Marriage & Family
Military Life
Parents of Deployed Soldiers
Books
Deployment Journal for Parents
Author: Rachel Robertson, Copyright @ 2008
Author: Rachel Robertson, Copyright @ 2008A personal journal for parents who have an adult child deployed with the military. Gentle journal writing prompts and inspirational sayings guide you through deployment and homecoming. Keeping Track section in the back helps you log milestones, communication, and special moments. Textured teal Pellaq cover with yellow ribbon.
I Want You to Know Me:
Love, your American heroAuthor: Vickie L. Mullins, Copyright @ 2007
Are you messy or neat? Are you a deep sleeper or a light sleeper? Can you roll your Rs? Do you ask for directions?
While our country’s sons and daughters are away, they desperately need to know they are still connected back home. Through this book, I Want You to Know Me … Love, Your American Hero, every day mom and dad can see their hero’s hand-written words describing how he thinks, feels and looks. Yes, he has a cleft in his chin; it’s just like his grandfather’s. Mom and dad can touch their hero’s heart from a distance.
The American hero’s husband or wife can hold the dog-eared copy of their spouse’s book and picture the answers without opening the cover. Yes, he did a flip off the diving board, and we spent the night in the hospital repairing the damage. Their relationship grows stronger.
We feel I Want You to Know Me … Love, Your American Hero, is our most important book so far, because, in times of uncertainty, it is so important to bring a sense of peace to everyone touched by the lives of our American heroes: mom and dads, grandparents, spouses, children.
Mom's Field Guide:
What You Need to Know to Make It Through Your Loved One's Military Deployment Author: Sandy Doell, Copyright @ 2006When Sandy's son was deployed to Iraq in 2004, she felt overwhelmed with fear and anxiety. She couldn't help but worry. To keep herself busy, she turned her energies toward finding ways to support her son from the home front. After thousands of hours of research and her own first-hand experience along with many lessons she learned from other military families, she wrote Mom's Field Guide: What You Need to Know to Make It Through Your Loved One's Military Deployment. She shares what she learned with other families in the same situation. website
Websites
Band of Mothers
The Band of Mothers are the mothers of The Noble and Heroic Soldiers of the United States Military. We are dedicated in our mission to Step Up, Stand Up and Stick Up For Our Soldiers. Goals: To Proudly Seek, Garner and Nurture Support for our Soldiers.
Blue Star Flag (Free) - My Blue Star Flag
In honor of all of the brave men and women in uniform, Grantham University would like to offer every service member a FREE Blue Star Flag that your family can display to pay tribute to your hard work, dedication, and service to our country.
Blue Star Mothers of America
We are mothers who now have, or have had, children honorably serving in the military.
DOD Dictionary of Military Terms
Here you can browse the DOD Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms. Can also download a PDF version.
Facebook Groups
Here are a few Facebook Groups that are for military parents. Please e-mail me if you would like to include your group.
Glossary Terms (Army Well-Being)
Want to know what certain terms mean? Look here! Also has a helpful FAQ page.
GoArmyParents.com
Welcome to GoArmyParents.com. This site started as a personal blog about a mother's journey through her Soldiers service, and over time evolved into an site truly for military parents, family, and friends. We have support forums for parents to share their thoughts, experiences and questions about the United States Military. We also have articles by author Arlene R. O'Neil, pay charts, military lingo and weekly chat.
Marine Corps Moms
Welcome to our USMC family website. We support our Marines, their families, and those who love them by linking sources of support and information, in collaboration with other public, private, and military groups, and individuals.
Marine Moms Online
Supporting each other through the deployment of their Marine.
Marine Parents
MarineParents.com, Inc. was founded in January, 2003 in response to parents' needs to find information and to Connect & Share™ with one another during deployments. Our free services, connections and outreach projects have expanded to support Marines, to support and educate Marine moms, dads, spouses, families and friends. We've helped over 50,000 Marines, recruits and family members during bootcamp, training, active duty and deployments. You've found a Place to Connect & Share™.
Married to the Army - Army lifestyle helps
We will do our best to help you navigate the Army lifestyle.
Features for parents include: Guide for New Army Parents, Homecomings, What Does it Mean to be a Military Mom?, When Your Child Deploys, Military Parents Need Resources Too.
Military Moms - Online Support Group
Includes Basic Training for Moms, Armed Forces Code of Conduct, free downloadable candy bar wrappers, gum wrappers, directions to make a Blue Star banner quilt, links to official military sites, and other resources for loved ones of deployed Soldiers.
Military Moms Coping with Deployment (Facebook Group)
"Mom, I'm deploying." Those 3 words set my heart rate into a permanent state of elevation and it didn't come down off the ceiling until 18 months after my son's 3rd deployment. This site is primarily for Military Moms of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, active duty, Reserves and National Guard who are trying to cope while their son or daughter is deployed. It doesn't matter whether this is the first deployment or the fifth. This is a place to share your fears, worries, pride and passion. It is another way to help military moms and families cope with deployment.
Military Mother Blog (National Day of Prayer)
Be sure to read the monthly blog by Carol Mock, NDP Military Liaison. Carol has experienced the joys and hardships of being the mother of a soldier. Read her personal stories.
Mom 4R marines
The mission of MOM 4R MARINES is to support Marines and Sailors, as well as their families, who are protecting the citizens of the United States while deployed. We must all do our part to lift the morale of these brave, selfless warriors. On a daily basis, these brave young warriors confront a hostile and harsh environment, which few could even imagine. Their families also are faced with difficult situations. Regardless of our personal political affiliation, these individuals have earned and deserve our support and appreciation. We want to show them that The United States of America and her citizens stand behind those who selflessly guard her freedom.
Moms of Military - Prayer and Support Group
The Moms of Military Prayer and Support Group (MOMS), is a group of mothers and wives (open to ALL women related to anyone serving in the military) of loved ones currently serving in the United States military. We gather to pray and support our troops and military families around the country. We support each other with hugs and prayers and share our experiences and ideas: traveling to boot camp for graduation ceremonies, or making it through our loved ones deployments. Most importantly, we support our soldiers, marines and sailors with our prayers, love and friendship as they go about the difficult task of protecting this great land. Although we began in Orange County, CA, we offer prayer and support across the U.S. Many unique and supportive friendships with other MOMS have been possible across the state;, connecting MOMS together. We hope to reach out to every Military Mom and share the experiences that bind us with one heart for our loved ones.
The MOMS stand firmly on the Word of God and in the power of prayer. We lift up our loved ones in prayer daily for their protection and safety no matter where they are serving! Unlike most support groups, we are a prayer group first! We can offer prayer, emotional support and military information, and more importantly connect you with other Military MOMS either through a local Chapter or simply through emails.
National Military Appreciation Month - (May)
National Military Appreciation Month (May 2008) includes Loyalty Day (1st), VE Day(8th), Military Spouse Appreciation Day (9th), Armed Forces Day (17th), and Memorial Day (26th). This very important month honors, remembers, recognizes and appreciates all military personnel; those men and women who have served throughout our history and all who now serve in uniform and their families as well as those Americans who have given their lives in defense of our freedoms we all enjoy today.
Navy for Moms
This site is for mothers of kids in the U.S. Navy and for moms who have questions about Navy life for their kids.
101 Ways to Support Our Troops
by Ginny Dye. Free downloadable book of ideas to encourage our deployed Soldiers.
Operation Mom
Welcome to Operation Mom, a military family support group. Our primary mission is to provide a place where families of those serving our country can find support, encouragement, solace, and be with others who share their heart.
OPSEC (Operations Security) - Protect yourself and your Soldier
Married to the Army explains OPSEC and details you can and cannot share with others when when discussing your Soldiers deployment.
Parent Zone
Parents Zone is a support site and blog for parents and other family members of serving military members(active, reserve, guard, veterans). We welcome your comments, suggestions, stories, and experiences.
Proud Army Moms
Our mission is to support our military, its soldiers, its activities both stateside and overseas, its goals, and families.
We are a 3 yr. old online group that was created to provide support to Army Moms (or any family member). We understand the difficulties faced by families when children are in the military, stateside or overseas, at any point of military service. We have LOTS of Army moms here and the discussions are lively, caring, and fun. We have members from ALL over America. We have been known to open our hearts and homes to a soldier traveling home for a visit or back to his base. When we have a PAM that is in need of help, we network quicker than a hive of bee's. Our group is unique in the fact, we are not 100% military discussions. We talk of everyday things, our homes, our families here at home, health issues and even swap recipes. Our main goal is to have a place to be able to find others that know what you are feeling and can support you in times of need. We all felt alien in the feelings of our children signing up, here we find that we are not alone. We all have a basic instinct, to love and support our soldiers, whether we gave birth to them or not.
Recruit Parents - Marines
Congratulations! You're on a new journey to become a Marine Parent. The pride is indescribable, but you may feel you are in a different world with a whirlwind of emotions and never-ending questions.
RecruitParents.com is here to help you get through bootcamp. The RecruitParents.com roadmap includes information about recruit training (Bootcamp), schedules, terminology, expectations, and perhaps most importantly, venues to talk with other parents—novices just like you, as well as "expert" parents who've been down this road and experienced the same uncertainties and pride.
Service flags
Sells service flags in addition to custom and stock products including flags, coffee mugs, t-shirts, yellow magnets, lapel pins, vinyl banners, envelope stickers and more.
Stephen's Touch - A free compassionate listening service for military family members living without a loved one
The Stephen Ministries is a non-denominational ministry that provides a one-on-one confidential listening ministry. Since starting in 1975, more than 9,000 congregations from over 100 denominations are involved in Stephen Ministry. These congregations come from all 50 states in the U.S.A, 9 Canadian provinces and 21 other countries.
Stephen Ministers care for people who are suffering some difficulty or trauma in their lives. Stephen Ministers don't give advice and they don't proselytize. If the person receiving care wishes, the Stephen Minister may say a prayer during the session for them but that is totally optional.
The caring listening is being offered to spouses, parents, adult children and siblings of those who died or those who are dealing with separation due to military service. Please pass this information along to others who would benefit from the caring listener.
Talking with Heroes
Help us get the word out to more Americans about the great work our heroes have been and continue doing in Iraq, Afghanistan, in America and around the world. Plus about what many individuals, organizations and companies are doing to help our troops, their families, the wounded and more.
Team Marine Parents
Team Marine Parents™ is comprised of teams of individuals nationwide that participate in walks, runs, marathons, bicycling, triathlons, swimming, motorcycle runs, and other events nationwide. The goal of Team Marine Parents™ is to promote an awareness of "Support Our Troops" in communities around the United States through participation in and donations to troop support programs from MarineParents.com.
The Patriotic Wife - Sells Blue Star Mom related jewelry, purses and stationery
We hope our wonderful Blue Star Mothers enjoy their own special section of our site. Thank You For Raising America's Heroes!!
VetFriends.com - Military rank & structure helps, Veteran's Day parades, etc.
Includes military structure chart, military pay chart, military rank and insignia chart, veteran's day parade schedules, etc. Vet Friends.com helps you to reunite with friends and family who are veterans of or are currently serving in the US Army, USN, USAF, USMC and USCG.
What's After Boot - Marines
Welcome to "What's After Boot", a community for parents, spouses, and family memers of newly graduated Marines. This program of MarineParents.com will help answer some of the questions you and/or your new Marine may have about what to expect after bootcamp.
When Our Children Deploy (Article)
A military mom shares tips for parents of deployed service members.
While Our Children Serve - Great resources for parents!
- 20 tips to help support the troops.
- Find weather from around the world.
- Find out what time it is any place in the world.
- Answer from the USPS about sending mail to the troops.
- Maps and list of facilities in Iraq.
- More...
Your Soldier, Your Army: A parents' guide
Author: Vicki Cody, Copyright @ 2007Army wife and mother Vicki Cody has written a 64-page book to help parents of soldiers have a better understanding of life in the military. The publication is aimed at soldiers’ families and in-laws and covers a variety of topics from deciphering military acronyms to understanding what takes place during a deployment.
“I have an advantage of having been part of this system for the past 30 years,” Cody wrote in the preface. “Still, I know how scary it’s been for me having both sons in a combat zone, and I think about all the parents out there who don’t have that background. This must be very confusing and frightening for them.”
Her sons were deployed at one time to Iraq in the same unit, and the older went back soon after while the younger was preparing to deploy at the time she was writing the book.
“This is a stressful time to have a Soldier in your family,” she wrote. “It takes a lot of courage to be a parent of a Soldier and especially to send one off to combat.” Cody wrote that she hopes that by reading this book families can better cope with deployments and other aspects of military life.
Deployment:
Military Life:
Practical Ideas to Encourage:
For Churches:
For Chaplains:
What You Can Do
Home Front Resources
Copyright Benita Koeman 2008 - 2010
