Guest Profile

Elaine Dumler

Elaine is a wife and mother whose husband served in the Army National Guard between 1969 and 1975 before they were married. Recognizing that the stress of separation is there even for short assignments, she was particularly touched by what military families face with sustained absences.  In 2003 Elaine went back to her roots in communication to write I’m Already Home, (version one) a book designed to help families discover unique and wonderful ways to stay connected and in constant communication when they are separated by deployments and assignments. In 2006 the updated edition, I’m Already Home…Again, was released which combines the best of the original edition with over 150 new ideas, resources, stories, and expanded chapters on reunion, reintegration, pets and deployments, and how communities, schools, and extended families can help. The information for both books was gleaned through interviews with over 2000 military families. Following the path of another 1200 family interviews, 2009 brought the release of her 3rd book, The Road Home –Smoothing the Transition Back from Deployment covering the challenges of reunion and reintegration. She is also in the middle of writing 24 Flip Tips Pocket books for the Guidance Group and the 4MCA catalog covering 24 specific areas of military life.

Focusing on bringing her message and methods of family unity to military families, Elaine’s media coverage includes features in 86 publications (6 in foreign languages) over 25 TV appearances (including MSNBC, FOXNews and Montel) and  40 radio programs  to talk about the importance of keeping family ties stronger than ever and the connection strategies most effective in doing so. She has been presented with 22 “Military Challenge Coins,” including President George W. Bush’s Commander in Chief coin. Elaine presents readiness trainings on military installations, at family programs conferences and Yellow Ribbon briefings throughout the country with one goal in mind: to make sure that every American deployed or on temporary assignment in the service of their country has the means available to be in the closest contact possible with their loved ones left behind.