Whether you are stationed across the country or on the other side of the world, military deployments can take a toll on you and your family. Besides the fear of war or turmoil, deployed servicemen and women are left worrying about their families back home, with little that they can do to help from so far away.
Luckily, there are a variety of things you can do to protect your family while you’re deployed and to make the transition easier for everyone. Keep reading for a few tips to help you do just that.
Choose the Right Insurance Coverage
While you may not need your auto insurance while you’re deployed, your family will. Ensuring that they are protected with the right coverage is something you’ll want to take care of before your tour starts.
One thing you’ll need to think about is what to do with your own car and coverage during deployment. While you could cancel your coverage, this means that no one will be insured if they do drive it, even if an emergency arises. Even if the car isn’t going to be driven, damage can still occur while in storage, and without insurance, you and your family will be left paying for it.
Choosing the right car insurance is about more than just coverage. The right auto insurance provider can also have a huge impact on your family’s experience. USAA understands the challenges faced by military families. Whether they need roadside assistance, help to file claims or a flexible payment schedule to match your payday, you can rest assured your family has the support they need.
Create a Family Care Plan
If you’ll be leaving children with a designated caregiver while you are deployed, a Family Care Plan is a must. In fact, in many cases, it may be required by the Department of Defense.
Your Family Care Plan is designed to outline the responsibilities of your chosen caregiver. With specified expectations and guidelines, your plan will help make the transition to a new home easier on your child, you and the trusted family member or friend who will be taking over the parenting role temporarily.
While you can choose many of the guidelines to include in your plan, the military does have certain requirements, such as the caregiver being a civilian rather than military and that both parties must sign the official Family Care Plan.
Rethink Who You Share Your Deployment Information With
Having a community of support can go a long way towards easing the burden of deployment on those left at home, like your spouse and children. Unfortunately though, sharing too much information about the details of the deployment could actually put your family at risk.
Decorating your home or sharing on social media about when you will be deployed could let criminals know that you are away as well. This could make your home an easier target for crime. Avoid discussing the details of your deployment or that of your spouse in public or with strangers. Share the details only with your close friends and family.
Dealing With Deployment
For servicemen and women who joined the military to serve their country, deployment is a necessary, expected step in their career. But that doesn’t mean it comes without worry and stress about the ones you leave at home.
By choosing the right insurance, developing a Family Care Plan and being careful about sharing the details of your deployment, you can protect your family while you are away.