America Supports You: Company Accelerates Deployment Guide Update

By Sharon Foster
Special to American Forces Press Service

July 11, 2008 - A company that publishes an annual deployment guide has sped up its schedule to release the 2009 guide this fall. AmeriForce Publishing is changing its production schedule to get the 2009 guide out early because large-scale troop rotations are taking place later this year, Julie Miller, senior sales manager for AmeriForce Publishing, said.

"Our servicemembers and their families need all the help we can offer," she said. "We believe that by providing this publication this fall and updating the topics in the guide to remain current, we are providing the kind of support our servicemembers and families need and deserve."

The 2009 deployment guide will address such issues as how to prepare families for deployment, how children cope with deployment, how families can remain in contact during separation and how families can create and maintain family rituals.

"This year, we are offering an updated and improved design to our guide, as well," said Sara Graves, managing editor at AmeriForce Publishing. "In addition, as the times have changed, so have the issues servicemembers and their families face following a lengthy deployment. Therefore, to remain current, we are including updated information."

The deployment guide was first published at the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 in response to a direct request by the military community, Miller said. AmeriForce Publishing already was well known for its relocation guides and other resource magazines. In the years since then, the company has had to reprint the deployment guide up to twice a year to meet unit demand, Miller said. The guide features and is supported by paid advertisements.

In 2005 and 2006, the guide won the prestigious Society of Government Travel Professional Award.

The spring 2008 deployment guide can be viewed at www.ameriforce.net/deployment/.