here's what I discovered...


This "stuff":

I recently took his dress uniform in for cleaning - it took about 10 minutes to remove all these items! It takes even longer to put them back on the uniform...so I don't even try. :)

These books:

War, war, war, war...

The movie collection:

Mostly war titles...100% masculine in any case..

The excessive camouflage:

Camo - hanging. It could also be laying, folded or draping. It comes in all shapes and sizes. 

It.is.everywhere.

The music:
Last week in spin class, we had an entire military-inspired themed workout: Green Berets, Love is a battlefield, War, etc... a real hoot!

The vocabulary:
Not to mention the acronyms that have now been added to my vocabulary. Partial list now includes: FRG, EOD, OCSC, PX, ACS, RLS, BN, BDE, XO, PT, S1, S3, etc etc etc...!


Amusing...indeed :)

A quick note about: deployment care packages

Some of the single greatest inspiration for blog posts come from my very own friends!

"...During the time he was in Afghanistan, our Organization sent care packages to soldiers, and our HR team sent him one...I think, 'Wow...he was going through this and all he got from us was a cheesy little care package.' If you get a chance, ask your spouse if care packages from non-family people are liked by soldiers, or if it is almost like leaving a waitress a nickel tip?"

.. so I did; I put this question to my soldier-husband and I also reached out to one of our unit's FRG Leaders to gain some insight....

It only takes a small about of maturity and graciousness for people to appreciate the thoughtful gestures of others. And soldiers are no different.

But what makes a care package truly USEFUL and most appreciated by soldiers?

Short answer: "It depends"

I should've known it wouldn't be so simple...

Location, location, location:
If the Unit is stationed at a very small base...they are really roughing it. These guys love ANYTHING you can send them - soap, nice toothbrushes, socks, and almost anything else you can think of in the personal hygiene category... They love snacks and nice coffee too.

If the Unit is stationed at a very large and more modern base (like Bagram, population 20K), they'll have access to the basics; no problem. I recently heard about an organization that chose to ship cases upon cases of hand santizer and dry shampoo to units/soldiers stationed at Bagram. While the soldiers appreciated the intention and the thoughtfulness of the gesture, the product went largely unused and even discarded. Very sad. Soldiers stationed at larger bases generally prefer People Magazines, devotionals, popular books, nice coffee, and news from "home." Many soldiers in one of our deployed units simply can't get enough of: Red Bull, hard candy, fruit rollups, cheese crackers with peanut butter, Crystal Lite water flavoring, coffee, almonds and Pringles chips.

Individual preferences:
Within any unit, there are soldiers of various nationalities and from different walks of life. One of the soldiers from our currently deployed unit is from the Philippines originally. She often makes requests for unique food items (we'd have trouble procuring those items in small-town Kansas, but no trouble finding them in the markets of larger cities). Some of the young, single soldiers have unique requests as well - the first that comes to mind is Red Bull (for when they are working an overnight security shift).

Bottom Line:
If I were a business or charitable organization wanting to send a care package, I'd look to partner with or "adopt" a specific Unit that is deploying. I'd take the time to contact that FRG (Family Readiness Group) Leader and ask him/her/them to provide feedback on specific Soldier requests. That's the best, most foolproof way to make sure that only items that are needed are sent because, if soldiers get care packages with items they don't need or won't use, they won't usually pick through them...instead, the contractors and the locals will have access to go pick through those packages. So you want to make sure that the items you send are appropriate...that way you can be sure that the care packages end up in the hands of a Soldier with a need...and not an Iraqi/Afghani contractor.

I hope this helps! I tried to speak in generalities because each location and situation is truly so different, as well as fluid/changing. If you have tips you'd like to share, or questions you'd like to ask, or a desire to support a currently deployed Unit, please message me. :)

A few more favorite photos from the 1SB Ball!

I still had these couple of photos on my camera that I wanted to share. These are actually my favorites so it's kind of funny they're only just now being added...as an after thought. ha!

My husband & me...

Photo booth photos! So fun!

 

     

We really were THIS CLOSE to the action! Here you see the Color Guard requesting permission to "retire the colors."

The Command Sargent Major, the Commanding General and the Brigade Commander discussing the cake.

Hope everyone is having a Wonderful Wednesday!

Love,

me

The Difference Between a Great Ball and a GREAT Ball

I vividly remember my first formal Ball (Marine Corps, in Fort Worth, TX) - I was so nervous! I was in Graduate School at the time and accompanied a very good friend who was also a student. We had so much fun (!), but I was wide-eyed the whole time...just absorbing it all. The soldiers, their dates, those dresses, the traditions - everything! It was also my first experience with a Reception Line...and my date & I totally dodged it. Ouch. Rookie mistake.

Then I attended my first Army formal in June, 2011. My Mister & I were dating at the time and everything was so new and exciting. I felt beautiful in my dress and hovered close by his side as he introduced me to all his friends. And then...there was the dreaded Reception Line, as confusing as ever (I'd even attempted to brush up & learn about it beforehand). My mister introduced us "Major R & my future wife Miss M," which definitely perplexed the adjutant:

"Your wife?"...

"No, my future wife."...

...and, even though we were not engaged, we made it down the entire Line introduced as "Major R & his fiancée."

AWKWARD :)

Our very first Ball together - June, 2011

This past Thursday night, we attended another formal...which was, by far, my FAVORITE. What made this Ball a standout? Maybe was because of the fabulous new venue...and/or the wonderful addition of a photo booth this year...and it also didn't hurt that we were seated at the VIP table {!!!}....

Posing with our table stand from our VIP table.

...but MOST OF ALL, aside from all those things, the thing that meant the very most to me about that night was that it felt like a night spent with FRIENDS. I didn't spend much time by my husband's side being introduced to all his buddies...I was engaged, instead, in conversation with my own friends {and actually got to introduce my husband to a few of them!}...and when we got to that Receiving Line, I knew (personally knew!) 4 of the 5 members of the Host Party.

It was deeply satisfying.

Formal Military Ball Reception Line Protocol

At every formal military Ball, the activity that signals the transition from cocktail hour to the official festivities is the infamous Reception Line (sometimes called "receiving line").

I say "infamous," mostly tongue-in-cheek, only because it is often the single-most activity - of all the evening's events - that seems to cause the most confusion and distress. And, indeed, many mistakes in protocol often occur in the reception line.

My own history with the reception line has been hit-or-miss:

• First Ball attended (Marine Corps; Fort Worth, TX) - avoided/bypassed the Line. 
• Second Ball attended (Army; Fort Riley, KS) - participated in the Line; awkward
• Third Ball attended (EOD Community/all branches of service; Fort Walton Beach, FL) - no Line
• Fourth Ball attended (Army; Fort Riley, KS) - enjoyed the Line!

So here are the nuts-and-bolts of the Reception Line - what it is...and how it works.
The purpose of the Reception Line is to transition from the unofficial social hour (usually a cocktail hour) to the formal event. This is the opportunity for all guests to formally meet the hosts/hostesses and distinguished guests of honor.

• Your invitation will specify the hour that the Reception Line will commence. Tip: though not required, it might not be a bad idea to "hover" close to where the Line will form as the hour approaches because, once the announcement is made to open the Line, it will form QUICKLY. Ideally, you'll be close to the front/first of the line - when your hosts are fresh - rather than trailing and rounding out the end of the line when your hosts have already greeted several hundred other guests and are simply "going through the motions."
• Your invitation may also provide the names of the hosts and the guest(s) of honor for the evening. Tip: you can usually find the bio of each of the Service Member hosts/hostesses and Distinguished Guests online. Take 20 minutes and look up this information!! You will learn the most interesting information about where these folks are from and where they've visited throughout their career, among other things. Don't be shy during social hour - if you see these folks, speak to them! And, you'll be armed with lots of information about them so there shouldn't be a lull in conversation. Just remember: the Reception Line is not the time/place to engage in conversation. Such pleasantries should be reserved for Social Hour.   
• You shouldn't be carrying anything as you proceed through the reception line. Ladies may keep a small purse or clutch but anything else (coats, hats, umbrellas, etc.) should either be checked into the coat check provided in the cocktail area or placed in the Ballroom at your assigned table/seat. If you have a drink leftover from social hour, you'll need to find a way to dispose of it; you should place it on one of the tables in the cocktail area or place it inside the Ballroom at your assigned table/seat. Etiquette does allow for evening gloves to be worn through the Line.
• Drinking and smoking are not allowed in the reception line. Ever. Period.
• Pay attention to how you approach the Line. As a couple joins the reception line, you'll line up side-by-side with the gentleman standing on the side near to the receiving party (hosts). Once a couple approaches the receiving line, gentlemen allow for the ladies to proceed first through the receiving line in single-file order. Ladies always proceed first through the receiving line, even if the lady is the service member.
• Introductions. The adjutant serves as the "announcer" and will be the first person in the receiving line. DO NOT SHAKE his or her hand. As a helpful reminder - this member of the Line will have his/her hands firmly clasped together behind the back. The service member should make the introduction - introducing the guest/spouse and then self using last names only. For example, "Mrs. Smith, Sergeant Smith" or "Miss Nelson, Lieutenant Jones." The adjutant will then announce your name (or names, if a couple) to the host/hostess nearest...and each member of the Host Party will introduce you to the next host/hostess standing to their right....and on down the line you go!
• When shaking hands, a short but polite greeting is necessary. For example, "Good evening, it is a pleasure to meet you." Please reserve conversation for another time...the line must keep moving. 
• Everyone is required to go through the receiving line. Avoiding or bypassing the Line is considered "discourteous action." (Color Guard is the only exception.)

And there you have it!

With a little preparation beforehand and a little practice, you'll surely sparkle and shine as your rock the Reception Line with a genuine, relaxed and confident smile.

Easy, right? :)

Laundry

Whether by design, or by completely innocent coincidence, my husband has learned the hard way...that Velcro...on his uniform...is simply not compatible with my "delicates."

This is just one of many, many pieces of Velcro on the uniform he wears daily!

He has now been banned from doing our laundry...

:)