The Complete Deployment & Reintegration Guide for Families
Navigate every phase of deployment with confidence. From pre-deployment readiness to successful reintegration, this command center guides your family through the entire journey.
TL;DR - Quick Summary
Military deployment typically lasts 6-12 months. Pre-deployment preparation includes: Power of Attorney (free at base legal), financial planning with allotments, updating wills/beneficiaries, and creating communication plan. During deployment: maintain routines for children, join Family Readiness Group (FRG), use Military OneSource for free counseling. Service members receive special pays: Imminent Danger Pay (IDP), Hardship Duty Pay (HDP), Family Separation Allowance (FSA), plus combat zone tax exclusion (CZTE). Reintegration takes time - expect adjustment period of 3-6 months. Professional support available through TRICARE, chaplains, and installation counseling centers. OPSEC reminder: never post deployment dates, locations, or mission details online.
Welcome to your Command Center
This is an interactive tool—as you fill out the planners in Phase 1, your personal action plan at the bottom will update automatically. Look for the cards with text areas to get started.
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FamilyMedia.com is committed to providing best-in-class resources for the military community. This hub is a free tool designed to support military families through every phase of deployment.
A solid foundation makes the entire process smoother. Use these interactive tools to ensure all legal, financial, and household affairs are in order before deployment begins.
Interactive Readiness Checklists
Power of Attorney (POA): Discuss if a General (broad) or Special (specific tasks) POA is needed.
Will & Living Will: Ensure documents are updated and legally sound.
Family Care Plan: A DoD requirement for single parents or dual-military couples with dependents. Formalize guardianship, financial, and logistical plans.
DEERS/ID Cards: Verify all dependents are correctly enrolled in DEERS and have current ID cards.
Review LES & Set Allotments: Understand all pays and deductions. Set up automatic payments for bills.
Deployment Budget: Create a detailed budget accounting for special pays (Hostile Fire Pay, Family Separation Allowance).
Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA): Contact lenders to request interest rate caps (6%) on pre-service loans.
Savings Deposit Program (SDP): If eligible, take advantage of this high-yield (10% annual interest) savings account.
Credit Report Alert: Place an "active duty alert" on credit reports to protect against fraud.
Video Inventory: Record a video of valuables for insurance purposes.
Vehicle Storage Prep: Add fuel stabilizer, disconnect the battery, and update insurance.
Home Maintenance Plan: Arrange for recurring tasks like lawn care or snow removal.
Emergency Contacts: Compile a single document with all critical contacts (repair services, neighbors, FRG leader).
🤝 Our Family Deployment Pact
This is a shared journey. Use this space to define your family's goals and communication plan for this time apart. This becomes your 'why'.
👨👩👧👦 Preparing Children for Deployment
Use a map to show them where their parent is going
Create a 'feelings' chart to help them express emotions
Read age-appropriate books about deployment
Explain that the parent is helping to keep our country safe
Answer their questions honestly but age-appropriately
Create a countdown calendar (that focuses on fun activities, not just days)
Record the deployed parent reading bedtime stories
Decorate a 'hug pillow' with a t-shirt that smells like the parent
Make care packages together to send overseas
Create a photo album or scrapbook of family memories
📋 Downloadable Documents Kit
Essential forms and guides to streamline your pre-deployment preparation.
That Savings Deposit Program payout can be a game-changer for your family's finances. Our strategic calculator shows you exactly how much you'll earn, compares lump-sum vs. withdrawal strategies, and models long-term investment scenarios to turn your deployment bonus into lasting wealth.
Navy Federal Credit Union proudly serves the armed forces, DOD, veterans, and their families. We are committed to providing our members with the best-in-class financial products and services they deserve.
This phase is about thriving, not just surviving. Build resilience with curated resources for emotional wellness, solo parenting, and maintaining operational security.
Mental & Emotional Wellness
Recognize the ups and downs of deployment. Click any phase number to explore that emotional phase in detail.
For many spouses, the single greatest challenge during deployment is finding reliable, affordable childcare. Consistent support is not a luxury—it's essential for your well-being and mission readiness. Proactively explore all available options before you find yourself in a crisis.
Key Resources:
Child Development Centers (CDCs): Your installation's CDC is the most affordable option, but waitlists can be long. Get on the list as early as possible via MilitaryChildCare.com.
Respite Care Programs: Organizations like the Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) offer free or low-cost respite care programs, providing a few hours of relief each month. Check with your local ASYMCA for availability: https://www.asymca.org/
Trusted Networks: Build a small, trusted network of other military spouses for emergency care swaps. Often, your best resource is another parent in the same situation.
Thriving Through the "Middle Slog"
The middle months of a deployment can be the hardest. The initial adrenaline has worn off, and homecoming still feels far away. This is the time to be intentional about your own well-being. Break up the monotony by setting a small, personal goal—like completing an online certification, training for a 5k, or tackling a home project. Re-engage with your support system, even when you don't feel like it.
💡 Professional Support Available
If you're feeling stuck, remember that Military OneSource offers free, confidential coaching sessions that can help you set goals and build resilience.
Inform teachers and school counselors about the deployment.
Give them extra responsibility to foster a sense of contribution.
Respect their need for space but keep communication open.
Be aware of changes in behavior, academics, or friend groups.
💰 Financial Mid-Deployment Check-In
Stay on top of your finances with this simple quarterly checklist.
Review SDP contributions and ensure maximum deposit if eligible
Check all credit reports for fraud via AnnualCreditReport.com
Review monthly spending against the deployment budget and adjust as needed
Confirm all allotments and automatic payments are processing correctly
Update emergency fund if deployment pay allows for additional savings
Review insurance coverage and beneficiaries for any needed changes
OPSEC & Social Media
✗DON'T post specific dates, locations, or countdowns.
✗DON'T reveal unit morale, equipment status, or casualties.
✓DO set all social media profiles to private.
✓DO share that you are proud, but keep it general.
🌱 Self-Care & Resilience Toolkit
Your emotional health matters too. These resources help you thrive, not just survive.
🧘
Mindfulness Apps
Calm, Headspace, or Insight Timer
💪
Virtual Fitness Classes
Free through Military OneSource
👥
Connect with Your FRG
Key Spouse or support network
📝
Journaling Prompts
Process emotions & track growth
A Proud Supporter of Military Families
What you're made of, we're made for.®
For over 100 years, USAA has been committed to serving the financial needs of the military community. From insurance to investments, we proudly support military families on their path to financial security.
Homecoming is a process, not a single event. Manage expectations and reconnect thoughtfully to set the stage for your family's successful new chapter.
"Homecoming is not a single event, but a process of rediscovery—for you, for your service member, and for your family. Be patient with the journey."
The 72-Hour Guide: Managing Expectations
The first three days are a unique adjustment period. Prioritize patience and flexibility over a picture-perfect reunion.
Day 1: Decompression
Expect exhaustion (yours and theirs). Keep visitors to a minimum. Let them sleep and have quiet time. Don't plan a huge celebration.
Day 2: Gentle Re-entry
Talk about what's changed in a low-pressure way. Revisit a favorite local spot. Avoid tackling big relationship or financial issues.
Day 3: Finding Rhythm
Begin discussing routines and expectations slowly. Acknowledge that things feel different. Patience is the most important tool for everyone.
💬 Navigating Common Reintegration Challenges
Homecoming isn't always picture-perfect, and that's completely normal. These challenges are more common than you think.
Deployment changes how we communicate. The deployed spouse may have become more direct and task-focused, while the at-home spouse might have developed different conversation patterns.
Give each other time to readjust communication styles
Be patient with "small talk" - it might feel foreign at first
Practice active listening without trying to "fix" everything
Family routines, roles, and dynamics have shifted. The goal isn't to go back to how things were, but to build a new normal together.
Acknowledge that everyone has grown and changed
Discuss new routines rather than assuming old ones will work
Be flexible as you figure out new family rhythms
Celebrate the independence and strength everyone has gained
Seeking support is a sign of strength, not weakness. Professional help can provide tools and perspective during this transition.
Military OneSource: Free counseling for military families
Military Family Life Counselor (MFLC): Available on most installations
Chaplain Services: Spiritual and emotional support
Consider help if: Arguments are frequent, intimacy feels forced, or children are struggling significantly
Understanding Their Reintegration Journey
Reintegration is a two-way street. While you've been managing the homefront, your service member has been living in a completely different world. Understanding their potential challenges is key to a smoother reunion. Be prepared for sensory overload (crowds and loud noises can be overwhelming), a need for quiet time to decompress, and a period of readjustment as they find their place back in the family's daily rhythm. Patience is your most powerful tool.
🎯 Supporting Their Mental Health
For resources on supporting your service member's mental health after a deployment, visit the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD.
You've done the work. Here is a summary of the key plans you've outlined. Print this and keep it somewhere visible as a reminder of your shared goals and commitments.
Your plan updates automatically as you fill out the sections above
🎯 Our Family's Mission & Purpose
Your family's 'why' will appear here...
🏠 Supporting the Mission from Home
Your support strategies will appear here...
💬 Our Communication Plan
Your communication plan details will appear here...
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Deployment & Reintegration Questions, Answered 💛
Get expert guidance on deployment preparation, family support, and successful reintegration.
Legal & Financial Preparation
What is a Power of Attorney (POA) and which type do I need?
A Power of Attorney (POA) is a legal document that gives a designated person (usually your spouse) the authority to make financial or legal decisions on your behalf. A General POA grants broad powers, while a Special POA is limited to specific actions (like selling a car or home). Most military families need a Special POA for deployment. Your base legal office can prepare these for you for free.
What pay or allowances change during deployment?
If separated from dependents for 30 days or more, Family Separation Allowance is $250 per month when criteria are met. Other pays may apply by location or mission.
What is Imminent Danger or Hostile Fire Pay?
If ordered to designated areas, IDP or HFP may be authorized per DoD policy. Eligibility depends on location and orders.
What admin updates should we do before departure?
Confirm DEERS and TRICARE info, powers of attorney, SGLI beneficiaries, and allotments; your installation legal and finance offices can help. (Process details vary by service; pair this with your local briefings.)
Family Support & Communication
How can I help my children cope with the separation?
Maintaining connection and routine is key.
Be Honest: Explain the deployment in age-appropriate terms.
Stay Connected: Use video calls, record yourself reading stories, or send letters.
Keep Routines: Stick to normal schedules for school, meals, and bedtime to provide stability.
Use Resources: Your base's Fleet & Family Support Center or MWR has resources and counselors to help.
What is OPSEC and what can I safely post online?
OPSEC, or Operational Security, is the practice of protecting information that could endanger a service member or mission. Never post specific dates (departures, returns), locations, troop movements, or details about the mission. A good rule of thumb is to keep posts positive and general. When in doubt, don't post it.
What should I expect during comms blackouts?
Temporary loss of contact can occur for OPSEC or operational reasons; units share official updates through family readiness channels.
How can we prepare kids for separation?
Military OneSource's reintegration resources offer age-appropriate guidance and checklists you can start before departure.
Reintegration & Support
Why does homecoming feel so difficult when it's supposed to be happy?
Reintegration is a process, not a single event. It's completely normal for it to feel awkward or stressful. The service member has been in a highly structured environment, while the at-home spouse has been managing everything solo. It takes time to relearn household roles, reconnect as a couple, and for kids to readjust. Be patient with each other and communicate openly about expectations.
Where can we get counseling during deployment?
Military OneSource and Military and Family Life Counselors provide free, confidential, short-term, non-medical counseling for service members and families.
What supports reintegration after homecoming?
Use MOS reintegration guides and MFLC counseling for stress management, parenting, and relationship readjustment.
Care Packages & Resources
How do I mail care packages to APO/FPO?
Use USPS APO/FPO guidelines, customs forms, and check the latest restricted-items list by ZIP code.
Can the USO help my family?
USO centers are open to currently serving members and dependents with valid IDs, and the USO runs care-package programs supporting deployed troops.
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