Returning Home From Deployment

You’re finally headed home after a deployment — and you deserve to celebrate. It’s also important to be aware that your return may bring changes in how your children, partner or friends relate to you. Recognizing these shifts can help ease the transition for everyone during reunion and reintegration.

The scope of reunion and reintegration spans everything from return preparation, the initial reunion, early adjustments and disruptions to prior routines, and long-term normalization. Set realistic expectations and know that adjustment timelines will differ between service members, family members and loved ones.

• Last days of deployment — During the last few days of deployment, sometimes called pre-entry, service members will be working long hours to ensure the final details of the deployment mission are completed before arriving home, and family members will be full of excitement and jitters. Discuss the reunion with your partner, including who and how many people should be there for the initial reunion.
• Reunion — During the first few days back home, everyone may be happy and excited, but also uncertain about changes and adjustments. Don’t be afraid to talk about these feelings. Service members will want to leave time for administrative tasks outlined below.
• Reintegrating — The first several weeks back together is sometimes called “disruption.” It can feel awkward and stressful. Communicate openly about changes, and be patient as routines, roles and relationships shift. Be patient with loved ones, and with yourself. This can be a good time to take advantage of free, confidential counseling from Military OneSource.
• Normalization — Over several months or the first year, you’ll spend time getting reacquainted with friends, family and your partner, renegotiating routines, and redefining or easing back into roles and responsibilities as you find your “new normal.”

Learn more about adjustments after deployment.

Service members face numerous immediate tasks upon return, particularly during the first week. Avoid overloading schedules. Allow time for necessary debriefings and take time to review a few key areas after your family reunites:

• Special pay, allowances or combat zone tax exclusions end after deployment. Review your income and budget, and make adjustments. Talk with a financial counselor to get answers to your budget questions.
• Explore these financial affairs tips, and take advantage of free support programs for help with finances, budgeting, savings, retirement and large purchases.
• Revisit deployment-related legal paperwork and consider updating documents like powers of attorney, wills, life insurance beneficiaries and your family care plan.

Returning home from deployment, adjusting to new routines and wrestling with emotional highs and lows are just a few challenges of reintegration. Be open about your emotions and patient with yourself and others.

Military OneSource confidential counseling is available to help support the reunion and reintegration process.

• Military OneSource confidential counseling sessions are available and encouraged, especially during the more stressful disruption phase.
• Peer-to-peer support provides an opportunity to talk to someone who’s shared many of your military experiences, including deployment.
• Building Healthy Relationships Specialty Consultation personalized coaching sessions are designed to strengthen your relationships with family, friends and others.

Professional support is available 24/7 for service members and their families to address more serious mental health concerns. Know the signs and who to contact:

• Learn the symptoms and treatments for PTSD and combat stress. Combat stress is a common reaction to demanding and traumatic experiences. PTSD tends to be more severe and usually requires working with a mental health professional.
• Find resources for depression and suicide prevention. Learn to recognize the warnings signs. Contact the Military Crisis Line for free, 24/7 mental health support and crisis counseling services for a wide range of issues. Call 988 and press 1. You can also initiate an online chat by sending a text to 838255.
• Learn the signs of substance abuse and addiction and where to get help.

MILITARY ONESOURCE RESOURCES

• Suicide Prevention
• Substance Abuse and Addiction
• Mental Health: Resources
• Mental Health Support

EXTERNAL RESOURCES

• Psychological Health Center of Excellence
• TRICARE Mental Health Care
• TRICARE Military Treatment Facility Locator

If you, your spouse or other family members are feeling signs of physical or emotional stress as you transition back home, don’t be afraid to ask for support — the sooner the better. Explore these support resources to help make returning home easier for everyone:

Guard and reserve members should keep these changes in mind as they readjust to civilian life:

• Activation status — Use discharge and release documents to update your status and identification cards at the military identification card office. Update your family members’ information in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System, or DEERS.
• Leave — Most reserve component service members take their remaining accrued military leave at the end of their active-duty service period. Visit the Defense Finance and Accounting Service and Office of Personnel Management websites to learn more about military leave.
• Finances — Your pay will return to monthly drill pay. Your military income will likely decrease, as you will no longer receive active-duty pay and special pays or allowances. You are also no longer eligible for the combat zone tax exclusion. Contact Military OneSource for free financial counseling and help with your questions.
• Legal and financial protections — You may lose protections under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act once deployment ends. Legal coverage ends on your release from military service. Financial protections, including reduced interest, foreclosures and lease terminations, expire 30 to 90 days following your release. Contact a legal services office near you using the Armed Forces Legal Services Locator.
• Health care coverage — Visit TRICARE’s website to learn more about health care options after deactivation.
• Reintegration challenges — Active-duty service members return to a military community that understands deployment, but the civilian coworkers won’t necessarily understand the National Guard and reserves experience.