Husband, Wife Pilots Serve Together

Photo By Staff Sgt. Jerome Bishop | 1st Lt. Patrick DeForest, Co. D, 1st Battalion., 159th Aviation Regiment, and his wife 1st Lt. Rebecca DeForest, Co. B, 1st Bn., 126th Avn. Regt., are both serving as UH-60 Blackhawk pilots. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Jerome Bishop)(released)  

BALAD, IRAQ

08.16.2005

Courtesy Story

DVIDS Hub       

By Spc. Jerome Bishop
1st COSCOM Public Affairs

LOGISTICS SUPPORT AREA ANACONDA, Balad, Iraq -- The separation during deployments can become a dangerous obstacle very quickly when it comes to marriage, but for two UH-60 Blackhawk pilots on Logistics Support Area Anaconda, deployment to Iraq has kept them together.

"It feels completely wonderful to be deployed together," said 1st Lt. Rebecca DeForest, a UH-60 Blackhawk pilot from B Company, 1st Battalion, 126th Aviation Regiment, who deployed Jan. 9 with the South Carolina National Guard.

"We can share all of our experiences first hand and we can relate to our jobs and struggles and our accomplishments."
However, the couple almost missed the opportunity to stay together overseas, but reacting quickly to their situation allowed the DeForests to deploy almost at the same time.

"Last year I was in the 82nd Aviation Brigade," said 1st Lt. Patrick DeForest, a UH-60 Blackhawk pilot from D Company, 1st Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment who deployed to LSA Anaconda on Dec. 18, 2004. "Her unit got alerted for deployment in May 2004 and then activated in September. In September, I asked my supervisor if there was a possibility that I could switch over the 1-159th.

"First they said "We'll look into it"," he said. "Then there was a one-for-one switch but the 82nd didn't want to because the other Soldier didn't have the experience they needed."
"He swapped out with a female lieutenant in the 159th because her husband was in the 82nd," Rebecca DeForest said.

"It ended up being that another married couple got assigned with the 82nd and that way two married couples could be assigned in their spouse's command."
"So she went over to the 82nd and I went over to the 159th," Patrick DeForest added.
Either way Patrick DeForest would be spending time in the Middle East; the only difference between being deployed with the 82nd in Afghanistan or the 159th in Iraq is the length of separation from his wife.

"The way it was scheduled was I was supposed to go to Operation Enduring Freedom in May," Patrick DeForest said. "Had I stayed at my previous assignment, we would be facing a 20 month separation."

"It"d probably be better if we weren't deployed to two different areas because communication would become a lot more difficult," Rebecca DeForest said. "I'm sure we will (be separated) at some point."
Although the couple has been fortunate in the fact that they can be with each other every day even while deployed, neither of them forgets that other Soldiers aren't so lucky.
"It's difficult to relate to their experience since we haven't been separated," Patrick DeForest said. "I always try to put myself in their shoes."
"I communicate with both of my Soldiers and their spouses to understand what they're both going through," Rebecca DeForest said.

The DeForests are aware that their situation could take a turn for the worse if it isn't handled correctly. Being in separate units often helps in keeping their personal and professional lives separate.

"Our jobs are pretty separate which I think is a good thing," Rebecca DeForest said. "I"d say my spare time is divided between Patrick and my Soldiers."
"We spend enough time apart because we wouldn't want to be put in an unprofessional position," said Patrick DeForest.

Since the DeForests don't have any children yet, they have one less worry than other dual-military families.

"We're lucky we don't have kids at this point in our marriage," Rebecca DeForest said. "I know dual-military spouses who have had to leave their kids with other family members. We don't have any kids but we have a dog that we left behind."

The couple is in agreement that their situation is more than good at the moment, but their plans differ for when their tours in Iraq come to an end.
"I'm looking to extend until May," Patrick DeForest said. "I want to enjoy the mission here and I want to help the incoming unit with their mission here."
"I want to go back to my civilian job," said Rebecca Deforest. "I work in investments for a financial institution."

Having the support of a spouse is a big help for married Soldiers serving in the Global War on Terror, and although the DeForests don't need a 1,000-minute phone card and an open seat at the calling center, they still have friends and family waiting at home for their safe and healthy return.

• Date Taken: 08.16.2005
• Date Posted: 08.16.2005 17:33
• Story ID: 2750
• Location: BALAD, IQ