| The focus of the current qualitative phenomenological research study was to gain a deeper understanding of military families with young children from preschool to elementary school-age during deployments of a family member. The purpose of the study was to explore the lived experiences and perceptions of 20 military parents concerning multiple or extended deployments on their families and children in preschool to elementary grades. The population selected for the study was a representation of military parents' experiences raising children, while coping with the various stages of military combat deployment overseas. Gleaned from data contained within the participants' transcripts, there were six major themes: reactions to the deployment cycle, spouses' attitudes towards multiple deployments, children's reactions to deployments, resources used during deployments, school support for families, and unit support for families. Conducting future studies could provide additional information related to the needs of military families. With the influx of new resources, interventions, and programs created to support the needs of military family affected by deployments, accessibility and information about resources need to be readily available for all military families. Given the implications of this military policy, leaders within the military sectors will need to consider and prepare for the repercussions that the closing stages of multiple deployments may have on families. Future studies on the needs of military families after combat deployments could help with the establishment of family programs and counseling needs of families. |
