How to Stay in Touch with Your Army Loved One While Deployed

While many parents and spouses send their military family members off to Iraq or Afghanistan or other deployments. Many do not know there are ways to stay in touch.

Things You'll Need

• Internet
• Computer
• Unlocked Cell phone
• Myspace Page
• Facebook
• Email
• Letters
• Care packages

Instructions

1. Use the internet
   When soldiers deploy they do have access to the internet. Some, even have access in their quarters and if they have a laptop with them it is a great way to keep communication with them. Some soldiers are not so fortunate. The ones that do not will from time to time have access to internet through the USO or the MWR (Morale, Welfare and Recreation) programs on camp. The problem with this is while they do have access there are a limited amount of computers that they have and sometimes they will have to wait in long lines and only are allowed a certain amount of time.

2. Create a myspace or Facebook profile.
   This allows your son or daughter to always post a short message to all of his/her loved ones when they only have limited time. Before they leave set your page up and add them to your friends list. This lets them go on there post and be done letting you know they are ok and also letting the next soldier to do the same.

3. Set up an e-mail account.
   You can set one up with yahoo, hotmail or gmail for free. If they don't have a myspace or Facebook profile, they can e-mail everyone in their contacts a quick "I am ok" e-mail.

4. Send Letters or Care Packages
   Letters to them are like a kid getting a giant candy bar. Even if you don't hear from them as much as you would like they love getting mail - any mail that is. A letter, a card, a postcard a care package. They really do love this. Not only will your soldier enjoy it his buddies do too. Send extra if you can, there are some who don't get any. Some do not have family and they get as excited as the recipient. Pictures are another thing they love to get.

5. Buy Phone Cards
   The PX sells phone cards and they can use these to make calls to you. Some of them have access to DSN lines that they can call you from as well. Tell them to check all these avenues so they make the most of their ability to keep in contact with you.

6. Get an unlocked cell phone
   Soldiers can purchase unlocked cell phones and buy a phone chip with minutes. This is more expensive, but a really wonderful thing every once in a while to hear a voice from a parent, sibling, child or wife. There is an organization called Cell Phones for Soldier (see resources)

7. Post a message on their myspace and or to one of the friends on their myspace who is deployed with them. Just remember, if you don't hear from them it probably is because they are busy.

Tips & Warnings

• If you get an unlocked cell phone try and get it here they are cheaper.

• Don't go buying expensive phone because they will get all banged up and they lose them too.

• There is a program called Cell phones for soldiers that help give soldiers phones

• If you have extra phones around donate them they are sent to soldiers. The link to Cell phones for Soldiers is below.

Resources

• Cell phones for soldiers
• Yahoo Email
• Hotmail
• Army Morale, Welfare and Recreation
• USO
• Myspace
• Facebook