With the right strategies and the best resources, military families can ensure they’re mission ready, healthy, and prepared for whatever comes next.
Research shows that families have a direct effect on the readiness, retention, and effectiveness of our military. When families are prepared to manage challenges, it enables military members to serve with less distraction and worry.
To build mission and deployment readiness, consider your family’s unique needs. Maybe you need couples counseling to work through some unresolved issues or financial advice to figure out how to build a family budget. Maybe you need some new techniques to help manage stress.
Check out the following tips and resources to ensure your family is mission ready whenever duty calls:
- Manage your stress levels.
Unmanaged stress can negatively affect your family’s readiness. Incorporate stress-reducing techniques into your daily life such as a nightly walk, an early morning exercise routine, or some deep breathing exercises, like those on the Breathe2Relax app. Get your children involved too by sharing stress management techniques that work best for you. - Make mental health a priority. Military life comes with many challenges. To stay mission or deployment ready, it’s important to be mentally healthy. If your family is struggling with a recent relocation, financial challenges, or relationship issues, consider seeking help and learning coping techniques to better manage stress. Consult a trained counselor confidentially, join a support group, or talk to another military family who understands you’re experience.
- Get financially fit. If you’re struggling with high debt or don’t have control over your budget, it may affect your family’s well-being and place additional stress on your Service member. Learn some personal financial basics like how to create a budget, begin saving, or pay down debt. Military OneSource offers free financial counseling with trained professionals to help you get on track.
- Commit to a healthy lifestyle. To meet the demands of military life, it’s important to live a healthy lifestyle. The healthier you are, the more prepared your body and mind are to tackle challenges and cope with stressful times. A healthy lifestyle includes a nourishing diet, plenty of activity and exercise, and enough rest. If you’re not sure how to start, consult a Health and Wellness Coach to help you create an action plan and stay focused on your goals.
- Remind yourselves of your purpose.
Research shows that families who are invested in their Service member’s mission and share a sense of purpose are better able to handle the demands of military life. If family members are getting overwhelmed or upset with some of the challenges, take a moment to reflect on the “why” of military life demands. Discuss your reasons for embarking on the journey of military life, what values you share, and what makes it so rewarding. - Prioritize your relationships. When your marriage or partnership feels strong, your Service member can focus on their mission with less distraction and stress. Keep communication open and prioritize spending time together to strengthen your relationship. Consider personalized coaching sessions from a Building Healthy Relationships Specialty Consultation or contact a Military OneSource consultant 24/7 to discuss available support to help your relationships thrive.
- Find time for yourself. Carving out time to do things you enjoy is an important part of staying mentally and emotionally fit. Make time for a relaxing hike, an hour in the gym, a night out with friends, or other healthy pastimes you enjoy.
- Build a strong support system.
With frequent deployments and relocations a common part of military life, it’s important to have a strong family support system to be there when you need it. Think about friends, family, and neighbors who can help with child care, transportation, emotional support, and more. - Take advantage of available resources. Whether you want to improve your physical health, mental health, or another aspect of your wellness, take advantage of the resources around you. Try counseling services, inquire about a parenting class or a fun activity for your children, or join a support group.
Check out the resources below to get started:
Resources
TRICARE – Your TRICARE plan has several services that can help you stay healthy in both mind and body. Take advantage of preventative care, mental health services, and more.
Military Community Support Programs (MCSP) – MCSP connects Service members and their families to services and resources that help them overcome challenges, thrive in military life, and stay mission ready. Access to confidential counseling services, specialty consultations, information, and resources is available 24 hours a day. This comprehensive support is available in person, online, and by telephone through Military OneSource and Military and Family Life Counseling.
Confidential counseling – Military OneSource counselors are available for free, short-term, and confidential consulting for a wide range of issues including managing deployments, coping with grief or loss, and more. The Military and Family Life Counseling Program also provides free, confidential counseling services to Service members, their families, and survivors on or near installations.
With the right wellness strategies and the best resources, military families can ensure they’re healthy, mission ready, and prepared for both the challenges and unique rewards of military life.