Since its inception in 1990, United Through Reading has benefited over 143,000 military parents, spouses, and children.

It is available on most Navy ships, Naval Mobile Construction Battalions, and in many Marine Corps units throughout the world.

In order to meet the needs of our deploying troops, we have recently extended the outreach of United Through Reading to additional military branches including U.S. Army, National Guard, Air Force and Coast Guard commands.

There are parents reading aloud to their children through this program all over the world right now.

Benefits to the Children:

United Through Reading benefits children by bringing the visual image of the deployed parent into the home.

The children see and hear their parent reading a storybook to them. Children watch the tapes over and over. The combination of the visual image, children's storyline, and repetition are what makes this program so powerful.

The Program:

• Children are kept in touch with parents and children's reading skills may be improved.

• The joy of reading is instilled in children while meaningful communication is maintained.

• Children's self-esteem is enhanced and family bonding is strengthened.

We believe as a core value of our work that the bonding and communication benefits from the time spent reading together is even greater than the educational benefit.

Benefits to the Spouse at Home:

• The spouse at home feels a sense of support from the deployed parent.
  
  
• The spouse can explain the deployed parent's absence to the child(ren).

"Our daughter watches her videos every day and loves them. She counts with her Daddy, reads along with him and dances to his singing. It has helped to keep him in her life and thoughts constantly and greatly eases the transition of his coming home."

"At 4:00 p.m. every day, the videotape of their Dad reading goes in and for the next hour, my children are with their father. They rewind the tape and never get tired of watching it over and over and over."

"This program has been a lifesaver in the "I miss Mommy" department."

"My son will no doubt remember his Dad when he returns. I believe their 'time to read and get ready for bed' tradition has not been broken the entire deployment."

Benefits to the Deployed Member:

• The active duty member is given an additional avenue to actively support their family at home during deployment.
  
  
• Reading aloud serves as a morale booster for the deployed member.
  
  
• The deployed parent can continue the read-aloud tradition from afar.

"I have the opportunity to be involved with my children even though the ship is forward deployed."

"It gives me a chance to talk to my kids. They can see that I'm on the ship and being taken care of."

"Helping my child to read was wonderful. It allowed me to feel closer to home, and my child could see and hear Mom anytime through the video."