In many instances, cell phone providers may ask for a copy of the military orders before allowing a military suspension on accounts and services. See the link to the right on "
Orders (Copy of)" for more information.
All cell phone providers should offer a military suspension for cell phone service irregardless of the contract. Keep in mind, the contract will still be in place, and the Marine will have to re-open the account when he/she returns stateside. Upon return, the contract picks up where it was suspended. For instance, if you Marine was in a 24-month contract, had used 6 months of service prior to deployment, the contract will have an additional 18 months that will be re-instated upon return. If the account is suspended for 8 months, the balance on the contract will still be 18 months rather than 10 months. In some instances, it may be more cost efficient to cancel or buy-out the contract if it's near expiration and the Marine does not want to keep the same cell phone number. Check with the cell phone provider for the most cost-effective solution for your Marine.
For more information on suspending other types of services during deployment, see the link to the right "Suspending Service".