If you are in need of support while your soldier is away (or at home!), join us at our ![](img src="http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k14/xox0xo/aerocharm/signs/military/deployments/01/20.png)
Instructions
Difficulty: Challenging
Things You'll Need:
- A deployment workbook
- A will
- A living will
- Special or general powers of attorney for your spouse or next of kin
- A list of important points of contact
Step1
Know your responsibilities. Deployments are almost always planned well in advance giving those affected sufficient time to put their personal affairs in order prior to leaving home. The military or your organization will provide you with all the inoculations, uniforms and equipment necessary for you to deal with your ordeal, but as a spouse, parent or dependent, the onus is on you to prepare your family for your protracted absence. Recognize this responsibility and take advantage of all the opportunities given to you by the military and its expansive support network. Step2
Your deployment workbook. All military organizations will conduct pre-deployment seminars and you shouldn't sleep through any of them. There, you'll receive a number of handouts valuable to you and your family. Bring each of these home and create your personal deployment workbook to which your spouse, child or parents can easily refer when they need assistance. Create a table of contents that identifies the location of each important piece of information and complete a list of frequently called telephone numbers and websites to simplify the process of receiving answers to important and sometimes time-sensitive questions. Step3
Taking care of legal business. Make appointments with the judge advocate general's office at the nearest military installation in order to complete your last will and testament. The legal office will also help you execute powers of attorney that will allow your next of kin to accomplish tasks such as filing your income tax or depositing the refund check, renewing your vehicle registration or ensuring your driver's license doesn't expire during your absence. Also, either that office or the nearest military hospital will assist you in preparing a living will should you desire to do so. Step4
Do the paperwork. Ensure that all of your important documents are properly sorted, identified and stored. Examples of such documents include vehicle titles, home mortgage information, passports, birth certificates, social security cards, diplomas and degrees, and other financial information relating to insurance, investments or credit. Consider keeping these valuable documents in a lockable file cabinet or fireproof home safe, and make certain your family has access to the key, combination or entry code. Step5
Hold the classifieds. Include some copies of recent base newspapers in your deployment workbook. These publications often list "military friendly" businesses that offer services such as free oil changes, tire rotations, reduced-cost meals, entertainment specials and travel assistance. Additionally, these periodicals frequently print lists of important phone numbers that will make it simpler and faster for your family to identify and contact critical organizations such as medical facilities, exchanges, car service centers, legal services, child development centers and unit representatives. Step6
You and your surrogate. Your deployment workbook will serve as your representative in your absence. Aside from the important references you include, be sure to stock it with pictures of yourself alone and with members of your family. Their ability to look at and reminisce about the pictures and events that surrounded them will further ease the burden of your absence. Ads by Google
Tips & Warnings
- Pay close attention to the information you gain during your pre-deployment briefings, especially the portions that relate to legal matters.
- In addition to your important documents, your safe or filing cabinet should also contain a list of login and password information for critical websites such as schools, fraternal organizations or critical, work related portals.
- Include a calendar in your deployment workbook that spans the anticipated length of your deployment. Your family members can jot down interesting things that happened in your absence and relive them with you upon your return.
- Powers of attorney are delicate guarantors of legal authority and they should only be given when absolutely needed and to people you trust implicitly.
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