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Obviously, letter writing is an inexpensive, yet meaningful way to stay in touch. We developed the habit of the “Wednesday Letter” inspired by the book by Jason F. Wright. Every Wednesday, we write a letter to one another, no matter where we’re at or what mood we’re in. It’s become something I treasure and you cannot misplace the value of a handwritten letter from the person you love. Some weeks I have plenty to say. Sometimes they’re romantic and sweet. And other times, it’s just the daily life stats.
One of our favorite ways to stay connected was through instant messaging with Live Web Cam. Being able to see your soldiers face, even through slow moving web cam, is absolutely priceless. We were fortunate that during our first deployment, we were able to set up a time each day to talk online and actually our communication flourished during the 18 month long deployment. We found our conversations to be more honest and real than they had been in the past and really tried to use the time to learn each other.
Now in our second deployment and in an area with much less internet availability, we’ve had to rely on different avenues of technology. A message left on Facebook can be viewed whenever he has an opportunity to sign in. A text message can be left on his mobile phone, if I need to get a message to him quickly. Weekly phone calls have become a necessary treat to staying in touch.
While letter writing is definitely the most cost efficient way of keeping in touch, it’s definitely not the quickest. Letters can take weeks or sometimes months to reach 8,000 miles around the globe. However, the cost of satellites, internet, and international calling plans can dip into an already stretched budget. Our local FRG, realizing the importance of keeping families connected, came up with creative ways to raise funds for communication. Even in a small community of less than 30,000 people, we were able to raise over $20,000.00 in less than a month to purchase the satellite equipment needed for the internet. Simply by selling t-shirts in support of our unit and standing at intersections with a bucket. Communities really do want to help our soldiers and their families. During the first deployment, we were able to raise an unprecedented amount of money, not only for communication, but to also bring our soldiers home for a quick leave before leaving country by holding a telethon on our local news channel.
For as many different FRG’s and families that there are out there, there are at least that many ideas to raise money to insure that our families can stay connected, informed, and encouraged. You really can’t put a price on the importance of that...whether it’s during a deployment or just an annual training…communication is the key-the glue that keeps the family together. And no matter the cost, it’s worth finding a way to make it happen.
Are you making it happen?
TM
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Communication-it is the single most important aspect of any relationship, but the most difficult to navigate. In the military family, communication is often interrupted by long TDY’s, unexpected missions and deployments to remote locations. What’s a family to do? How do you stay in touch through the different transitions and sometimes costly options?
My husband and I found out early on in our marriage that communication was vital to our success as a couple. After long days at work, I desperately needed someone to listen to me and he needed someone to affirm and encourage him. We floundered so much in the beginning and we were so selfish, that we often missed the boat when it came to meeting each other’s need for conversation. When we came up on our first deployment, we knew that we would have to get creative in keeping in touch and keeping the intimacy of conversation alive in our relationship. But how?
Communication...Making It Happen
by Ginger Bales posted April 2010
Archived articles will be posted soon!
Ginger Bales
Senior Contributor
ginger@armywifemagazine.com
GUARD & RESERVE
Archives: Guard/Reserve
