Preparing for Deployment – The Essentials

Life in the military is about being ready for deployment. You may be duty-ready, but don’t overlook preparations on the home front. That includes having or updating essential legal documents, organizing your finances, creating a family care plan and designing a contingency plan in case things change. Get organized and prepared for your sake and your family’s.

Here are the essentials:

Get your paperwork in order.

Don’t let deployment paperwork preparation slip off your radar before you leave. Getting your legal affairs in order beforehand will reduce some of the worry when you deploy and gives you more control when you are away. Be sure to review and update beneficiary designations and other pertinent information.

Relevant Articles:

• Four Steps to Put Your Financial House in Order

Relevant Resources:

• Plan My Deployment
• Pre-Deployment and the Single Service Member
• Deployment Products

Organize your finances.

During your deployment, you may be eligible for military pay entitlements such as a family separation allowance or combat pay. This is an ideal time to save money, pay off debt or just tidy up your finances. Get the most out of your money and help reach your family’s financial goals by taking a few steps.

Relevant Articles:

• Four Steps to Put Your Financial House in Order

Relevant Resources:

• Deployment Resources for Families
• Military Benefits and Entitlements During Deployment
• Deployment – Benefits

Create a family care plan.

Family care plans are designed to provide caregivers with all the right information to keep the household running smoothly while you’re gone. Plans usually include details about child care, school, medical care and family activities, as well as all necessary contacts.

Relevant Articles:

• Preparing Your Family Care Plan

Relevant Resources:

• Sesame Street’s Talk, Listen, Connect: Deployments, Homecomings, Changes
• I’m Here For You Now
• Deployment Resources for Families
• Family Benefits and Entitlements: Deployment

Consider a backup plan.

The military is full of changes. You can be gearing up for a deployment and then get orders that your mission is canceled or postponed. That’s why contingency planning is part of deployment planning. Check out these contingency management resources.

Relevant Articles:

• Cancelled or Postponed Deployment: Time for Contingency Planning

Relevant Resources:

• Deployment Resources for Families
• Military Benefits and Entitlements During Deployment

Need help as you prepare for deployment? Military OneSource offers a number of assistance programs and services for service members and their families that can help with deployment planning. Ask Military OneSource. Call 800-342-9647. OCONUS/Overseas? Click here for calling options.