9 Deployment Wall Ideas to Count Down Those Long Days

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 wanted 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 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 is home again.

Folinstall Wide Mouth Apothecary Jar with Lid, 0.5 Gallon Glass Jar for Kitchen Storage and Laundry Room Organization, 72 oz Clear Glass Container for Cookie, Candy, Sugar, Flour, NutsCrazyOutlet HERSHEY’S KISSES Silver Milk Chocolate Candy, Bulk Pack 2 Pounds

 

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 time zone that daddy is in.

QPEUIM Wall Clock 12 Inch Wall Clocks Battery Operated Large Wall Clock with Stereoscopic Dial, Ultra-Quiet Movement Quartz for Office Classroom School Home Living Room Bedroom Kitchen DecorMosewa 12 Inch Black Wall Clock Wall Clocks Battery Operated Silent Non-Ticking – Modern Simple Minimalist Clock Decorative for Kitchen,Bedroom,Home Office,Bathroom,Living Room

 

World Map

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

I want the girls to be able to see where their dad is. It will also help them recognize the surrounding countries he’ll travel to during his rotation.

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 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 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

This one is just like the toy soldier countdown, only using glass beads or marbles instead.

Serene Spaces Living Set of 2 Decorative Clear Glass Bottle Vases with Cork Stoppers, Vintage Wedding Decor, Use for Floral Centerpieces at Wedding, Party, Event, Measures 8Skylety 50 Pieces Marbles Glow in The Dark Handmade Glass Marbles Colorful Glass Marbles for Boys and Girls Marble Games, DIY and Home Decoration, 10 Colors

 

Photos

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

AkTop Cork Bulletin Board Hexagon 4 Pack, Small Framed Corkboard Tiles for Wall, Thick Decorative Display Boards for Home Office Decor, School Message Board with 16 Push Pin Wood Clips, BlackDOLLAR BOSS Cork Boards Bulletin Board 18”X 24” Cork Board for Walls Decorative Hanging Pin Board Vintage White Wooden Frame Vision Notice Cork Board for Office, Home Decor, Home School Message

 

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.

SOFFEE DESIGN Wall Mount Metal Mail Holder Envelope Shape Mail Organizer for Storage Postcard, Mail, Newspaper, Letter, Bill, Magazine, Home Office Wall Decor Hanging Letter Basket Mailbox – WhiteMyGift Rustic Woven Wall Hanging Storage Basket, Large Decorative Baskets

 

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.

Post-it Super Sticky Notes, 3×3 in, 6 Pads/Pack, 90 Sheets/Pad, Amazon Exclusive Bright Color Collection, Aqua Splash, Acid Lime, Tropical Pink, Sunnyside, Guava and Iris Infusion(8 Pack) Sticky Notes 3×3 Inches,Bright Colors Self-Stick Pads, Easy to Post for Home, Office, Notebook, 82 Sheets/pad

 

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!