How to Communicate During Deployment

Having a loved one in the military can create hardship and stress for any family, especially in the event of a deployment. However, the one thing that remains constant during deployment is the need to keep the lines of communication present and open. Being able to communicate with your military loved one is a wonderful morale booster, as well as a good opportunity to minimize the stress levels on the homefront. It does not matter if the military member is your spouse, your child or friend, it will be essential that you learn how to communicate during a military deployment.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Make sure the correct addresses have been exchanged between the military member and those that will be keeping in touch during the deployment. This also extends to email addresses too. The military member may have an opportunity to use a computer while they are deployed, which will give them a fast way to send a quick greetings to loved ones back home.

2. Become familiar with guidelines and rules for military mail. The military member will be well-briefed on guidelines such as OPSEC, but family and friends of the deployed may not be aware of the rules that extend to different formats of communication and restrictions on what may be sent to deployed military members. Check with local postal services for list of restrictions, and prior to deployment ask military member what the rules of OPSEC consist of so that you will refrain from including too much information in letters and email.

3. Use creativity to communicate during deployments. Try using an audio cassette or video recordings to send a special message to a deployed loved one.

4. Try to answer any questions the service member has asked early in your response. This can help keep the communications flowing and prevent the service member from worrying and wondering.

5. Keep all communications honest. Do not be afraid to express feelings or pretend that everything is always fine. This could be perceived as superficial and fake by the service member and cause them to worry that things are not good on the homefront. So, just be honest and know that it is OK to say, “Hey, I am not feeling fine.”

6. Create a website. With a website, you can post daily diaries, pictures of family and friends, make a chatroom; add music, post newspaper clippings and more. This can be a fun way to help the deployed service member feel connected to life back home.

7. Send deployed military members care-packages. It is always nice to receive a touch of love from home. Ask the service member what they might need and add some special fun touches from home.

8. Read letters and emails over before sending them. It is important to express points clearly and free from confusion. So, read over the communications and make sure all points made are clear and free from being misleading.

9. Refrain from worrying if the response from the service member does not arrive quickly. Remember, they are deployed and may not be in an area that receives mail frequently. They may not have access to computers or they just might be incredibly busy.

Tips & Warnings

• Prior to a service member deploying, it is important to take down all necessary points of contact. This would include contact people at the base they are deploying from.
• Family members can contact the Family Support Center (readiness group), on the base the service member deploys from, for assistance during deployment. They often offer much needed support and comfort to the families of deployed members. So, become familiar and friendly with the services they offer.

Resources

• Military One Source
• Military Postal Service Agency