Communication during a combat deployment has changed significantly in current times. Couples can now communicate with each other frequently and through multiple modes. Despite this greater availability of communication options, there remain unanswered questions related to how healthy deployment communication is best achieved between couples, particularly regarding navigating the uncertainty of deployment. In this qualitative study, we report on the experiences of 31 National Guard couples who endured a combat deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Couples were interviewed three months after the soldier returned from deployment. Through the lens of relational turbulence theory, we provide a conceptual framework related to effective and non-effective deployment communication, along with structural communication barriers in the military that may negatively affect the mental well-being of partners. Finally, we provide recommendations to guide couples through these difficult deployments.

当前，战斗部署期间的通信发生了重大变化。夫妻现在可以通过多种方式频繁地相互交流。尽管有更多可用的通信选项，但关于如何在夫妻之间最好地实现健康的部署通信，尤其是在导航部署的不确定性方面，仍然存在未解决的问题。在这项定性研究中，我们报告了 31 对国民警卫队夫妇的经历，他们经历了战斗部署以支持持久自由行动。在士兵从部署中返回三个月后，夫妻俩接受了采访。通过关系湍流理论的视角，我们提供了一个与有效和无效部署沟通相关的概念框架，以及军队中可能对合作伙伴的心理健康产生负面影响的结构性沟通障碍。最后，我们提供建议来指导夫妻完成这些困难的部署。