5 Ways Technology Can Support Your Military Family

Current technology has changed the lives of military families. When I think about what was standard for military families before the ability to video chat, email, and send documents online… it amazes me. I’m so thankful that we are living with the current technologies, and all the ways they benefit our family.

1. Staying Connected During Deployments:

When my kids were really little, we recorded several videos of my husband reading their favorite books before he deployed. Even when we weren’t able to see or talk to Daddy, the kids could see his face and hear his voice, and I have no doubt that it helped them stay connected to him while he was away.  While I loved that the kids had this connection to their Dad while he was gone, my advice would be to record lots of books!

Even with technology, communication while you’re miles apart is never easy, and is often frustrating – I once missed a phone call and burst into tears. While still difficult, there are many more opportunities today than there were before the reality of email, and the occasional call or cherished video chat from port.

2. Maintaining Friendships:

As my kids have gotten older, we have used technology not just to keep in contact during deployments, but also to stay in touch with the friends and family we have left behind as the military moves us. My daughter lights up when I ask if she wants to video chat with friends she doesn’t often get to see because of the miles that currently separate us.

By the time we move again, I expect email accounts to be an added layer that my kids use to maintain their connections and friendships. And eventually, (with supervision!) social media accounts as well.

I have never left a location without tears over the close friendships and support we leave behind. I am so thankful for the technology that lets me share in the special moments of our friends and family all over the world. I have been able to share in the positive moments….birth announcements, birthday pictures, first day of school celebrations, and so much more, as well as support friends and family through truly heartbreaking times.

3. Researching New Duty Stations:

One of the very first things I do when we are considering options for new orders is research! I reach out to friends, search the internet for information, and look into social media groups, school ratings, resources and activities for the kids. All of this information is at our fingertips, and often there is an online connection made with other military spouses already stationed there.

4. Moving To Your New Location:

On our last move, we took a huge leap and bought a house… sight unseen. Of course very little went smoothly and there were forms, disclosures, agreements, quotes, and so many more documents going back and forth (sometimes several times) between us, the realtors, the lender…. It was a very stressful time and we still had not closed by the time we arrived in our new location.

The fact that we moved in just a few days after we arrived is amazing and we commented several times about how much harder the process would have been without being able to communicate with everyone involved as we traveled down the highway, headed towards our new home. We electronically signed documents, provided additional information, and traded messages back and forth for miles and miles without having to stop to check an email, send a fax, or make a phone call.

5. Online Local Information & Military Discounts:

I love sharing local events and discounts on MyActiveChild.com and I always try and make sure to include events and deals for local military families as well. Military discounts can really make a difference for your family budget, especially on large purchases. One program to consider as you are researching the best prices for your next technology purchase is the Dell Member Purchase Program.

The Dell Member Purchase Program is available to Military Families, and members enjoy perks (exclusive offers and presale events) and special pricing – including up to 30% off Dell PCs, electronics and accessories. The Dell Member Purchase Program can help make maintaining all of your online connections- near and far- more affordable. Dell also honors the military community with an additional 10% savings on PCs and tablets and global APO/FPO shipping.

For more information about the Dell Member Purchase Program, visit Dell.com/mil.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of MSB New Media & Military.com on behalf of Dell. The opinions and text are all mine.