Deployment Support

For Sailors, deployments are a fact of life. The deploying community consists of seagoing, aviation and land-based units. Periodically, however, Sailors individually deploy from their parent command to support another command or military service. The IA Sailor and family support team includes: Command IA Coordinator (CIAC), Ombudsman, Family Readiness Group (FRG), & WFL consultant.

Deployment Support Program

Our Deployment Support Program is designed to help educate the military member (single or married), as well as family members understand and anticipate the physical & emotional demands associated with deployment. Deployment Support Program provides pre-deployment, mid-deployment, and post-deployment assistance to military members and family members for short or long term deployments. Command briefs and one-on-one briefs are available as well. Additionally, the Navy’s IA website (https://www.usff.navy.mil/ia/) connects IA Sailors, their families, their commands, and their employers to mobilization information. The website identifies resources to help provide support throughout the IA continuum (pre-deployment, train, and equip, boots on the ground and reintegration). 

Deployment Support also provides pre-deployment, mid-deployment, and post-deployment assistance to military members and family members for short or long term deployments. Command briefs and one-on-one briefs are available.  Fleet & Family Support Center, Telephone 361-961-2372.

Single parents and dual-career military couples may experience even greater anxiety and stress over a deployment. Without a spouse to stay behind, they must make sure their children will be cared for.

Family Care Plan  

Single-parent, dual-military parent, and single-and dual-military pregnant service members must create a Family Care Plan to provide guidance to caregivers during a deployment. Ideally, this should be finished long before orders are received, but in the event it is not, it is essential to develop one before separation occurs. The plan should include information about a guardian that has agreed to care for dependent children under the age of 18, and powers of attorney for medical care, guardianship and the authorization to start or stop financial support. In addition, military identification cards should be issued for children who reside with a single parent or dual-military couple. A letter of instruction to the guardian or escort should contain specific instructions needed for the guardian to ensure the care of the dependents.

Important Documents  

Other items that should be readily accessible to the guardian include: birth certificates, Social Security cards, immunization records, other medical or insurance cards, medication dosages for the child, if necessary, and lists of family member's addresses and phone numbers in case of emergency. It is advisable for parents to make advance contact with their financial institutions, children's doctors, schools and day care providers prior to deployment.

Children and Deployment

Communicate with your Children

It is better for a parent to be honest with their child about a deployment and what is going to occur, how he or she feels about it and how they can work as a family to cope with the other parent being away. This will reduce the child's fears rather than increase them.

Spend Time with your Child

The deploying family member should spend some one-on-one time with each child prior to departing. Young children will readily accept the attention, while older children may pretend to be old enough to handle the separation on their own.

The deploying parent should explain to the child why he or she is leaving and how important it is that they go for the sake of the country. Children will have an easier time accepting the loss if they feel that the parent is performing a critical role while he or she is away.

To get a child to express his or her feelings openly, it is helpful for the deploying parent to express his or her own worries. Express honestly the hopes and fears felt as a parent leaving. The child is likely to relate to the feelings and share theirs in return.

Bring your Child to your Workplace  

It can be hard for children to understand what their parent is doing when he or she is called away. Bringing the children to the workplace, either physically or through pictures or videos, can help them relate to where the parent is when he or she doesn't come home.

Involve the Children in the Departure

Involving children in the departure will help them feel useful in the process. Parents should also allow their children to have a say in what additional chores they will accept while the deployed parent is away. In addition, the children should be present when the parent deploys. It will help them emotionally prepare for the separation.

Instead of returning home immediately, the at-home parent should take the children on a special outing. This will help divert the children's attention from the loss of the day.

Keep your Children involved during the Deployment

1. As the parent staying behind, avoid bottling up feelings of fear, loneliness, sadness and anger. Children will naturally pick up on the emotions as they look to their parent as a model. It is better to establish an environment where children are encouraged to speak openly about their feelings.
2. The family should have some way to measure how much time has elapsed and how long it will be until the deployed member returns. Some families mark off each day on a calendar.
3. The family should establish a set time each week to discuss what they would like to say or write next to the deployed parent.
4. Get the children involved in keeping in contact with the deployed service member. They can draw pictures or write letters of their own.
5. In turn, it is equally important for the deployed member to remain in touch with his or her children. Postcards, pictures with captions, and local newspapers or publications will help the children feel connected to where the parent is and what living conditions are like there. If feasible, send a personal item or letter for each child when mailing anything home.
6. The deployed parent should schedule times to recognize important days to the children including birthdays, holidays and special events, like recitals or plays. If necessary, keep a calendar handy of these days. The at-home spouse should also remind the deployed parent well in advance of these upcoming days/events.
7. The more the family discusses and gets involved in the deployment, the easier it will be for all family members to accept the change.