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According to the Dept of Education, nearly ALL school districts in the United States have military-connected students.  It is up to us all to recognize those students and offer support however we can, through programming, book purchases, and information pathfinders.  Read the following to understand how to identify military-connected students and how they are different from other students.

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This site, from the Illinois Library Association, is a list of books that deal with many stresses common in military families, including deployments, frequent moves, and long working hours.  Though a little dated (latest titles are 2012) this is a nice beginning collection.

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As a community library, many military and veteran families rely on you for information to help them navigate the unique challenges of being a part of a military connected family. You are in a unique position to support families, by providing them both with community resources to assist in times of need, and by sharing reading material and developing programs that will resonate with the military family's experience.

Ages 0 to 5

Mersiowsky, Anissa/Contreras, Rey
Child and Family Press (1993)

SUMMARY: Book for military children going through a deployment. It asks the question from a child's perspective why their daddy has gone to fight and protect other children and families. It answers in an easy to read and rhyming format.

Eastman, P.D.
Beginner Books/Random House (1960)

SUMMARY: A baby bird goes in search of his mother in this hilarious Beginner Book edited by Dr. Seuss. When a mother bird's egg starts to jump, she hurries off to make sure she has something for her little one to eat. But as soon as she's gone, out pops the baby bird. He immediately sets off to find his mother, but not knowing what she looks like makes it a challenge. The little hatchling is determined to find his mother, even after meeting a kitten, a hen, a dog, and a Snort.

Silva, Jessica/Davis, Shawn
Maximillian Press

Summary: As a person with endless curiosity about how young kids' minds work (and a former preschool teacher), the author loved the examples of kids' very different understanding of what was going on with their dad. The book deals with the very literal way children think and their limited understanding of time and geography when they talk about what's happening with their military parent.... "Daddy came home on Tuesday from work and said he was going on a chip. Then Thursday we took him and lots of his stuff to the Navy and left him there. The place he works is sort of ugly and has Barbie wire on the fence. Everyone was sad. Even Daddy looked like he was going to cry."

(Mommy, You're My Hero) (P)

Ferguson-Cohen, Michelle
Little Redhaired Girl Pub Inc. (2003)

Summary: Ferguson-Cohen's You're My Hero! titles from the Books for Brats™ series were pioneers in the publishing industry. The titles help children coping with deployment and have been lauded by the press, educators, and children's organizations. Written and illustrated by a military brat whose father was deployed numerous times, the books promote pride in community and connect with her readers, as they are a unique insight into the heart of a military child.

Scillian, Devin and Victor Juhasz
Sleeping Bear Press (2006)

Summary: Written by the son of a career officer, this book explores the branches of the Armed Services and speaks from the heart about the honor, privileges, and sacrifices of military families everywhere. Children will discover why drill sergeants have to be so tough, what it means to be patriotic and why we need Special Forces such as the Navy SEALS, the Green Berets, and the Army Rangers. "H is for Honor" also explains why the annual Army/Navy football game is more than just a game, how much letters from home mean to soldiers, how often military families have to move, and what life on base is like. With an underlying message of courage and commitment that every child can relate to, the book will be especially meaningful to those whose parents, siblings, or other relatives serve in the Armed Forces.

Williams, Dorinda Silver/Gilliam, Brenda
Zero To Three (2009)

Summary: This book perfectly describes several scenarios from the viewpoint of children aged infant/toddler through about kindergarten of what it is like when their hero comes home again.

Im, Janice, Claire Lerner, Rebecca Parlakian and Linda Eggbeer
Zero To Three (2006)

Summary: This book comforts young children experiencing stress and allows pictures of the child's caregivers to be inserted to personalize the story for each child.

(My Mommy Is a Soldier) (P)

Hilbrecht, Kirk, Sharon Hilbrecht and Sharron Hilbrecht
New Canaan (2006)

Summary: Color picture book for young military families showing how Daddy's job is important.

Ehrmantraut, Brenda/Wehrman, Vicki
Bubble Gum Press (2005)

When a soldier's work takes him halfway around the world, he enlists the help of the North Star for a nightly game of catch with his son. Night Catch is a timeless story that connects families while they are apart and offers comforting hope for their reunion. Will also work for older children.

Williams, Dorinda Silver
Zero To Three (2006)

Summary: Board book with both "Mommy" and "Daddy" versions for children to express feelings about a parent being away on deployment. Also available as a download that can be customized with personal photos and illustrations from the publisher: http://www.zerotothree.org/about-us/funded-projects/military-families/over-there-activity-book.html

Waddell, Martin/Benson, Patrick
Candlewick Press (1996)

Summary: When three baby owls awake one night to find their mother gone, they can't help but wonder where she is. Stunning illustrations from unique and striking perspectives capture the owls as they worry about their mother: What is she doing? When will she be back? What scary things move all around them? Not surprisingly, a joyous flapping and dancing and bouncing greet her return, lending a celebratory tone to the ending of this comforting tale.

Karst, Patrice/Stevenson, Geoff
DeVorss and Co. (2000)

Summary: The description of how people are connected by love over long distances is so well done and understandable that it helped my three-year-old and five-year-old know that they were still connected to their dad even though they couldn't see him. It sparked a nightly ritual of "pulling Dad's strings," and we could feel him pulling back.

Penn, Audrey/Harper, Ruth E. and Nancy M. Leak
Tanglewood Press (1993)

Summary: A children's classic that has touched the lives of millions of children and their parents, especially at times of separation, whether starting school, entering daycare, going to camp, or facing a parent in the Armed Forces.

Ages 5 to 8

Biden, Jill/Colón Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books (2012)

Summary: Inspired by her own granddaughter Natalie, Vice President Joe Biden's wife, Jill, tells a story through a child's eyes of what family life is like when a parent is at war across the world. Pencil-and-watercolor illustrations support the gentle, wistful mood of this story based on the vice-presidential family's experience. The back matter offers solid, practical suggestions for supporting military families.

Andrew, Beth and Wright, Hawley
Prometheus Books (2007)

Based on many years of experience as a social worker who has assisted military families experiencing stress, author Beth Andrews has created an excellent tool for allowing children and their loved ones to deal with the many emotions caused by deployment. The text and illustrations encourage children to discuss their feelings and to draw their own pictures to express themselves. The accompanying parents' guide is designed to validate parents' feelings and give them ways to help their children cope. Guided by this approach, a parent or caregiver can help their children understand why one of their parents or a sibling had to leave home, identify their reactions, cope with their feelings in a positive way, be assured that they are not alone, and try new activities to help themselves adjust.

Gorman, Connee and Kezzia Crossley

Summary: This book is designed to help young children begin to understand the effect of PTSD on a military family. It is written lovingly to guide families through the difficult transition from war to home.

McBride, Sharon G.
AuthorHouse (2008)

Summary: As we march on through another year of war, many service members have already completed more than one deployment. Astonishingly, a lot of these service members are mothers, and they are not only balancing their commitments to their families but to the nation as well. My Mommy Wears Combat Boots is based the personal experience of a soldier and a mother who was seeking a wa...more Based the personal experience of a soldier and a mother seeking a way to explain why she needed to leave her child again and go to war. Young children are very limited when it comes to communication skills, and often have a difficult time expressing guilt, frustration, anger, loneliness, and sadness and often don't realize that it's normal to feel all of this and more as the result of their mom's deployment. The book seeks to explain to children the emotions associated with deployment and help them find a way to positively channel those emotions.

Ages 8 to 12

Lee, Marlene
Early Light Press (2005)

Summary: A unique resource for children whose lives are affected by the death of a U.S. military service member. With the death of their father - their own "Special Hero" - Greg, age ten, and Grace, age seven, find that children in military families often face additional losses compared to their non-military family peer group. The unique format also includes open-ended questions to encourage communication and understanding among children and adult caregivers.

Ages 10 to 15

Sherman, Michelle D. and DeAnne M. Sherman
Beaver's Pond Press (2009)

Summary: A series of fictional blogs highlighting the feelings and experiences of four teens before, during, and after a parent's deployment. It provides support and education for all military teens and pre-teens by honoring their unique joys and sacrifices, addressing their fears and hopes, and exploring how parental deployment affects their lives. The blogs are a compilation of real life experiences of military kids collected by the authors.

Redman, Mary and Christina Rodriguez
Elva Resa Publishing (2008)

Summary: Amanda understands her dad is making the world a better place, but it doesn't make his deployment any easier. After mulling over ways she can support her dad, Amanda creates a small wishing tree in her room, writing her hopes and prayers on yellow ribbons that she ties onto the branches. As Amanda wishes for her dad to enjoy good meals, make new friends, and return safely, the little tree comes to life with yellow ribbons of hope. Includes information about wishing trees.

Walters, Eric
Penguin Books Canada (2005)

Summary: Marcus and his sister Megan are counting down the days until their father comes home from Afghanistan, and when the big day arrives, the family is overcome by happiness and relief that he's safe. But as the days pass Marcus begins to feel that there's something different about his father who barely sleeps, obsesses about news from Afghanistan, and is overly aggressive. His dad insists there's nothing wrong, but Marcus knows that he needs to get his dad some help before it's too late. "I have taught and worked with military families and am the spouse of a soldier.) I would highly recommend this book for any teen. It is a book that is finally able speak to students about PTSD and help de-mystify the idea that if someone comes home without any physical injuries, they are just fine."

Ages 14 - Adult

Maxwell, Shannon/Biggers, Liza
4th Division Press (2012)

Summary: An unprecedented look into the often invisible effects of traumatic brain injury (TBI) through the eyes of a child. The main character, Cassidy, guides readers on a journey of discovery to learn and answer questions about the physical, cognitive, and emotional/behavioral changes in a loved one following a TBI. Characterized images of Big Boss Brain further reinforce understanding of the brain's function, control, and damage in a manner kids can easily understand. The story captures the reader's attention and imagination, allowing them to believe in the possibilities of life together after traumatic injury. The often invisible effects of TBI are difficult for adults to fully comprehend; more so for children who are discovering the world around them. Big Boss Brain is a way of providing children with a vehicle to understand TBI and realize that they are not alone. While intended for children, Big Boss Brain also is instructive for adults. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 1.7 million people sustain a traumatic brain injury (TBI) annually. Author Shannon Maxwell once again draws upon her family's experiences following her husband's penetrating TBI to create a must-have resource for any family navigating or wanting to learn more about traumatic brain injury. Illustrator Liza Biggers joins Maxwell in this second collaborative endeavor-following their first, Our Daddy is Invincible!-bringing to life images sure to captivate readers of all ages.

Mazer, Harry
Simon and Schuster (2005)

Summary: In the final part of Adam Pelko's story, which began with (2001) and continued in A Boy No More (2004), Adam, now seventeen, lies about his age so that he can join the Marines in 1944. Mazer did the same thing (though he served in Europe), and much of the power of this novel lies in the factual details, first of rough boot-camp training, and then of battle. This novel stands alone, but readers familiar with the previous books can't help but recognize Adam's haunting sorrow about his dad, killed at Pearl Harbor, and his longing for his distant Japanese American friend. The climax is the brutal battle with the Japanese on Okinawa ("We had to kill every one of them"), where Adam is wounded and sees comrades killed. A note fills in some background history. The clear first-person narrative is terse and gripping, graphic about the slaughter, and heartfelt about the loss.

Graham, Megan Jane Egerton
Egerton Graham Consulting (2009)

Summary: This book was created to support family members through any and all extended absences of a significant member of the family. All of the tips and suggestions have been tried and or tested by families experiencing absences. Think of this guide as a recipe book, some recipes will work perfectly for your family and some recipes your family would never even want to sample. The intent of the book is to make the absence easier and give your family the tools to thrive during their absence.

The Families and Children Working Group of Illinois Joining Forces has created this Librarian Tool Kit for Supporting Military and Veteran Families, and is working with the Illinois Library Association to help bring these programs and resources to libraries throughout Illinois.

The list is organized by age group, with letter keys for topic categories. The books were chosen by members of the IFJ Children and Families Working Group, all of whom have personal experience with military connected families. We suggest marking each book with a special purple sticker. For military and veteran families, the color purple is an indication that it applies to all of the armed forces - Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard, and includes Reserve and National Guard forces; as a whole, we call this "Joint Services." We welcome additions to the list.

Key

P - Patriotic/general military family
S - Staying connected
C - Coming home
H - Healing heroes
L - Loss and bereavement

Format

Age group

Building Your Collection

Some of the books on the list will be ones you already have in your library. Several books that speak of the lasting love between parent and child, even in absence, don't apply only to military separations, such as by Martin Waddell.

But many of these books may not be part of your current collection. We suggest designating someone on your staff as the Military Community Coordinator to coordinate purchases and books already in your collection.

If there is someone on staff with a military connection in their family, they may have a particular interest in the project and can work with local organizations such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, the Lions Club, school groups, and others who may want to support the creation of your military and veteran book collection through donations or in other ways.

Once you begin working with military families in your communities, you may find that your Friends groups or other organizations want to become part of the project.

We also welcome suggestions to expand and deepen the booklist in their toolkit. Send recommended titles, as well as your experiences with any of the listed titles, to:

Kelcey Liverpool
Founder, Kids Rank
Liverpool@kidsrank.org

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As a community library, many military and veteran families rely on you for information to help them navigate the unique challenges of being a part of a military connected family. You are in a unique position to support families, by providing them both with community resources to assist in times of need, and by sharing reading material and developing programs that will resonate with the military family’s experience.

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New Jersey National Guard Family Programs

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New Jersey National Guard Family Programs

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When a family is part of the National Guard, they may not always be aware of the resources and benefits available to them.  As a librarian, being familiar with where to send them for information can be a great relationship-builder.

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Child & Youth Program

The New Jersey National Guard Youth Program is here to help provide the support and resources youth need to deal with the separation from a parent, child care issues, difficulties with school and many other problems. Children of all ages can be affected at any phase of military life; we have program stop help one and all. We also provide children and youth ages 5-18 with various opportunities to develop their physical, social, emotional and cognitive abilities and to experience achievement, leadership, friendship and recognition.

Privacy and Disclosure: New Jersey National Guard Family Programs respects your right to privacy; however, the staff members DO NOT have privileged communication. New Jersey State Family Programs Staff is required by law, with or without your consent, to contact proper authorities if they believe you intend to harm yourself or others or if family member abuse, child neglect or drug use is suspected.

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New Jersey National Guard Family Programs

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Child & Youth Program The New Jersey National Guard Youth Program is here to help provide the support and resources youth need to deal with the separation from a parent, child care issues, difficulties with school and many other problems. Children of all ages can be affected at any phase of military life; we have program stop help one and all.

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This site provides excellent resources to prepare for working with military-connected students.  They offer online and in-person training, depending on your location and need.  The TEDEd course may be especially valuable. There are also many resources for parents and students that may be useful to pass along.

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MIC3: Military Interstate Children's Compact Commission

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MIC3: Military Interstate Children's Compact Commission

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States' requirements for  school attendance, ages, and graduation can vary, and military families were often caught in the middle. MIC3 allows military-connected students more flexibility and smooths transitions between states with differing requirements. Being familiar with possibilities allows librarians to help students plan better and make connections to the right offices, especially when students are new.

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Libraries Help Military Families Find Stability

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Libraries Help Military Families Find Stability

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School Library Journal explores the role libraries and librarians can have in helping a highly mobile population that often falls through the cracks.  Understanding the lifestyle and potential pitfalls and stress points can help a librarian be more prepared to support a military-connected student and help them thrive.

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A family at the Operation Military Kids mural unveiling during the
Speak Out With Art Program at the Belgrade, MT, Community Library.

When her husband was transferred to Ft. Bragg, near Fayetteville, NC, more than two years ago, the Cumberland County Public Library and Information Center (CCPL) was one of the first spots that Lisa Ciampini started visiting. At her family's previous station in Tennessee, she took her son to storytimes at the public library and knew it would be a place where she would feel comfortable. Not only have libraries provided Ciampini's son with a chance to interact with other children in a group setting, they have also served as a place where she can find support from other military wives and mothers. "Many military wives stay at home and are looking for productive ways to get children engaged in activities outside of the house," says Ciampini, who now has a daughter as well as her four-year-old son. "By going to the library I am fostering a love and respect for books, as well as gaining an opportunity to meet other women and children in similar situations." Amid the frequent transitions and stressful periods that military children and families can face, libraries are often a stable and welcoming destination. In recent years, they have also been increasing their efforts to connect these families through a variety of services.
The needs of military-connected students
Research conducted over the past several years has shown that the long deployments associated with the war on terror since 2001 have left military children at a higher risk of negative outcomes, such as depression, substance use, and even thoughts of suicide. A research team at the University of Southern California published a paper in the Journal of Adolescent Health showing that teens with a parent or sibling deployed multiple times are more likely to feel depressed or have thoughts of suicide than those who have experienced only one deployment. The researchers also found that when the teens changed schools two or more times within a five-year period, they are more likely to be bullied and to be involved with weapons. A similar study at the University of Iowa found an increase in alcohol and drug use among military children whose parents were deployed or had recently returned. Reintegration-the period after a soldier comes home-can sometimes cause just as much disruption as when he or she left. "We worry a lot about the servicemen and women, and we sometimes forget that they are not the only ones put into harm's way by deployment-their families are affected, too," Stephan Arndt, the professor who led the Iowa study, stated in a press release. "Our findings suggest we need to provide these families with more community support."
Libraries as a home base
Helping military families access financial services and apply for benefits, offering videoconferencing so kids can connect with a deployed parent, and, of course, creating reading programs for military children are just a few ways that libraries are serving these communities. "For military kids, the summer, a lot of times, means moving," which can make it hard to participate in a local reading program, says Leah Love, the volunteer training and recruitment coordinator for Blue Star Families. The nonprofit organization provides free resources and services to 1.5 million military families, including children's books donated by Disney and other partners every year. Blue Star Families' "chapter directors" typically work with libraries on military installations to share information about their services. Libraries have created far-reaching support systems as well. The Illinois Library Association formed a partnership with the Department of Defense's Morale, Welfare and Recreation Office called Joining Forces, so that military children can participate in their iREAD summer reading program from anywhere in the world. It has also established a Military Children & Families Toolkit to help libraries develop collections that reflect experiences such as changing schools, missing a parent, and adjusting to life after a parent returns home. In addition, a librarian at the Williamsburg (VA) Regional Library has created an annotated list of books which feature children and teens with parents in the military.
Helping students get their bearings
At Bonsall West Elementary School in Oceanside, CA, near Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, librarian Mishell Rose has added military books to her collection-not only selections about tanks and helicopters, but also separation. She also has a large international section, because so many students have lived overseas. In addition to children from military families, Bonsall West also serves children whose parents work for military contractors. One, she says, relocated from Dubai and was happy to find a book on the city in the school's collection. "A school library can be a neutral place where [new students] can get their bearings," Rose says. She has learned that children in military families often don't arrive in time for the slow-paced first day of school and are "really confused when they come in,"she says. So Rose created orientation videos to introduce those students to her library. Earlier this year, Bonsall West also opened a reading room to make these children feel comfortable, funded by a grant from the Ben Carson Reading Project, a literacy initiative of the former presidential candidate's Carson Scholars Fund. The space honors the military families at the school. Bookshelves are draped in camouflage material, Marine flags and other insignias cover the walls, and students can lounge on cushions that look like sand bags, giving the room a bunker appearance. One of the teacher's husbands even made a bench out of an old jeep.
A sense of community and belonging
Children whose parents serve in the National Guard or the Reserves are also impacted by long deployments and sometimes are less likely to receive attention because they live outside the military community and don't have the same access to services as on military installations. Often, though, children don't want special attention and just want to blend in with their civilian peers. "We have integrated the military kids into the regular programs," says Kellie Tomita, the marketing and communications division manager for CCPL, which has eight branches. "One of the things they didn't like was being singled out." She adds, however, that the library has increased efforts to recognize members of the military community. For example, staff has invited soldiers to speak to children's reading clubs, created book displays for the Month of the Military Child, and held a birthday party for the Army with stories and cake. Because many military kids are homeschooled, the library also offers STEAM programs and a science fair, both of which draw a large number of military children. Rebekah Kamp, the youth services librarian at the Belgrade (MT) Community Library, organized Speak Out with Art, which provided teens affected by deployment a chance to express themselves using ceramics, painting, and other forms of artistic expression. The program was open to all teens, so that those from military families could meet others in the community and the civilian teens could learn about military life. Kamp says her library has since held several Month of the Military Child events in April. Everyone wears purple to represent all the colors of the military branches blended together. In November, teens and children might write messages to veterans or bring in pictures of loved ones who have served. Kamp also held a photography exhibit featuring work by National Guard photographers, who brought their equipment in and taught the teens photography skills.

Quilt made by local military youth at the
Belgrade, MT, Community Library.

Military teens often want to get involved in their communities-for example, by serving on youth advisory committees-even though they'll be moving in a few years. "Libraries can be a really important part of creating a sense of community and belonging for kids who might be moving," Kamp says.
Engaging the entire family
CCPL used a grant received in 2013 from the State Library of North Carolina to conduct a research project. From interviews and focus groups, the staff learned that military members are unlikely to ask for help for themselves, but will seek it out for their children. So while events for children are highlighted, libraries and schools serving military families often use web links on homescreens, signs, and brochures to discreetly provide information on mental health services, employment, housing, and other resources. "Parents are very concerned about their children's welfare and will come to the library for services for them," Jennifer Taft, reference librarian at the Harnett County (NC) Public Library, and Cynthia Olney, the assistant director of the National Network of Libraries of Medicine Evaluation Office, wrote in an article about the work at CCPL for Public Libraries Online. "Once the parents are in the door, they may find resources that will be of use to them as well."

Parachute challenge program with military kids at the Belgrade, MT, Community Library.

On a national level, libraries are partnering with organizations to provide military families with greater access to services. For example, in March 2016, the American Library Association (ALA) announced a collaboration with the National Foundation for Credit Counseling to provide financial education programs to active duty and veteran families. While many of the services will be provided in a group setting, families will also have the option of receiving individual counseling, says Larra Clark, the deputy director of ALA's Office for Information Technology Policy. So far, library systems in 18 states and the District of Columbia (and the El Dorado High School library in Placerville, CA) have signed on. The Institute for Museum and Library Services has also indicated that as part of its Fiscal Year 2017 budget, it plans to increase services for military and veteran families. Research has shown that military children weather the frequent moves better when their parents, especially their mothers, maintain positive attitudes. A 2007 study by researchers at Vanderbilt University showed that military children experience fewer negative effects when changing schools if they have "rich social support networks" and access to information about the community and the school where they are moving. By providing a predictable environment, Kamp believes, libraries are key to this sense of stability. "Each library is a little different," she says, "but it can be a familiar place."

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Libraries Provide Stability for Military Children and Families

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A family at the Operation Military Kids mural unveiling during the Speak Out With Art Program at the Belgrade, MT, Community Library. When her husband was transferred to Ft. Bragg, near Fayetteville, NC, more than two years ago, the Cumberland County Public Library and Information Center (CCPL) was one of the first spots that Lisa Ciampini started visiting.

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Military Kids Connect: a Website for Military Kids

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Military Kids Connect: a Website for Military Kids

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If there aren't many military-connected students in your school, giving them a safe place to go to connect with others online can be a lifesaver! Military Kids Connect has videos, online graphic novels, and messaging boards for kids, but also resources for educators wanting to make them feel more welcome in their classrooms.

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For younger students, connecting with familiar characters can help ease stress and uncertainty. Use this website as a resource to learn about unfamiliar events that may be common for your military-connected students. Videos have questions to ask, and activities to share (in English and Spanish) with your students as you are getting to know them. This resource is also good to share with classroom teachers.

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Military families may go through one or more deployments during a career. Watch this short video to learn about deployments before discussing it with the families you serve.

Possible questions:
The deployment experience is unique for every family. Ask a few of these questions to understand what is particularly relevant to each one:

Tell me about your family's experience with deployment. What would be most helpful for you during this transition?

What are concerns for your children related to deployment?

Have you noticed any changes in your child's behavior during the deployment?

The adjustments after a military homecoming can be very challenging. Watch this short video to learn about it before talking to families about their own experiences.

Possible questions:
Ask a few of these questions to understand the needs of the family as they adjust to the homecoming of a parent:

Has a family member recently returned from a deployment?

What would be most helpful for you, your children, and your family during this transition?

Watch this short video to learn about a military relocation (commonly known as a PCS, which stands for a permanent change in station) before talking to families about their own experiences.

When moving, parents need help preparing for the changes ahead, including setting up a new health team. A health team can include health providers as well as services from a new educational program or school. Talk about how you can help:

Are there any specific healthcare services that you need to reestablish in your new location?

Has your family experienced a PCS recently?

What changes concern you the most about a PCS with your kids?

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For Providers - Sesame Street for Military Families

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Military families may go through one or more deployments during a career. Watch this short video to learn about deployments before discussing it with the families you serve. Possible questions: The deployment experience is unique for every family. Ask a few of these questions to understand what is particularly relevant to each one: Tell me about your family's experience with deployment.