9 Deployment Wall Ideas to Count Down Those Long Days

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My husband is leaving soon for a 9-month rotation in Europe. And even though it’s not a combat deployment, I’m looking for all the deployment wall ideas to help me and the girls count down the days until he is home again.

I made our first deployment wall when he was on a 15-month hardship tour in Central America. The girls were much younger then, but they loved the countdown and want to do it again this time.

We haven’t decided exactly what we’re doing for our wall this time, but here are some deployment wall ideas that we’ve found so far!

Deployment Wall Ideas

A Kiss a Day

One of the more popular deployment countdown ideas on the internet is a ‘kiss a day while daddy’s away’.

For this countdown, you fill a jar with Hershey’s kisses, one for every day of deployment. Then you get to eat one kiss every day until daddy’s home again.

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Double Clocks

This is one of the deployment wall ideas that Lainey wants to do.

You add 2 clocks to your wall. One of the clocks shows the local time where you live and the second clock is set to the timezone that daddy is in.

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World Map

This is one of the popular deployment wall ideas that I’m going to do. In fact, I’ve already ordered our

2 Pack – World Map Poster & USA Map Chart [Tan/Color] (Laminated, 18” x 29”)Classic Edition World Wall Map Paper Rolled

Paper Chain Countdown

For this deployment wall idea, you make a long chain, with one link for every day that daddy is gone. Every night you tear a link off the chain. As the weeks pass, you watch the chain get shorter and shorter.

We did a paper chain countdown on the first deployment wall we ever made and I liked having that visual.

eeBoo: Daisy Paper Chain, 120 Double-Sided Paper Links Included, Four Different Patterned Links to Mix and Match, 24 Feet Long when CompletedHygloss Products Bright Paper Chain Strips for Kids Arts and Crafts, Decorations, Classroom Activities Colors-720 Pieces (1

Toy Soldier Countdown

Similar to the ‘kiss a day’ countdown, but instead of candy, you use vases full of toy soldiers.

Such a cute idea, especially for kids that can’t have candy every day.

Ritayedet 1/2 Gallon Glass Jars with Lid, Wide Mouth Cookie Jars Set of 2, Apothecary Jars for Candy, Glass Canisters for Kitchen Storage and Laundry OrganizationHAPTIME 100 Pcs Various Pose Toy Soldiers Figures, Army Men Green Soldiers, Toy Soldiers Action Figures for Kids Children

Marble Countdown

Just like the toy soldier countdown, only using glass beads or marbles instead.

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Photos

No deployment wall is complete without some pictures of your favorite soldier.

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Mail for Daddy

Some deployment walls have a container to hold mail that you’re saving to send to daddy.

This is a great idea to collect notes and trinkets that you put aside until you’re ready to mail the next package.

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Brag Wall

For each obstacle that you overcome or achievement that you attain during deployment, you write it on a post-it note and put it on the brag wall.

Then when your soldier gets home, he can see all the kick-ass things you did while he was gone.

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Deployments are always hard, but pretending like it’s not happening doesn’t make it any easier.

I hope these deployment wall ideas help you count down those long days until your soldier is home again!