VIEWPOINT: We’re Halfway Done!

By ABC-7 Executive Producer Kristine Rivers

We’re halfway through this deployment. Thank God!! Because we are mid-way through, R & R trips are underway. R & R is usually a two-week break granted to soldiers so they can rest, relax and spend some much deserved time with their families back home. Fort Bliss soldiers are definitely taking full advantage of this time. One spouse in the 93rd Military Police Battalion became a naturalized U.S. citizen, but instead of attending the big ceremony in July, she opted for a smaller ceremony a few weeks later so her husband could attend. It was so great to see them together celebrating the occasion as a family. Another soldier and his family are in San Diego right now, headed straight for Legoland, Sea World and Disneyland! Even though the visit is brief, and often abrupt, the two weeks together are a wonderful opportunity for the soldiers to re-connect with their families.

Chris and I haven’t had little ones yet, so we planned on spending our R & R galavanting around Europe. About a week and a half before our scheduled trip, after I had already packed his suitcase, he called and told me his assignment had changed and our R & R was on hold. It was a pretty big bummer, but even as new to the military as I am, I know nothing is ever set in stone. Needless to say, I wasn’t shocked. I did, however, get insurance on the ticket and got refunded, thank God for that! We are hoping to get another shot at our R & R in September.

Chris’ new assignment means he is much busier, so we don’t get to talk as often. SKYPE is also no longer an option, so I haven’t seen his face in more than a month. It’s pretty hard to believe I haven’t seen my husband in person for six months. I don’t know how people get through 15-month deployments. In August of 2008, the government dropped the 15-month deployment policy. Luckily, Chris deployed after that so, if all goes as expected, he’ll be back in January. A company in his Battalion was one of the last in the army to deploy under the old policy. The 978th MP Company left in June and won’t be back until September. Could you imagine?

Now, all I can do is hope hope the second six months go more quickly than the first six. I’ve heard from other, more experienced spouses, that the second half does go by much quicker. Here’s to hoping!