Last Updated on May 5, 2021
Whether you live on post or off post, you should be even more aware of your surroundings when your soldier is deployed. Here are a few tips to help keep you safe during a deployment.
- Only people who need to know your soldier is deployed should know. It should not be common knowledge you are living alone. It’s easy to slip up and say something to the store clerk when you’re checking out but it’s better not to alert strangers you are living alone. This includes displaying stickers on your car announcing your soldier’s deployment.
- Change your routes and routines. This is basic safety knowledge regardless of if your husband is deployed. Don’t leave your home and return home at the same time every day. Don’t always drive the same route or follow the same routine. If someone is watching you, make it difficult for them to determine your routine.
- Always keep your doors locked at home, even when you are safely inside.
- Never answer the door to someone unexpectedly arriving unless you can verify who it is without opening the door. If a maintenance person or other supposed professional shows up at the door, call the company to verify. Most companies will call first and not send someone unannounced.
- If you must have food or other deliveries made to your house, call out to your husband as if he was home when you answer the door. Another wife on my website did this and I thought it was great.
- Have your soldier record the outgoing message for the answering machine. Not only does it help for safety reasons, but it also allows you to hear his voice whenever you would like!
- Drive his car on a regular basis so it doesn’t sit in the same parking space or spot in the driveway and people notice it being gone at times. This is also smart just to maintain the car while he’s gone.
- If you live on post and will be out of town, alert the MPs so they can drive by your house and just ensure everything is okay while you are gone.
- If you notice suspicious activity, notify the MPs on post or the police off post. It’s better safe than sorry. Many times, they will step up patrols around your home if you explain the situation to them.
- Practice OPSEC and PERSEC online. Don’t give out too much personally identifiable information when you are online. Even though you may belong to an Army spouse-only group, there is no way to guarantee everyone is an Army spouse. Be smart online.
This information is not meant to scare you but just to make you aware of things you can do to help ensure your safety when he’s away.
What tips do you have? Any safety strategies you always use when he’s away?
