Doors open to families, friends, employers

Photo By Liesl Marelli | (Right) Theresa Bice, wife of Sgt. Gregory Bice, asks a question at the Headquarters and Headquarters Battery town hall meeting in Colorado Springs, Colo., Feb. 26. HHB and Forward Support Company Soldiers of 3rd Battalion, 157th Field Artillery, Colorado Army National Guard, brought their families, friends and employers to the event to learn about their Soldier's upcoming deployment. After briefings from Rear Detachment Commander Maj. Charles Zakhem, the floor was open for questions. Families inquired about visiting their Soldiers at Fort Hood, what they can send him or her overseas and where they can go for a military id card. "Families asked a lot of relevant questions," said Battery Commander Capt. Ashkan Angha, who said more than 200 families, friends and employers attended the event.  

COLORADO SPRINGS, UNITED STATES

02.26.2009

Story by Staff Sgt. Liesl Marelli 

Colorado National Guard

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – In order to maintain support from families, friends and employers, the Colorado Army National Guard opened its doors to discuss the upcoming deployment for more than 100 Coloradoans.

Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 3rd Battalion, 157th Field Artillery, Colorado Army National Guard, held a town hall meeting, also known as a Family Readiness Group event, where families, friends and employers got a chance to hear about the upcoming deployment and ask any questions to the leadership at the unit's Colorado Springs Armory, Feb. 26.

"More than 200 families turned out for the event," said Battery Commander Ashkan Angha.

Kicking off the event, Angha re-enlisted five Soldiers for six-year contracts, Sgt. 1st Class Gene Bendico; Spc. Terence Mahathey; Spc. Neil Pappas; Spc. Kevin Jenkins and Private Johnny Agostini.

"[Families] get to see what it means to take an oath to defend and protect the constitution of the United States," Angha said. "They see it in the news, they see it other places, but seeing it right in front of them – it's their Soldier," said Angha hoping the impact was greater for both the Soldiers and families to experience the re-enlistment ceremony together.

The purpose of the event was to ensure families, employers and Soldiers were on the same page about the upcoming deployment and knew where to turn with questions.

Booths ranging from the American Red Cross to TriWest and Military OneSource to Pikes Peak Workforce Center were available to families during the two-hour event.

Rear Detachment Commander Maj. Charles Zakhem reassured the families with some of his first-hand experience from his deployment to Iraq. He informed families about methods to get in touch with their Soldiers such as via postal mail or e-mail, and what they can and cannot send their Soldiers while overseas.

Three employers were recognized during the event with an Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve award.

The unit's next Family Readiness Group event is scheduled for mid-March. This event, known as the 60-day Yellow Ribbon Program event, is mandatory for all deploying 157th FA Soldiers. Families and friends are encouraged to attend.

• Date Taken: 02.26.2009
• Date Posted: 03.03.2009 13:27
• Story ID: 30690
• Location: COLORADO SPRINGS, US