Photo By Master Sgt. Ashlee J.L. Sherrill | One-year-old Skylar, daughter of U.S. Army Staff Sgt. David Bloyer of Caroll, Iowa,...... read more read more
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PARWAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Over a quarter of the earth’s surface stands between U.S. Army Staff Sgt. David Bloyer and his wife and daughter. That is more than 7,000 miles and completely different hemispheres. Bagram Air Field is 10.5 hours ahead of his home in Carroll, Iowa.
But Bloyer is there nearly every morning to wake his 1-year-old daughter, Skylar.
Although Afghanistan does not have as many amenities as the United States, Iowa National Guard soldiers like Bloyer find ways to bridge the distance between Afghanistan and home. Most military installations have come to offer a variety of choices to reach loved ones back home, even for fathers who want to “be there” when their daughter wakes up.
A chance to see: video calling
Bloyer uses an Internet-based video calling program to call home a little before 7 a.m. Iowa time. This gives him and his wife, Sasha, time to talk in private. Then, Sasha carries the computer into their daughter’s bedroom.
“We’ll go wake Skylar up together, which is pretty cool because I like being able to see her right when she wakes up,” said Bloyer, the assistant information operations officer and targeting and electronic warfare noncommissioned officer with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, Task Force Red Bulls. “It’s one of my favorite things. It’s pretty awesome; it’s amazing how much she has grown.”
To be there every morning for his daughter, Bloyer, who has been in Afghanistan since November, pays for Internet access through an Afghan contractor. Though Morale, Welfare and Recreation centers offer free Internet, purchasing access offers more privacy.
“It makes it more bearable being able to see your loved ones every day,” said Bloyer. “But in another way, it kind of makes you more homesick. (My wife is) like right there, and some days I’m just like, ‘Ah, I wish I could just go home.’ But, all in all, I would say that it’s a blessing, really, to be able to see them every day.”
Chatting with friends: Internet, social networking
U.S. Army Sgt. Lance Morrow knows that feeling of homesickness. Morrow, a medic with the medical platoon, 1st Bn., 168th Inf. Regt, TF Lethal, at Forward Operating Base Gardez, has been in Afghanistan since November and keeps in touch with his friends via the Internet, using a social networking site.
“(It’s) great for dropping somebody a message or following somebody on their wall. It’s easier than sending out constant e-mails to people,” said Morrow, of Council Bluffs, Iowa.
While his FOB has a facility for free Internet, Morrow also chooses to purchase it to have personal Internet access in his room.
Phone home: MWR
But, many soldiers are willing to settle for what the military can provide.
MWR facilities provide free phone calls and Internet. According to Lacey Castleberry, an MWR specialist, on Bagram Air Field in January, 32,550 people used the Internet and 11,993 used the free phone service. These facilities exist at other locations as well.
U.S. Army Spc. Curtis Blake Jr., a radio telephone operator with Company A, 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry Brigade, Task Force Red Bulls, talks to his girlfriend over a phone provided by the local MWR facility at Camp Najil.
“She stays strong, at least when we talk on the phone and stuff,” said Blake of Clinton, Iowa.
He said talking to her helps reduce the stress.
Like many other soldiers, staying in touch back home is an emotional release, a chance to communicate with people outside of the Army, and keeps him focused for his work in Afghanistan.
“It’s probably one of the few things that keep me sane,” Blake joked.
| Date Taken: | 02.18.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 02.17.2011 15:28 |
| Story ID: | 65611 |
| Location: | PARWAN PROVINCE, AF |
| Web Views: | 118 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Iowa Soldiers connect with loved ones back home, by SGT Adam L. Mathis, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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