Transitions, deployment and change is the reality

  • Published
  • By Nick Stubbs
  • 6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Anyone who has prepared to leave for a vacation knows how easy it is to forget something, be it dealing with the newspaper delivery, or providing water for the plants, but multiply the "get-out- town" checklist by 100 and one can begin to appreciate the impact a deployment or change of duty station can have on a family.

It's something servicemembers participating in last week's mobility exercise can appreciate, many of whom were reminded of just how suddenly lives and family situations can change when duty calls.

"It is a lot to do and think about," and not something to be put off to the last moment, said Dora Mays, a community readiness consultant with the Airman and Family Readiness Center. The last thing anyone needs is to be standing in a deployment line worrying about what lies ahead of them, is to worry about the loose ends they are leaving behind.

"Readiness," is the key part of Ms. Mays' unit's name for a reason. Being ready is the best way to reduce the stress and logistical problems a deployment or PCS can cause servicemembers and families, Ms. Mays said.

"There is a lot of stressful emotion that goes along with a move of any kind," she said. "It is the stress of the unknown, particularly when there are kids involved or if it is the first time (deployment or change of station)."

While a deployment or change of duty station is a reality in the military, stress and hardship doesn't have to be.

A&FRC is a one-stop shop to deal with it all, and the counseling and classes that prepare servicemembers and their families are available to anyone with a military ID card, whether they have orders or not. She encourages using these services before a deployment or move, and also ahead of a retirement or separation, which also have their unique stress components.

A professional military and family life counselor is available, and included in briefings and many classes now, said Ms. Mays.

There are lots of matters families have to deal with to ensure all goes smoothly, but the number one shortcoming in planning among servicemembers and families is in the area of financial preparation, said Ms. Mays. She encourages paying special attention to this area of readiness, as issues surrounding paying bills and dealing with unexpected expenses are what her office sees more often than any others.

"It might mean lifestyle adjustments or other changes," said Ms. Mays, who added that while being prepared is best, the A&FRC assists families when they run into financial emergencies. That help can be a safety net for the spouse and children of a deployed member.