Over the holiday season there were many military couples that are stationed together in Iraq.

One of these couples is Staff Sgt. Shawn and Talisha Castro. Staff Sgt. Shawn Castro is the communications section non-commissioned officer in charge, and Staff Sgt. Talisha Castro is the Task Force Junior Career Counselor. Both of them share a Housing Unit on Victory Base, and have been with the Task Force 1st Medical Brigade before its arrival here in Theater. Below is their interview:

Q: Can you tell us a little about yourselves?
A: Talisha Castro is from Evergreen, Alabama. Shawn Castro is from Bronx, New York. We have a 9 yr old (Tiana) and a 4 yr old (Jayden).

Q: What are your jobs within the 1st Medical Brigade Headquarters?
A: Talisha — Junior Career Counselor for 1st Medical Brigade
A: Shawn - Communications NCOIC

Q: How many times have you both been deployed?
A: Talisha and Shawn — We have both been deployed 2 times.

Q: Have any of you been deployed by yourself before?
A: Talisha and Shawn - This is the first time we have been deployed together at the same location.

Q: If you have been deployed before how is this deployment different? Or if it's your first time, what have you learned so far during your current deployment?
A: Shawn - The difference for Talisha was that she was not mortared last deployment like this one.
A: Talisha - Having my husband around all the time takes some of the stress off a little and I have learned that anything is possible.

Q: What is the hardest thing about being deployed together?
A: Talisha - It's about me time, it's just you see each other all day at work and in the CHU, sometimes it feels you are trapped in a closet for a year.

Q: How did you prepare your family for this deployment?
A: Shawn and Talisha - We started to talk the kids early on. My mom helps take care of the kids, and we sat down with the kids to let them know. Every other day we have a video chat with the children using Yahoo Chat.

Q: What advice can you give to married military couples?
A: Talisha - Get your own room and some type of plan with your days off as it will be hard. Sometimes you need some space in the close environment. Prepare yourself for any challenges that you may have.

Q: What are some things you have missed since your deployment?
A: Shawn - Fishing with my Dad, Sons birthday, 1st Anniversary in Iraq, Daughters B-Day, Gumbo and Collard Greens

Q: What are you looking forward to most about your R&R?
A: Talisha - Get My Hair Done!! Then looking forward to seeing family

Q: Is there anything special you and your family will do upon returning from your deployment?
A: Shawn and Talisha - We looking at "Las Vegas Baby", and maybe a Disney cruise too but we don't know yet.