Decision-Making During the Deployment Cycle

Decision-making at home and during deployment was examined for 161 spouses of service members (SMs) who were deployed overseas, using baseline spouse reports. Four types of decisions were included: minor household, major household, financial, and decisions about children. Communication methods used during deployment were also examined. With deployment, spouses reported that decision-making changed significantly for all four types of decisions. Decision-making at home was predominantly as a couple; during deployment, more decisions were by the spouse. However, decision-making stayed the same at home and during deployment for 1/3 to 2/3 of families, dependent on the type of decision, and these couples tended to make decisions together. Availability of communication methods that allow rapid exchange of information may contribute to couples managing decisions together. Before deployment, practitioners should discuss current family decision making and communication patterns and expectations during deployment. During deployment, spouses can be encouraged to take on responsibilities that will help build their independence and facilitate smooth functioning of family life. At the same time, encouragement to continue, as much as possible and appropriate, familiar decision-making during deployment and at home may help ease the SM’s transition from deployment to home