For most military couples, deployment is inevitable. It’s part of military life. But you don’t have to do it alone. Many organizations offer free deployment resources for families, service members, and spouses.
Deployment Resources for Military Spouses and Significant Others
“I’ve got news.”
Military spouses and significant others everywhere know that phrase. It means a deployment is on the horizon. It means planning, preparing, separation, and, did we mention planning? It means renegotiating schedules and dealing with emotions.
When you’re taking care of yourself during deployment, you’re also caring for your service member, your relationship, and your family. These services and resources offer help and encouragement to military spouses and significant others.
Deployed Love
Offering in-person social events at select military bases and an online community, Deployed Love gives support to military spouses and significant others while they are separated from their service members.
- Who qualifies: Anyone in the military community
- Restrictions: None
- Locations:
- In-person: Fort Liberty (formally Fort Bragg), Fort Moore (formally Fort Benning), Fort Carson, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Nellis Air Force Base, and the Norfolk, VA region
- Online
Operation Homefront
If you’re dealing with financial hardship during a deployment, Operation Homefront may be able to help by offering cash assistance grants for targeted needs like dental, vision, and medical care, rent and mortgage payments, car repair and payments, utility bills, and groceries.
- Who qualifies: E-1 to E-6 service members with DEERS eligible dependents and:
- Currently deployed overseas and receiving Hostile Fire Pay, or
- Assigned to a ship enroute to theater, deployed, or on a mission (not training) status and has been at sea for 30+ days, or
- Assigned to an unaccompanied, overseas Permanent Change of Station and receiving Hostile Fire Pay, or
- National Guard or Reserve member on Title 10 orders deploying in the next 90 days to an overseas Hostile Pay theater or returned within the last 180 days from an overseas Hostile Pay theater
- Restrictions: Must provide proof of deployment orders and documentation of household income to apply. There are lifetime caps for assistance:
- E1-E6 active duty service members: 3 total lifetime assists
- Service members currently deployed on Title 10 orders who are receiving hazardous duty pay: 5 total lifetime assists
- Service members or veterans with a post-9/11 service injury or illness: 5 total lifetime assists
- Locations: Online
BuildASign
Make homecoming memorable (and be easier to find in a crowd!) by creating and printing a free 3×6 welcome home sign.
- Who qualifies: Anyone who wants to create a welcome home banner
- Restrictions: One free banner per person
- Locations: Online
PILLAR Digital Deployment Retreat
Held once a year, this virtual retreat is free to military spouses and significant others dealing with military separations. Created for military spouses by military spouses, PILLAR features take-action workshops by experts, giveaways, community, and other surprises meant to inspire and support attendees.
- Who qualifies: All military spouses and significant others
- Restrictions: None
- Locations: Online
Red Cross Reconnection Workshops
Equip yourself and your family with the emotional and relational skills you need for all of the parts of deployment, including reintegration. The Red Cross hosts free, confidential online workshops for spouses, service members, and their families.
- Who qualifies: Active duty, Reserves, and National Guard members, veterans, and military families (including teens and children)
- Restrictions: In-person workshops are given at the discretion of each local American Red Cross location
- Locations: In-person at local American Red Cross locations, online resources available
Military OneSource Deployment Support
Deployment can be tough to handle on your own. Military OneSource’s free resources, including a toll-free phone number, chat option, and online modules, can help you deal with deployment the way that works for you.
- Who qualifies: All active duty National Guard, and Reserve members (including Coast Guard), immediate family of active duty, National Guard, and Reserve members, survivors of deceased service members, medically discharged service members, immediate family (including caregivers and parents) of wounded or ill service members, service members who have retired in the last 365 days and their immediate family members, service members who have been honorably discharged in the last 365 days and their immediate family members, Department of Defense expeditionary civilians 90 days before deployment and 180 days after homecoming and their immediate family members, and cadets of the military academies
- Restrictions: Services are tiered depending on eligibility
- Locations: In-person and online
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Deployment Resources for Military Kids
It’s hard to help your kids when they miss their parent. These organizations make sure young military family members are supported, too.
Sesame Street for Military Families
Yes, military families live on Sesame Street! With resources for kids (like games and videos) and parents (like advice and tips), Sesame Street for Military Families is a healthy, safe place to help make sense of the changes your family will experience.
- Who qualifies: Anyone with a Sesame Street-aged military child
- Restrictions: None
- Locations: Online
United Through Reading
Service members can stay connected to their children with United Through Reading’s storytime video recordings. Kids watch them on-demand with their own, free copy of the book.
- Who qualifies: Active duty, National Guard, and Reserve members, veterans, non-custodial parents, geo-bachelors, wounded, ill, and injured at medical facilities
- Restrictions: None
- Locations: UTR services are available via app, Mobile Story Stations, or military installations
ASYMCA Respite Child Care
While the ASYMCA’s Respite Child Care isn’t just for deployment, it is a valuable resource. There are more than 1,800 ASYMCAs/YMCAs offering free childcare for babies and children up to 12 years old.
- Who qualifies: Active duty service members and their families, unaccompanied spouses and family members of active duty service members, unaccompanied spouses and family members of Joint-Deployed Guard and Reserve members, Community Based Warrior Transition Unit members
- Restrictions: Apply by taking your eligibility form, military ID, and any other documentation required to your local YMCA
- Locations: Check with your local YMCA for their participation
Purple Star Schools
If your child’s school is a designated Purple Star School, it means that faculty and staff have training and understanding to deal with how military life (including deployment) can affect students. Let your child’s teacher and counselor know about the deployment and ask if there are local resources available.
- Who qualifies: Public school students attending a Purple Star School
- Restrictions: None
- Locations: Dependent on state recognition of local school systems
Deployment Resources for the Service Member
Supporting your partner through deployment can add extra bullet points to your to-do list and extra stress to your mental load. These organizations want to help you care for your service member.
Operation Phone Home
The USO provides centers with free international phone calls and wifi as well as phone cards to deployed troops. Services available depend on your service member’s location.
- Who qualifies: Forward-deployed service members
- Restrictions: Services are at USO centers in combat zones
- Locations: The USO runs more than 250 centers around the world; contact the USO for services at specific locations
USO Care Package Program
The USO ships free snack and toiletry care packages to deployed military members serving abroad. While individuals can’t request packages for specific people, a military representative can request for the entire unit.
- Who qualifies: Deployed service members
- Restrictions: Care packages must be requested by an official representative of the unit
- Locations: Online
Stack Up Supply Crates
Stack Up is a nonprofit dedicated to creating belonging in the military community through access to gaming. Their Supply Crate project sends packages stuffed with video games, gear, and consoles to units that are currently deployed.
- Who qualifies: Deployed military units
- Restrictions: There is an application process. Not all applicants will receive Supply Crates.
- Locations: Online
Deployment Resources for the Home
Deployments usually mean a shift in responsibilities at home, which can add stress and frustration to an already emotional time. These organizations offer help around the house.
GreenCare for Troops
Request complimentary lawn care service through Project EverGreen’s program while your service member is deployed.
- Who qualifies: All deployed active duty, National Guard, and Reserve service members
- Restrictions: Individuals can only apply for one residence where the deployed military member lives. The property size must be less than one acre. There is an application process that is needs-based and requires documentation (orders or a command letter) of the deployment. Do not apply more than four weeks before deployment.
- Locations: 7,000 lawn care professionals across America
SnowCare for Troops
If you live in a snowy area, Project EverGreen offers complimentary snow removal services, too.
- Who qualifies: All deployed active duty, National Guard, and Reserve service members
- Restrictions: Individuals can only apply for one residence where the deployed military member lives. The property size must be less than one acre. There is an application process that is needs-based and requires documentation (orders or a command letter) of the deployment. Do not apply more than four weeks before deployment.
- Locations: 1,500 lawn care professionals across America
Car Care Because We Care
Available to the spouses of active duty Airmen on deployment, Car Care Because We Care offers a free preventative car maintenance package once per deployment.
- Who qualifies: Spouses of active duty Airmen who are deployed for more than 30 days, spouses of active duty Airmen on a remote tour, and First Term Airmen
- Restrictions: This service is for the primary family vehicle and can be used once during any given deployment. Services vary between Air Force bases; make sure to inquire at your local Airman & Family Readiness Center about what your installation provides.
- Locations: Air Force installations with Airman & Family Readiness Centers
Joanna Guldin-Noll writes one of the largest military spouse lifestyle blogs online, Jo, My Gosh! Her writing has been featured in national and international publications. She is currently the social media manager at Military.com and the co-founder of PILLAR, a free virtual deployment retreat for military spouses and significant others. Joanna lives in Pennsylvania with her Navy veteran husband John and her puppy Albus.
