This research project is directed by means of a dialogical participation action research (DPAR) method, towards the discovery of the right tools that can serve military individuals, families and especially the children.  Tools that can act as a buffer against the challenges they face when a family member working as Swedish soldier or officer participate in international military deployments. The research results may also guide professionals in social services, education and health care as well as voluntaries in networks in the quest to reduce the distress experienced and promote individual and family resilience.

 So far 186 interviews with individuals, families and relatives have been conducted. In total 128 persons participated including 26 children in aged 4-21, 35 soldiers or veterans, 24 parents or siblings of soldiers and 37 partners (spouse, fiancée, cohabiter or living apart together) in relation to the deployed soldier. Study results show different styles of reciprocal responses. The joint approaches were constructed into types: Partnership; Supporting and mobilizing; Normalizing – ordinary life; Adjusting and negotiating; Emotional reacting; Sacrificing and suffering.  The cycle of deployment includes several once-occurring phases of being also in the context of so called ‘leave’ during deployments. Crucial for future orientation in family relationships are detachment and re-attachment when the soldier leaves or returns home.