Posts Tagged Deployment
Military Spouse Shares Deployment Tips
Posted by in Family Matters on July 19, 2010
By Elaine Wilson
July 19, 2010
elaine.wilson@dma.mil
After nearly a decade at war, deployments have become a way of life for America’s military families. Many families have had to adjust and adapt to one, two, and sometimes even more deployments.
Army spouse and mother Rebekah Sanderlin has dealt with more than a half-dozen deployments during her husband’s career. She shared her lessons-learned and tips for coping with separations with Lee McMahon, who wrote “Army Spouse Shares Deployment Tips” for the American Forces Press Service.
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Strategy Impacts Military Families
Posted by in Family Matters on December 2, 2009
By Elaine Wilson, AFPS
Dec. 2, 2009
Elaine.wilson@dma.mil
Along with the rest of the nation, I sat glued to my TV set last night as President Barack Obama unveiled his Afghanistan strategy at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y.
During his speech, the cameras often would pan to the audience and focus in on the face of a young cadet for a second or two.
President Barack Obama walks to the lectern to present his strategy on Afghanistan to the nation and a live audience of about 4,200 cadets and guests at Eisenhower Hall Theatre at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., Dec. 1, 2009. U.S. Army photo Tommy Gilligan
The cadets looked so intent, and I wondered what they were thinking as Obama announced his decision to send an additional 30,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan. I wondered what the impact would be on them and on their families, and on those military families already taxed by a sustained war effort.
The president’s plan is to flow the additional troops in to Afghanistan in the first half of 2010, and then begin to turn over security responsibility to Afghan security forces and withdraw U.S. forces in July 2011.
Forces may involve at least two or three Army brigade combat teams and many soldiers and Marines to train the Afghan security forces, according to an American Forces Press Service article, Obama Calls for Another 30,000 U.S. Troops in Afghanistan . Air Force and Navy personnel also will be called on to support this effort.
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Guard Launches Portal for Troops, Families
Posted by in Family Matters on November 5, 2009
The National Guard Bureau has put the finishing touches on a new Joint Services Support portal (www.jointservicessupport.org.) The portal delivers information on an abundance of assistance and support programs to Guard members and their families. National Guard Bureau graphic
Nov. 5, 2009
The National Guard Bureau has launched a great online resource for Guard members and their families.
The Joint Services Support portal (www.jointservicessupport.org) serves as a gateway to an abundance of support programs offered at the state and unit level, said Master Sgt. Mike R. Smith of the National Guard Bureau in a National Guard article released today.
“We have developed this portal to assist you, the service and family member, in getting information on a variety of programs that have been created especially for you,” said Army Maj. Gen. Lawrence Ross, the National Guard Bureau’s director of manpower and personnel, in the article. The following programs are located on the portal:
– Yellow Ribbon Program: Prepares National Guard and Reserve members and their families for deployments, sustains their families during deployments and reintegrates servicemembers with their families, communities and employers upon re-deployment or release from active duty;
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Family Photo Album: Military Dads
Posted by in Family Matters on September 22, 2009
Family Matters will periodically publish photos accenting military families from around the world. We greatly appreciate military families and honor their service and sacrifice. We hope you enjoy a brief glimpse into their lives as they deal with the stressors, and joys, of military life. In this posting we highlight a sailor, a Marine and a new Army lieutenant.
U.S. Navy photo by Wilbert D. Dow
Navy Petty Officer 1st Class DÕAndre Allen is joined by his son as he searches for dress uniform shoes during the Navy Exchange Uniform Night at the Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan, Aug. 18, 2009.
U.S. Marine photo by Pfc. Khoa Pelczar
U.S. Marine Sgt. Travis R. Schrowe, a maintenance attachment chief with Combat Logistics Battalion 13, Regiment 17, 1st Marine Logistics Group, 30, from Fresno, Calif., is happy to be home with his wife and kids after coming back from deployment, July 31, 2009.
U.S. Army photo by Billie Jo Lorius
Officer candidate school class graduate Chad A. Worrell holds his son Aven as he is ceremoniously presented with second lieutenant rank by his wife Angela during the “pinning ceremony,” Aug. 29, 2009, at the Camp Grafton Training Center near Devils Lake, N.D.
FAMILY PHOTO ALBUM: DADDY’S HOME
Posted by in Family Matters on September 15, 2009
U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Steven Khor
Cmdr. Gerald Hansen greets his children during a welcome home celebration for Carrier Air Wing 5 at Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan, Sept. 2, 2009. The air wing returned after a four-month deployment aboard the USS George Washington.
U.S. Navy photo by Seaman Christopher S. Harte.
U.S. Navy Petty Chief Officer Charles Green raises his child during the return of the aircraft carrier USS George Washington to Yokosuka, Japan, Sept. 3, 2009, after three months at sea.
U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Steven Khor.
Lt. Cmdr. Mike Kinter hugs his son during Carrier Air Wing 5’s homecoming at Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan, Sept. 2, 2009. The air wing was deployed aboard the USS George Washington.
FAMILY PHOTO ALBUM: HOMECOMING
Posted by Administrator in Family Matters on September 10, 2009
U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Monica C. Erickson
Staff Sgt. Larry Saxman Jr. of the 1st Tank Battalion, Company D, 2nd Platoon, picks up his 10-month-old daughter Lily May, after coming home from a seven-month deployment with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, July 31, 2009.
U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Monica C. Erickson
More than 300 U.S. Marines and sailors of 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, are welcomed home from Fallujah, Iraq by cheering friends and family during their homecoming ceremony at Victory Field, Twentynine Palms, Calif., Aug. 3, 2009.
U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Nicholas Lingo
Sailors from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 11 are greeted by family members as they return home from operations in Europe, Southwest Asia, Southcom and Africa supporting Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom.
Bound for Joint Family Conference in Chicago
Posted by Administrator in Family Matters on August 31, 2009
By Elaine Wilson, AFPS
Aug. 31, 2009
I’ll be traveling to Chicago later today to blog about the Defense Department’s first joint family readiness conference in nearly a decade.
About 1,500 helping professionals from every military service as well as active-duty and reserve components are expected to attend. Attendees work in a variety of areas including family support, children and youth, psychological health, health care, education and the chaplaincy.
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