Thankful Through Deployments

Yes, you read that title correctly. Thankful Through Deployments. Seriously? What, in all of the deployment training, preparation and packing, family separation for six, nine, maybe twelve or more months of tour, and the reintegration back, is there to be thankful for?!

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Hurricane Ian: Army Vet Committed to Helping His Community

Since Hurricane Ian slammed into Florida, we’ve all watched the news reports with a sinking feeling. With so much destruction, so many of our hearts are broken for our friends, family and communities across the state. One thing is clear — there’s a lot of pain but there are also a lot of great people doing their part.

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AWTR Show #929: Operation Gratitude

After 9-11, Operation Gratitude founder Carolyn Blashek began volunteering at the Los Angeles airport military lounge. In March 2003, a soldier came into the office and broke down at her desk. He was on leave from a war zone for his mother’s funeral, his wife had left him, and his only child had died as an infant—he had no one else in his life. It was then he told her,

“I’m going back over there. I know I won’t make it back this time, but it really doesn’t matter because no one would even care.” Right then, Blashek realized that when bullets are flying, troops must believe that someone at home cares about them as an individual. That’s when operation gratitude was born.

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New Milspouse Facing a Deployment? Don’t Worry, We’ve Got Your Six!

Greetings to all the new military spouses (and all the seasoned ones) out there. Military life may seem overwhelming and when you are facing a deployment, it may seem impossible.

But Guess what? You got this and we are here to help you. Below are some resources for those of you who ar experiencing deployment for the first time and also for those of you who just need a refresh.

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Deployment Rules

As I write this my son woke up at 3 am and is now refusing to go back to sleep. Of course, I planned on driving to a waterpark today, so why wouldn’t he wake up early? To handle this, I brought him into my bed and put the TV on because “Deployment Rules”.

It’s been over two months since my husband, Chris, deployed and I’ve entered what I like to call “Deployment Rules”. No, I’m not saying deployment is awesome. I’m saying, I now give myself leeway when we have a tough day, which is more often than I care to admit.

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Ready for Him to Go

I’m currently in an emotionally confusing time before my husband deploys. I want to soak up every moment with him and at the same time I’m so ready for him to go. It’s not that I don’t love him…

I’ve just had enough of this stressful time. I want to get into the new routine I know I will need once he goes. But right now is just a tortuous waiting game.

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