Jan. 15, 2003

COLLEGE STATION – As American military troops are sent overseas, the news is full of pictures of mothers and fathers and parents and children saying goodbye.

Servicemen and women leaving their families because of their military duty is never easy, but this time the deployment might come as a shock for some families. "The impact is coming for families of Reserves and National Guard," said Nancy Granovsky, Texas Cooperative Extension family economics specialist and project director for Operation READY. "This will be a major change for families who have never experienced military separation before."

While members of the National Guard probably may not be sent overseas, said Diane Wisneski, Extension assistant with Operation READY, "they will be doing backup for regular military who may be leaving the country," and may be stationed someplace besides home.

Operation READY (Resources for Educating About Deployment and You), developed by Texas Cooperative Extension in cooperation with California Cooperative Extension, is a mobilization and deployment training program developed for the Department of Army and U.S. Army Community and Family Support Center.

"Military personnel and family members need a wide array of information to cope with the changes that mobilization and deployment place on their lives," Granovsky said.

In Operation READY's "The Soldier/Family Deployment Survival Handbook," deployment is defined as: "The movement of a unit or individual from home base to an area for training or an actual mission." Deployment can be long- or short-term, unaccompanied by family (12-month) or to provide stability or support in different parts of the world. (The handbook is available online; go to www.goacs.org. Click on the link to deployment readiness.)

But no matter when or how long the deployment or where the military personnel are sent, getting themselves and their families ready for a separation is a task that needs to be dealt with before departure.

As emotionally wrenching as leaving loved ones behind is, some practical considerations still need to be faced, said Granville Tyson, Extension associate with Operation READY. Family finances – income and out-go – as well as insurance, wills, powers of attorney, safety, health and routine automobile maintenance are among these considerations. The Army Family Readiness Handbook suggests that each month family members set aside a certain amount of time to go through family records and bring them up to date – and then do something special together as a reward.

The first consideration, Granovsky said, is for family members to know their financial situation. The Army Family Readiness Handbook suggests before deployment, military personnel and their families need to go over:

- Savings and checking accounts. These accounts should be maintained either in hometown or at each permanent station, so checks can be cashed. Open these accounts in both spouses' names with "or" between the names instead of "and," so only one name is required to cash or deposit checks. To prevent accounts being overdrawn, a second checking account could be established in the military spouse's name, so he or she will know how much is available to spend.

- Insurance: Keep life insurance beneficiaries and premiums up to date. Make arrangements for renewal of property and automobile insurance, if required.

- Will: Make use of available legal assistance to establish an up-to-date will.

Other items to consider, according to the handbook:

- Automobile maintenance: Make sure the car is in good condition and the remaining spouse knows when routine maintenance, such as oil changes and tune-ups, are due. Check the insurance policy and the roadside policy to make sure they are adequate; make sure vehicle registration and safety inspection are current and their renewal dates known. Make sure the remaining spouse has the car's papers – such as tire warranty and insurance policy – as well as information on warranties and guarantees, tire pressure and how to check it, maintenance and repairs, and the location of spare keys and tires.

- Address: The unit should have the complete address and phone numbers for the family, as well as names, addresses and phone numbers of one or two other relatives, friends or neighbors who can be contacted in case of emergency.

- Necessary papers: The remaining spouse needs to have (1) name, phone number and address of the landlord or mortgage company; (2) names, addresses and phone numbers of unit commander, military community service center, Guard or Reserve Family Program Coordinator, rear detachment commander and representatives from the Family Readiness Group; (3) current ID cards for all members of the family; (4) keys to house, car, safety deposit box, etc.; (5) important family papers such as marriage and birth certificates, insurance policies, and deeds and/or mortgage papers; (6) appropriate social security numbers; (7) school registration papers; (8) proof of service documents and copies of orders and all endorsements; (9) shipping orders and/or inventory of household goods; (10) court orders for support and custody of legal dependents, if necessary; and (11) unit mail card.

- Necessary papers, if appropriate: Naturalization papers, divorce and/or separation papers, adoption papers, death certificate.

- Financial: Apply for the Class EE Savings Bond allotment, if desired. The remaining spouse will need appropriate account numbers, ATM cards, credit cards, bills and information on amounts due, and knows how to report lost cards. The remaining spouse will also need to know how to report lost credit cards, and the locations of savings bonds and securities as well as how much they are worth and how to access them if necessary.

For more information, visit the Army Community Service Web site at http://www.goacs.org