Military Deployment

Deployment can be a difficult time for both the soldier and the family they leave behind. Children face a host of special issues when one or both of their parents are deployed.

Symptoms of Deployment-Related Stress in the Classroom

• Difficulty concentrating in school.
• Unable to resume normal classroom assignments and activities
• Continued high levels of emotional response, such as crying and intense sadness
• Appearing depressed, withdrawn, and uncommunicative
• Expressing sad or violent feelings in conversation, writing or drawings
• Intentionally hurting self or at risk of hurting others
• Gain or lose a significant amount of weight in a short period of time
• Discontinue taking care of personal appearance

Educator’s Interventions

• Focus on students and the classroom learning environment
• If students are distressed about the circumstances of deployment, find an appropriate time for them to share their feelings, needs, and fears.
• Regardless of political beliefs, refrain from expressing personal options
• Expect temporary slowdowns or disruptions in learning when a deployment occurs
• Provide structure
• Be approachable, attentive, and sensitive to the unique needs of students coping with deployment and family separations
• Inquire about school, community, and military resources available to assist
• Contact your CCS military support team/MFLC/ Fort Bragg School Liaison 

Important Terminology  

ACS - Army Community Services - provides various comprehensive services for military families.

AO - Area of Operation - where the service member is housed on deployment. 

CAO - Casualty Assistance Office/Officer - This team can consist of a Chaplain and members from the Rear Detachment who come to notify a military spouse when their service member is seriously injured or killed in action (KIA).  

CYS - Child and Youth Services provides programs and services for children of eligible military and civilian families.

Deployment - the act of sending troops onto duty. Deployments have varying lengths depending on the situation, MOS (military occupation specialty = job), and duty stations.

Family Care plan - a pla created by the Service member to handle certain affairs such as children, finances, and housing.

JAG - Judge Advocate General - military law.  

MOS - military occupational specialty code - service member's job in the military. 

Military orders - documents that detail a military service member's duty station, school location, training, or deployment. 
***NOT ALL SERVICE MEMBERS ARE INITIALLY GIVEN PHYSICAL ORDERS FOR DEPLOYMENT.

OPSEC - operational security.

POA - power of attorney. 

Rear Detachment (Rear D) - a selective group from the unit that maintains the unit at the duty station, does not deploy or consists of soldiers that have returned early from deployment. 

TDY - temporary duty yonder - temporary duty assignment.

XO/CO - Executive officer or Commanding officer; CO is in charge of a company, battalion, or brigade. XO is second in command-leader of a battalion - second in command.

• Military Child Education Coalition

• Sesame Street for Military Families

• Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission

• Tutor for Military and Families

• National Child Traumatic Stress Network

• Military-Connected Scholarships

• NC Supports Military Children