Deploying is inevitable for most service members, and some of our troops will deploy multiple times throughout their careers. Deployments can be stressful, but failing to prepare for your upcoming deployment can make the already tense situation even more difficult to manage. The problem can be even worse if you have a spouse or children who will also be impacted by your deployment.

Before you leave for your deployment, it’s important to take the necessary steps and precautions to ensure you’re well-prepared. The more prepared you are for your deployment, the easier it will be to manage the different stressors you may encounter during your experience.

5 Things to Do Before You Deploy

If you’ve never prepared for deployment before, you may be unsure of what steps to take to adequately prepare yourself and your family for this major life change. Below, we provide some tips to help you prepare for your time overseas so the transition happens as smoothly as possible.

1. Take Care of Your Finances

One of the first steps in preparing for deployment is to take care of your finances before you leave. You don’t want to have your bills go unpaid or to leave your family scrambling to make arrangements in your absence. Instead, you should make a plan to care for your finances while you’re away so you don’t come home facing more stress than necessary.

An easy way to make sure your bills are paid on time is to set up automatic payments. Most bills or utilities will allow you to set up automatic payments through their online portals, meaning you’ll be able to avoid late fees. If there are any bills that don’t allow you to set up automatic payments, you should ask a loved one you trust to take care of the payments for you by providing them with your login details and other important information so you don’t miss any payments.

Another important step to take in your preparations is analyzing your budget. You want to cancel any services you’re not going to be using while you’re away, such as internet or other services. Make sure you’re tracking your expenses so you know how much you’ll need to pay each month and have a plan to put away some money each paycheck so you have a decent amount saved for emergencies or future purchases when you get home.

Finally, you’ll want to analyze your insurance coverage to make sure you have enough coverage while you’re away. Take a look at your life and health insurance policies to see if you need to adjust your coverage. You should also consider adjusting your auto insurance policy if your loved ones won’t be using your vehicle while you’re away, which can help you save on insurance costs until you return home.

2. Prepare Your Loved Ones

Your loved ones will also be impacted by your deployment, especially immediate family like your spouse and children. You will need to prepare your loved ones for your absence, which means preparing them for the physical, emotional, and mental reality of you being in another country for months at a time.

One of the most important things you need to come up with is a game plan with your spouse to care for your children if you have them. That might mean arranging for daycare, asking family members to help, or having your spouse temporarily stay home if they aren’t a stay-at-home parent already.

Part of preparing your loved ones also includes communicating with them as much as you can. There will obviously be details about your deployment that you can’t share but try to be as open as possible with your loved ones and address their concerns to help put them at ease during a stressful period. You should also talk with your children about your deployment and answer any questions they may have in age-appropriate ways.

Your loved ones will also want to stay in touch with you while you’re overseas. Even if you can’t communicate often during your deployment, try to establish a regular communication schedule and discuss contact methods. If you expect to encounter any trouble with your ability to communicate while you’re deployed, let your loved ones know this is a possibility.

Don’t forget about your pets when you deploy. If you don’t have a spouse and don’t live with someone who can take care of your pets while you’re away, you may need to arrange to have a family member or friend take care of them while you’re away.

3. Manage Your Legal Matters

It’s important to take care of your legal matters before you leave for deployment just in case something happens. Take some time to update your will and power of attorney so the information is current and reflects what you want. It can be useful to give your spouse power of attorney so they can make decisions for you while you’re away, so it’s worth discussing with them as a possibility.

You should also double-check your beneficiary information to make sure it’s accurate. You’ll want to make sure your benefits go to the right person if something were to happen to you, and the fewer mistakes in your policies, the less trouble it will create for your loved ones.

4. Take Care of Your Home

There are a few things you should do with your home to make sure it’s cared for while you’re gone. For starters, you want to arrange for home maintenance while you’re away, such as lawn care, repairs, or snow removal if necessary. You can arrange for professional service or ask friends and family if they would be willing to help you care for your home while you’re overseas.

If you don’t have family who will be staying in your home while you’re gone, you may want to consider upgrading your security systems. You can install extra locks and home camera systems for an extra sense of security, and you can even request services from a home security company to install an advanced security system in your home.

Finally, you will want to take care of your mail deliveries if there’s no one who will be at your home while you’re away. You don’t want your mailbox to become overfilled with bills and other sensitive postage. Find someone you trust in your life and arrange for them to pick up your mail for you regularly until you can come home to pick it up.

5. Look Out for Your Personal Well-Being

Part of preparing for your upcoming deployment is taking care of yourself and making sure you’re physically and mentally prepared for what you’ll be dealing with overseas. In the time leading up to your deployment, you should be eating healthy, getting exercise, and sleeping enough each night to make sure you’re in prime physical condition before you ship off for months at a time.

If you’re having a hard time mentally adjusting to the idea of being away from home for months at a time or there are things about your deployment that make you anxious or stressed, it’s possible to talk to a mental health professional to get the support you need. Counselors or support groups are a great opportunity to discuss your feelings about your upcoming deployment and find coping strategies that work for you so you can leave for your deployment with the right mindset.

It’s also important to maintain your support network as they’ll be vital to your overall well-being before, during, and after your deployment. Try to regularly communicate with family members and friends so you have a quality support network by your side while you go through your deployment and learn how to manage life once you return home.

Important Things to Consider as You Prepare for Your Deployment

As you make your preparations for your deployment, there are a few things you need to consider before you leave:

●Specific deployment needs: Think about what you might need for your deployment, such as gear, toiletries, and other necessities. You may even want to look into luggage options to help you pack and carry the gear you need to be successful in your overseas operations. Make sure you create a packing list so you don’t forget anything you might need.

●Open communication: When talking with your loved ones about your deployment, try to be open and honest about your feelings or emotions. Your loved ones can only offer their support if they know there’s something going on with you, so it’s important to share if you’re feeling stressed as you prepare, while you’re deployed, or when you return. You may even want to consider talking to a professional before and after you leave if you have stressors or hardships that seem too difficult to handle on your own.

●Military resources: The military offers plenty of resources for service members and their families to help them adjust to the realities of deployment. For example, your unit will have a Family Readiness Group that will act as a support network for your loved ones while you’re deployed overseas, allowing them to access crucial assistance or help when needed. Look up the different resources available for deployed service members and take advantage of the ones you can use.

Find the Gear You Need for Your Next Deployment Here at MLC

Part of preparing for deployment includes creating a packing list and packing everything you need so you’re ready to ship off when your unit leaves. Military Luggage Company has you covered with our wide selection of bags, packs, and cases that we’ve personally vetted to make sure they can withstand the rigors of your military operations. You can choose from products like wheeled loadout bags, duffles, assault packs, kit bags, and more. Browse our complete selection to find exactly what you need for your deployment, or contact us today with your questions.