Deployment Checklist
Whether you've just been called to perform an IA or are deploying for a prolonged period, the following list is designed to ensure all of your personal, professional and financial things are in order.
• Prepare a will
• Complete a power of attorney so that someone you trust can conduct business on your behalf while you are away.
• Register for online access to your accounts. Obtain a PIN and passwords as needed
• Establish automatic payment plans to have your bills paid
Contact a Financial Advisor to discuss your situation prior to departure
Review life insurance coverage for you and your family
Set up a folder to hold receipts, financial and legal documents in your absence
Review your financial arrangements. Make sure all financial accounts are shared with your spouse
Record financial account numbers and take a copy of that record with you when you deploy
Review your financial needs. Ensure that any loans that may be needed are prearranged
Review investment options and consider investing tax-exempt income
Set up automatic deposit, investment and payment services
Discuss budgets for home and deployment expenses
Plan for the unexpected expense like car and home repairs
Consider additional funds in your checking account at all times
If your spouse, relative, friend or CPA will be calculating your taxes while you are away, discuss the details with them in advance. Legal can help.
Active duty pay
Imminent danger/hostile-fire pay
Your reenlistment bonus, if it occurs in a month you served in a combat zone
Pay you earned for meals provided by the military while serving in a combat zone
Awards for suggestions you made when you served in a combat zone
In addition, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) typically grants combat zone extensions for filing income taxes and contributing to Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA). For details visit the IRS website, www.irs.gov.
Legal
Prepare a will
Consider a living will for you and your spouse. Make sure your spouse, relative or friend is aware of its contents.
Consider giving your spouse, relative or trusted friend a power of attorney or limited power of attorney to handle affairs in your absence. (Consult a legal advisor.)
Place important documents in a safe deposit box
Personal Property
q Review your property insurance coverage
q Replace filters on heating and air-conditioning systems
q If there are any repair needs for electrical, climate control and water systems, have them done now
q Make sure your spouse knows how to turn off the hot water heater, water or well pump, gas mains and any other major systems
q Check your smoke detectors
q Label fuses and circuit breakers and show your family members how to use them
q Arrange for a home security system
q If you have a home security system, make sure it works.
q Leave instructions with a neighbor or trusted friend should the alarm activate
q Photograph or videotape the condition of your property
q Update your property inventory with serial numbers
Have the following on hand for household emergencies
q Flashlight
q First-aid kit
q Extra batteries
q Electrical tape
q Candles
q Fire Extinguisher
q Matches
q Bottled water
If you are leaving your home or apartment unattended:
q Complete a temporary change-of-address form
q If you are renting a home or apartment, notify your landlord that you will be gone
q Cancel your newspaper delivery
q Secure any weapons you may have in your home
q Make arrangements with a family member or someone you trust to secure and protect your personal property. Consider a commercial storage facility as an alternative
q Arrange for high-value items ($2,500 or more) to be stored in a secure location like a safety deposit box
Auto
q Review your auto insurance coverage
q Notify your insurance company if your car will not be used or placed in storage. Adjust coverage
q As necessary. Refer to page 10 for tips and suggestions on vehicle storage
q Ensure your vehicle license plates and inspections are current
q Make sure your registration, insurance and inspection stickers are up-to-date.
q Sign-up for roadside emergency service
Prepare a roadside emergency kit:
q Flares
q First-aid kit
q Spare tire
q Snow and ice scraper
q Jack
q Flashlight or lantern
q Maps spare batteries
q A way to seek help (cell phone, calling card or change)
q Ensure vehicle has been serviced
q Make a list of repair facilities (including tire and body shops)
q Make a maintenance schedule (for oil changes and tire realignments, etc.)
Medical
q Make sure DEERS (Defense Eligibility Enrollment Reporting System) is current
q Make sure your spouse understands the military’s Family Member Dental Plan
q Verify TRICARE status for your family
q Review family TRICARE procedures with your spouse
q Check your prescriptions for status of refills and expiration dates
q Ensure you have a spare set of eyeglasses and/or contact lenses
q Consider signing a medical power of attorney for health care decisions in the event of injury
Deploying Overseas
q If your deployment is international, notify your long distance provider to make sure your family is on an international calling plan
q Notify your credit card company if you are taking your card overseas
Other
q Make sure your spouse is aware of financial and computer passwords
q Notify creditors who may offer deployment discounts
q Set-up an emergency communication plan
q Make sure your family’s military I.D. cards are current and will not expire while you are gone
q Notify your children’s school of your deployment
q Arrange care for your pets
q Make sure all shots are up-to-date
q Notify your veterinarian if someone will be taking care of your pet
q Make a list of important e-mail addresses to take with you
DOCUMENTS & RECORDS
It’s important to keep certain paperwork readily available for emergencies. Keep these documents in a secure place such as a safe deposit box or a fire resistant location. These documents should be updated prior to each deployment.
Legal
q Wills
q Powers of attorney
q Birth certificate(s)/adoption records
q Burial and funeral instructions
q Copy of Emergency Data Card (DD Form 93)
q Court orders of documents (Divorce, Child Custody/support)
q Social Security Cards for family members
q Tax records
q Passports/citizenship papers
Financial
q Life Insurance (name & address)
q Bank accounts (checking and savings) numbers, addresses, & phone numbers
o Savings bonds, mutual funds, certificates of deposit, stocks IRA documents
Miscellaneous
q Copies of any contracts (i.e., installment contract, apartment lease)
q Copies of TDY/PCS orders
q Copy of SGLI election form
q Current vaccination records
q Drivers license
q Marriage certificate
q Warranties on car and appliances
q Vehicle titles, registration and inspection certificate
Automobile Information
Insurance Company (name & address)
Auto #1
State registered
License #
Auto #2
(Year/Make/Model)
State registered
License #
Auto #3
(Year/Make/Model)
State registered
License #
Auto #4
(Year/Make/Model)
State registered
License #
DURING YOUR DEPLOYMENT
Remember that each person will react differently to deployment. You may feel like you are on an emotional roller coaster. It’s normal. Visit your Family Readiness Group throughout the deployment for support.
TIPS FOR “SURVIVAL”
• Set goals to help the time pass quickly
• Stay positive
• Stay focused on your mission
• Rely on sources for support like your unit, friends and family
Managing Finances
It can be difficult and stressful managing finances long distance. With a financial plan of action in place before you leave, you can save yourself time and frustration. Refer to the ‘Before you Leave’ section of this guide for more details. Here are some quick reminders:
• Make sure you have online access to your financial accounts such as your bank, insurance and investments.
• Sign-up for automatic bill payments for your accounts.
Gift Giving
With online access you can easily recognize loved ones back home for any occasion.
• Teleflora floral arrangements and keepsakes for special occasions like birthdays or anniversaries.
FAMILY READINESS
This section is mainly for spouses, families and others in the support structure. For family members back home having to take care of a household and family by yourself can be demanding. Deployment can put a strain on any relationship.
Separating from your Spouse
• Be honest. Don’t minimize your fears or the problems you think you may face, but don’t maximize them either. Deal with them realistically.
• Talk about your anxieties. You can’t deal with what you don’t know about. The more open you can be, the better.
• If you or your spouse is angry with the other, or you both fi nd yourselves going through mood swings, do not worry. It’s normal.
• No amount of planning or talking prepares you for the moment of departure. You may be depressed afterward, your spouse may feel abandoned. Through reinforcement and providing support to each other, you’ll both get past it.
Children
A military deployment can be especially diffi cult for children. They may feel a sense of loss or abandonment they find difficult to express. It’s important to keep an open line of communication with them, answer their questions and offer reassurance. How your children react to deployment depends, of course, on their age, their personality and if they have experienced a deployment in the past. The
• Don’t minimize your child’s fears and concerns. Listen carefully and deal with them as directly as possible.
• Make absolutely sure your children know why you are leaving. They may think you are going away because of something they’ve done, or because you don’t love them or your spouse anymore. Make sure they know it has nothing to do with them or your spouse.
• Tell them you love them. This may seem elementary, but it’s important. Even teenagers need the knowledge that their parents care for them, despite the hostility or standoffishness they may project. For smaller children, being loved is a central factor in their lives and how they respond to the world.
• Don’t be closed-mouthed about your own feelings. It doesn’t help children if you can’t voice your own concerns about your deployment and the problems they may face in your absence. Be as open with your children as possible and let them know it’s okay for them to be open with you.
• Children know when you are putting up a front or not telling them the whole truth. Waving away their fears with a brave front may be much more worrisome to a child than the truth.
• Stay connected. Do little things to remain a part of your children’s lives. Take greeting cards with you and send them to your child periodically or keep in touch via email. Before you leave, you might want to record audio or videotapes of you reading your children’s favorite stories.
Helping Children Cope
There are several things you can do to help your children manage during this time. This applies equally to young
children and teenagers.
• Routines are important. It helps to find a routine that you feel comfortable with and stick to it. This includes regular mealtimes, bedtimes, play dates, after-school activities, whatever they are used to.
• Don’t let discipline slip. Separation shouldn’t mean children can do what they want. Use the same rules you had established before deployment.
• Children know things are more difficult for you now. Let them help you. Ask them what chores they would like to be responsible for and expect them to do them. Let them know how much you appreciate their help and how important it is to the family.
Warning signs in children
Some children will have a more difficult time adjusting to the absence of the servicemember. Watch behavior closely.
Consult a pediatrician about unusual behavior.
• Hyperactivity
• Aggressive behavior
• Withdrawn behavior
• Disobedience
• Difficulty speaking or stuttering
• Changes in eating or sleeping habits
• Regressive behavior (fear, thumb sucking, bedwetting, etc.)
Stay in Touch
It’s important to stay in touch with your service member during deployment. Today, there are many ways to communicate during deployment. Before your servicemember departs, discuss what will be available and best for you and your family. In most cases this will be a combination of several options.
• Mail
– Depending on the location, mail delivery can be unpredictable
– Personal letters are always appreciated. But, they do not necessarily arrive in the order they were sent. Consider numbering them.
– Mail audio or video tapes
• E-mail
– Have your servicemember check with his/her command office for availability
– Number emails just like letters
– Keep in mind that email can sometimes be unavailable due to satellite links and field location
– Look into a web camera and digital photography options
• Phone
– Consider a prepaid calling card for you and your servicemember. Phone calls from deployed locations can be very costly.
– Expect delays
– Avoid collect calls
• Emergency Communication
– Have a communication plan for you and your servicemember. If a situation occurs such that the servicemember is unable to reach you, have a trusted friend or relative as a point of contact.
– Have the number for the hospital and Red Cross available
Information on Your Spouse
There are several places you can go for information. The military may have set up a hotline for information on your
spouse’s unit. Your spouse’s branch may have an ombudsman’s office that will supply information. If these fail, you might try the Red Cross or ask your military chaplain for assistance.
Contacting your servicemember in an urgent situation:
• Family Readiness Group Leader will have unit specific instructions
• Family emergencies messages – The American Red Cross sends emergency messages to deployed
service members:
– Provide the name, rank, social security number and command/division of deployed member.
– Commanding officers can grant or deny emergency leave based on regulations for the deployment location. If granted, the servicemember may be responsible for all travel expenses.
Help and Support Groups
As the spouse of a deployed servicemember you are not alone. There are places you can go for support, emergencies, financial and medical advice, and family services. Here are some of the most important ones:
• Army Community Services (ACS), Navy and
Family Support Centers (FSC) are valuable sources of information.
• The USO (United Services Organization) is probably best known for dances and entertainment provided to servicemembers. It also has educational and recreational programs for military spouses and their families.
• The military frequently provides childcare, nurseries, workshops on job skills, libraries, gyms, craft shops, recreational centers, thrift shops and legal assistance. Depending on what branch of the service your spouse is in, there may be an ombudsman’s office to help with problems specific to the military.
• The American Red Cross may be best known for help in large-scale disasters, but it’s also a valuable source for information and referrals as well as instruction in emergency first-aid.
• Most communities have hotlines for family emergencies. (See your local telephone book for the numbers they’re usually in the front of the book.)
Other support resources:
? Military Installation Ombudsman’s Office
? Salvation Army
? Family Advocacy
?
? Installation Chaplain
The USAA Educational Foundation a non-profit organization, www.usaaedfoundation.org 12
• There are chatrooms and websites set up for any kind of need on the Internet. Finding the right one for you may
take a bit of surfing, but there are several military sites for a variety of services.
National Military Family Association
www.nmfa.org
American Red Cross
www.redcross.org
Military sites:
? www.army.mil; www.armyonesource.com
? www.navy.mil; www.navyonesource.com
? www.af.mil; www.airforceonesource.com
? www.usmc.mil; www.mccsonesource.com
Cinchouse
Reserve & National Guard Magazine
Military informational site
AmeriForce Publishing
Military Relief sites:
? www.cgmahq
FAMILY PREPARATIONS CHECKLISTS
Tips for the family member at home
• Discuss emotional concerns with family members
• Work, volunteer, take up a hobby to help pass the time
• Exercise
• Set aside quiet time for yourself
• Prioritize your household tasks
• Write or e-mail your servicemember on a regular basis
• Become active with Family Readiness groups
• Join your unit’s family support group. It offers a variety of activities such as family trips, workshops and self-help groups.
• Join a faith based group
• Contact organizations such as the USO or your
Financial
q Discuss all financial accounts with your servicemember. Do you have a Power of Attorney? Can you act on their behalf if necessary?
q Notify creditors that may offer deployment benefits
q Does Servicemembers Civil Relief Act 2004 apply? Contact your installation Legal Assistance Office for additional information
q Do you have all account numbers and phone numbers for financial institutions?
q Set up a folder to hold receipts and financial documents
q Know all financial and computer passwords
q Discuss how bill paying and managing the bank account will be handled. How will your service member withdraw money if needed during deployment? How will that deduction be recorded?
q Set up automatic deposit and electronic payment services
q Discuss budgets for home and deployment expenses
q Establish a financial account for emergency situations
q Has your servicemember enrolled in the Thrift Savings Plan?
Personal
q Make sure you know how to reach your servicemember while deployed
q Make sure DEERS is up-to-date
q Verify TRICARE status
q Have a list of repair facilities on-hand
q Set-up an emergency communication plan between you and your servicemember (such as a relative or friend) to contact in the event you cannot reach each other
Children and Separation
q Make sure children understand the separation
q Notify your children’s school of a deployed family member
q Plan for communication between children and the deploying servicemember
q Encourage children to ask questions and express their feelings
q Arrange for access to base agencies if needed
q Before departure, make a family video
q Create a family picture collage
q Pre-record bedtime stories
q Make letter writing and e-mailing a fun activity. Color pictures and add to e-mail messages.
Helping Children Cope
There are several suggestions to help your children during the separation period.
• Talk to your child before the deployment and involve them in the preparations
• Encourage them to share their feelings
• Post a geographical map with the deployment location
• Provide a way for them to measure the separation time: calendar, diary, paper chain, etc.
• Keep to your normal routines, to include mealtimes, bedtimes, play dates or whatever they are used to
• Keep to the rules of the house, don’t let discipline slip with the absence of a spouse
• Encourage children to write letters, e-mails, send taped messages or pictures
• Talk about your deployed servicemember in daily conversation so children continue to feel connected
• Let children participate with household chores and tell them how important their participation is to the family
Emergency Plans
q Know the location of important papers
q Set-up an emergency family communication plan
q Consider a home warranty protection plan
q Consider a roadside assistance protection plan
For the home, have the following on hand:
q Flashlight
q First-aid kit
q Extra batteries
q Electrical tape
q Candles
q Fire Extinguisher
q Matches
q Bottled water
For the car, have the following prepared:
q Flares
q First-aid kit
q Spare tire
q Snow and ice scraper
q Jack
q Flashlight or lantern
q Maps and spare batteries
q Jumper cable
q Tool kit
q A way to reach help (cell phone, calling card or proper change)
q Bottled water
COMING HOME
Your homecoming is a time of celebration, but it can also be stressful. Give yourself, family and friends time to return to normal routines. Visit with your family, renew old friendships and take things as they come. If you are married or coming home to children, remember that it takes time for all of you to get used to one another again. The best advice psychologists and family advisors can give you is to be patient; give yourself and your partner time to get back into the rhythm of being a family again.
A few days after you return, sit down with anyone affected by your deployment, at a time when you won’t be disturbed by friends or family. It’s time to talk business.
Update your personal information
q Call to cancel a Power of Attorney.
Once the dust has settled and your personal life is back to normal, it’s time to review and improve for the next deployment. Many people ignore this part of the deployment cycle and as a result, they repeat the same mistakes over and over again throughout their military career. In some cases, just as things return to “normal,” you may be notifi ed of your next deployment. Here are few suggestions to make preparing for the next deployment easier.
• Examine your accounts, pay off bills and check ongoing payment plans and update as needed.
• Consult a financial planner to sort through financial issues and develop long-range solutions.
• Review and adjust insurance coverages. Establish a plan for your property, auto and home protection for the next time you deploy.
• Address issues your spouse or relative had to overcome while you were away and determine a better way for the next time.
• Write down everything you learned and place it with the receipts, financial and legal documents folder you developed before you deployed the last time.
IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS
Police ___________________________________________
Fire Department ___________________________________
Hospital _________________________________________
Doctor ___________________________________________
Pediatrician ______________________________________
School __________________________________________
Babysitters or Childcare ____________________________
Veterinarian _____________________________________
Installation Chaplain _______________________________
Air Conditioning/Furnace __________________________
Cable Service ____________________________________
Computer Assistance ______________________________
Electrician _______________________________________
Gas and Electric __________________________________
Home Security ___________________________________
Poison Control (911) or
Plumber ________________________________________
Septic Tank ______________________________________
Well Pump ______________________________________
Financial
Checking/Savings _________________________________
Credit Card(s) ____________________________________
Investments ______________________________________
Loans ___________________________________________
Mortgage Company _______________________________
Insurance
Automobile ______________________________________
Dental __________________________________________
Life ____________________________________________
Property _________________________________________
TRICARE _______________________________________
Other
Accountant or Tax Service __________________________
Automobile Repair Facility __________________________
Base/Post Commander’s Office _______________________
Family Support Group ______________________________
Lawyer/Legal Aid __________________________________
Family Readiness Group or Ombudsman _______________
Ombudsman ______________________________________
American Red Cross _______________________________
This is a very informative blogpost on the essential milatary deployment checklist, most especially when the couple mutually separates. The affected victims here are the children. Most of the times, these children blame themselves for their parents' separation and they become withdrawn, morose, and fail in academics.