5 Ways to Prepare for Deployment

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There aren’t a lot of guarantees in military life. However, there is one thing I know FOR SURE as a military spouse, and that is: as soon as your husband leaves for a deployment/TDY/training, your life will implode!

Murphy’s Law of Deployment is REAL. And it can absolutely break you down.

Here are a few things you can do to prepare for deployment, so that when Murphy strikes, you are ready!

*(We took pictures at the Field of Honor in Fayetteville, NC.)*

Grief Cycle

It might sound crazy, but hear me out. To help you emotionally prepare for deployment, you might want to look up the stages of grief.

This doesn’t mean that you are preparing yourself to LOSE your service member.

And I’m not saying that deployment is nearly as terrible as the death of a spouse. (I can’t begin to imagine that level of devastation.)

However, the roller coaster of emotions that you experience while they are gone is very similar to the stages of grief. And much like the grief cycle, you swing back and forth between the different stages. Deployment truly takes an emotional toll on everyone in the family, no matter how many times you’ve done it before.

These are the 5 stages of grief:

denial
anger
bargaining
depression
acceptance

Fortunately, for military spouses, this cycle has an end. And the immense joy that you feel when they finally come home is like no other!

How to prepare for deployment as a military spouse. — *(Most of his deployment prep makes a huge mess!)*

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The Sick Kit

EVERY SINGLE TIME that Heff has left us (even if it was just for a few weeks), someone has gotten sick. So, preparing a ‘sick kit’ is a priority for me before he leaves.

To make a ‘sick kit’, I buy the most common things that we need when someone has either a cold or stomach virus. Such as:

soup
gatorade & sprite
tylenol/motrin (for adults & children)
disinfectant
new toothbrushes
decongestant/cough medicine (for adults & children)
clinic & urgent care phone numbers saved in phone

Of course, this won’t prevent us from getting sick and doesn’t cover all of the things we might need. But at least I won’t have to drag sick kids to the store to get the basics.

(*Don’t forget to take a few pictures together, even if they’re just selfies, to put in care packages!)*

The Oh $#*t Kit

IT NEVER FAILS, every time Heff leaves something will break. Usually, it’s one of our vehicles, but it also has been the washing machine, the bathroom plumbing, the light fixture in the kitchen, etc.

And if it’s not something breaking, it’s something crazy happening or me being careless and locking us out of the house/car.

This time, to prepare for deployment, I’m making an ‘oh s#*t kit’ to try to make those stressful moments a little bit easier. I’m including:

basic tool set
phone number for roadside assistance saved in phone
spare keys for cars and house
wasp/hornet killer
phone number for property management maintenance saved in phone
some savings in the bank

It’s also helpful to discuss which auto shop you would use for car repairs with your service member BEFORE they leave. Finding a reliable and trustworthy mechanic is always so stressful to me!

If you can put away some savings before deployment, I HIGHLY recommend it. No matter what crazy stuff happened when my husband was gone, it has always cost us money!

While you were away: Deployment Journal The 5 Love Languages Military Edition: The Secret to Love That Lasts

The Document Kit

There have been very few times that I needed a specific document while my husband was deployed. However, its important to have those in the rare instance that you might need them.

Here are some documents/official information that you might need when you prepare for deployment:

power of attorney
copy of deployment orders
unit info & phone numbers
marriage license
birth certificates or adoption/guardianship documents
basic understanding of the Red Cross procedure

How military spouses prepare for deployment. — *(The girls helping daddy carry his bags to the bus for a TDY assignment in the Philippines.)*

Deployment Bucket List

Every time my husband has to leave for any length of time, I make a deployment bucket list. It helps keep me and the kids busy and gives us something to look forward to while he’s gone.

I highly recommend making one, since it’s so much fun! You can find ideas for your list here:

Deployment Bucket List: Round 2 — *(Our second BIG Deployment Bucket List.)*

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Deployment is such a hard time for everyone involved, and these are just a few ways to help you prepare.

It’s important to remember that you don’t have to do this alone! There are so many people out there who are going through the same thing. Don’t be afraid to reach out to family, friends, or the FRG.

And as strange as it seems, I have found the sweetest community of military spouses on Instagram! If you feel alone, don’t hesitate to reach out to me there or several other military spouse creators on that app.

I hope this list helps as you prepare for deployment and that the time flies by until your service member is home again!