Homesickness in the Military: How to Help Your Enlistee Cope
Military life is full of “firsts.” First time away from home. First time living under a strict schedule. First time being truly out of your comfort zone. For many new recruits, especially those fresh out of high school or with strong family ties, homesickness hits hard, and it hits fast.
Well, this is very normal. Your young enlistee is preparing for basic training or is already knee-deep in it, homesickness will strike. But how you help them deal with it will determine if they receive their training well, or if they are distracted with dampened morale, and ultimately left feeling Isolated. Below are a few tricks you can you can use to help your young service member cope with homesickness.
Start Before They Leave.
This is an underestimated but effective method your young service member can use to deal with homesickness. You’ll want to encourage them to take a few small but meaningful items with them that will remind them of home. While it might sound counterproductive, it is an effective way to get them to focus. Items like laminated photos, letters, or even a handwritten note tucked into their wallet will go a long way to satiate their longing for home.
These little reminders of home can be a huge comfort, especially during long, stressful days. Be sure they have a notebook with pre-written addresses so they can send letters during personal time, because they won’t have access to their phone to look these up later.
Set Expectations.
Phone calls will be rare and far between. It’s your duty to let them know ahead. Also, it’s important to note that phone calls can potentially be emotionally overwhelming. Many recruits admit that calling home satisfies a short-term need but can stir up sadness all over again, resetting their emotional progress.
Prepare them for this, and let them know it’s okay to skip the call if it feels like it’ll make things harder. This is where the items previously mentioned will come in handy.
Write Letters Often.
Mail call becomes the highlight of the day in basic training. In the military, recruits are usually notified when they have mail. Your enlistee might not get to talk to you, but reading a letter can feel like a lifeline. Write regularly, even if they can’t write back as often. Encourage other family and friends to do the same. A mailbox full of love is one of the best morale boosters you can give.
Help Them Remember Their “Why.”
Homesickness gets easier when recruits refocus on their purpose. Remind them why they joined, the dream, the mission, and even the people back home cheering them on. A simple line in a letter, something like: “We’re so proud of you. Keep pushing. Graduation’s coming!”—can be incredibly powerful. Don’t underestimate it.
Don’t Feed The Homesickness.
When writing letters or on a phone call with them, it will be tempting to tell them how much you miss them, too, but try not to linger on it. Instead, offer uplifting updates from home and avoid sharing stressful news unless it’s urgent. Your goal is to make them feel connected, not worried.
Conclusion
Homesickness is real, but with a little planning and a lot of love, you can help your enlistee push through and thrive.
Remind them that their training is only temporary. The discomfort, the structure, the absence, it all leads to growth. Before they know it, they’ll be marching across that graduation field in uniform, stronger, prouder, and surrounded by the family they missed.
