Deployment

[Corpsman77Wife]

Alright I want to hear how everyone managed having a loved one gone. I am soon approaching that point in my life and some how want to get myself prepared. I do have a family of 3 small children and we have begun talking with them and letting them know that daddy is going to fix the good people who are hurt by the bad guys! I know probably lame, but they are 4 & 5 how else should we explain it to them. I have been a strong person threw everything since the beginning of Boot Camp. It was about a year it took for the hubby to do boot, "A" School, Dental Strand and then FMF training. So what I want to hear from anyone is the different techniques that got them threw as for I will keep everyone posted along the way on how I am going to cope with it.

Thanks!

[8404]

I have contact with many parents who have had a son or daughter who have been deployed. Most all of them, strongly recommend a laptop computer with at least some form of Instant Messenger and camera option.

The ability to communicate with your loved and be able to see them helps tremendously with the separation. Especially for the children.

Many recommend some type of air tight (plastic zip lock) bag or enclosure for the laptop, due to the sand storms and dust. Helps keep it clean.

[docv'sfuturewife]

if your loved one is stationed with Marines, Motomail is a great option for you to use. Also, care packages, video messages, letters are good ways to feel useful when your loved one is gone. My corpsman just got back from deployment, so if you need to talk or need anything at all, please PM me and I will do what I can. Good luck, and God bless you and your loved one. You are in my prayers.

[Corpsman77Wife]

Well it is official he leaves on November 9th. Let the roller coaster of emotions begin. I know I am a strong person and will continue to stay strong. I have a great family here on Corpsman.com that I couldn't ask for anything else. I will keep everyone updated on what is going on.

Marie

[Doc_Stevens]

One of the things that was done by my fellow sailors who had young children was that if a birthday or special event was going to be missed, was to purchase birthday cards/gifts in advance, so that when the event rolled around.....the gift/card was there on time.

Luckily when I deployed to the Persian Gulf, the only thing that got missed was my own birthday.

[Corpsman77Wife]

That is a great idea I will keep that in mind.

[Doc_Stevens]

Another thing was to prepare yourself. When I deployed to Persian Gulf, my youngest was 2 weeks old. We were out doing pre-deployment qualifications off the coast of San Diego when I got news she was born. Came in that weekend, drove up to see the family, then back down on Monday to go out again for a week. After that, gone for six months.

I wasn't prepared mentally to come back to a kid that didn't know me. Yeah, she was only six-and-a-half months old, but still didn't know this stranger. I mean it wasn't devastating to me, but I just had to take my time, because mom had been in charge of everything while I was gone.

The other kids (4 and 6) were encouraged to write their dad and let me tell you, I cherished each item I received and still have them in a special place.

[Corpsman77Wife]

We have three kids. There ages are 6, 5 & 2. They will defiantly being sending things to there dad. I want to keep them very much involved to make sure it is like he was never gone. With Christmas around the corner that will be a little hard, but he might be able to come home since he will only be in 29 Stumps at the time for training before going overseas.

[8404]

Lifelines Service Network (http://www.lifelines.navy.mil/lifelines/index.htm)Deployment Link (http://www.lifelines.navy.mil/lifelines/MilitaryLife/Deployment/index.htm)
http://www.lifelines.navy.mil/idc/groups/public/documents/image/banner_tagline.gif

A well versed government website that contains helpful support and suggestions for a wide variety of questions/situations.

"LIFELines is sponsored by the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Manpower and Reserve Affairs and funded by the Center for Personal and Professional Development."