Writing Deployed Service Members: Tips and Considerations
Staying connected with a loved one who has been deployed overseas can be challenging but is very important for their well-being and morale. Receiving letters, care packages, and other correspondence from home provides deployed troops with a comforting reminder of normalcy and comforts they are missing while serving abroad. Writing to someone deployed also requires some specific considerations to ensure your messages are uplifting rather than distressing. Here are some tips and guidelines for writing deployed service members effectively.
Be Positive and Upbeat
Your letters should focus on bringing cheer and happiness to the recipient rather than dwelling on troubles or hardships at home. Deployed troops already have a lot on their minds related to their mission and staying safe, so they don’t need added worries about problems back home. Complain as little as possible about everyday issues like traffic, work, chores, or difficulties you may be facing independently. Focus instead on sharing happy news and events, funny stories, or updates about friends and family members that will provide a welcome diversion. Deploying dark or depressing subject matter can potentially add undue stress and take an emotional toll.
Avoid Discussing Political Views
With tensions already running high due to the circumstances of deployment,avoid discussing sensitive political topics that could potentially stir up controversy or disagreement. Stick to more positive subjects everyone can find common ground on. Deployed personnel have enough to worry about without getting tangled up in hot-button issues from back home.
Consider Censorship
Be cautious about including any details in your letters that could potentially pose operational security risks if intercepted by the wrong parties. Don’t divulge specifics about the service member’s unit, location abroad, upcoming operations, or other classified information they may have shared with you. Also steer clear of discussing extremely graphic or traumatic experiences they’ve had, as those subjects could induce stress or trigger PTSD responses upon rereading if mail gets delayed. Self-censor to protect both physical and emotional well-being.
Proofread for Grammar and Spelling
Carefully proofread your letters before sending to catch any grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, or unclear phrasing. Receiving sloppy correspondence filled with typos and blunders could potentially come across as thoughtless or inconsiderate of the effort deployed personnel are exerting far from home. Take pride in crafting messages that are enjoyable and seamless to read as a respite during long days abroad.
Be Timely but Understanding of Lags
Try your best to send letters on a consistent schedule the service member can rely on, such as weekly or monthly. Be prepared for potential delays in communication due to the far-off location or issues with mail delivery lines. Reassure the deployed individual not to worry if responses are late—remind them life continues as normal at home regardless of correspondence interruptions. Don’t criticize if replies from their end are erratic either, as duties and schedules may interfere. Flexibility and patience will serve the long-distance relationship best during unpredictable times.
Respect Communication Preferences
Ask the deployed person’s preferences for letter length and level of detail before corresponding—some desire hearty novels to immerse in while others prefer quicker notes. Also find out if electronic messaging through email or social media is an option that would suit them, or if traditional postal mail is strictly necessary due to limited Internet access at their location. Tailor the form of communication to what will be most personally gratifying rather than convenient for just yourself. Taking cues from recipients ensures the gesture is a thoughtful boost rather than unintended cause for stress or overload.
Spread Updates from Shared Circles
Include sharing updates received from mutual acquaintances, letting the deployed individual feel still in touch with the broader circles important to them back home. For example, relate happy news just learned about common friends, coworkers, extended family members, or community highlights. This expands the personal touch beyond just your direct relationship while keeping the service member feeling involved in groups central to their identity and life interests.
Send Care Packages Strategically
Care packages filled with snacks, toiletries, entertainment items and comforts from home can be deeply appreciated morale boosters for troops abroad. Be aware of restrictions on edibles and ensure all contents follow deployment guidelines to avoid delays or loss during transit. Keep packages reasonably sized and securely wrapped for transport as well. It’s also thoughtful to space out deliveries rather than overloading in one shipment to sustain the excited anticipation. Handwritten notes tucked inside personalized each gift.
Express Gratitude for Their Service
End every letter expressing heartfelt thanks for the recipient’s dedication and sacrifices on behalf of their country. Assure them the important role they play is recognized even from afar. Sincere demonstrations of appreciation can lift morale when facing difficulties or feeling disconnected overseas. Take a few moments to ensure each communication closes on an upbeat note of admiration for their brave work.
The challenges of maintaining close relationships during deployment can test even the strongest of bonds. Keeping correspondence thoughtful, consistent and uplifting through adherence to these guidelines shows deployed service members they remain cherished members of loved circles despite physical distances. Frequent, supportive letters are among the most impactful ways for at-home communities to express care and invest in the well-being of those working to protect freedoms from abroad.
Andrew Stroud