Military personnel are often required to balance their personal lives with their professional responsibilities while deployed or serving away from home. This can create unique challenges when it comes to maintaining healthy and meaningful relationships with loved ones back home.
There are several strategies that can help military personnel prioritize relational needs while also fulfilling their operational and professional obligations. One such strategy is communication. By regularly communicating with their partner, children, parents, or friends, military personnel can stay connected and involved in the important relationships in their lives. This can be done through phone calls, text messages, emails, video chats, letters, or social media. Another strategy is scheduling. Military personnel should try to schedule regular times for communication, whether it's once a day, every other day, or once a week. This can help ensure that they have time set aside to connect with their loved ones, even if they are busy with work or deployment.
Military personnel can seek support from others who understand their situation. This can include fellow service members, family members of those in similar situations, or mental health professionals who specialize in military families. It is also important for military personnel to prioritize self-care, both physically and mentally. Taking care of one's own physical and emotional wellbeing can help them better manage stress and improve their ability to focus on relational needs.
Military personnel may need to make some adjustments to their expectations regarding their relationships. They may not be able to be as present as they would like during deployments or long absences, but they can still show love and support by sending gifts, sharing photos and updates, and being available when possible.
Maintaining healthy relationships while serving in the military requires careful planning, consistent effort, and support. Military personnel should prioritize relational needs by communicating regularly, scheduling time for connection, seeking support, and managing their own needs. By doing so, they can strengthen their bonds and create meaningful relationships that will last beyond their time in the military.
How do military personnel prioritize relational needs when faced with competing operational and professional obligations?
Research on military families suggests that individuals face conflicting demands between their personal relationships and professional commitments, which can lead to feelings of guilt, stress, and isolation. When it comes to making decisions about where to allocate time and energy, military members must balance their unique responsibilities as soldiers and family members, which may include training exercises, deployments, or traveling for work.