2nd MEB families prepare for Afghanistan deployment
3/20/2009 By Cpl. Aaron Rooks
 MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - The Marines, sailors
and families of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade's Command
Element gathered here March 19 and 20 for pre-deployment
briefs.
The brigade, also known as Task Force Leatherneck, is
scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan later this spring to
conduct counterinsurgency operations.
The command held the briefs to inform the service members and
their families of what lies ahead for them in their ensuing
journey. Brig. Gen. Larry Nicholson, 2nd MEB commanding
general, said the Marines and sailors will be deploying to a
region of Afghanistan that is both dangerous and austere.
"It's not the garden spot of the world," Nicholson said. "It's
a tough neighborhood."
The Command Element and Brigade Headquarters Group's Family
Readiness Team was introduced at the beginning of each brief
as the individuals who will help guide the families through
the deployment. The team provided informative materials to the
service members and their families.
Nancy Wike, the BHG family readiness officer, said the
readiness team has "grown by lengths and bounds and continues
to get better."
"The families have a single person to dispense information,
which ensures information gets out to everyone," Wike said.
"They have a single person for the resources and knowledge
they need to know."
Wike said the resources and knowledge available to single and
married service members facing deployment are both plentiful
and vital. She described legal, financial, vehicle, and
interpersonal-communication matters as some of the issues that
can make or break a deployment because the service members
can't focus on their tasks-at-hand if their minds are
elsewhere.
Looking back on the past 10 months of effort from her team,
Wike said the families will be as prepared as possible.
This all falls in line with commandant of the Marine Corps'
vision in his 2006 Planning Guidance, where he called for an
improvement in the Corps's family readiness program.
Family members like Jackie, wife of a BHG Marine, is happy
with how far the Corps has come and where it's going with
regard to family readiness.
"I believe the program is extremely helpful, because through
it we learn their mission, purpose and what they will face,"
said the 26-year-old third grade teacher as she held back
tears. "It gives us expectations of what they will be going
through and what we can expect here at home."
Dustin, Jackie's husband and the father of their 11-month-old
daughter, remains calm at heart knowing that his family will
be safe and cared for while he's gone. He realizes the MEB's
destination in Afghanistan lacks ready accessible access to
Internet, phones and other forms of communication that can be
found in Iraq, where he deployed from 2006 to 2007. Because of
this, he feels families need the support the readiness team
can offer.
 The Lincoln, Neb., native said he feels family readiness is
the most important aspect of deployment. He said there's no
way Marines and sailors can deploy and be as successful
accomplishing their mission if their families are not ready.
"They won't have peace of mind," he said. "They need that
confidence of knowing their loved ones are OK."
Marine veterans agree. Chief Warrant Officer 5 Wayne Porowski,
an engineer equipment officer with the Command Element, has
seen Marine Corps family readiness evolve over 27 years of
service and seven deployments.
The Tampa, Fla., native said the Marine Corps is a more
effective force now that family readiness is emphasized. He's
confident the efforts of Marines and sailors during their
pending deployment will show truth to that statement.
"They will have less to worry about back home, so they will be
effective," Porowski said.
Nicholson said family members can expect to hear from him
often in regards to how Marines and sailors are through
mediums like newsletters and Web site information. His final
words before ending the event were simple: "Nobody deploys by
themselves and no family gets left behind." |
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