During deployment, service members and their families and loved ones face the realities of being separated and what that means for them. It’s especially important to maintain routines, find ways to communicate and stay physically and emotional healthy. Here, you’ll find articles on topics relevant to service members and family members and loved ones.
Tasks & Considerations
Spend time taking care of yourself while your service member is deployed. Maintain good physical and mental health by continuing daily activities. You could even pick up a new hobby, take a yoga class or read a new book. Morale, Welfare and Recreation programs through the military can be a great place to start.
Support networks can range from online or in-person to close family and friends. Find the right support network for your needs, and don’t be afraid to lean on them during difficult times. Visit MilitaryINSTALLATIONS to find local groups at an installation near you.
Seeking help is a sign of strength. Military OneSource is both a call center and a website connecting you to that needed confidential support, whether it involves financial counselng, document translation or confidential non-medical counseling.
The Rest and Recuperation Leave Program provides deployed service members, in certain locations, with an opportunity to have a few days away from hostile fire and imminent danger areas. See the Making the Most of Rest and Recuperation Leave article for more information.
Stay in contact with your service member by sending a care package, writing letters or recording videos. Keep your service member involved and updated on your life. For more tips, read the Staying Connected With Your Service Member During Deployment article.
Children can be heavily impacted by deployment. Service members can stay connected with children by sending letter or, recording. Adults at home can keep children involved in the conversation, through regular and strong communication plans that make for an easier return for everyone. See the Supporting Kids During Deployment for more information.
Planning helps the outcomes for the reunion and reintegration phases of deployment. To learn more, check out the Planning for a Successful Reunion and Reintegration article.
You spent a lot of time preparing for deployment, so be sure to use those resources and skill sets during this phase of deployment. Check in with your personal and legal affairs. Revisit your pre-deployment checklists.
Before sharing information about your service member’s deployment on social media or with friends, make sure you’re following operations security guidelines. For more information, see the Safety and Security During Deployment article.
Each branch of service offers emergency financial assistance through their respective relief organizations. If loved ones are pre-authorized, they can request emergency financial assistance through these relief organizations. Members of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force can reference their associated organization for more details.
Spend time taking care of yourself while your service member is deployed. Maintain good physical and mental health by continuing daily activities. You could even pick up a new hobby, take a yoga class or read a new book. Morale, Welfare and Recreation programs through the military can be a great place to start.
Support networks can range from online or in-person to close family and friends. Find the right support network for your needs, and don’t be afraid to lean on them during difficult times. Visit MilitaryINSTALLATIONS to find local groups at an installation near you.
Seeking help is a sign of strength. Military OneSource is both a call center and a website connecting you to that needed confidential support, whether it involves financial counselng, document translation or confidential non-medical counseling.
The Rest and Recuperation Leave Program provides deployed service members, in certain locations, with an opportunity to have a few days away from hostile fire and imminent danger areas. See the Making the Most of Rest and Recuperation Leave article for more information.
Stay in contact with your service member by sending a care package, writing letters or recording videos. Keep your service member involved and updated on your life. For more tips, read the Staying Connected With Your Service Member During Deployment article.
Children can be heavily impacted by deployment. Service members can stay connected with children by sending letter or, recording. Adults at home can keep children involved in the conversation, through regular and strong communication plans that make for an easier return for everyone. See the Supporting Kids During Deployment for more information.
Planning helps the outcomes for the reunion and reintegration phases of deployment. To learn more, check out the Planning for a Successful Reunion and Reintegration article.
You spent a lot of time preparing for deployment, so be sure to use those resources and skill sets during this phase of deployment. Check in with your personal and legal affairs. Revisit your pre-deployment checklists.
Before sharing information about your service member’s deployment on social media or with friends, make sure you’re following operations security guidelines. For more information, see the Safety and Security During Deployment article.
Each branch of service offers emergency financial assistance through their respective relief organizations. If loved ones are pre-authorized, they can request emergency financial assistance through these relief organizations. Members of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force can reference their associated organization for more details.
Navy-Marine Corps relief organization that provides service members and their families with financial assistance in times of need.
Air Force relief organization that provides service members and their families with financial assistance in times of need.
Army relief organization that provides service members and their families with financial assistance in times of need.
A benefit available to surviving spouses or children of service members who were killed in the line of duty.
The Department of Defense offers military parents a variety of child care services so they can find solutions that fit their needs — including on-installation care through MilitaryChildCare.com, expanded options for hourly, flexible and on-demand care through Military OneSource, and help managing expenses for off-installation care through the Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood program offered through Child Care Aware of America.
A not-for-profit organization that helps service members, veterans and their families with the challenges of the military, including emergencies during deployment.
Military and Family Support Center specific to the Air Force that provides community support programs and services.
Military and Family Support Center specific to Army family relationships.
