EL CENTRO, Calif. - Leading a mission in a remote corner of Southern California, U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Sandra Vargas, of the 250th Expeditionary Military Intelligence Battalion, California Army National Guard, manages a team of Soldiers at the Imperial Valley Food Bank during a COVID-19 humanitarian response mission while her five children, niece and nephew wait at home for her return.
Vargas has a strong spouse, Carlos, who’s at home with their children.
“I’m very grateful for him. At first, I wasn’t sure that I wanted to be this far away, especially with all that's happening with COVID. But he said no don’t worry and that he’s got it,” Vargas said. “He said not to worry about them and that he'll be okay. He said just do my job and that my Soldiers are counting on me.”
Vargas and Carlos, who married in 1996, have a 17-year-old high school senior, 12-year-old triplets, and their youngest child is 11 years old. In addition, they have provided a home for their 12-year-old niece and 11-year-old nephew.
"When I’m away, I just try to do the best I can and not break down. I try not to show that I’m sad or worried about my family in front of my Soldiers. I try to focus on work. I have to keep a positive mindset. My husband, my support, is very, very good,” said Vargas with tears rimming her eyes.
After pausing for a moment Vargas spoke about the challenge of being away from home during the pandemic, "Not being able to help him, you know the cooking and getting the kids to sleep, and making sure they’re actually sleeping and not playing in their rooms. You know right now he’s the Dad, the Mom, the teacher, and their friend."
Vargas talked about when she misses her family the most, "I think about them especially when I wake up, and [wonder] if they’re doing good. We call and video chat every day. Sometimes they complain, but I can’t be there to tell them to stop fighting. I feel like I can’t help, but I know that it’s temporary. I keep telling myself that it’s temporary and I’ll be home. I'll be back."
With a mixed team combining Soldiers from her battalion and another California Army National Guard unit, the 315th Vertical Construction Company, Vargas has her hands full.
"I try not to have them see me as a Mom, but I’m old enough to be their Mom. Most of them are under 21,” she said. “I warned them in the beginning, that I’m not going to babysit them. I told them that I have enough kids at home and you’re my troops."
Despite her efforts to separate the two, Vargas is seen as a good leader and a parental figure in the eyes of her Soldiers.
“With everything we’ve done, she’s been managing it well, even when things change. She makes sure everything runs as smoothly as possible,” said Pfc. Martin Zaragoza of the 315th Vertical Construction Company. “It makes it a lot easier to have her here, as a parental figure to us. She’s always making sure everyone gets the help that they need,”
Zaragoza, who’s 20 years old, also admires qualities about Vargas that make her a good leader and remind him of his own Mom, Lisa, who lives in Seattle.
"In a lot of ways, she reminds me of my own Mom. Her and my Mom share a lot of the same similarities in how they are. She keeps everyone together and makes us get along. Also, she puts everyone before herself. In a way, I do see my Mom in her,” said Zaragoza.
Soldiers working in the Imperial Valley are part of a greater effort by Cal Guard to support food banks throughout California as they face staffing shortfalls as regular volunteers shelter at home during the pandemic. Statewide, Cal Guard has helped distribute more than 23 million meals to those in need.
Vargas and her team work six days a week with two shifts per day to perform warehouse operations, food distribution, and support to an elderly kitchen distribution.
She knows her kids are in good hands which allows her to focus on the food bank and the community.
“I miss them, I miss them a lot. My kids are used to me leaving for annual training, but not like this. They know what’s going on, though, and they understand,” Vargas said. “Probably every parent says their kids are good kids, but I can say my kids are and they appreciate everything.”
Vargas looks forward to going home, but mentally she’s focused on the mission.
"When I get home, I’m going to just breath,” she said. “For now, I just keep an open and positive mind because we're here to do our jobs for the community."
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