Petawawa Military Family Resource Centre
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/711198
COMMUNICATION The best thing that family members can do for deployed family member is keep the lines of communication open. Whether by phone, email, video chat or letters, letting your deployed family member know that they're still on your mind can build moral and help pass the time overseas. Though your letters, emails and chats are meant to stay just between the two of you, it's important to remember that any communication might fall into the wrong hands. For this reason, following operations security is crucial to the safety of your deployed service member's unit and the success of their mission. Whenever communicating with your family member, never disclose the following: • The mission of your service member's unit or the number of service members assigned to it • Deployment times and locations • Port call dates • Special shore deployments • Unit morale or personnel issues • Troop movement • Military intentions, capabilities or operations • Your family's location during the deployment • Your service member's scheduled return date Your deployed family member one should also avoid these topics in return letters or emails. It can be frustrating to not receive any specific information about your service member's location or return dates, but it's for the safety of everyone involved. When communicating with a family member it is always a good idea not to use identifying names, genders of people. Instead of discussing your child (e.g. Jackson age 4 you can identify them as the dog is doing well) this then will reduce risks. If you want to ask how the member is doing during the deployment you can always ask if they are enjoying a favorite activity. (e.g. How do you like your guitar lessons?)