How to military life

How to stay connected with loved ones when you’re a military family.

Today’s post is sponsored by T-Mobile. As always, all opinions are my own. 

Adapting to the military lifestyle can be a bit challenging for a lot of reasons. But one of the hardest parts for me was the change in physical location from both my spouse and my family. As someone who is very close with my family, it took me a while to adjust to only seeing them through video calls or in person a few times a year.

When my husband deployed, I was SO thankful for technology and the fact that I could see him while he was away. It was such a treat after only being able to communicate through snail mail letters while he was at Basic Training! Can you imagine how it was in the old days when they didn’t have technology as an option? No thank you!

So how do you foster that relationships when you’re away from the ones you love? Whether it’s your spouse, significant other, or family and friends back at home, here’s how to stay connected with loved ones when you’re a military family.

Schedule a video call: Literally, put it on the schedule. I know it might be more difficult to do this if your significant other is deployed or at training because they don’t always have access or permission to technology. But if it’s an option, schedule a video call. Make it fun! Maybe you watch a movie together while you’re apart or play a game. Same with family! Of course you can talk more if it works out but have a weekly or bi-weekly call (or whatever works with your schedule) on the calendar so you all have something to look forward to.

Update social media frequently: I know that due to OPSEC, not all details can be shared. But update your loved ones on social media with pictures, stories, etc. that make them feel like they’re able to be there with you and experiencing all of the things you are.

Start a group chat: One of my favorite and the easiest things to do is start a group chat. We have one with both sides of our families so we can just send random messages during the day. Sending pictures is always encouraged, too!

Send pictures or have a shared drive: Whether you’re using a website or shared album on your phone, pictures are worth a thousand words. Even the littlest moments that might seem like little moments at the time will end up being some of the best memories you can share with others.

Email list: When my husband was deployed, I collected emails from friends and family and anyone who was interested in an update on how he was doing. I would send out his address, what he needed in a care package, what he was doing (within OPSEC abilities), etc. It was a great way for me to update everyone in a safe way, and since communication is sometimes limited, help let everyone know he was okay and doing well.

Reliable carrier: A lot of bases are located in rural areas and nowhere near big cities. It’s important to have a carrier that supports your need for communication, regardless of where you are stationed. T-Mobile has the first and largest nationwide 5G network; it covers more than 75% of the population across 1.3 million square miles, much of that in rural America. And while 5G gets even better, you can count on T-Mobile’s 4G LTE network that connects 99% of Americans. 5G access costs the same as LTE at T-Mobile, and as I’ve talked about before, T-Mobile offers a wonderful military discount with their Magenta Military Plan.

You can check the T-Mobile coverage map here: https://www.t-mobile.com/coverage/coverage-map

Being away from loved ones can be a challenge at first, but thankfully with technology, it makes it a lot easier and more attainable. I hope these tips help you feel more connected to your loved ones … you’ve got this! xo

Be sure to check out my other posts featuring all of the amazing things T-Mobile does for military families!

5 Ways for Military Families to Save Money

6 Ways to Protect Yourself Online

Navigating a Career as a Milspouse

 

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