Imagine you just moved and then find out your partner's deploying. Don't worry, you can handle it, and there's support when you need it. Here are some tips to help you get through this:
- Make new friends (or at least know people you can count on).
- Get out there and explore.
- Keep talking.
- Prepare with the help of professionals.
A deployment after a move can be challenging, but it can also bring opportunities to make new friends, spend quality time with your family, and get familiar with and settled into your new home and community. Sure, you'll be thinking about your partner who's away, but keeping busy and getting a little help if you need it will make the time pass.
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Make new friends (or, at least know the people you can count on)
If you moved when you were a kid, your parents probably told you to "get out and make new friends." That's still true for adults. Having a group of friends you can count on can help make things easier, so start building your new support network at your new location.
- Attend pre-deployment briefings, meetings and chats to meet other families and find out where to go for help — if you need it.
- Know how to contact the unit's family readiness officer or ombudsman, the installation chaplain or the rear detachment commander.
- Take advantage of programs and services like military support groups or civilian church groups.
Get out there and explore
Exploring your new area can be a fun adventure and a good way to stop feeling like a stranger in town. Try these ways to get familiar with the sights and sounds of your new home:
- Tour the installation and find the commissary, fitness center, library and family center.
- Find a good coffee shop, a bookstore or park that you and your service member will enjoy when the deployment's over.
- Visit the Morale, Welfare and Recreation office to learn more about the installation and to buy tickets to a concert or a nearby theme park.
- Sign up for spouse education programs through your installation's Military and Family Support Center, which can help you settle into your installation and local area. And it can be a great way to make new friends.
Keep talking
Communication is key to keep everyone sane during a deployment. You'll be keeping in touch with your loved one whenever you can, and you can use your communications to show how well you're handling the transition. As you explore your new area, you can do things to make your partner feel a part of your new home, too.
- Use video clips, pictures and letters in creative ways to show your new location to your service member.
- Keep a journal or a list of interesting places to visit and things to do when your service member returns, and share it when you communicate.
- Involve the whole family in your explorations so everyone can play the part of savvy tour guide when your partner comes home.
Prepare (with the help of professionals)
You might have gone through this situation before, but that doesn't mean you have to do it alone this time. Prepare for the deployment and get through it with help from your Military and Family Support Center. The center's programs and services are staffed with professionals who can help you with life's issues during this time.
- Tell trusted family members where you store important papers like school records, powers of attorney and financial documents — you never know when you might need them.
- Make an emergency plan for your new home and make sure everyone knows it.
- Visit your children's school and meet with their teachers to tell them about the deployment.
- Take advantage of programs in the Family Readiness System, like the Deployment Support Program, Relocation Assistance Program or Personal Financial Management Program.
Always remember that you and your family are not alone. If you need help, reach out today for resources and services through Military OneSource or through your installation's Military and Family Support Center.