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It's hard being deployed. It's hard being deployed when you're a parent. Therefore, it's safe to say it's even harder being deployed as a grandparent, but Antoinette "Toni" Rosinski is doing it.
Rosinski decided to deploy because she felt the opportunity came at a good time in her life. She had no real expectation of receiving a job offer when she applied for the deployment because she felt many employees would be applying for the same position. "Once the offer was made, I had to think long and hard as to how I could step away from my life for a year to do something completely out of the norm."
That life she is referring to is her children and grandchildren.
Her children had mixed feelings about the news. "Initially, there was 'wow, what an awesome opportunity' balanced with 'why would you even think about doing this?'" In the end, they supported her decision. "My family and friends offered to help support this 'adventure', so I took the plunge and here I am!"
Rosinski deployed to Afghanistan in October 2018 for a one-year tour.
She maintains regular communication with her family through letters, emails, and phone calls. She is very fond of her communication with her grandson. "I write letters to my older grandson, who is 6, and he tells me on the phone about what's going on in his life."
Right now the biggest news in his life is the couple of teeth he recently lost. "(He) was so excited to have cash under his pillow," she said, "I told him it was going to be his treat when I get back and we would have some delicious pizza – he was all for that!"
Her family has been supportive throughout her entire deployment, but they are ready for her to come home and so is she. "Every so often I am reminded of Dorothy from "The Wizard of Oz;" 'there's no place like home.' I do believe she was spot on!
"I will have lots of stories to tell when I return home, and hopefully, some will leave meaningful impressions with my family as well as my friends and co-workers."
Speaking of her co-workers, Rosinski received advice from co-workers at DFAS Rome who had previously deployed. "Some information was helpful and it was good to have the support of co-workers while I worked my way through the steps of getting ready to deploy."
She took the information they gave her and did some research on her own. However, the training helped her the most. "The reality of actually attending training and then moving out overseas was far more intense than I expected," she said, "It's one of those things that until you actually do it, you really don't understand what is involved."
Deployment life
Rosinski works in the Resolute Support Headquarters Financial Controller office as a staff assistant disbursing officer. She works seven days a week from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. with a half-hour lunch break and a half-hour dinner break. Fridays and Sundays are referred to as "low battle rhythm" days and she is allowed to report in later. "It can be quite challenging consistently working seven days a week," she said, "You get to know your co-workers pretty well."
Her schedule has allowed her to meet people from different walks of life and experience new cultures. "This base is also the home for military and civilians from all NATO countries, so there is exposure to languages and culture from all of those countries," she stated, "I feel like a student of the world and have enjoyed learning from everyone I meet."
Being a student has led her to several realizations as well, and she shares a small story.
The base employs local nationals and Rosinski's office employs three of them as "buyers." They purchase products to keep the base running efficiently according to her.
"I have had the good fortune to become acquainted with and friendly with these three gentlemen. One could not ask to work with finer people. They have the same "nose to the grindstone" work ethic that symbolizes the American work ethic."
She passionately states these men are hard workers, generous, kind and speak of their families in the same way most Americans do - openly and lovingly. "They want the same thing for their families and children most people want; a safe, happy, healthy environment where one does not have to constantly worry about suicide bombers and truck bombs decimating their lives.
"Afghanistan is a country in turmoil, but that does not translate into all of its citizens acting with criminal intent," she stated. "I have learned the majority of the Afghan population are peaceful people with the desire to watch their children grow up safely and become happy, healthy adults."
Her accolades don't stop there, "As a fellow human, I enthusiastically welcome Afghans into America so they can live in peace while contributing to the amazing fabric of our country."
Her daily communications with foreigners and military has also taught Rosinski patience. "I was pretty sure I had an abundance of patience," she said, "I have learned that it was just a drop in the bucket."
The patience she refers to is working every day and side by side with the same people day in and day out. Patience for sharing a room with a complete stranger and not having her own bathroom and shower; patience living on a base where foreign languages are spoken every day and having to learn cultural differences.
Another huge lesson Rosinski had to learn was acronyms. She thought there couldn't be any place that uses acronyms more than DFAS. "Wow! Was I wrong about that?" she jokingly stated. "The military has its own language of acronyms and it far exceeds what I learned at DFAS. I think they take the cake!"
Her experience with the military though hammers home the reason why DFAS deployment operations are so vital. The direct contact with those servicemen and women has provided her a clearer understanding of how important the DFAS mission is to the Department of Defense.
"These servicemen and women have chosen to support and defend our country in a way that has no comparison - with their lives. The DFAS focus on customer service cannot be overstated," she said.
She went on to say their focus is to train and prepare for missions. "Ideally, they shouldn't have to give a second thought to whether or not their paycheck is accurate."
However, issues do come up and it then becomes incumbent upon the DFAS offices to provide clear, concise, timely and accurate responses, according to her. She pointed out, "Service members, to include their families, depend on receiving accurate and timely information from our offices, from payroll to benefits to troubleshooting assistance."
Rosinski never served in the military but felt it was her responsibility as an American citizen and DoD civilian to support the efforts going on in Afghanistan. "I feel blessed to have been able to carve this time out of my life and assist the DoD with their mission in Afghanistan."
Rosinski's deployment is nearly finished, but she says she will cherish every moment spent in country. "I have met some really great people and I have memories I will cherish forever. I feel a year is enough time to be away from my life and my departure allows the next person the opportunity to have similar experiences.”
| Date Taken: | 09.16.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 12.31.2019 11:31 |
| Story ID: | 357794 |
| Location: | INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, US |
| Web Views: | 37 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Feeling like Dorothy in Afghanistan, by Lewis Hilburn, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
