2010

Deployment, a military fact of life, refers to the assignment of military personnel to temporary, unaccompanied tours of duty. Extended separations, increased workloads, shifting demands, erratic schedules, and combat make deployment a difficult, uncertain, and even harrowing experience for both service members and their families. In particular, the “suddenly military” National Guard and Reserve families find deployment to be especially stressful (Hoshmand & Hoshmand, 2007). These families must deal with an array of new and unexpected concerns, including legal, financial, marital, employment, child rearing, and health care issues as they rapidly transition to a military lifestyle. Moreover, they are often isolated and unable to access support services available to traditional military families (National Military Family Association [NFMA], 2006).