We recognize families take many forms these days, and whether it’s taking the dog to the vet solo while a partner is away or talking to children about deployment, military families know how to stand strong.
Looking for parenting support during deployment?
Check out these parenting-through-deployment essentials.
Military Family Readiness System
The Military Family Readiness System is a network designed to promote your family’s readiness and quality of life. Through this network, you can receive or request assistance with all phases of the deployment cycle, as well as assistance with military life in general. Support includes but is not limited to:
- Confidential counseling for adults and children
- Exceptional Family Member Program referrals
- Financial readiness, including emergency financial assistance
- Mobilization and deployment readiness
- New Parent Support Program
- Personal and family life readiness
- Relocation assistance
- School liaison assistance with education matters for children grades pre-K through 12
Most family readiness programs and services are offered through your installation Military and Family Support Center. Military and Family Support Centers are open to all service members and their families, including National Guard and reserve, regardless of your branch. You can find your nearest center at MilitaryINSTALLATIONS, or through individual service branches:
Deployment resources for National Guard and reserves
These support services for National Guard and reserve families can help you every step of the way, from mobilization to reunion:
- Command communications: Your command leadership will provide information to you in a variety of ways, including unit website, email, a toll-free number and/or automated multimedia communication systems.
- Reserve component family programs deliver family readiness services through facility-based locations, online and by telephone. While these access points are limited in scope, their referral options are broad, granting you access to other Military Family Readiness System resources.
The following sites and organizations offer more support and services for Guard and reserve members:
Non-military community organizations are also part of the Military Family Readiness System. Your local Military and Family Support Center and National Guard Family Program can connect you with the resources you need.
Military OneSource deployment resources
Military OneSource is available 24/7/365 through both a website and a call center, offering a broad range of information and services to support service members and families before, during and after deployment. With online tools like Plan My Deployment to podcasts from those who have been there, Military OneSource is your one source for deployment assistance.
Military One consultants are also available by phone or live chat to answer questions and connect you with services you need. Call 800-342-9647, use OCONUS calling options or schedule a live chat. All inquiries are confidential.
Deployment resources:
Deployment products:
Parenting Resources
A wide variety of resources are available to support you and your family throughout the deployment life cycle. Explore these helpful resources now so you’ll know where to find support when you need it.
- Sesame Street for Military Families offers several resources for young children of deployed service members, including videos, tips, downloadable documents and more.
- ZERO TO THREE has resources designed specifically for military and veteran families with infants and toddlers. Their parenting tips and resources are useful anytime but can be especially helpful during deployment.
- Thrive is a free, online program for parents and caregivers developed by the Defense Department in partnership with the Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness at Penn State. It provides evidence-based positive parenting tips for stress management, physical activities and healthy eating for children ages 0-18. Check out their extensive list of parent resources and learn how to thrive during deployment.
- The Military OneSource Parenting Resource Center offers an overview of available resources for infants to preschool children, school-age children, youth and teens, and young adults. It also has links for specialized support for families with special needs, survivor families and new parents.
- Installation and DOD MWR Libraries offer in-depth research and reference materials on hundreds of subjects from biography and genealogy to science and technology and everything in between.
- Military OneSource provides free, confidential counseling to help manage the challenges of military life such as deployment adjustments, financial management, parenting and relationship issues, stress management and so much more.
- Installation youth centers offer a variety of recreational programs for youth and teens. Programs vary by location so contact your installation youth center for more information.
- Military OneSource Blog Brigade is an online community where you can read tips and insights on a wide variety of military life topics — written by those who share your experiences.
- School liaisons act as a bridge between families and schools and have resources and partnerships to help military-connected children, youth and teens thrive academically, socially, and emotionally, regardless of duty station, deployments, or transition status. Contact your installation school liaison office for more information. Watch this school liaison overview, and listen to the podcasts below to hear how school liaisons help with a variety of pre-K through 12 education-related issues.
Support for Military
