That Army Wife Life

Battle Book Instructions

This E-book is intended to give you a starting point. As a Family

Manager Coach™I learned the power of forms and checklists.
Sometimes, having a structure to build your own system around
provides the momentum to help you get things under control. Much of
this book is a “just in case” preventative. As an Army Spouse, we
experience a unique role in our marriage: both independent and
accommodating, a supportive partner and a willingly single parent.
TDYs, Field Exercises, and frequent deployments sometimes mean that
we are the only ones who handle many of our household tasks. The
Battle Book would allow someone to help you out by stepping into your
shoes. That might be a friend helping you out while a child is sick (or
while YOU are sick), your spouse wanting to be more involved after
some time away, or any of the other thousand possibilities.

Know that the suggested information is just a starting point. I

encourage you to adjust and adapt the forms to work for your family. If
you find that something is missing, please let me know! I have based
this book off my own family’s needs so I’m sure there are important
components that I haven’t needed yet!

My recommendation is to use a 2” or larger 3 ring binder for your

battle book. Print out the forms and separate the sections with
dividers. I use clear plastic page protectors for the documents
mentioned in each section’s Document Checklist.

It is important to keep your Battle Book up to date when there

are unit changes and medical updates. While it might seem like
unnecessary work, it can be lifesaver in an emergency and you might
find that putting all this information in one place gives you a great start
on feeling organized!

I hope that this Ebook starts you on a path of making the most
out of the challenges and opportunities of Army Life. I’d love to have
you follow along on my efforts at That Army Wife Life.

You can also reach me through:

That Army Wife Life on Facebook
That Army Wife Life on Twitter

©That Army Wife Life Your Battle Book E-

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 Your Battle Book

Flexible Home Management Strategies for

That Army Wife Life!

©That Army Wife Life Your Battle Book E-

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Your Family:
Your Name:
Spouse:
Children:
Address:
Home Phone:
Mobile Phone:

Local Contact
(a friend or coworker in the local area as an emergency contact}
Name:
Home Phone:
Cell Phone:

Next of Kin
Name:
Address:
Home Phone:
Mobile Phone:

Name:
Address:
Home Phone:
Mobile Phone:

Name:
Address:
Home Phone:
Mobile Phone:

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Section One: Important Contacts
{The Rear Detachment information only applies in the case of deployment, but it would be a good idea to
have the Company and Battalion information any way in case of an emergency.}

FRG
Leader: Phone Number:
Email:

POC
Name: Phone Number:
Email:

Company Rear D
Commander:
Unit:
Rear D Phone Number:

Battalion Rear D
Commander:
Unit:
Rear D Phone Number:

Soldier’s APO Address

Soldier’s Company Address

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Section One: Important Contacts
Emergency Numbers
Police:

Fire Department:

Poison Control:

Local Non-Emergency Numbers

Police Non-Emergency:

Fire Department Non-Emergency:

Electric Company:

Water/Sewer:

Severe Weather:

Primary Care Manager/Clinic (for you):

Address:

Phone:

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Section Two: Children
{You’ll print and fill out one of these for each of your children. Imagine that for some reason a family
friend had to step into your shoes and do everything you do for your child. What would make the day go
smoothly? A specific stuffed animal? A certain plate or cup at meal times? What routines do you use to
make things easier on both of you?}

Child:

School:
Address:

Phone:
Teacher:
Authorized to Pick Up Children:

Clinic/Assigned Doctor:
Phone:

Regular Sitter/Childcare:
Phone:

Medications/Daily Medical Instructions:

Glasses/Contacts Prescription:

Allergies/Food Allergies:

Special Needs:

Document Checklist:
○ Immunization Record
○ Brief Health History
○ Fingerprints
○ Copies of Perscriptions for refill

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Section Two: Children
{Daily Schedule}

Wake-Up:

Morning Routine:

Lunch:

Afternoon Routine:

Dinner:

Evening Routine:

Bedtime:

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Section Two: Children
{After School Activity Calendar: Fill out the regular activities that your children attend. This section will
probably need to be updated seasonally as sports teams change.}

MONDAY TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY THURSDAY

FRIDAY SATURDAY

SUNDAY OTHER:

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Section Three: Household
{Bill Calendar: Fill information for each of your regular bills. Include Credit Cards on this page. Print
multiples of this page if you need more spots.}

Bill: Due Date:

Company: Account Number:
Name on Account:
Payment Method:
Company Contact Info:

Bill: Due Date:

Company: Account Number:
Name on Account:
Payment Method:
Company Contact Info:

Bill: Due Date:

Company: Account Number:
Name on Account:
Payment Method:
Company Contact Info:

Bill: Due Date:

Company: Account Number:
Name on Account:
Payment Method:
Company Contact Info:

Bill: Due Date:

Company: Account Number:
Name on Account:
Payment Method:
Company Contact Info:

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Section Three: Household
{Finances! More than anything else, this is one aspect of your household where you and your soldier need
to be on the same page.Your soldier accesses his pay information through MyPay and can establish a
Read-Only log in for his spouse so you can print documents you might need}

Bank:
Website:
Name on Account:
Account LogIn:
Password Hint/Where to find it:

Bank:
Website:
Name on Account:
Account LogIn:
Password Hint/Where to find it:

Safe Deposit Box Bank:

Address:

Phone:
Authorized Access:

Document Checklist:
o Recent Leave and Earnings Statement (LES)
o Investment Account Statement
o College Savings Plan Statement

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Section Three: Household
Vehicle:
Insurance Company:
Insurance Policy Number:
License Plate:
VIN:

Vehicle:
Insurance Company:
Insurance Policy Number:
License Plate:
VIN:

Vehicle:
Insurance Company:
Insurance Policy Number:
License Plate:
VIN:

Document Checklist:
Copy of Vehicle Registration and Title

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Section Three: Household
{Housing: Include any information pertinent to where your living.}

Housing Office/Property Management:

Address:

Phone Number:

Rental/Homeowner’s Insurance:
Policy Number:

Maintenance Phone Number:

Service Companies
HVAC :
Phone Number:

Plumber:
Phone Number:

Appliances:
Phone Number:

Document Checklist
○ Closing Statement (if you own)
○ Deed(if you own)
○ Mortgage(if you own)
○ Title Insurance(if you own)
○ Lease Agreement
○ Record of Home Improvements
○ Move-in Inspection (I take pictures and include a CD of those pictures)
○ Personal Property Inventory

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Section Four: Pets
{We love our furry and feathered family members. Here’s a place to make sure that someone can take care
of them if you aren’t there to do it.}

Vet Clinic Name:

Address:

Phone:

Boarding Facility:
Address:

Phone:

Microchip Information:

Pet Feeding Instructions:

Pet Care Instructions:

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Section Five: ID and Records
{Here is a place to store copies of important documents. It’s good to have copies anyway
in case something happens to the original}

Document Checklist (copies of):

○ Marriage Certificate
○ Divorce/Separation Papers
○ Birth Certificates
○ Certificates of Educational Achievement
○ Social Security Cards
○ Most recent ORB/ERB
○ Citizenship/Immigration Paperwork
○ Adoption or Custody Paperwork
○ Tricare Card/DEERs enrollment
○ SGLI/any other life insurance policy

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Section Six: Legal
{POAs (Power of Attorney) allows the soldier to assign another individual (like a spouse) the ability to
perform certain actions in the soldier’s name. If you live in on post housing or your off post home has your
soldier’s name on it, a rental/mortgage POA might be a good idea. I have included a sampling of
recommended documents. My recommendation is to meet with a JAG or ACS representative to figure out
which documents are most appropriate for your situation. Place the applicable documents in page
protectors in this section}

Document Checklist

○ Multiple copies of Soldier’s current orders

○ POAs:
Special POA for Bills
Special POA for Military ID Cards
DFAS Special POA
Special POA to Buy/Sell Autos
Special POA Appointment of Guardianship (both soldier and spouse
should have one)
Medical POA
Durable POA for Healthcare

○ Wills (both spouse and soldier)

○ Living Wills (both spouse and soldier)
○ Funeral Wishes (both spouse and soldier)

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Section Six: Casualty Action Plan
{I’m going to be honest...this part sucks. But, some advance planning can help those around you care for
you and your family. It is important to plan.}

It is hard, but absolutely vital, that you discuss the what-if’s that would arise in the case
of a casualty. A good place to start is your Soldier’s DD 93. This is the form that tells the
Army a Soldier’s wishes regarding who is notified, recipient of Death Gratuity, recipient
of unpaid pay and allowances, the person authorized to make desicions regarding funeral
arrangements, and SGLI information.

Notification:
Once you have been notified of a casualty, is there anyone you would like to come be
with you? A good friend in the area, a local family member?
Name:
Home Phone: Cell Phone:

Name:
Home Phone: Cell Phone:

Name:
Home Phone: Cell Phone:

What are your children’s favorite meals?

Does any member of your family have any food allergies or sensitivities?

Are there any foods that you do not eat?

Document Checklist:
○ DD 93: Record of Emergency Data
○ SGLV 8286: ServiceMember’s Group Life Insurance
○ Any additional life insurance
○
○

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Section Six: Casualty Action Plan
{In every family, there are undertones to relationships. Here is a good place to mention any situations. If
you have one parent that doesn’t talk to another, a relative that your Service Member does not talk to,
troubled relationship between spouse and In-Laws, etc. The CAO does not need the details of any
disagreements, but if there are tensions that you would those helping you to know about, write them out. }

For the Casualty Assistance Officer:

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Section Six: Casualty Action Plan
{Contact list of Family/Friends to be notified.}

Name:_________________________ Relationship:________________________
Phone Numbers:__________________________________________________________

Name:_________________________ Relationship:________________________
Phone Numbers:__________________________________________________________

Name:_________________________ Relationship:________________________
Phone Numbers:__________________________________________________________

Name:_________________________ Relationship:________________________
Phone Numbers:__________________________________________________________

Name:_________________________ Relationship:________________________
Phone Numbers:__________________________________________________________

Name:_________________________ Relationship:________________________
Phone Numbers:__________________________________________________________

Name:_________________________ Relationship:________________________
Phone Numbers:__________________________________________________________

Name:_________________________ Relationship:________________________
Phone Numbers:__________________________________________________________

Name:_________________________ Relationship:________________________
Phone Numbers:__________________________________________________________

Name:_________________________ Relationship:________________________
Phone Numbers:__________________________________________________________

Name:_________________________ Relationship:________________________
Phone Numbers:__________________________________________________________

Name:_________________________ Relationship:________________________
Phone Numbers:__________________________________________________________

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Section Six: Casualty Action Plan
{Childcare Plan: Who would you like to take care of your child(ren) in the instance of a casualty? A
certain family member? Are there any specific instructions for their care in this specific situation?}

If your children are at Daycare or School, do you want them picked up and brought
home? If yes, who is authorized to pick them up?

Is there another adult that your children know and feel comfortable with who could make
them feel better while you are busy?

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Resources
That Army Wife Life- Blogging about the challenges and opportunities of Army Life,
discovering how to make it your own.

Army Wife Network- Interactive empowerment for Army Wives. Featuring Field
Exercises, Army Wife Talk Radio, Loving A Soldier blog, and a huge collection of
resources and articles.

Operation: Love Reunited- Discounted photography for military families.

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