For most Airmen, deployments are an expected part of their career. Being away from family for long periods and having to adjust to an unfamiliar environment can feel stressful and overwhelming, and you can experience this stress before, during, and after your time overseas. With the right plan, you can alleviate some of this stress so it’s easier to focus on your mission. Below, we talk about the impact of deployment stress and the steps you can take to help you manage your feelings and anxieties at any stage of your deployment.

The Impact of Deployment Stress on Airmen

The stress you can experience in the time before, during, and after your deployment can have more of an effect on you and your life than you might realize. Whether this is your first time deploying or you’ve deployed before, there are behavioral changes and symptoms you may have to deal with that can have a significant impact on your life and well-being. As soon as you receive the news that you’re deploying to the time you come home, you can experience things like:

●Negative emotions, such as sadness, frustration, loneliness, and worry

●Difficulty concentrating or making decisions

●Physical symptoms like insomnia, fatigue, headaches, and more

●Apathy and social isolation

●Irritability or a short temper

●Extreme anxiety or fear concerning the future

When you experience these symptoms, it can start to have an impact on your entire life, including your work, social life, and home life. If you notice you’re starting to experience any of the above symptoms, consider talking to a professional or reaching out to your leadership for help. Your command can point you in the right direction and provide you with helpful resources to manage your symptoms.

How to Manage Your Deployment Stress

If you don’t learn to manage your stress correctly, it can cause significant strain and tension in your life. Stress can also have a negative impact on your mental health, which can affect every aspect of your life. It’s critical to take the appropriate steps to manage your stress during each stage of your deployment, helping you and your family feel more reassured and secure. Below, we’ve listed some tips to help you deal with your deployment stress as you prepare for the mission ahead:

1. Prepare for Your Deployment Ahead of Time

Most Airmen will have to confront a deployment at some point in their careers, and while this is expected, it can still become a great source of stress for Airmen and their families. Just the idea that you may have to deploy and leave home and your loved ones for months at a time is enough to generate stress, especially when you’re never really sure when you can deploy and where. Preparing for a future deployment can help relieve some of the challenges and anxiety you may experience while also saving time when you do eventually receive your orders.

The first step for preparing for a deployment in advance is to take care of all your paperwork. Your documents are important in helping your family or loved ones manage your affairs while you’re spending time overseas. Make sure you handle documents and information like:

●Your will

●Insurance policies

●Power of attorney

●Financial information

●Copies of documents like birth certificates, social security cards, passports, and marriage licenses

If you need help determining what paperwork you need to complete or what documents you need to collect for a future deployment, you can talk to a legal professional or talk to JAG for a comprehensive list.

Before you ever receive orders to deploy, sit down with your family and have an honest discussion about expectations if you are told you’re shipping overseas. For example, you’ll want to explain to them how often you may hear from each other overseas and tell them that frequent communication may be difficult depending on the specific circumstances of your deployment. Telling your loved ones as much as you can about your deployment and setting realistic expectations can help relieve some of their anxieties or fears.

If you live alone, you will need to make arrangements to get your mail forwarded or stopped so it doesn’t get delivered to your home when no one’s home. You can also stop car insurance payments when you’re deployed if no one is using your vehicle

2. Complete Your Pre-Deployment Checklist

Once you get your orders to deploy, there are a few things you’re going to want to do before you ship out. One of the first things you want to do is create a packing checklist and make sure you have everything you need. You don’t want to leave anything behind that’s vital to your operations, and a packing list will make it easier to remember what you need.

When you start packing for your deployment, try to avoid ending up on either side of the spectrum: pack everything or bring the bare minimum. Instead, try to find a good middle ground where you’re bringing everything you need but not taking everything you own.

It’s easier to pack for a deployment if you make a list. A well-thought-out list will help you see what you already own and what you’ll need to buy before you leave. You can also check things off this list as you pack them, allowing you to easily spot what items you’re forgetting. Try to bring a few comfort items with you that make you feel happy since there are likely to be times during your deployment when you feel upset or isolated. While material items can’t fix everything, if it’s something that brings you comfort, it can make a difference.

The sooner you pack, the more time you’ll have to spend with your loved ones before you leave. You also won’t need to stress about trying to get everything packed last minute, which would only increase your risk of leaving something behind.

Outside of packing, you will also want to ensure you’ve made all the proper arrangements with your finances. It might be easier to have a loved one pay your bills while you’re gone, so you may want to consider giving your spouse or someone you trust access to your accounts. You will also want to find someone who can take care of any pets you have and someone to check on your home if no one else is going to be there while you’re gone. Make sure everything is taken care of before you leave so you don’t have to worry about it while you’re overseas, creating unnecessary stress in an already stressful environment.

3. Find Ways to Relieve Stress During Deployment

When you’re deployed, there are bound to be good days and some bad days. When you encounter a bad day, it can seem overwhelming and result in extreme stress or anxiety, especially since you’re so far away from home, your loved ones, and your support system. If you don’t do anything to alleviate your stress, you can experience uncomfortable symptoms like anxiety attacks, restless nights, and difficulty concentrating.

If you learn how to manage your stress when you’re deployed, it can help alleviate any symptoms or anxiety you might feel. Some tips for stress management include:

●Try to maintain a routine with your diet, sleep schedule, and exercise routine

●Find support within your unit

●Take breaks when you can after stressful situations

●Ask a loved one to take care of stressful situations at home

●Keep in touch with your loved ones when possible

●Find things that make you happy

●Find additional support from your Chaplin or combat stress control teams

Those at home can also use some of this advice to help alleviate their stress while waiting for their loved one to return.

4. Take Care of Yourself When You Get home

For many Airmen, they experience stress or anxiety about returning home, worried about what may have changed when they left or having to readjust to life back home. Airmen spend a lot of time overseas getting used to a new routine only to have to adjust to another routine back home. In many ways, life back home may have changed and there will be things you have to get used to. Routine changes topped with potential mental health troubles can make returning after deployment particularly stressful.

If you take some steps to prepare for your return, it can help make your adjustment easier and alleviate unnecessary stress or anxiety. Below are some of our tips for readjusting to life at home once you complete your Air Force deployment:

●Talk with loved ones or professionals about your experiences and feelings

●Find time for activities you enjoy

●Journal about your thoughts and feelings

●Avoid major life changes until after you’ve readjusted to life at home

●Be patient and kind to yourself as you readjust

●Stay on top of your physical health, meaning get enough sleep, eat healthy, and exercise

●Take readjusting at a pace you’re comfortable with

●Avoid using alcohol or other substances as a coping mechanism

It can be a major stressor to readjust to life back home after your deployment, but by being prepared, you can relieve a lot of the stress and anxiety that comes with it. It’s unlikely that you’ll be able to readjust immediately, so remember to be patient with yourself and give it time. Make sure you’re talking with friends and family to get their support while you go through your readjustment period.

Find Your Uniforms for Work at American Uniform Sales

You’ll want to have a few uniforms available to you while you’re deployed and when you’re back to work in the States and American Uniform Sales has you covered. We offer AFI-compliant uniforms so you can trust you’ll stay within Air Force regulations, whether you’re overseas or here at home. Shop from a wide range of OCPs, ranks, insignias, footwear, and more. Get started by shopping our entire selection, or contact us with your questions.