The deployment schedule has been announced. You’ve been training for months, you’ve had all your shots, and your paperwork is in order. You’re fully prepared to execute orders and accomplish your mission. Can you say the same about your personal life? Is your family prepared to handle its “mission” on the home front?

Leaving loved ones behind is never easy; but knowing they have the tools to take care of themselves in your absence can alleviate worry that can distract you from your operational duties. And just as military personnel make preparations to deploy; family members can also prepare for the lifestyle changes that often accompany deployments.

Preparing your loved ones in advance of your deployment will help ensure a successful deployment for both you AND your family. Communication is critical and it’s a lot easier to have discussions and make plans before a crisis arises.

Operational Readiness
Operational readiness is the foundation of military service, and includes being qualified to perform your duties. You’ll have the necessary training and certifications; you’ll be in good physical condition; you and your unit will be ready for action. Your family can do the same.

Knowing you can count on your teammates is critical to mission success. Family members also have a variety of resources and support networks on which they can depend. Unfortunately, many family members are not aware of the myriad services and resources available to them.

“The biggest issue with family readiness,” according to Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Skip Bowen, “is simple awareness. When [there’s a problem], the biggest obstacle to recovery can be a lack of knowledge of the resources that are available.”

OnWatch recently polled 1,000 active duty and Reserve enlisted Sea Service personnel about family readiness. Only 17 percent said they were “very familiar” with family readiness programs and services available from the Department of Defense (DoD). Just five percent rated their awareness of military child care programs as “excellent.” Almost half of the respondents were “not sure” whether family counseling is provided to their dependents while they’re deployed.

“Some families are kind of timid about looking into these resources or asking questions,” said Deb Edgington, Marine Forces Reserve Family Team Building Program Manager in an interview with OnWatch. “That’s the toughest challenge. We can’t help them if they don’t tell us something, or they don’t ask a question. Family members need to be proactive.”
Most bases have some form of organized family support system. For example, the Navy has Fleet and Family Support Centers and an ombudsman program. The Marine Corps has its Key Volunteer Network (a network of volunteers to keep communication channels open between forward-deployed Marines and their families) and the L.I.N.K.S. Program (a group of Marine spouses who support and educated new spouses about the Marine lifestyle). The Coast Guard also has an ombudsman program to assist family members and provide information about other support systems.

There are also a variety of online resources for military families. The Military OneSource website (www.militaryonesource.com) is available to all members of the military and their families, and provides information about health, deployments, education, finances, legal matters, relationships, and a wealth of other important topics. The site also offers a 24/7 help center, allowing visitors to call or email a consultant for assistance, or post concerns to an online discussion board.

The Navy’s LIFELines website (www.lifelines.navy.mil) includes information on pay and benefits, personal health and safety, relocation, housing, and basic life skills. Marine Corps Community Services sponsors a website (www.usmc-mccs.org) that includes a Family Life section that offers similar information. In addition to information about the KVN and LINKS programs, the site also provides an overview and schedule for the Marine Spouses Series. Workshops and online coursework are available to all Marine spouses who wish to further their personal and professional growth. The Coast Guard’s website also includes a section for spouses (http://www.uscg.mil/spouses/), which includes a new spouse handbook and a summary of the USCG ombudsman program.

There is also a wealth of online resources that are not sponsored by DoD or the services. Many provide valuable information and opportunities to connect with other military family members. Don’t underestimate the value of a friendly shoulder or a sounding board, particularly when they are having similar experiences! A simple Internet search for your family member’s specific relationship (i.e. Navy wife, Marine mom, Coast Guard spouse) will yield lots of sites to explore. Many of these sites can be valuable resources, but remember they are often maintained by military family members who may or may not have reliable information.

Administrative and Financial Readiness
Before your unit deploys, administrative personnel help ensure each member’s security clearances are in order and their military ID’s are up to date. It is the service member’s responsibility to ensure their family is also administratively and financially ready for the deployment.

Many units require each member to have an updated will before they deploy. Base legal offices are available to also provide powers of attorney to ensure a responsible party can take care of finances and other personal matters while you are deployed. Even if you are not required to handle these administrative details before you deploy, do it anyway! Wills, powers of attorney and other financial services are available for any active duty or mobilized Reserve service member from the Judge Advocate General (JAG) office.

Military spouses have their own version of Murphy’s Law: “If the car is going to break down, the toilet’s going to back up, or the kids are going to get sick, it will happen when my spouse is out of the country.” It is better to be as prepared as possible for these contingencies, and in many cases, that means having some financial reserves set aside for emergencies. This is particularly important for Reserve personnel who may experience a significant reduction in income when they are mobilized.

In FRA’s recent OnWatch survey, nearly a quarter of the respondents (23 percent) said they struggled with finances. Deployments can often compound financial problems, potentially lowering your credit rating or, worse, sabotaging your military career.
“ Bad money management can hurt a Sailor’s career, and we are reminded of the many Sailors who’ve lost security clearances because of poor decisions at home,” said Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) Joe Campa.

When money is tight, some turn to “payday loans” to overcome cash shortfalls. These short-term, high-interest (sometimes up to 600-percent) loans are the equivalent to financial quicksand, often creating a growing debt for service members and their families. FRA played an instrumental role in implementing lending cap for loans to military personnel and their families, enacted in the FY 2007 National Defense Authorization Act. Effective 1 October, 2007, military personnel cannot be charged more than 36 percent interest on payday loans.
“ If a Sailor is having financial issues, the answer is not the ‘quick-fix’ of a payday loan,” said Campa. “That’s why we have command financial specialists, with many tools to help Sailors in these situations.”

That message appears to be getting through. In the OnWatch survey, 60 percent of those who responded said they had been briefed about high-interest, short-term payday loans. Almost three out of four (72 percent) said they were aware that legal assistance and financial counseling were available if they needed it.

Unfortunately, returning from a deployment doesn’t always solve financial problems. Service personnel do not pay taxes on their base pay while serving in a designated combat zone. When they are no longer assigned to the combat area, their tax liability resumes and net pay drops. This can be a rude awakening for some.

Personal Readiness
Maintaining relationships on a long-distance basis is difficult, and the stresses of a military deployment don’t make it any easier. But communication can go a long way to ensuring your important relationships remain strong while you’re away.

Before the deployment, discuss how household responsibilities will shift while you are absent. If possible, make your family members feel they are an important part of the deployment by sharing what you can about your mission and responsibilities.

Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Carlton Kent believes communication prior to the deployment can reduce anxiety during the separation. “I can’t stress enough the importance of making the most of the days and weeks prior to deployment,” said Kent. “ “‘Quality time’ is almost an overused phrase, but I am convinced that time well-spent with family before a tour of duty improves the quality and quantity of communication during the deployment.”
Remain as connected as possible to your family while you’re away. It will provide a sense of security for the entire family and can be reassuring when you are far from home. Make a commitment to stay in touch (to the best of your ability) with loved ones while you are away, and ask your family to make a similar commitment. Depending on location, many service members and their families can stay connected through video conferencing, e-mail, instant messaging and other electronic means. Snail mail is slow, but there’s something heartwarming and lasting about a hand-written letter. And don’t forget the children. Sharing audio recordings of Dad or Mom reading a bedtime story or video of Janie’s dance recital can strengthen family ties and provide a springboard for future conversations.

Be Ready
Mission success is directly related to readiness. Understanding the requirements, preparing for contingencies, and communicating openly are critical – both on duty and at home. As you get ready for military duty away from home, be sure your loved ones are prepared to manage the operational, administrative, financial and personal facets of your family life.