FORT HOOD, Texas – Pfc. Sergei Gifford and his wife, Amanda, know what to expect when it comes to being deployed as Department of Defense contractors working overseas.
The couple, who met in 2009 in Baghdad, Iraq, while working as DOD contractors, needed to learn what it was like to experience deployment as an active duty Army family.
The Giffords attended a deployment fair July 29 at the Phantom Warrior Center, here, for Sergei’s unit, 4th Battalion, 5th Air Defense Artillery Battalion, 69th ADA Brigade.
Sergei said he wanted to bring his wife and 7-month-old son, Daniel, to the deployment fair so they can get the most information possible.
“As long as they get the knowledge, I feel safe and secure to leave,” he said.
Representatives from programs including Army Community Service, Military One Source, Fort Hood Morale, Welfare, and Recreation and the brigade’s Family Readiness Group set up tables and passed out informational pamphlets and helpful advice to the battalion’s Soldiers and families.
Amanda admitted she initially felt overwhelmed by the thought of a deployment fair, but was glad that she went.
“It prepared me,” she added. “Now I won’t be freaking out if I have to get something from him and I can’t get a hold of him; I know who to contact now.”
Soldiers of the battalion are slated to deploy over the next few months to assist in overseas operations in Southwest Asia.