Here’s an informative and thoughtful article I ran across from a reservist who recently returned from a deployment to Iraq.
The support of family and friends always leaves me feeling humbled. Terri, my wife managed the business, kept our household together and sent me and my fellow soldiers cookies and care packages. She did not volunteer for this duty, but as a spouse of a deployed soldier she stepped up to the plate and helped to make it happen.
Soldiers deploy, families worry. Every soldier is prepared trained and generally ready to do his or her job when called. Soldiers become focused on their jobs and have the immediate support of their fellow troops. Families have no control, no knowledge and are left with daily news reports detailing the IED attack of the day. My wife coped by simply refusing to watch the news.
Modern communications help bind the families and soldiers but they are not a substitute for the months of separation, the toll of combat stress and the risk of loss of life and limb. We as a country have asked our military to protect our nation by securing peace in Iraq, and tracking down the Taliban in Afghanistan. It is a daunting task yet we have a voluntary military that has answered the call. Without the support of their families it would not be possible to field the military.
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