Supporting Service Members With Deployment Preparation

Each year, the military deploys tens of thousands of service members around the world. Planning and preparation is key to a successful deployment, including readiness on the homefront.

Service members are strongly encouraged to work with immediate and extended family members to address financial, legal and household matters to make sure everything back home is secure while they are away. Below are some of the tasks service members should complete during the predeployment phase and how you might be able to help.

Exactly how service members prepare for their upcoming deployment depends on their specific orders to mobilize. Some deployments include an 18-month “cruise” on military ships performing routine patrols. Other service members may land at a forward operating base, or FOB, in combat zones. Others may deploy to duty stations with restaurants and shops you’d recognize back home.

No matter the deployment, service members undergo specialized training, briefings, medical evaluations and counseling.

Learn more about your service member’s predeployment preparations through Plan My Deployment.

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During deployment, communication can be limited and may hinder a service member’s ability to handle challenges back home.

It is recommended service members grant a limited power of attorney to a trusted family member or friend. This ensures someone on the homefront has the legal authority to address necessary legal or economic issues that may come up while the service member is away.

Service members are also encouraged to draft or update a will.

It’s important your service member ensures their DD Form 93, or Record of Emergency Data, and life insurance coverage are current.

Service members are still responsible for their bills while they’re deployed. The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act allows service members to terminate some leases and contracts during deployment, including auto leases, phone contracts or residential leases without fees or penalties. Encourage your service member to contact their installation personal financial management services to:

• Learn about terminating leases due to deployment or PCS.
• Explore other service providers or companies that will suspend or greatly reduce charges while your service member is away, even if it’s not required by law.
• Consider automatic payments for other recurring bills, either with credit cards that will not expire during their deployment or by using direct withdrawal from an active bank account.
• Freeze credit altogether while away in order to prevent identity theft.

Service members should manage the following logistics for their family members prior to deployment.

Deployments may involve special and incentive pay, as well as possible tax exclusions and other benefits for service members sent to specific areas or possessing certain jobs.

Before your service member deploys, make a plan for how you can get in touch with each other, especially if this is your first deployment together. Just like when service members are at basic training, they will be busy and may not have the time or opportunity to respond immediately. It could take several weeks before they are able to contact you. Once they do, they will be able to give you an idea of how frequently they can communicate and by what means.

Also, find out if they can receive care packages at their deployed location and what they’d most like to receive while away. These requests may change based on their deployment experience, so stay flexible.

And remember, letters and notes from loved ones are priceless.

Find out more about what happens during the predeployment phase for service members and their families.

• Learn about the tasks, briefings and other preparations your service member undergoes before deploying at Plan My Deployment, a free online tool available to help military families organize and understand all phases of deployment.
• Visit the Military Deployment Support webpage for an overview of other deployment resources.

National Guard and reserve service members have access to free support services ranging from financial planning to professional counseling. Learn more about available assistance when your Guard or reserve service member is called to active duty.