Does the military prepare you for hosting a family Thanksgiving dinner party and cooking a 20lb turkey?

No...learn on the fly!

Maj Marty Hogan Christine C Cullinan LTC Stephen F. LTC (Join to see) COL Mikel J. Burroughs SGT John " Mac " McConnell SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SPC Margaret Higgins SrA Christopher Wright SFC William Farrell PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SGT Robert George Alan K. Cynthia Croft SSgt Robert Marx SCPO Morris Ramsey SFC Shirley Whitfield SMSgt Minister Gerald A. "Doc" Thomas SSgt (Join to see) SGT Brian Nile

I have been a guest in some homes where the stress level is pretty high and the discipline to keep one's mouth shut is pretty low. It seems like those active duty and veterans were able to keep their heads and at least enjoy the meal if not the conversation, with the occasional drunken exception.

Nope, my Mom taught me how to cook. The last Thanksgiving I had in the States I cooked the bird and all for my brother's family because his wife got sick. They were to have all her family there as well, about thirty or so. Not too difficult.