Greetings,
While every branch of the military experiences different deployments, within the Navy itself, the deployment experience can vary drastically. Whether the servicemember is land-based (Seabees, Contracting, P-8s/P-3s/E-2s/C-2s), surface-based (ships) or submarine-based will determine the communication possible during the deployment. Land-based deployments will typically be housed in dorm-rooms or hotels and therefore service members have wifi, can call, text, and FaceTime when available. Ship deployments are typically limited to email only, and an occasional phone call when the ship pulls into port. Submarine-based deployments are a whole new level of limited communication. Typically, in training settings email is permitted, but during deployments, emails do not connect as the submarine is incognito. Submarine-based deployments heavily rely on the Family Readiness Group Facebook pages for information.
The majority of the Navy is assigned to a surfaced-based ship. While some of the aircraft carriers have wifi in the common areas allowing apps like iMessage, WhatsApp, and GroupMe work (sometimes), the most consistent form of communication is good ole satellite email. Typically, the Navy’s smaller ships have email only. Some small ships are sometimes able to get the mobile version of Facebook Messenger to work occasionally which is thrilling and feels as though you’re finally texting your spouse after months apart. Remember there will be lags in the sending and receiving of these messages so often times Messenger is more frustrating than it’s worth.
Once underway, it will take the ship a few days or weeks for email to be established. The servicemember will be assigned a lengthy email with the ship’s number and .navy.mil in it. No worries about memorizing it but ensure your servicemember knows your email so they can reach you first once email is established. There are limited computers onboard and many service members are sharing a computer with 10+ sailors. My husband shared that days on the ship are busy and it’s easy to work long days since there’s no escaping work there making emailing daily a challenge on top of flight schedules flipping from days to nights constantly.
Most importantly, know that communication will go down. Big Navy calls it ‘River City’ and is the result of the ship needing communication silence for operational and safety purposes. This will occur as often or as rarely as needed.
After a few weeks of this foreign communication sets in, you will grow into an asynchronous communicating routine. Some spouses prefer to send multiple text-like emails with their thoughts and some prefer the longer narrative. Personally, I am a wordy writer and often use voice to text to draft emails which makes it feel like I am talking to someone when composing. For us, email quickly became an intentional way to communicate and a unique opportunity to express your commitment as well as your hopes and evolving dreams. The asynchronous nature of email also allows you to draft and rewrite when your kinder self is around rather than responding quickly to upsetting news of likely extensions.
Even if you aren’t receiving a response, I would send an email everyday for your sanity to relocate the thoughts away from spinning around in your head to a more productive place. Emails keep your service member in the loop of what’s happening ‘back in the real world’ in your daily life or the world’s current events and creates a written catalog of your time apart. Now on the flipside of an extended email deployment, I sometimes look back in my inbox and reread the repository of messages from our time apart and appreciate the intentional communication, and the time of personal growth. Although the first email was sent in 1971, in 2024 I am still grateful for this timeless technology to stay connected across the world.
Sincerely,
Katie
Meet Katie
Katie is a former Air Force brat turned Navy spouse living in Jacksonville, FL. Having met her husband on a dating app (Hinge is great!) while he was in Naval Pilot Training in Pensacola, they have moved around Florida and made Navy life their own. Between workups, underways, and deployments, they have had quite the Navy ride in their first couple years of marriage, but still choose to see the good and growth from it all. From rich friendship forged by months apart, Katie has seen the beauty of community and is reminded of one’s inner strength. In the daytime (and evenings), Katie works as a Realtor, assisting military families navigating PCS season to find affordable and safe housing, both to and from NAS Jacksonville and NS Mayport. In her spare time, she enjoys working out, hot yoga, and traveling.
