1. Financial Planning for Deployment
Personal Finance
Before You Take Off
Financial Planning for Deployment
Pre-Deployment
As a member of the United States military, the potential for lengthy deployments away from home and family may be a constant reality. A deployment is never easy, but proper preparation can help minimize stress and anxiety for service members and their families and help service members rest assured that their affairs and family are taken care of while they are away.
As with any life-changing event, the more prepared Service Members and their Families are to deal with the adjustments, the easier it will be to cope with the change. By becoming educated early on what to expect during a lengthy deployment, Service Members and their Families can become better prepared to handle the challenges as they occur. Service Members and their Families should begin preparing for a potential deployment well before they receive deployment orders. By preparing in advance, you can reduce the stress you feel in the weeks leading up to the departure, increase your saving and spending power during your time away from home, and help ensure your financial future.

2. Deployment Prep— Questions to Consider
What important documents do I need to have prepared or updated?
What financial considerations do I need to review concerning my personal goals, spending plan, savings plan, investments, and Service Member benefits?
What will happen to my home or apartment and my vehicle while I am deployed?
How will I communicate with my family while I am away?
How can I help my family prepare for emergencies in my absence?
In preparing for deployment, it is important to ask yourself several questions concerning various subjects related to your absence.
Deployment preparation involves putting your legal affairs in order, reviewing financial issues, formulating a plan for your personal belongings, determining how you will communicate with your family, and preparing your family for emergencies that might occur when you are away.
Phone Number
Address

3. Put your legal affairs in order.
Important Documents
Put your legal affairs in order.
Important Papers
Will
Advance Medical Directives
Powers of Attorney (POA)
General
Specific/Limited
Legal Assistance Free of Charge in Your Area:
In preparing for the time away from home, be sure to put your legal affairs in order by updating and organizing your important papers which include wills, medical directives, and powers of attorney.
Will
A last will and testament (or will) is a declaration that states how a person wishes his or her property to be disposed of after his or her death. Service members who do not have a will are strongly encouraged to get one, especially if they have significant savings and/or real estate. Without a will, a court may end up deciding how to distribute property or even who should be responsible for the care of a Service Member’s children. Service Members who do have a will should still consider meeting with an attorney, either through the Legal Assistance Office or through a civilian agency or law firm, prior to deployment to review the current will, determine if it still meets their needs, to make any necessary changes. The nearest military Legal Assistance Office can be found through the AFLA Legal Services Locator.
Military Advance Medical Directive.
A living will, or advance medical directive, is a written document that allows a person to describe what medical treatments he or she does or does not want in case of a serious injury or terminal illness. It only takes effect if the person is unable to express his or her wishes in some other way. Living wills also allow Service Members to identify another person who should make medical decisions for them if they are unable to make them on their own. Service Members who decide to draft a living will should make sure that the person they designate as the decision-maker knows about their wishes and also knows where the Service Member keeps the living will and has access to it.
Powers of Attorney
A power of attorney is a written document that gives one person the authority to act on another’s behalf for any legal or economic issues for a specified period of time. For Service Members, this period of time is typically the expected length of the deployment plus three months in case the deployment is extended. The person designated in the power of attorney document should be the Service Member’s spouse, a parent, or trusted friend, since it gives that person the expressed written permission to act on the Service Member’s behalf. The legal rights of a power of attorney cease at the end of a period of time specified in the document or upon the death of the person for which the power of attorney is given. In the event of death, the executor named in the last will and testament assumes the responsibilities of the estate. When drafting a power of attorney, Service Members can choose between a general power of attorney or a specific power of attorney, and whether the power of attorney is durable or not. Both the service member and his or her spouse should designate a power of attorney prior to deployment.
General power of attorney
A general power of attorney gives the designated person the power to perform almost any legal act on another person’s behalf for a specified period of time. This can include the ability to manage bank accounts; sell, exchange, buy, or invest any assets or property; purchase and maintain insurance; and enter into any binding contracts on behalf of the service member. Typically, when preparing for a deployment, service members would grant their designee a general power of attorney.
Specific/limited power of attorney
A specific/limited power of attorney, allows service members to give only specific powers to the designated person for a specified period of time. When drafting a specific power of attorney, service members are required to list the particular actions or decisions the designee can make. Additional information regarding specific/limited power of attorney can be found through the Legal Services Locator, provided by the Armed Forces Legal Assistance.
Phone Number
Address

4. Record of Emergency Data
Account Beneficiaries
Service Record/Contact List
Defense Enrollment Eligibility Report System (DEERS)
Identification Cards
Spouse Relocation
Along with updating or preparing legal documents, it is also important to check on your emergency data and the designated beneficiaries for you insurance and savings accounts. Also, make sure your family members are enrolled in DEERS, have up-to-date identification cards, drivers licenses, and passports, and if your spouse is relocating, notify your command of that move.
Record of Emergency Data
Service members should also visit their administrative office to ensure that their DD Form 93, “Record of Emergency Data,” is up to date. This form will be used by the Service to contact the next-of-kin should the service member become ill, injured, or die while on active duty. This form also records the service member’s selections for beneficiaries for Death Gratuity and Pay Arrears, as well as the person who will be authorized to direct the disposition of the service member’s remains (PADD). Servicemembers should be aware that if they have a spouse but designate a person other than the spouse to receive all or a portion of the death gratuity pay, the Service concerned is required to provide notice of the designation to the spouse.
SGLI
SGLI is a low-cost term life insurance protection policy offered through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for service members on active duty, members of the National Guard, and members of the Ready Reserves. Even though SGLI coverage is automatic, before service members deploy, they should confirm that their beneficiary(ies) designation is up to date. If they declined or reduced their coverage in the past and would like to change it now, they can do that by completing a request, in writing, through their Service.
Thrift Saving Plan
Did you know that in the event of the Service Member’s death, the TSP will not honor a will when distributing your account? Neither will it honor a prenuptial agreement, a separation agreement, a property settlement agreement, a court order, or a trust document.
The only document the TSP will use to distribute death benefits is Form TSP-3, Designation of Beneficiary (formerly TSP-U-3 for uniformed services members). By law, the TSP must pay your properly designated beneficiary, or beneficiaries, under all circumstances. (
DEERS
DEERS is an automated information system that lists all service members and their family members who are eligible for military benefits and entitlements, including TRICARE. Service members are automatically registered in DEERS, but they must take action to register their family members and ensure that they are correctly entered into the database. Mistakes in the DEERS database can cause issues with TRICARE claims, so it is critical to ensure that all information is accurate. Service members should update their information in DEERS anytime they move, get married or divorced, have a child, or following any other event that changes their status. When preparing for a deployment, service members are encouraged to check their current DEERS information to ensure that their family members can access military benefits while they are away. Service members can update their address, address, and phone numbers through the DEERS website or through TRICARE’s Beneficiary Web Enrollment. Service members can also verify and update their families’ information through the nearest ID card facility, found through the Defense Manpower Data Center’s (DMDC) Real-time Automated Personnel Identification System (RAPIDS) Site Locator, by calling the DMDC Support Office (DSO) at , by faxing changes to DEERS information to , or submitting changes by mail to:
The Defense Manpower Data Center Support Office
ATTN: COA
400 Gigling Road
Seaside, CA
Uniformed Services Identification Cards
Service members and their family members must have a military issued ID card to access military benefits or privileges. These ID cards are required to access many of the benefits available to family members including their medical benefits, dental benefits, the commissary, the exchange, and other Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) programs and services on military installations.
Passports
Family members of deploying service members are encouraged to review their current passports to ensure that they will remain valid throughout the length of the deployment. If family members do not have a current passport, they may want to apply for one. In the event that a service member is severely
wounded during the deployment and is hospitalized in a foreign country, family members may be able to visit the service member. If family members receive travel and transportation orders from the military to visit the hospitalized service member, the individual branches of Service can help coordinate passports.
More information on passports can be found on the Department of Defense Military and Civilian Passport Matters website and the United States Department of State website.
Spouse Relocation
If your spouse plans to relocate during your deployment, notify your command of the new address and phone number to avoid any delays in getting important information to your family.

5. Family Care Plan Single Parents Dual Military Couples
Individuals with Custody or Joint Custody
Individuals Responsible for Dependent Family Members
Another component of your planning must involve preparing a family care plan.
A family care plan outlines the logistical, financial, medical, educational, and legal documentation necessary to ensure that dependent children will be cared for during the Service Member’s deployment or training.
Who is required to have a family care plan?
• single parents
• members of a dual military couple with dependents
• individuals who are married with custody or joint custody of a child whose non-custodial
biological or adoptive parent is not the current spouse of the service member, or who otherwise
bears sole responsibility for the care of children under the age of nineteen or others unable to
care for themselves in the absence of the member
• individuals who are primarily responsible for dependent family members
Phone Number
Address

6. Family Care Plan Family Care Plan Provisions for Absences
Names and Contact Information
Provisions for Absences
Financial Arrangements
Logistical Arrangements
Names of those not to be caregivers
Designated Responsible Person
A Family Care Plan is a "blueprint" that shows how your family will be cared for in your absence -- whether you are deployed, on temporary duty, or otherwise unavailable because of military obligations. It allows for a smooth transition of responsibilities to a caregiver when a service member must leave for short or long periods of time, demonstrating to the commander that unit members will be ready to accomplish the mission of the unit. The plan is made up of instructions that you write and certain legal documents, such as a power of attorney.
What must the completed plan address?
names and contact information of the caregiver and alternate caregiver.
provisions for short-term absences (e.g., temporary duty for schooling or training, or, in the case of Reserve Component members, active duty for training) and long-term absences (e.g., deployment or call to active duty) including the period (beginning and end date) of time covered by the family care plan.
financial arrangements, allotments, and other appropriate documentation, including powers of attorney, to ensure the self-sufficiency and financial security of dependent family members.
logistical arrangements for the transportation of dependent family members and/or caregivers to a new location, including arrangements for a non-military escort for family members requiring assistance (e.g., infants and children, elderly family members, and family members with special needs) if the situation or personal circumstances so dictate, and arrangements for the medical, legal, educational, and financial support necessary to ensure continuity of care during the transport.
the name of any non-custodial biological or adoptive parent not named as the caregiver, along with that person’s consent to the family care plan (If this individual does not consent, the Service Member should explain the absence of such consent in writing and acknowledge the availability of legal counsel to discuss the associated risks and the best possible courses of action [including the possibility of incorporating the family care plan into a temporary order by a court of competent jurisdiction]).
the name of the person the Service Member designates, in the event of his or her death or incapacity, to assume temporary responsibility for dependent family members until a natural or adoptive parent or legal guardian assumes custody either by order of a court of competent jurisdiction or operation of law.
As you work on your Family Care Plan, keep in mind that its purpose is to provide for the safety and security of your family when military duty causes you to be separated. The time and energy you spend on putting it together now is time well spent. And the more information you provide in your plan about how you want your family members to be cared for, the easier it will be for your caregiver to provide the kind of love and support that you want them to have. When you have developed your Family Care Plan, you'll need to get it approved and keep it current.
Each of the Services has a form for ensuring that the Servicemember has been counseled about a family care plan. For additional information on developing a Family Care Plan, service members should contact their installation family center or Military OneSource at

7. Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA)
Know Your SCRA Rights
Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA)
6% cap on debts incurred before active duty
Temporary stays of civil proceedings
Divorce
Child Paternity and Support
Foreclosure
Bankruptcy
Ability to terminate a lease
Limited eviction protection
Take the time during your pre-deployment planning to learn and understand your legal rights and protections.
In December 2003, the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) (50 U.S.C. App. §§ ) was signed into law. It's important to know about the SCRA in order to take full advantage of the financial and legal protections it can provide to Servicemembers — including caps on interest rates, stays of certain legal proceedings, protection from eviction, and termination of leases without repercussions.
The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) is intended to help protect the legal rights of members called to active duty. It applies to active duty members of the regular forces, members of the National Guard when serving in an active duty status under federal orders, members of the Reserve called to active duty, and members of the Coast Guard serving on active duty in support of the Military Services.
The SCRA allows you to request a delay regarding a legal matter. If your military service will prevent you from participating in a civil court action or administrative proceeding, you can request a 90-day delay (or "stay") in the proceeding and are automatically entitled to this delay if you follow all of the requirements. These proceedings can include actions for divorce, child paternity and support cases, and foreclosure proceedings.
Creditors must reduce (or cap) the interest rate on debts you incurred before active duty to 6 percent per year during your period of military service. If the debt was in the nature of a mortgage, the reduced rate extends for one year after your period of military service. In addition to mortgage-type debts, the cap applies to credit card debts, car loans, business obligations, and other debts, as well as fees, service charges, and renewal fees. It applies only to liabilities incurred before entering active duty, not those incurred while on active duty.
All interest in excess of 6 percent is forgiven. That is, the creditor may not try to collect the extra interest from you later. To obtain the cap, mail the creditor a letter requesting the interest reduction, and include a copy of your orders to the creditor in advance of your assignment or as soon as possible, but no later than 180 days after leaving active duty. Keep in mind that a creditor has the right to challenge this provision by going to court, if the creditor believes he or she can show that your ability to pay a rate greater than 6 percent is not "materially affected" by your military service.
You may terminate your residential lease (and some other kinds of leases, including agricultural, professional, and business) by delivering written notice of termination. This applies if:
you entered a lease and then started military service, or
you entered a lease during military service and then received permanent change of station orders or orders to deploy with a military unit or as an individual in support of a military operation for not less than 90 days. In either situation, you must provide written notice of termination and a copy of your military orders (hand-delivered or by return-receipt mail) to the landlord.
The law prevents you and your dependents from eviction from rental property while you are on active duty. You and your family cannot be evicted from housing for nonpayment of rent without a court order, no matter what your rental agreement or local laws say. This protection applies to residences for which the monthly rent is not more than $2, per month (in 2011). The cap is automatically adjusted by the yearly increase in the November Consumer Price Index.
The SCRA provides Service Members with many substantial financial and legal protections. Be sure to review its provisions before or during your military service so you can obtain the full benefits of this law for you and your family.

8. Re-evaluate Your Financial Goals
Financial Preparations:
Financial Readiness
Re-evaluate Your Financial Goals
Create SMART Goals S
Specific M
Measurable A
Attainable R
Realistic T
Timely
DoD Savings Deposit Program
Deployment Spending Plan
Review Investments
Avoid Combat Overspending
Review Combat Zone Service Member Benefits
Keeping your financial responsibilities on track can be stressful enough, but when you add in deployment, the pressure can be overwhelming.
In making sure you are financially ready for deployment, start your preparation by creating SMART goals. Being money SMART will ensure that your short- and long-term goals are successful. The goals that you set must be specific and straightforward which will help you focus your efforts and define exactly what you are going to do. Specific is the what, why, and how of the SMART model. The goals you create must also be measurable by establishing concrete steps for determining progress, keeping you on track, reaching your target date, and experiencing the excitement of achieving your goals. Good financial goals are ones you can attain. Setting goals that are too far out of reach will restrain your commitment to continue with your plan. Realistic goals are within your capabilities using available resources, knowledge, and time. Start by paying off the smallest debt which may give you that feeling of accomplishment. Lastly, set a timeframe for the goal by putting an end point and a clear target to work toward. Without a time limit, there is no sense of urgency.
Along with establishing SMART goals, participate in the DoD Savings Deposit Program (SDP). This program was established to provide members of the uniformed services serving in designated combat zones the opportunity to build their financial savings. If you are serving in an SDP-eligible combat zone, you can start your SDP account once you’ve been deployed for a minimum of 30 consecutive days or at least one day in each of three consecutive months, and you must be receiving Hostile Fire Pay. Any military finance office in theater can help you establish an account and assist you in setting up the deposit method most convenient for you.

9. With “New Money,” take the opportunity to save!
Financial Preparations:
Financial Readiness
With “New Money,” take the opportunity to save!
Pay Down Debt
Create Revolving Savings and Safety Savings
Save for Long-term Goals
Establishing a deployment spending plan before you deployed will guide you and your family while you’re away. Although you may have extra income through deployment entitlements, you and your family should aim to live according to the spending budget established before your deployment.
By sticking to a financial plan, you will be able to save money for emergencies and long-term goals or pay off credit cards and other debt.

10. Pay Bills! Financial Arrangements: Paying Bills
Financial Responsibilities continue during your deployment.
Plan ahead to take care of bill paying while you are away.
Spouse or Power of Attorney
Direct Deposit
Allotments
Automatic Bill Pay
Credit Cards
Follow your Deployment Spending Plan.
Pay Bills!
In your planning for deployment, remember that your financial obligations continue while you are away.
Financial Bills:
Servicemembers are responsible for their household expenses/bills while they are deployed. These expenses could include rent, mortgage payments, car payments, credit cards, etc. Before deploying you should ensure that you have made arrangements for these payments to be taken care of. You may wish to appoint your spouse or family member with power of attorney, so that they can handle your finances while you are deployed.
Direct Deposit:
Direct deposit is the quickest and the most convenient way to receive your pay check. Plan for a week or two after you initiate direct deposit for it to be activated. The Servicemember can be deployed to any part of the world, but having direct deposit will enable both the Servicemember and family members to have easier access and more control of their funds. Check with your bank or credit union.
Allotments:
An allotment is a portion of your pay that is automatically set aside each month for an individual, a mutual fund, creditors, etc. In the event of a deployment, a couple may choose to open a second checking account and set up an allotment for the Servicemember. This is an easy and convenient way to make sure that both the Servicemember and the family receive funds on a regular basis.
Automatic Bill Pay:
Setting up programs like automatic bill pay can help ease the trouble of keeping up with due dates of bills. You can ease your worry about when payments are due since they will be paid on a designated date.
Credit Cards:
If you're deployed or preparing to deploy, you might be able to get a break on your credit card payments. In some cases, financial institutions are required to lower your interest rate under the Servicemembers' Civil Relief Act. Any debt you incurred before coming onto active duty may qualify for a 6 percent interest-rate cap. This applies to debts for mobilized or activated reserve and National Guard members, as well as debts incurred by active-duty members before entering service. If your military service materially affects your ability to repay the debt, you qualify for the 6 percent rate. Check with your legal assistance officer for more details. Even if you don't qualify for a lower rate under the SCRA, check with your bank, credit union or other credit card issuer to see whether it offers reduced interest rates for deployed servicemembers.
Remember, always work within your deployment spending plan.

11. Financial Arrangements: Taxes
Filing Extensions for Deployed Personnel
Automatic 60-day filing extension
Automatic 180-day Combat Zone extension
180-day freeze on any IRS Assessments by ing
Income taxes are another obligation you must consider.
If you will be deployed when your taxes are due, decide in advance how income taxes will be filed and who will do it. You may wish to file for an extension through the Internal Revenue Service by filing Form 2350: Application for Extension of Time to File U.S. Income Tax Return.
The IRS extends filing deadlines for members of the Armed Forces for the following reasons:
You or your spouse are serving in a combat zone or in direct support of those in the combat zone and receive hostile fire or imminent danger pay.
The deadline for filing income taxes is 180 days after your last day in the combat zone or hazardous duty area. Go to to see a list of combat zones. In addition to the 180 days, the extension includes the number of days left in the filing period when you entered the combat zone or hazardous duty area. The filing period is January 1 through April 15. So, if you or your spouse entered the combat zone on March 31, you would add 15 days to your 180-day tax filing extension. You may notify the IRS directly of your request for combat zone relief for extensions of deadlines through a special address:
If you are in the military or naval services on duty outside of the United States and Puerto Rico on the due date of your income tax return, you are allowed an automatic 2-month extension to file your income tax return. Please note, this automatic extension is an extension to file your tax return, not an extension of time to pay any tax owed by the regular due date of the return. In such situations, interest is charged on any taxes owed from tax deadline to the date the taxes are paid. You can also request an additional 4-month extension by filing Form 4868 by June 15. Be sure to check the box on Line 8-"out of the country" on the form.
If you are serving in a combat zone or in a contingency operation (or are hospitalized as a result of an injury received while serving in such an area or operation), you qualify for extensions of deadlines. The deadlines for filing tax returns, paying taxes, filing claims for refund, and taking other actions with the IRS are extended to at least 180 days after you leave the designated combat zone or contingency operation. You may notify the IRS directly of your request for combat zone relief for extensions of deadlines through a special address:
If your spouse files the tax return, be sure he or she has power of attorney if filing for a deployed servicemember. Attach a copy of your power of attorney which grants an agent to file and sign your tax return. You may use IRS Form 2848, Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative. The form can be found at
Servicemembers and their families can get help at many installations through the Voluntary Income Tax Assistance program (VITA). Check with your legal center to see if this service is available at your installation. VITA volunteers will help you file your taxes free of charge. Go as early before the filing deadline as possible to avoid long lines. If you decide to see a private tax preparer, make sure he or she is familiar with the IRS Armed Forces' Tax Guide and has experience filing returns for servicemembers and their dependents. When your spouse goes, he or she should have the following:
Military ID
All W-2 and 1099 forms
Social Security cards for all family members
Deductions and credit information
Bank account and routing numbers (if you choose to receive your refund by direct deposit)
Receipts for child care expenses
Last year's tax return, if available
Special power of attorney authorizing you to do business on behalf of the deployed service member
For tax assistance or questions, go to the Internal Revenue Service website and search Military Exclusion Pay or Armed Services’ tax information. Military OneSource also offers free tax preparation and consultations by calling
Armed Forces’ Tax Guide (2011)

12. Financial Arrangements:
Taxes
Power of Attorney or Spouse--Filing Your Taxes or Asking for Extension
Prior year’s tax returns along with
IRS Form 2848 and Power of Attorney to file Joint Tax Return
IRS Form 4869 for a 4-month Extension
If your spouse files the tax return, be sure he or she has power of attorney if filing for a deployed servicemember. Attach a copy of your power of attorney which grants an agent to file and sign your tax return. You may use IRS Form 2848, Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative, found at , or IRS Form 4869, Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return. This form can be found at .
Servicemembers and their families can get help at many installations through the Voluntary Income Tax Assistance program (VITA). Check with your legal center to see if this service is available at your installation. VITA volunteers will help you file your taxes free of charge. Go as early before the filing deadline as possible to avoid long lines. If you decide to see a private tax preparer, make sure he or she is familiar with the IRS Armed Forces' Tax Guide and has experience filing returns for service members and their dependents. When your spouse goes, he or she should have the following:
Military ID
All W-2 and 1099 forms
Social Security cards for all family members
Deductions and credit information
Bank account and routing numbers (if you choose to receive your refund by direct deposit)
Receipts for child care expenses
Last year's tax return, if available
Special power of attorney authorizing you to do business on behalf of the deployed service member
For tax assistance or questions, go to the Internal Revenue Service website and search Military Exclusion Pay or Armed Services’ tax information. Military OneSource also offers free tax preparation and consultations by calling
Visit for information concerning taxes for 2012.

13. Online Access to Leave and Earnings Statement
While You’re Deployed
Online Access to Leave and Earnings Statement
Protect Your Identity
“Active Duty” Alert
Credit Freeze
Order Free Credit Reports
Credit Bureaus:
Equifax:
Experian:
TransUnion:
While you are deployed, it is important to protect financial profile.
LES
Each month, the Servicemember will receive a LES showing their pay for the preceding month and any changes that will affect their pay for the current month. The LES will also show pay for special assignments; allowances for food, housing, and clothing; leave earned and used; and what deductions were taken out of their pay for established allotments, insurance, and taxes. Also included is drill and retirement information. Make sure your spouse at home can access your pay statements. Spouses should be able to access Leave and Earnings Statements (LES) through MyPay at A spouse needs the servicemember’s Social Security number and password to access the LES.
Active Duty Alert
The last thing you want to worry about while you're on deployment is someone assuming your identity to commit financial fraud. Now, you don't have to. Amendments to the Fair Credit Reporting Act allow you to place an "active duty alert" in your credit report. According to the Federal Trade Commission, one of the agencies that enforces the FCRA, the alert requires creditors to verify your identity before granting credit in your name. When you place an active duty alert, your name will be removed from the nationwide consumer reporting companies' marketing lists for prescreened offers of credit and insurance for two years - unless you ask that your name be placed on the lists before then. Prescreened offers - sometimes called "preapproved" offers - are based on information in your credit report that indicates you meet certain criteria set by the offer.
Credit Freeze
Many states have laws that let consumers “freeze” their credit – in other words, letting a consumer restrict access to his or her credit report. If you place a credit freeze, potential creditors and other third parties will not be able to get access to your credit report unless you temporarily lift the freeze. This means that it’s unlikely that an identity thief would be able to open a new account in your name. Placing a credit freeze does not affect your credit score – nor does it keep you from getting your free annual credit report , or from buying your credit report or score.
Credit Reports
Your credit report contains information on where you live, how you pay your bills, and whether you've been sued, arrested, or filed for bankruptcy. Nationwide consumer reporting companies sell the information in your report to creditors, insurers, employers, and other businesses that use it to evaluate applications for credit, and a host of other activities, including insurance, employment, or renting a home. Your credit report can be a tool to help you guard against - or discover - identity theft, which occurs when someone uses your personal information - like your name, your Social Security number, or your credit card number - to commit fraud. Identity thieves may use your information to open a new credit card account in your name. Then, when they don't pay the bills, the delinquent account is reported on your credit report. Inaccurate or fraudulent information could affect your ability to get credit, insurance, or housing, now or in the future. People whose identities have been stolen can spend months or years cleaning up the mess the thieves have made of their names and credit records.
If you are a member of the military and away from your usual duty station, you may place an "active duty alert" on your credit report to help minimize the risk of identity theft while you are deployed. When a business sees the alert on your credit report, it must verify your identity before issuing you credit. The business may try to contact you directly, but if you're on deployment, that may be impossible. As a result, the law allows you to use a personal representative to place or remove an alert. Active duty alerts on your report are effective for one year, unless you request that the alert be removed sooner. If your deployment lasts longer, you may place another alert on your report.
To place an "active duty" alert, or to have it removed, call the toll-free fraud number of one of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies: Equifax, Experian, or Trans Union. The company will require you to provide appropriate proof of your identity, which may include your Social Security number, your name, address, and other personal information.
Equifax: ;
Experian: EXPERIAN ( );
TransUnion: ;
Contact only one of the three companies to place an alert - the company you call is required to contact the other two, which will place an alert on their versions of your report, as well. If your contact information changes before your alert expires, remember to update it.

14. Protect Your Assets In Your Absence
Property Management
Protect Your Assets In Your Absence
Vehicles
Arrange for continued payments
Renew registration, tags, inspection
Notify insurance company and check on reduced rates
Perform maintenance and repairs
Locate a storage facility
Managing your assets during your deployment is another issue you must consider in your pre-deployment planning. Making sure that your home or apartment and your vehicle will be secure during your absence involves several steps.
If you have a vehicle, arrange for continued payments by setting up an allotment or automatic bill pay. Make arrangements for vehicle storage, safekeeping of keys, and vehicle paperwork. Your car’s registration and safety inspection should be up-to-date and current through the duration of your deployment. Be sure that your insurance is paid for the length of your absence, and contact your insurance company to let them know you will be deployed and check on any savings you may be eligible for in storing your vehicle. Take care of any maintenance or repairs before you store your car.

15. Protect Your Assets In Your Absence
Property Management
Protect Your Assets In Your Absence
Home or Apartment
Arrange for continued payments
Check credit if subletting
Set up scheduled maintenance or lawn care
For your home or apartment, again make sure that you have arranged for your house payment or rent to be paid while you are gone. Notify your landlord or mortgage lender. If you are considering subletting your apartment, check the credit of the person who will live in your there. If your home requires lawn care or maintenance, make arrangements for scheduled upkeep of your property.

16. Communication Tools Pre-paid Phone Cards Phones E-mail Regular Mail
Keeping in Touch During Deployment
Communication Tools
Pre-paid Phone Cards
Phones
Regular Mail
Care Packages
Staying in touch with your spouse, family and friends can boost morale and reduce stress, whether you're the one deployed or managing the home front. So, find out what communication tools are available, and schedule regular times to connect. Here are some tips for using common methods:
Mail:
You can mail letters to each other, but be aware that mail service can be unpredictable and take weeks, depending on the location. Servicemembers and families should consider numbering personal letters in case they do not arrive in the order they were sent. You can also mail audio or videotapes.
Social Media:
While Servicemembers' access to popular civilian sites like MySpace and Facebook may be restricted during deployments, there are several military Web sites that give spouses or Servicemembers the opportunity to post messages or detail their daily lives online. Many social networking sites can offer features that and phone calls can't capture, like the ability for the entire family to view the same content and post messages in a bulletin board format, and invite other friends to join in.
Communicating via is popular for geographically separated couples. However, the Servicemember will need to check for system availability aboard ship or at his or her destination. If a computer and account are made available, this is an excellent way of communicating. This mode of communication is fairly fast and each partner can get "up-to-date" information. If time, planning, and capability exist, the couple can create a private chat room and have an electronic conversation. If the spouse at home does not have a personal computer or Internet service, he or she can check at a nearby military installation or another family readiness agency which may offer access. If this is not convenient, check with your local library for Internet access and free accounts. If you find that is a reliable way to communicate, you might also send digital photos or links to web sites where photos and videos can be stored.
Phone:
Relying solely on telephonic communication can be extremely expensive. Many a spouse has gasped with disbelief when the phone bill arrives, so beware! However, hearing your loved one’s voice every now and then is a luxury that many couples will budget for. Compare prices between a direct phone call and paying with a phone card. A pre-paid phone card is convenient and there are no surprise bills. Also, check with your long distance carrier for military overseas discounts. Most of the major phone companies offer such discounts. You will need to open this account prior to the separation.
Care Packages:
Families may want to send occasional care packages to their Servicemembers with comforts from home. But avoid sending too many things that will need to be brought home. Servicemembers have limited space to store and carry personal items. Things to include might be photographs, cookies, magazines, or a home video. Delivery usually takes 2 to 3 weeks but can take as long as 6 to 8 weeks so send early if you want it to arrive in time for a special occasion. You will need to follow postal regulations for packing and wrapping. Care packages are wonderful morale boosters during a deployment.

17. Preparing for Emergencies
Develop a Support System:
Friends
Family
Community
The Red Cross
Military Relief Organizations
Before a deployment, Servicemembers should ensure their unit has emergency contact information for their spouses as well as any other people who may be able to assist with an emergency during the deployment. Other people could include neighbors, friends, and family who can help the spouse if needed. Servicemembers should also provide their unit with a list of who is authorized to pick up children, if the spouse is unable to do so, and directions to their house. Due to the personal nature of the information provided, this document will remain sealed unless needed in the event of a mishap or emergency. This does not replace a Service Member’s DD Form 93, “Record of Emergency Data.” Units should be able to provide additional information regarding what to include in this document.
Servicemembers and their spouses should consider establishing an emergency plan. The plan could address who will care for children and pets should the spouse become ill or be involved in an accident, and how to reach that person. It should also include contact information for other family members who should be contacted if the spouse becomes ill or hurt in any significant way. Servicemembers may want to coordinate with their Rear Detachment Commander (RDC) or with local neighbors to ensure that someone is aware of where the emergency plan is located. In addition to the emergency plan, Servicemembers should make sure that their spouses have contact information for Commanders, RDCs, military ombudsman networks, family readiness groups (FRG), or Family Readiness Officers (FRO), and the American Red Cross.
Vehicles:
Car problems can be aggravating if you don't know who to contact to remedy them. Make certain you have the name of a trusted mechanic or automotive garage where you or a friend have taken a car for service. Repair costs can mount rapidly if you simply select a repair shop out of the phone book. Be sure to keep a record (the refrigerator is a good place) of the correct type of battery, tires, oil, etc., for the car. Keep track of when automotive registration, insurance, emissions inspections, or oil changes are due.
Home/Apartment Maintenance:
Know what to do or who to call if something in your home breaks down. Untested plumbing, roofing, or repair contractors can be very costly. Before you leave for deployment, give your home a security check inside and out. This should include testing (or installing) smoke alarms, and checking door and window locks, as well as outdoor lights or motion detectors (if you have them). If a move is expected during deployment, discuss the process for moving your household goods. Review your homeowner's or renter's insurance policies.
One of the most important steps for financial independence is being prepared for unexpected bills. And the best way to do that is to create an Emergency Savings Account (ESA). This is important because it prevents you from having to finance car repairs, a trip home to see family, or other expenses. Deciding how much to set aside is unique to each family—there is no hard and fast rule to determine how much is needed. Some experts have recommended a flat $500, while others have recommended three to six months living expenses. Regardless of what you choose, the point is to be able to pay for all of your family’s bills for at least two months should all sources of income become unavailable.
Discuss How to Handle:
Car Issues
Home Maintenance
Finances
Have on Hand:
Up-to-date Contact List
Emergency Funds

18. Deployment Prep Tools
There are numerous handouts and websites to help Servicemembers and their families prepare for deployment. Here are just a few of the many resource materials available to you.
Military Deployment Guide (DoD)
This guide is intended to help Servicemembers and their families prepare for deployment, serve as a resource during the deployment, and help navigate the challenges of a service member’s return and reintegration after the deployment. The information presented in this guide applies to deploying active duty service members from all branches of Service, National Guard service members, Reserve service members, and all family members (spouses, children, and parents) of active duty, National Guard, and Reserve service members who are preparing for, undergoing, or returning from a deployment. Servicemembers and their families should participate in installation or unit-sponsored deployment events to receive the most current information specific to their deployment.
Benefits Guide
Family Readiness is a critical issue for the Department of Defense. Quality of life and family matters are priority issues for the Secretary and the services. The Department's ability to assist service members and their families to prepare for separations during short and long term deployments is paramount to sustaining mission capabilities and mission readiness. The Reserve components have worked closely with their parent services to develop seamless, integrated family readiness and support programs that provide information and services to all members, regardless of the parent service or component of the member-Active, Guard or Reserve.

19. Deployment Prep Tools Deployment Checklist (USAA)
USAA provides you with a packet of check lists to help you prepare for deployment which includes a Rapid Deployment Checklist, a Deployment Preparations Checklist, and a Deployment Documents and Records Checklist.
Military Deployment Checklist (Navy Federal Credit Union)
This handy checklist can help you tie up any “loose ends” prior to your deployment. We’ve also provided worksheets where you can record important
information. For a complete checklist, refer to the official deployment packet provided by your base.

20. Deployment Prep Tools Servicemembers Civil Relief Act Checklist
It's important to know about the SCRA in order to take full advantage of the financial and legal protections it can provide to service members — including caps on interest rates, stays of certain legal proceedings, protection from eviction, and termination of leases without repercussions. This checklist will assist legal practitioners in determining if specific protections apply to you.
MyHELP List
The MyHELPList has a wealth of information about who to call and where to go if you need assistance. This document is available as a handout for this presentation, or you may access it by going to the following URL:
The important thing to keep in mind is that there systems in place for you to ask questions and find answer to help you and your family plan for deployment.

21. Summary Important Documents to update or prepare Financial Preparation
DoD Module “Before You Take Off—Financial Planning for Deployment” provided information on the following topics:
Important Documents to update or prepare
Financial Preparation
Property Management
Communication
Emergency Preparation
Tools to help you Prepare
If you have any questions or need further assistance for pre-deployment planning, visit your Command Financial Specialist or any of the resource websites available to you.

22. Financial Planning for Deployment
Before You Take Off
Financial Planning for Deployment
Questions?

23. Information Sources
Information for this presentation came from the following sources:
Military OneSource:
Military.com:
Defense Finance and Accounting Service:
Internal Revenue Service:
Federal Trade Commission:
Military4Life:
SaveandInvest.org: