Naval Station Norfolk  Military and Family Support Center

Deployments are an inevitable part of military life. Despite the challenges of separation and change, deployments can be managed. Information, planning and skill-building are the keys to managing the deployment. Working in concert with command leadership, the family readiness group and ombudsmen, the Fleet and Family Support Center will help provide the necessary information and practical skills that allow service members and family members to cope with deployment challenges.

Years of experience and knowledge about the deployment process make it possible to design a series of informational programs and support services. The F&FSC provides the following support during the stages of the deployment cycle:

• Pre-Deployment Program: This program covers topics such as the emotional cycles of deployment, financial management, children's reactions, combat stress and inventory of important documents. 
• A mid-deployment brief: This brief is designed for spouses and children to assist with the ups and downs of a deployment. Topics could be on a variety of issues such as stress management, parenting issues, holiday blues, communication concerns and financial management.
• Return and reunion: F&FSC teams ride the ships back to their homeport and present on such topics as returning to children, reestablishing intimacy, a variety of financial programs, combat and operational stress awareness, conflict management, and communication skills.
• Homecoming: F&FSC can provide presentations to the family readiness group in preparation for the homecoming of service members. Topics can include reestablishing intimacy, expectations, changes and children.

Children and Deployment

Hampton Roads’ F&FSC provides age-appropriate materials for children whose parent is deploying. These materials are given out during the pre-deployment brief or during one-on-one consultations with our deployment specialists. F&FSC Hampton Roads has a puppet show geared to helping young children identify and relate to their feelings of concern, anxiety and other emotions or questions they may have about their parent's deployment.

Individual Augmentee Support

With the current demands and need for support for the global war on terrorism, many service members are being selected to serve as individual augmentees. This can be a voluntary or non-voluntary assignment depending on the skills needed. Contact F&FSC Norfolk at 757-444-2102 or visit the FFSC website for information regarding resources, support groups and any other questions you might have.