Deployments are characterized by the following:
Separation from family or loved ones
- Most are leaving home for the first time
- Separation from extended family and close friends
- Separation from boyfriends and girlfriends
Relocate away from family and friends
- May be assigned to a base in a different part of the country
- Adjustments to new climates and culture
Deployments last from 6-18 months
Multiple deployments
- Some serve more than one deployment before being discharged from the military
- As of 2013, more than 977,500 have experienced 2 or more deployments
Emotional Cycle of Deployment:
- Pre-deployment, Deployment, Sustainment, Re-deployment, Post-deployment
See The Emotional Cycle of Deployment: Military Family Perspective for more information about the deployment cycle.
Emotional Cycle of Deployment Family Members/Dependents
Family members or dependents of Veterans/Service members may also need sup- port. They could be experiencing any of the following:
Separation from a loved one
Difficulty concentrating
Difficulty transitioning
Difficulty adjusting to role changes
Loss or injuries of a loved one