💙 Staying Connected During Deployment: A Guide for Military Moms 💙

As a military parent, you may not always know exactly when or where your child will be deployed. For security reasons, deployment dates remain undisclosed, and unit locations may be classified. While this uncertainty can be tough, there’s one thing that can help ease the stress: **strong communication.**

Separation can feel overwhelming, especially for Army Moms. That’s why making an effort to stay in touch—despite the challenges—is so important.

💬 Finding the Right Way to Communicate

With deployment schedules constantly shifting, planning communication can be tricky. Flexibility is key! Here are the **best ways to stay connected** and make deployment feel a little less distant.

📹 Video Calls: Skype & FaceTime

If your soldier has access to Wi-Fi, video calls are a great way to **see and hear** them in real time. Even a few minutes of face-to-face interaction can make a world of difference. Try scheduling a time when the whole family can gather and check in.

📞 Phone Calls: The Power of Their Voice

Nothing beats hearing your child’s voice after weeks or months apart. Phone calls are perfect for **special occasions** like birthdays or holidays. However, international calls can be costly—check with your service provider for military discounts.

“The Army goes out of their way to make telephone access possible for us, and they do it as quickly as possible.”
— Cathy, mother of Staff Sergeant John Martin

📧 Emails: Fast & Reliable

Emails are one of the **quickest ways** to stay in touch. Share daily updates, send photos, and attach short videos to keep your child connected to home. Many email services show when a message has been read, so you’ll know they received your note.

“We email frequently with our son and his wife. It keeps us feeling close, even when he’s far away.”
— Phyllis, mother of Specialist Antoine Grimes

✉️ Letters: A Personal Touch

There’s something special about handwritten letters. Unlike digital messages, letters can be **saved and re-read** whenever your soldier needs a morale boost. Numbering your letters helps ensure they’re read in the correct order.

“Jodie’s letters were so important. But honestly, the ones we got back meant even more.”
— Buddy, father of Specialist Jodie Wood

📦 Care Packages: A Little Piece of Home

A **care package** filled with their favorite snacks, photos, and little reminders of home can mean the world to a deployed soldier. Be sure to send it early if it’s for a special occasion—mail delivery can take time.

⚠️ Safe Communication: What NOT to Share

While staying in touch is crucial, **security comes first.** Never discuss the following information in emails, phone calls, letters, or online:

• Deployment areas or times
• Unit missions or troop movements
• Port call dates or shore deployments
• Military capabilities or operations
• The planned return date for service members

Note: Depending on training schedules or deployment locations, communication may be limited. If your child can’t reach out often, don’t take it personally—they’re doing their best!

💙 Stay Strong, Stay Connected

Military life comes with challenges, but with the right communication strategies, you and your child can navigate deployment **together.** Even miles apart, your love and support will always reach them. 💌