Abstract:A deployment is a type of separation when a military member is temporarily relocated to another location to complete a mission or task. Children can have a range of reactions to parents being deployed. The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of the behavioral health of military dependents during a parent’s deployment, and the perceptions of the effectiveness of available community resources for addressing the behavioral health of military dependents. The theoretical framework guiding the study was Bronfenbrenner’s ecological system theory of human development and socialization. The population sample consisted of 16 participants who participated in semi-structure interviews. Primary themes identified in this study include: (a) stress, (b) depression, (c) attachment issues, (d) academic performance, (e) self-expression, (f) support, and (g) relationship. The results of this study support the increase in behavioral changes of military dependents during a parental absence. The overall results of the study indicated that deployment could cause children to exhibit a range of behavioral and emotional changes during and after parental deployment, including symptoms of depression, increased clinginess, withdrawal, and separation anxiety. While most families faced emotional challenges and adjustment difficulties, a few participants observed resilience or minimal impact, highlighting the diversity of children’s responses to deployment. The results also found that participants felt inadequately prepared by the military to address the behavioral changes in the dependents, while others found solace in the effectiveness of community resources. Participants recommended increasing military resources and military training to prepare for deployments.