10 things to do before deploying

Protecting our freedoms shouldn't hurt your finances. Let USAA help you prepare for your next deployment.

Thank you for your service. You answered the call to protect our freedoms and to defend our wonderful nation. At USAA, we truly appreciate it.

We realize that your future is filled with challenges and opportunities. Between training, field exercises and self-aid buddy care, the military will be sure you're ready when the time comes for deployment.

But what about your life to-do list? Remember that you alone are responsible for making sure you're financially prepared for the time you're away. Before you deploy, check these 10 tasks off your to-do list.

What to do before deploying

  1. Revisit your life insurance.
  2. Check your will.
  3. Review your deployment budget.
  4. Review your auto insurance.
  5. Know your SCRA benefits.
  6. Refill your medications.
  7. Check other important expiration dates.
  8. Establish a power of attorney.
  9. Set up automatic payments.
  10. Plan, and pay for, your return vacation.

1. Revisit your life insurance.

It's likely you'll face increasing danger as you deploy. While you probably already have Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI) through the military, it's also a good idea to set up private life insurance for yourself. Before you deploy, read the article Military life insurance: Is SGLI enough?.

2. Check your will.

The hardest part of military life is losing a friend or loved one, and unfortunately, many military members don't return from a deployment. I say this to highlight the importance of having an updated will.

The purpose of a will is to ensure your assets pass to your designated beneficiaries in the way you intend. Otherwise, the state will step in to distribute your assets. And they may not distribute them the way you would have.

A death and the aftermath of sorting through possessions can bring out the worst in families. Having an updated will makes it easier on those left behind and can limit fighting over certain items.

Ready to get started? As you're preparing for deployment, make an appointment with your local JAG office to set up your will, free of charge.

3. Review your deployment budget.

Deployments come with two possible benefits: increased income and reduced expenses. For that reason, a lot of service members save money during a deployment.

During pre-deployment, consider canceling services, such as cable, phone and internet that you won't need while you're gone. Review your housing lease to see if you have the flexibility to relocate your personal possessions to a storage facility. Use extra money to accomplish important financial goals like pay down debt or save for emergencies.

When I was deployed to Afghanistan, my wife and 3-year-old son moved in with family for two months. Not only did this help my wife, but it also helped us save money because we had lower utilities, grocery bills and transportation costs.

But in some cases, service members and their families end up spending more during deployments. If your family is planning to move to another house or apartment temporarily to be closer to family, you may be maintaining two households.

Regardless of whether you expect your expenses to increase or decrease, take some time as you're preparing for deployment to adjust your budget, so it accounts for your new lifestyle, even if it's a temporary one.

4. Review your auto insurance.

If your family has a vehicle that won't be used while you're deployed, you can place it “in storage” to lower your auto insurance rates. Putting your vehicle in storage doesn't mean it has to be in an actual storage facility; it just means you won't be driving it.

Just before I deployed, we put my truck in storage, only to have to take it out of storage and put my wife's car into storage a few months later when it broke down. Lesson learned: Make sure you have coverage on the vehicle you're driving. If in doubt, contact your insurer.

5. Know your SCRA benefits.

Under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, you may qualify for special financial benefits while you're deployed, especially if you're a National Guard or Reserve member called to active duty. These benefits include things like:

  • Lower interest rates on some accounts.
  • The ability to exit rental agreements, cellphone contracts and auto leases.

USAA has enhanced these government-required benefits with lower interest rates. See how that might apply to you on our military service member benefits page.

6. Refill your medications.

The last thing you want to happen when you're in the field is to realize you're out of necessary medications. The availability of medical facilities varies based on your deployed location.

Before you leave, schedule a doctor's appointment and check the expiration dates of your medications to be sure they'll last through the deployment.

7. Check other important expiration dates.

You don't want your credit or debit cards to expire while you're gone, leaving you unable to purchase the things you need. If the expiration dates are nearing, contact your financial institution before deployment and request new cards.

While you're at it, check your and your family's military ID cards to be sure they won't expire while you're gone. You'll appreciate the peace of mind that comes from knowing your loved ones can access the services they need while you're away.

8. Establish a power of attorney.

When you ask someone to be your POA, you give them the legal right to act on your behalf for a defined period. Your POA can be a spouse or a trusted friend. While you're preparing for deployment, research which types of powers of attorney you might need.

9. Set up automatic payments.

A stack of unpaid bills can result in a hit to your credit. If you aren't able or don't want to set up automatic bill payments, choose someone you trust to pay your bills.

10. Plan, and pay for, your return vacation.

When I returned from Afghanistan, my wife, son and I went to San Diego for a few days and hit all the typical tourist attractions. Plus, we ate way too much good food.

Every penny of that vacation was paid for before we left — funded by a combination of prior savings, family separation allowance and hostile fire pay.

There are lots of reasons to plan your return vacation now. It gives you something to look forward to while you're gone. Plus, if you need reservations, you might not be able to get them while you're deployed.

Many military members go into debt because they put their post-deployment vacation on a credit card. Unfortunately, that debt causes anxiety in a time when you want to shred the stress that's built up over the deployment. By planning ahead and budgeting for your return vacation in advance, you can avoid trading combat stress for financial stress.