Communicating with Deployed Service Members

Communicating with Deployed Service Members

Staying in touch is vital.

One of the most effective tools you have is communication.

The importance of this cannot be overstressed! When

Guard families are facing deployment, finding ways

to stay in touch are vital throughout the deployment

process.

Family members should develop plans for staying

in touch before deployment occurs. Letters are probably

the easiest and least expensive way to keep in touch.

Remember, letters should be numbered, as they may

arrive in bunches or out of sequence.

Send photographs, magazine articles, and newspaper stories with your letters to military personnel. Children should be encouraged to draw pictures and cut out cartoons from the newspaper. If possible, send an audiotape or, if possible. Phone calls are great, but long-distance overseas is expensive.

The important thing to remember is to always keep

the lines of communication flowing. As much as you

need air and water, you need to hear from your spouse

and they from you. Children need to hear from their

parents, and vice versa. Many options for communication

are available. Take advantage of them!