Deployment preparation often marks the start of an emotional journey for military families. As a military spouse, you and your service member should aim to emerge from the deployment in a better place than before. This time apart offers a unique opportunity for personal, professional, spiritual, financial, and physical growth. While both of you may be busy preparing, it’s important to mentally brace yourself for how slowly time can sometimes feel — when days stretch into weeks and weeks into months. With specific goals in mind, you and your service member can navigate military deployment successfully.

The Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) plays a pivotal role in assisting military families during these challenging times. ASYMCA programs help families cope with the emotional, financial, legal, and logistical challenges of military deployment, offering essential support and resources.

Pre-Deployment Checklist

I made a pre-military deployment checklist as a helpful reminder, in case you want to consider these tips. First, ensure all of your family’s personal documents are intact in case you need to prove your identity as a dependent or family member of your service member. Another important step is to inform your bank about the deployment and international travel. This was one hiccup my husband experienced — he forgot to update our bank, and his card was locked for a couple of days. I had to wire him funds until he could access the account. Lastly, make sure your DoD (Department of Defense) ID isn’t expiring soon and update it before your sponsor deploys.

ASYMCA hosts workshops and connects military families with networks that assist with financial planning and legal matters, such as creating a power of attorney and living wills, both of which are vital during military family deployments. These services help military spouses manage family finances and legal responsibilities while their service member is deployed.

Emotional Preparation

Getting emotionally prepared for a military deployment is one of the most challenging aspects for military families. Deployment preparation isn’t just about the logistical and financial aspects; it’s also about preparing emotionally for the time apart. It’s normal to feel overwhelmed, so don’t be afraid to cry — and cry again if needed. Releasing those emotions can be therapeutic, trust me. When my husband deployed overseas, I was four months pregnant with twins and faced many emotional days leading up to his departure. My children were still very young, and we hadn’t thought much about how to emotionally prepare them for their dad’s absence. But if we could do it over again, I would have spent more time making happy memories together, taking lots of pictures and videos so we could all look back on them during the deployment.

One piece of advice: start early by communicating your feelings and anxieties with your service member about their deployment. Ask for the clarity and assurance you need. Discuss how to stay connected and make plans for mutual family goals that will build toward your family’s future. ASYMCA provides a wide range of emotional support programs for military families, including peer support groups, counseling services, and programs like Operation Hero, which helps military children build resilience during their parent’s deployment.

Keeping Connected During Military Deployment

Staying connected during deployment is essential for maintaining strong family bonds. One way to do this is by converting your spouse’s civilian phone number to a DSN (Defense Switched Network) number, allowing them to call and text more easily. Be mindful of time zone differences to ensure you’re reaching out at appropriate times.

Messaging apps like Telegram, Signal, or WhatsApp are great tools for staying in touch. My husband and our kids used these apps frequently when he was deployed overseas. The reception wasn’t bad, and our eldest, who was 8 years old at the time, quickly learned how to send voice recordings, create videos, and make voice calls.

Honor the Day of the Deployed

Don’t forget to honor the Day of the Deployed this October. Start planning how you can recognize your service member’s sacrifice by sending a care package. My kids and I would often put together care packages filled with his favorite snacks, simple requests, and hygiene items. Just double-check for any restrictions, and your care package will be good to go!

ASYMCA’s Mission to Serve Those Who Serve

ASYMCA provides essential support to families during military deployment through programs that help maintain strong family connections and ease the challenges of separation. Whether through emotional support, community resources, or practical services, ASYMCA is dedicated to helping military families navigate the deployment journey.

No challenge is too big for ASYMCA, and no problem is too small. Their mission is to provide vital support to military families and service members who sacrifice so much for our country.

Are you and your family deployment-ready? To better prepare, sign up for one of ASYMCA’s resources and services today.

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