We are entering into deployment season here at Ft.Campbell. Although my husband won’t be leaving for a while I know a lot of husbands who are. It reminds me of when we have had to prepare for our previous deployments. It is not a happy time and although you are never 100% ready to say goodbye to your loved one, there are some things you can do before they leave to get ready for a deployment.

Make a deployment bucket list- These are always fun to make as you can get as creative as you would like. You can put things on there you have been meaning to get done and just haven’t been able to. Maybe you want to work on some projects on your house. Maybe you would like to work on one of your hobbies or learn a new one. Set goals for yourself and give yourself a good list of things to focus on. You will be glad you did. You can also add to the list as the deployment starts.

Make sure all the paperwork is in order- From POA (Power of Attorney) to wills. You want to make sure this is all taken care of before your spouse leaves. You want to be able to have access to what you need to have access to. You might not be able to contact your spouse overseas when you need to. A will is also very important to have before your service member goes overseas.

Make a plan for the extra money- Before they leave it is a good idea to sit down with your husband or wife and make a plan for the extra money you will be receiving with the deployment. Do you want to save a certain amount? Pay off some credit cards? Plan a trip to Hawaii after the deployment? You will need to figure this out ahead of time so you don’t end up on different pages on where that extra money is supposed to go.

Figure out your support system- Who will you be able to depend on when your spouse is gone? Who will you call if you need childcare? Who will you call if you are having a difficult day? From your FRG to groups like PWOC and MOPS you should be able to find others who are also going through a deployment that you can connect with.  Going through a deployment with a friend makes it a little easier for both of you.

Like I said before, you can never be fully ready to start a deployment but hopefully you can get yourself in a better place and start off the deployment knowing that you are strong enough to get through it.

What have you done to prepare for a deployment?