Steps You Might Need To Take To Prepare For A Military Tour Of Duty

The tour of duty is one of the most intimidating processes most people will face in their life

. Not only is it emotionally and spiritually draining when waiting for the call, there are also many practical tasks that soldiers have the option of completing during this trying time.

Everyone has different emotional and spiritual needs. Those fall outside the scope of this article, which only deals with the steps that could be taken to guard against the worst case scenario.

Some of these can be quite difficult to contemplate, but have great benefits. Others are merely suggested options that can help protect against a worst case scenario.

Please note that I am not a lawyer, and the information in this article does not constitute legal advice.

Learning The Local Language

The military might train soldiers with key phrases they need to understand, but such phrases will not prepare you for all the real life scenarios you will encounter. Being able to understand and talk to the locals can help to avoid misunderstandings and earn good will.

For example, soldiers heading to Afghanistan might be interested in learning Dari, while those heading to Iraq could benefit from learning Iraqi Arabic.

Appointing A Health Proxy

A health proxy is somebody who you appoint to make decisions about your health if you are unable to. In England and Wales, that might mean someone with durable power of attorney for healthcare decisions under the Mental Capacity Act 2005, but check to find out how to go about appointing a health proxy in your area.

Appointing a health proxy is not always desirable, but if you have clear ideas about how you would like to be treated should you become seriously injured and unable to communicate, and you know somebody you trust to convey those ideas for you, it is one option that you should be aware of.

Writing A Will

Writing a will is probably the most emotionally gruelling step you could take when preparing for a tour. It is intended to prepare for the worst outcome, and it can be difficult to get family members and close friends to help you out with it when you need them to.

The formalities of a will might not be observed quite so rigorously if you are a soldier on active service when you express your wishes. It is worth looking into the legal issues around writing a will yourself, and it is also worth looking into any support you might get in writing a will, such as from the legal charity Will Aid.

Deciding Who To Contact In The Event Of Death

Choosing the first person back home who will learn of your death is an important task. If the primary next of kin is likely to be unavailable, or if they are likely to be unable or unwilling to act on the information, specifying someone who will know what to do, how to proceed and who else to tell of your death is a good idea.

Considering Appropriate Insurance

As a soldier, certain types of insurance might be more expensive or simply inappropriate for your needs. Other types of insurance are specifically designed for your situation.

Different types of insurance will be more or less appropriate, depending on how they are laid out.

For example, landlords insurance could be inappropriate for the average soldier, as managing a property while on tour is a very difficult task, and soldiers are therefore not hugely likely to own and rent out a property.

Standard wedding insurance might be less appropriate for soldiers than for civilians, as well. This is because, unlike military wedding insurance, standard wedding insurance is unlikely to insure you against being unexpectedly posted overseas.

By contrast, looking into military kit insurance is probably a good idea for a lot of military professionals. Military kit insurance covers part or all of your military kit from getting damaged, as the name implies, and can extend to cover the personal items of military personnel, such as spectacles, money, laptops and phones. Some military kit insurance also covers personal liability.

Discussing Your Options

Finally, be sure to make use of anyone you know when making any decision. Their opinions and input can be invaluable. Talking to and listening to your closest friends and family now can prevent unnecessary pain and confusion further down the line. Speaking to a professional will also help clarify any confusion you have over any of the steps in this article.

by: Sarah Shore

Steps You Might Need To Take To Prepare For A Military Tour Of Duty

The tour of duty is one of the most intimidating processes most people will face in their life

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