I have been married for almost a year to my AF husband, and have been around the military for about 5 years now, but I cannot seem to get straight what is celebrated.

For example, I have had to learn the hard way promotions are a HUGE deal, but some more than others, and reenlisting is celebratory. What other occasions do I need to be prepared for and how much is each celebrated?

Having never been praised in my own career has caused me to be ignorant of appreciation of a job well done!

really that is up to the individuals and the command.


But you can expect: changes of command, retirement ceremonies, the Birthday ball for the Branch and aggain for his particual community. There is also something called a Dining Out where spouses are permitted to join in( Dining Ins are STRICTLY the servicemembers only) the annual Holdiay soiree. alos commissioning ceremonies.

Definitely some promotions mean more than others. E-1 to E-2, regardless of branch, is basically a nothing promotion. It just means that you are equal to dirt rather than being lower than dirt. In AF, Army and Marines, E-4 to E-5 is a big deal because of the transition to a leadership role as an NCO. Army can actually make a big deal out of E-4 also if it is to CPL rather than SPC for the same reason. Navy and CG do that big deal at E-4 because that is where NCO starts.

I know very little about AF (other than they have a whole bunch of stripes and I can't tell anything about them) but I imagine there is something at E-7 or E-8 that is a big deal. I know the Navy and CG make a big deal at E-7 as do the Marines.

Mrsjvb has the rest of it covered.