Naturally, when you marry someone in the military you have to expect that at some point a deployment or two will happen. I knew this when Kyle and I got married and we were lucky enough to have the first few years of our marriage deployment free (He was in the field A LOT lol).
However, when Kyle's unit got placed on GRF (global response force) we knew that if something did happen they could be deployed at any time to any place. Most units are on this and nothing happens, they do their year on this cycle and then it switches to someone else. Kyle's unit was about 5 1/2 months away from being taken off this cycle when the earthquake in Haiti hit.
They were instantly recalled from the field and told to be ready within 24 hours to leave. Let me tell you that as a still relatively new spouse I panicked. We rushed to get everything we needed to including updating power of attorneys and bank account info. Looking back now I realize that this was a pretty good way to be introduced to a deployment, learning how to adapt in a crunch was so helpful.
Kyle and I spoke only once while he was gone, and he ended up getting really sick along with a few others. I mean imagine being in a country that just experienced the most devastating earthquake with little food and little water, and disease running rampant. It was bad. He ended up losing around 25 pounds by the time he came home, he was gone for about 3 months, which doesn't seem like a lot but it was sure an interesting time. I can't believe it has already been 6 years to the day since he came home from that deployment.
He deployed the following year to Iraq and to be honest that deployment was easier. Go figure.
It's been a long time since we have experienced a deployment (almost 5 years) and it will be at least a few more years until we do it again (if that happens, I know he is itching to deploy again). He was supposed to deploy at bliss but that didn't happen who knows when it will again.
It definitely seems so long ago now.
Gone for three months seems like a long time to me! When Jason is in finals mode (which is now), he works all day, stays after work to study or goes to class and doesn't get home until 1130/12. Weekends he studies all day in the library - this goes on for a month and I hate it! So I can't imagine how you feel, lol.
ReplyDeleteWe heard things of a deployment coming this fall and I'm starting to emotionally prepare for it, but it's so emotionally nerve-wracking.
ReplyDeleteRyan has yet to deploy, but I'm pretty sure one is happening sooner rather than later. :S
ReplyDeleteI can't believe it's been that long since a deployment, but I think that's good, lol. Tyler was in a nondeployable unit at Bliss but he fit the bill exactly of what they needed so he had to go...you're right-it was interesting getting the news & running around preparing (although we had 14 days). It didn't really sink in that he was going to be gone for 9 months until he was actually gone! I remember feeling SO disconnected from his unit because no one else went...and I thought military spouses were supposed to come together and be there for eachother but literally no one reached out. It put a bad taste in my mouth unfortunately, haha. Thankfully, CCC came at a perfect time so he'll be home the rest of the year, but I have a feeling it'll happen at our next duty station. He's the opposite though- after 3 deployments and 2 in the midst of when things were crazy in Iraq (when he was enlisted), he's over deploying, lol.
ReplyDeleteThank you to him for his service and thank you to you for supporting him, love. My sister will be marrying into the airforce and will only have a week with her husband before he goes for three months of training. <3 to you!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it crazy how long it takes a deployment to go by, but how fast the home time flies? We were just talking last night about how it's been almost a year(!) since Alan left for his last deployment. Luckily we may avoid them for the next little while.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you both handle deployment so well. We have been lucky too in that we had a few years to enjoy marriage before a deployment was on the horizon (thank you aviation track for having the longest training ever haha). Now that we are a couple of months away from our first, we both feel so ready. I know he's looking forward to in, and in a strange way, I really am too. These guys train and work so hard towards the goal of deployment, and I am so excited to see him fulfill that dream. It's going to be an experience, that's for sure!
ReplyDeleteYou have such an upbeat attitude about it!
ReplyDeleteI really do not know how you do it! You are both strong and you are amazing together! What a great outlook you have on it too!
ReplyDeleteI dread this! It has been a little over six years since Chris deployed to Iraq, and those 15 months were good enough for me. I know it is only a matter of time (sooner probably than later) that he will have to deploy again. Secretly I am hoping we will be closer to getting out by then. We have been lucky so far because he has been in back to back schools that have kept him home. Which for my kids I couldn't be more grateful for.
ReplyDeleteA sister company at Knox deployed to Afghanistan a few weeks ago and Andy was itching to go with them... Had he been promoted sooner I think he would have! He was disappointed but I am not.
ReplyDeleteI am always so impressed by you military wives and how you handle deployments! <3
ReplyDeleteYou handle the military wife so well. You're a good role model to the new spouses! Hopefully Kyle is home for awhile so he can enjoy the early years with your new addition to the family!!
ReplyDeleteMy son kept trying to deploy. He was 'this' close many times. I'm glad it never happened. I am proud that he wanted to go, proud that protecting his country is something he'd do in a bat of an eye, but speaking as a mom...my heart was really worried about a deployment.
ReplyDeleteIt's been a while since my husband deployed too and he's always like "I need to get back to the fight!" Even though his job here has him TDY every few months for weeks on end. I think we when we get back to the mainland, he'll have a better chance of going. Which will be interesting because now we have more kids in the mix. LOL
ReplyDeleteYou sound like a pro at dealing with it! It seems weird that I've bee with Dan for over seven years, and he hasn't deployed yet (and won't for another couple years at least because of pilot training), but we have gone through separations where he was overseas for other programs (England and China, haha) for a month at a time... we were definitely still young then, so it was tough on me... but I think we're at a different point in life now where I'd feel much more comfortable when that time comes. But only with one kid... if I'm ever outnumbered, then I take that statement back!!! haha
ReplyDeleteFor a second I was thinking he was heading out! It would have broken my heart if he missed the birth! John's been back for three years, which seems like a long time. I don't know if I'm ready to deal with that again though!
ReplyDeleteThat Haiti situation sounds terrible. I can't imagine how sick he was to lose 25 pounds. He doesn't even look like he has 25 to lose! Thinking back we didn't have deployment our first few years together either. But now, not so much! We have another around the corner :(
ReplyDeleteThe world is in an upheaval now. So sad. Hopeful Kyle won't need to go anywhere soon. Never know when your in the military what they'll want you to do. Experienced that years ago. Thanks for sharing your story.
ReplyDeleteI thought you were going to say that he's being deployed...! So lucky that you've had long stretches of no deployment...! Phew! And omg, time flies, has it been 6 years since the Haiti earthquake...??
ReplyDeleteOh man, deployments are never easy. I don't think my husband will have to go again for a while...but then again, you never know.
ReplyDeleteMy husband is gone a lot for work. Not 3 months but sometimes 1 month at a time. I know the feeling and when it happens when you have kids, the kids take it the hardest.
ReplyDelete3 months without communication as your first deployment is pretty tough. Especially when it is so sudden. I am so tired of deployments. This one is almost over, and then we have some time before he deploys again next spring. I hate sea duty.
ReplyDeleteBetween deployment and going to a new unit preparing for (then going to) NTC, Mac was gone 18 of the 24 months in 2014 and 15. I'm glad his work schedule has calmed down and that he's home.
ReplyDelete