Spouses and families navigating the Army for the first time can face a bit of culture shock. 

A warm welcome, like a basket of bread and a phone number, can help, said Holly Dailey, recalling the gift she received from a neighbor more than 30 years ago when she moved to Fort Riley, Kan., her first duty station as an Army spouse. She was excited to start her life, but the gesture carried meaning that has stayed with her. 

“That was the most impactful thing to me,” she said.  “I knew that someone else was on the journey with us and that I was not alone.”  

Now, Dailey and others with the Association of the U.S. Army are working to ensure Army spouses and families feel supported through a new nationwide educational forum aimed at helping them navigate the traditions, terms and social interactions specific to the Army. 

The idea for the events was born from the questions the association received from readers of the book Customs, Courtesies & Traditions of the United States Army: A Primer for Family Members, said Dailey, now director of family readiness with the association. It is the most requested book from the association’s Family Readiness Directorate.

Readers wanted to know more about the topics covered in the slim guidebook, such as appropriate attire for events, flag protocol and ceremonial etiquette. 

Dailey and others covered some of those topics at a Fort Carson event earlier this month, the second one nationally as part of the forum’s rollout. It drew a mix of younger spouses, soldiers and civilians. 

Interest in up-to-date etiquette persists because, as with all social norms, expectations slowly shift, she said. 

But some of the practices remain rooted in tradition, she said. 

Instead of bread, welcome baskets used to be filled with pounds of shelf-stable items, and now they might be filled with items for an infant if appropriate, she said. The point is to ensure the new families and spouses feel connected to the culture they are joining and to understand the history behind the traditions.

More info about the Pikes Peak Chapter of AUSA can be found at facebook.com/PikesPeakChapterAusa.