First deployment? Info here (both green & blue side) + Behavioral Health help pre- & post-deployment

[Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom]

See greenside (with Marines) and blueside (ship or shore duty) below.  Ask questions or share what you've learned.

Pre-Deployment Checklists:

Pre-Deployment Checklist for Family Members

Single Sailor Pre-Deployment Checklist

For "greenside" corpsman families: 

What is an FRO?  How does one make contact?  How do they keep families informed?

The FRO is the Marine unit's Family Readiness Officer.  OPSEC is carefully guarded; your sailor will have to provide his/her FRO with your contact information so you can receive newsletters and email updates.

Marine parent resources:

www.marineparents.com 

http://marinefamilynetwork.com/group/corpsmen

http://marinefamilynetwork.com/group/afghandeploy

How do departures and homecomings work, how are families notified, how much notice does one get?

Departures: 

Flight to sandbox usually goes through Maine, then on to Germany or Ireland, then to Kyrgyzstan then on to Afghanistan.

Homecomings: 

Generally two weeks' notice, but can change right up to the day they leave.

From Lori (MEsailormom):  "The movie "The Way We  Get By" about the troop greeters at the airport (Bangor) is a must see!!!! Mainiacs love their troops. Makes me so proud." You can watch the movie on this website: http://www.imdb.com/video/hulu/vi4204304409/

Dates are NOT to be discussed online, for OPSEC (operational security) reasons.  

Care packages:  "My son requested pocket snacks - packs of peanuts, beef jerkey, trail mix, whatever can fit in pockets" (Lorelai)  "Socks, wet wipes, and hot and cold weather gear are always appreciated" (Betty)  

Foxsox.com offers sock that are loved by military.  But also send packages of white tube socks, as they go through socks like crazy (get wet, etc).  One corpsman told me, "Tube socks and snacks" as his top request for himself and his unit.

How to locate and track our corpsmen's marine units online, and find photos:

www.dvidshub.net

daylife.com

Facebook groups

For "blueside" corpsman families:

FRG and ombudsman: 

Your sailor will be asked to provide them with your contact information.  

Ombudsman:  The Ombudsman is a volunteer, appointed by the commanding officer, to serve as an information link between command leadership and Navy families.  To locate yours, go to http://www.ombudsmanregistry.org and use the links there.

Family Readiness Group (FRG) - FRGs are a means of community support and assistance within a Navy unit or ship.  It's important to be on your FRG's list.  Ask your ombudsman for the FRG contact info, or search N4M for a group for your ship or unit, and ask the members.  You can also search Facebook to see if the FRG has a page; you can make a friend request with your sponsor's (sailor's) info (rate, rank, and your relationship) and be approved. 

Care packages are great to send with snacks and powdered drink additives like Powerade.  There is a ship store but your sailor may want particular personal hygiene items.  

A great gift to purchase is a "rack pack" - a personalized curtain for your sailor's rack that has extra pockets and is extra-darkening for better sleep.  Pat is the company owner and she's very helpful.  Website: http://navyrackpacks.com  

Sailings & Homecomings - Both are must-do experiences, especially homecomings. The enlisted "man the rails" in dress uniform with officers standing just behind them.  OPSEC concerns must be observed, so don't discuss dates on public websites such as N4M or Facebook.  Your ombudsman and FRG are your best sources of info, including dates and how to get base access.  Signs, banners and pompoms encouraged at the pier!  You may also be able to go aboard (signed in at the quarterdeck by your sailor/sponsor) to help unload your sailor's gear; what a great opportunity to see what life at sea is all about.  You will always have a soft spot in your heart for anyone who has had to sleep in a rack for months :)

Your ship may also offer a "tiger cruise" - family members travel to the ship's last port before heading home and ride home with them.  There are age and relationship restrictions (no spouses or significant others, for obvious reasons) so ask your ombudsman or FRG.

FOR BOTH GREEN & BLUE:

Care package info -

Care Packages 101 - getting the right boxes, packing, shipping, filling out customs forms

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PRE- AND POST-DEPLOYMENT

Some things to help both sailors and their families in coping:

It's worth printing out and putting in a binder:  A TRICARE Guide: Understanding Behavioral Health  It covers pre- and post-deployment, and describes all the options available to our sailors via TRICARE for managing deployment-related behavioral health issues (the subtitle is Common Concerns, Helpful Resources, and How Your Benefits Work for You).

From the DoD - www.militarymentalhealth.org/welcome.asp Anonymous self-assessment tools to help you and your family recognize symptoms and get guidance on getting help"

www.mentalhealthscreening.org/military has programs and this video: A Different Kind of Courage" 

The DoD has more resources at http://warriorcare.dodlive.mil/

 

[mamawalrus]

Thank you for this.. My son is deploying in March

[Corpsman Momma Kat]

Thank you so much! You are all amazing!