How to Stay in Touch During a Military Deployment

Staying in touch with a loved one during a military deployment is very important. Communication helps maintain the bond you have with the person deployed, it allows them to feel like they are a part of things, even though they are far away and it shows them that they are missed. How easy it is to communicate depends on where the deployment is and what role your loved one is carrying out.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Letters
• Care packages
• Email
• Camera
• Video Recorder

1. Write letters on a weekly basis. All it takes is getting that first letter in the mail from your deployed loved one, and you realize how important getting and receiving letters can be. If you love it that much, they will appreciate it even more.
2. Send care packages every month or every other month. Include toiletry items, books, magazines, their favorite hard candy and recent pictures of family, friends and children.
3. Email every day. Emails are a great way to let them know you are thinking about them. If you don't have time to write a lot, just say, "I'm thinking of you." That's enough.
4. Mail videos of family get-togethers, holidays, birthdays or just you talking. Make sure they can view the video on their computer. If they can't, then send quick video clips by email.
5. Create a Carepage where you can keep you deployed family member up to date on what is going on in your community, and at the same time keep your family and friends up to date on your loved one's deployment status. These sites are private and can be viewed by invitation only.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't get discouraged if you don't get a response right away. This isn't a vacation for the person deployed. They are working hard and need your understanding when they can't immediately respond.
• If you have an emergency and need to contact your deployed family member, you should contact their unit's rear detachment.
• If a serious illness or death in the family occurs, you will need to contact the American Red Cross, who will verify the emergency and contact your deployed family member.
• Don't send too many things in care packages that will need to be brought back home. Deployed service members have limited space to store things, and they don't have a personal assistant to help them carry their belongings when coming home.