1. IA Mobilization Readiness Brief

2. Mobilization Readiness Goals1
Keys to Success 2
Emotional Reactions 3
Strategies
Customize by inserting the command logo, ship’s crest or FFSC logo in the placeholder. 4
Resources

3. Unique Challenges Couples Singles
Safeguarding Personal Property - who is taking care of your stuff, where to store, insurance…
Relationships - level of commitment, communications expectations, with family or friends…
Taking Care of Yourself – ways to relax, support system, personal goals…
Emotional Issues – research has identified an emotional cycle of deployment that progresses through different emotional stages…
Parenting Issues – coping with separations, help with handling emotional reactions, understanding the impact, reinforcing the feeling of safety…
Financial Issues – managing finances, budgeting, property management …

4. Deployment Keys to Success Practical Preparations
ID Cards (update DEERS) / Service Member Passport
Power of attorney (Region Legal Service Office)
Service member’s full deployment address
Navy Family Accountability and Assessment System
Beneficiary information (update SGLI) 1 2 3 4 5
Prepare and Help…

5. Deployment Keys to Success Practical Preparations
CIAC / IDSS
Page Two (Emergency Data Form)
Spending plan (CFS or FFSC)
A will (Region Legal Service Office)
Support system (your go-to person or resource) 6 7 8 9 10

6. Emotional Cycle of Deployment
Stage 1
Anticipation of Departure
Stage 7
Reintegration and Stabilization
Stage 2
Detachment and Withdrawal
The Cycle of Deployment
Stage 3
Emotional Disorganization
Stage 6
Return and Renegotiation
Emotional Reactions
Anger or Resentment
Depression or Sadness
Excitement or Anticipation
Anxiety or Fear
Stage 5
Anticipation of Return
Stage 4
Recovery and Stabilization

7. Stage 1: Anticipation of Departure (Four Weeks Before Departure)
Service member
Physically drained
Emotionally numb or tired
Mentally separating
Guilt
Family/ Friends
Anger, Resentment
Denial
What kinds of things are happening the month before deployment?
Working on checklists
Busy at work and at home getting everything ready
Trying to be nice to each other and create positive memories *SHARE STORY*
Start to pick fights because it is easier to separate from someone when you are angry.
The behaviors and activities you described relate to the first state of the deployment cycle, “Anticipation of Departure.” Most people begin to anticipate loss four to six weeks before the deployment. However, the height of these emotions typically arises a day or two before deployment.
What kinds of emotions accompany these activities?
Overwhelmed, Anger, Resentment, Denial, Guilt
This can be a time of tension and confusing emotions as you attempt to take care of all the items on the pre-deployment checklist, while striving to make time for your partner, children, family or friends.
*CLICK TO ANIMATE SLIDE*
Both the SM and their family may be physically drained, emotionally numb or tired, and they may begin to separate mentally.
Additionally, the SM may feel guilt for having to leave their family, while family members may experience denial or feel anger or resentment for being left.
Sometimes you’ll have arguments over things that never bothered you before. You’ll blow things out of proportion like this couple in this video…
Rising tension
Confusing emotions
During this stage of tension and confusing emotions,
arguing and bickering are common. These behaviors
are often used as a protective mechanism to create
emotional distance before having to separate…

8. Stage 2: Detachment and Withdrawal (24-48 Hours Before Departure)
Service member
Ready to get started
Guilt for leaving
Sad or lonely
Excited to perform
Worried
Family/ Friends
Overwhelmed or tired
Hurt, rejection
Nervous about responsibilities
For family members who have deployed before, what are the first few days or even the first month of deployment like for family members who stay behind while the service member deploys?
Reality is sinking in, feeling hurt and rejected, tired and overwhelmed, worried about SM’s safety
What worked for my sons and me was to fully allow ourselves to grieve my husband being gone. We had a pity party to get it out of our system. And then after that, we were good. This is what worked for us.
For SM who have deployed before, what are the first few days or weeks like?
Focus on work and don’t think about family, sad, depressed or lonely; worried about how things are at home, relief to get deployment started so it can end, guilty about leaving family, excited to do what they have trained to do
*CLICK TO ANIMATE SLIDE*
The emotions you expressed describe the second stage “Detachment and Withdrawal” as we prepare to separate. This stage begins in the final days before deployment and may extend to the first few weeks or month after the deployment.
SM may become more psychologically prepared for deployment by focusing on the mission and their command. Family members may experience sadness as they attempt to protect themselves from the hurt of separation.
*CLICK*
Reality sinks in
Sadness or anger occurs
During this stage, partners tend to stop sharing their thoughts and feelings. This is a natural response, as separation is imminent.

9. Stage 3: Emotional Disorganization (One to Three Weeks After Departure)
Service member
Relief followed by guilt
Mission-focused
Sad or lonely
Worried
Can get stuck in this stage
Family/ Friends
Disorganized and unfocused
Overwhelmed
Emptiness, loss
What are some typical feelings experienced during the first two months of deployment?
Disorganized and unfocused, overwhelmed, emptiness and loss, worried about taking on new responsibilities
The third stage is “Emotional Disorganization.” This stage is about adjusting to new responsibilities and being alone. Old routines have been disrupted and new ones have not yet been established. Emotions may set in right after a service member deploys until about six weeks into the deployment.
*CLICK TO ANIMATE SLIDE*
At home, you may feel disorganized until new routines are established.
Deployed members may feel an initial sense of relief followed by guilt. They try to focus on the mission instead of their family or the friends left back home.
Some may become stuck in this stage, which can cause problems throughout the remainder of the deployment and beyond.
What can you do if you find yourself “stuck” in this stage?
Seek help
Each of us experiences and deals with deployment in our own way. If you need assistance, do not hesitate to ask colleagues, friends, and professionals. Deployments are challenging but doable.
Adjusting to new routines
Adjusting to being alone
During this stage, many feel disorganized, depressed or restless until new routines are established.

10. Communication Plan Communicate, Trust and De-Stress…
Express feelings. Before leaving, discuss your feelings about the deployment. Discuss the positive and challenging thoughts you have about the upcoming separation.
Discuss expectations. Discuss your expectations during the deployment. These expectations can include a variety of issues: freedom to make independent decisions, contact with the opposite sex, going out with friends, budgeting, child rearing and even how often letters or care packages will be sent.
Address change. Acknowledge that you may change when you are apart. The partner at home may become more self-reliant. The service member may discover inner resources they did not know they had. View changes as positive factors that will likely add to your relationship. Reassure each other that regardless of any changes, your marriage will stay as strong as ever.
Determine methods. Determine how you will stay connected with each other – by , letters, etc. It is reassuring, too, to know beforehand how often you will be in contact
Communicate, Trust and De-Stress…

11. Maintain Communication
Remember it’s not always available!
Phone Calls
DSN
Commercial / Cellular (Cost)
Internet Communications
--Set it up before you leave (SKYPE, FACE TIME, VIBER, etc.)
Regular Mail
Send pictures, tapes and care packages.
(United Through Reading)
“Remember OPSEC”
REASSURE participants that these challenges can be met, with some forethought and planning.
Make plans for alternate ways to communicate if the usual method is unavailable.
Don’t forget snail mail – in addition to being a backup, there is something very special about a letter the recipient can hold in their hand and read over and over, whenever they please.
Packages are also nice! The IA might not have their mailing address before they depart for NMPS but it should be given to family and friends as soon as it is known.
When the IA and a family member do speak, be careful about what you choose to talk about.
Stories from both IA and their family members tell us that often a “data dump” occurs.
Information is given that the other party can’t do anything about except worry.
This isn’t to say we are advising you to keep information from your spouse or other family member. But “does he/she really need to know this” should be a question you ask before speaking.
If the conversation is a scheduled one, try jotting notes about what you want to say beforehand. This can keep you from forgetting to mention something as well as help you decide what you should include.
To combat the rumor mill, try to get your information from people you can trust, like your Ombudsman or the ECRC. Your parent command or NOSC Ombudsman has been charged with making sure family members get the support they need during the IA deployment, including help with verifying rumors. Knowing the Ombudsman’s contact info is essential.

12. Children and Deployment
Discuss: Separation/Deployment/ Expectations
Maintain Children’s Routines
Communicate with teacher, guidance counselors, coaches and care-givers
Monitor children's exposure to media
Our Military Kids
$ grant
toward activities (RC only)
Stage
Development
Experiences
Age
Adult Interactions
NACCRRA.ORG - Military Assistance Program for Child Care

13. Flat Daddies/Flat Mommies – life sized printed posters $49.50
Create Memories
Example Only
Big Daddy/ Momma
3Ft - $68.95
Daddy/Momma Dolls
12 IN - $34.93
17 IN - $39.93
Photo Pillow
12 X 16 -$21.15
hhttp://daddydolls.com/index.php?route=common/home
Flat Daddies/Flat Mommies – life sized printed posters $49.50
United Through Reading

14. Taking Care of Yourself
Quality of Life
Movies
Music
Reading
Education
Video games
Exercise
Relax
Volunteer
Shipmates
Command leadership
Communications from/to home
Chaplain
FFSC/MilitaryOneSource
Resources

15. Mobilization Goals SMART
Professional
Personal
Relationship
Quals/Job/School
Health
Partner/Friends
Along with thinking about positive aspects of deployments, let’s talk about some of your deployment professional, personal, and relationship goals. *CLICK TO ANIMATE EACH GOAL*
What are some of your professional goals?
What are some of your personal goals?
What are some of your relationship goals?
You want to make sure your goals are SMART – Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time Based
Specific – If your goal is to save money, you will want to be specific. How much money do you want to save?
Measureable – How will you measure your progress along the way? How much money will you save each pay period? How will you know when you achieve your goal?
Attainable – Is your goal realistic? For example, if you want to save $1 million by the end of deployment, that probably wont happen. To get an accurate picture of what you can do, you will need to create a spending plan.
Relevant – Does this goal align with your values and other goals? For example, if you want to pay for a car using cash, then your goal to save $10,000 is relevant.
Time based – When do you plan to achieve this goal? Our purpose today was to help you begin establishing goals that you can accomplish by the end of this deployment. Your goal may require more or less time, but there is no better time to start than the present.
Now we have talked about how to prepare practically, emotionally, and establish goals. Who else do we need to think about concerning deployment?
Children!
*CLICK*
Instruction
Degree/PQS
Certification/Board
CO’s endorsement
Package
Exercise
Vegetables
Water
Sleep
Workout buddy
Communicate
Write letters
Share feelings
Build trust
Appreciate
Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time Based
Goals and Getting Involved…

16. Financial Readiness Develop a spending plan
FSA, IDP, Tax Free, Sea Pay, etc…
Determine who/how to pay bills
Set savings goals
Control your credit card usage
Allotments
Pay yourself first
Split Pay/ Navy Cash/ Eagle Cash
Emergency Fund
Taxes (Extensions: CZ – 180 days; Non- CZ 60 days; Owed taxes must be paid on time)

17. “Ways to Save” Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) Savings Deposit Program
Serve in designated area for 30 consecutive days or at least (1) day for each of three consecutive months.
Interest accrues on the account at an annual rate of 10% and compounds quarterly.
Interest on amounts up to $10,000.
SDP stops on day of departure; interest continues to accrue for up to 90 days.
ROTH/TRADITIONAL Tax-Deferred Earnings - CZ
Maximum Contribution $18,000 Annually No Matching Funds
Combat Zone Max Contribution $54,000
TSP Benefits for those returning to Federal Civilian Service: Additional Contributions 1-5%

18. Service Organizations
Support System
Friends and Family
Command
/CIAC
House of Worship
Service Organizations
Family Support Group
IDSS
Ombudsman
Discuss how each can ease the burden of deployment away from family and friends.

19. PH: 800-342-9647/ www.militaryonesource.mil
Deployment Resources
NMCRS
American Red Cross
ECRC Family Readiness
/1171
Financial counseling, no-interest loans, grants…
Pre - Approval Form
Quick Assist Loan
(SM only)
Emergency Communications, Counseling, Disaster Relief and Preparedness Education, Financial Aid
PH:
Customize with dates, times and locations of upcoming workshops.
Military One Source
PH: /

20. Take Away Learn to ride the emotional rollercoaster
Create memorable opportunities
Review practical preparations
checklist
Review Financial Readiness
(Admin, Personal, Home/Car)
Review Communication
Expectations

21. Resources

22. Questions