SGT Private RallyPoint Member 3326201 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Found out recently that my unit will be deploying soon with another unit. I’m a newly wed and soon-to-be father. Any tips on how I could easily maintain the proper mindset required for me to effectively do my job? 2018-02-05T15:40:48-05:00 SGT Private RallyPoint Member 3326201

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Found out recently that my unit will be deploying soon with another unit. I’m a newly wed and soon-to-be father. Any tips on how I could easily maintain the proper mindset required for me to effectively do my job?

2018-02-05T15:40:48-05:00 2018-02-05T15:40:48-05:00 MSG Private RallyPoint Member 3326212

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Just stay focused as best you can. Keep your cool and situational awareness. Heed the advice and guidance of those that have gone before you. You can do this. It will be rough, I won&#39;t lie. But it can be done. Make sure you call/write home as much as possible.

2018-02-05T15:43:28-05:00 2018-02-05T15:43:28-05:00 Sgt Private RallyPoint Member 3326242

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div><a class="dark-link bold-link" role="profile-hover" data-qtip-container="body" data-id="973524" data-source-page-controller="question_response_contents" href="/profiles/973524-11b-infantryman-d-co-1-3-in">SGT Private RallyPoint Member</a> When I arrived at my unit in Vietnam, A Gunnery Sergeant told us the things we needed to do to make it through our tour. What stuck with me was when he said to put thoughts of family and home in the back of your mind, and focus on the present. When you are in the rear, you can think about your family, but not on a mission. Have a safe tour and return home to your family.

2018-02-05T15:55:06-05:00 2018-02-05T15:55:06-05:00 SPC David Willis 3326260

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Write lots of letters. Skype is great as well, but letters can be saved and looked back on years down the road. On the flip side, as hard as it is, when its time to go to work leave any arguments, bills and family issues at your FOB/COP that stuff. That stuff is super distracting and can draw your attention away from what you should be focused on. Maybe instead of calling home before missions, you call them after. That way you&#39;re focused on going back to the base to make that call instead of focusing on that call maybe being your last. Also lie to your family. You should talk to them about your experiences, but only when you get home. Having your wife or mother worrying about you and your safety is one thing but I can tell you it almost eats at your nerves to hear your mother break down thinking of the worst case scenarios running through her head that she&#39;s now putting in yours.<br /><br />That&#39;s just how I handled things though, some people will talk to their family as little as possible others every day. Hell I had one guy in our platoon who didn&#39;t tell his mom he was deploying until his second week in country haha.

2018-02-05T16:01:04-05:00 2018-02-05T16:01:04-05:00 SGT Philip Roncari 3326320

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Remember your training,pay attention to your Officers and NCOs ,pick up as much as you can from the people who have been deployed,as noted in previous posts keep home and it&#39;s distractions from clouding your judgement in a hostile environment.Good luck Brother.

2018-02-05T16:25:12-05:00 2018-02-05T16:25:12-05:00 SGT Joseph Gunderson 3326426

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>1. Primary focus must be on what is going on over there regardless of what may be going on at home. The less focused that you become, the more there is a chance that you end up in a shitty situation that could result in you or someone not making it back in one piece.<br />2. You can keep almost constant contact with home these days while you&#39;re deployed, don&#39;t. If you are newlyweds, I know that you guys will want to talk all the time. Fight that urge. If you talk every single day, you will quickly run out of stuff to talk about and then it is a short trip to arguments and unnecessary bitching. Limit talking to once or twice a week so that when you talk you both actually have something to talk about.<br />3. Don&#39;t get sucked into spending money on stupid shit while you&#39;re deployed. A bunch of people do it. Don&#39;t be one of them. Save your money.<br />4. Don&#39;t let the shitty days bog you down. Eventually, you will look back and appreciate the whole experience.<br />5. Do what you&#39;re told and rely on your leadership.

2018-02-05T16:51:05-05:00 2018-02-05T16:51:05-05:00 CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member 3326490

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Applies to any unit, MOS, or deployment. Get your home in order so your family is taken care of and you don&#39;t have any distractions. Not just the obvious admin and finances (will, power of attorney), but a small notebook with contacts for wife if she needs help. Command phone numbers and all the usual financial stuff, but things we often take for granted. If she will have a relative nearby to advise her, that would be helpful. Beyond that, contacts for things that might come up with the home. Mechanic for vehicle(s), home maintenance and repair folks, and anyone that can advise her when the unexpected happens. We naturally assume that spouses will know how to handle the unexpected, but they often don&#39;t. It will be stressful enough on all of you, so the more information you can provide, the less additional stress. Otherwise she is at the mercy of providers that often take advantage of women. There are good resources through the Family Assistance folks aboard base and the Key Wives of your Command. Make sure she&#39;s armed with more than just the Yellow Pages and checkbook.<br /><br />Edit: I focused on preparing things at home, because when you are in the AO you need to focus on things where you are, instead of at home. If you are distracted by wondering if you left things at home in order it will impact on your state of mind in the AO. Leave her in good shape and you focus 110% on the mission there. Others here have given good advice on your conduct once downrange, and that&#39;s all very important. If you are having difficulty it&#39;s best to keep it there, because it will cause your wife to worry. It&#39;s not in her power to change, so don&#39;t burden her with it.

2018-02-05T17:17:27-05:00 2018-02-05T17:17:27-05:00 MSG Andrew White 3329690

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>AND OF COURSE STAY PRAYFUL!!!!

2018-02-06T18:03:03-05:00 2018-02-06T18:03:03-05:00 SSG Private RallyPoint Member 3329719

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Don&#39;t set a routine when it comes to keeping in touch with home. If you get into the routine of getting in touch every day or every couple of days at 8:00 and for some reason you can&#39;t make that 8:00, she&#39;s going to worry and stress and you&#39;re going to worry and stress because you know she is.

2018-02-06T18:14:44-05:00 2018-02-06T18:14:44-05:00 SSG Eduardo Ybarra Jr. MS Psyc 3329826

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>This is going to be a new experience and possibly an adventure. Ensure your family is well taken care of prior to departure, which would include a solid foundation for support. If possible have family involved to lessen the amount of outside stressors (outside the family). Have a plan of action in place should the worst happen (ie. living will, last will and any medical directives). Ensure your spouse has a power of attorney, contact numbers for the chain of command, AER, Red Cross, points of contact to the FRG as well as the installation where you are stationed. <br />Listen to those NCO&#39;s who have been there. Take note of what to do and how to do it. Remember your training. Don&#39;t try to be a hero just do your job and cover your brothers six. Talk to your family often but try and limit the amount of drama from back home, remember you can&#39;t worry about or fix the nonsense 5000 miles away. Keep your head up and your rear down. Stay safe brother and we&#39;ll see you when you get back to the world.

2018-02-06T18:59:04-05:00 2018-02-06T18:59:04-05:00 SSG Private RallyPoint Member 3330175

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Listen to your Team leaders pull your part of the workload don’t be complacent.

2018-02-06T21:46:09-05:00 2018-02-06T21:46:09-05:00 1SG Darren James 3330606

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Get your family and home affairs ready. Have a means of keeping them informed and give general expectations on what to expect communication wise for when you’ll be gone. For all the ways that a first deployment can effect then Soldier, it will impact the family in just as many different ways. <br /><br />Believe in your guys and trust in your training. If they aren’t where you want them, they’re your guys. Put in the extra work as a collective so that you all feel good about anything that comes ahead. <br /><br />Stay in touch with the news, not so much CNN and Fox. Look at the other (most cases, international) news outlets in regards to your upcoming AO. Get more of the news without the stateside slant. <br /><br />Enjoy your free time while you have it. Because once you get on that plane, you won’t be able to have a lot of the little things that you’re used to, exactly as you’re used to them.

2018-02-07T03:36:25-05:00 2018-02-07T03:36:25-05:00 SPC Matthew Shovlin 3352882

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I will tell you one thing, it&#39;s hard leaving your loved ones especially being a new father. When you deploy you need to focus on the mission first. Stay focused and rely on each other to come back alive. It&#39;s cruel to say this but you need to shut down your emotions. Keep your head on a swivel and you will be fine.

2018-02-14T08:16:38-05:00 2018-02-14T08:16:38-05:00 SGT Bryant Toscano 3378407

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Don&#39;t Die!!

2018-02-22T02:39:39-05:00 2018-02-22T02:39:39-05:00 SSG Harry Outcalt 3781793

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Same as others take care of the house, then find that guy who&#39;s the best Grunt in your unit and learn what he takes for granted , learn from the best to become the best , best of luck to you and your family

2018-07-10T13:00:32-04:00 2018-07-10T13:00:32-04:00 SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM 4881689

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Stay focused on your mission and staying ready!

2019-08-04T20:21:46-04:00 2019-08-04T20:21:46-04:00 2018-02-05T15:40:48-05:00