Courtesy Photo | Sgt. Christopher Kolkman, a soldier with Delta Company, 1st Combined Arms Battalion,...... read more read more
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CAMP VIRGINA, Kuwait - Throughout a year-long deployment there a few select days that many soldiers look forward to. These often include yearly events such as a child’s birthday, an anniversary, or holidays.
However, on a soldier’s calendar, there is a single day that receives special attention, as it triggers the start of a two-week event. If you guessed for this day to be the beginning of a soldier’s rest and recuperation (R&R), then you would be absolutely correct.
Delta Company of the 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division “Red Bulls” currently on its’ third R&R cycle, there is a continuous movement of soldiers returning from and leaving for R&R. Many of those returning have brought back with them exciting stories they had eagerly awaited to share with their fellow soldiers.
One of these individuals included Sgt. Christopher Kolkman, whose daughter Charlotte was born Aug. 16 while he was still in Kuwait. Sgt. Kolkman first held his daughter a few weeks later during his R&R which began Sept. 6. When he returned to Kuwait, Sgt. Kolkman spoke proudly of his brief, yet cherished time with Charlotte. Additionally, he told a story of wrapping a baby blanket around his neck for two-weeks, the same blanket he left for Charlotte so that she would know and remember her father’s smell.
Spotting those soldiers whose scheduled R&R is fast approaching is quite easy. With them smiling from ear to ear and having an extra skip in their step, it is hard for these individuals not to be noticed. After all, months of build-up and anticipation are finally coming to an end, and these soldiers know they are extremely close to a two-week reprieve from the daily rigor of Army life.
When the day does finally come for these soldiers to board the plane for the long flight back home, they can be heard conversing back and forth with each other about exactly what they will do first when they get home. Regardless of what they do, each is determined to make the best of their time off, and to come back recharged for the remainder of deployment.
Sgt. Ralphael Dawa, a native of Kenya, will be returning to his birthplace to visit family and friends during his upcoming R&R.
As Sgt. Dawa said, “I am looking forward to catching up with those I love that I have not seen for some time.”
Fortunately for Sgt. Dawa, his trip to Kenya will be at no cost, as the Army pays for its’ soldiers to fly to any approved world destination. Along with visiting family and friends, Sgt. Dawa is also preparing to consume a significant amount of the food he grew up eating. “I cannot wait to eat the local cuisine, it is so good,” said Sgt. Dawa with a big grin.
Soldiers that have R&R scheduled for the latter half of the deployment continues to find comfort in knowing their time will come. The passing of each day and month serve as milestones along the way as these soldiers count the days until they can once again step foot onto U.S. soil. Seeing the joy of others returning from and leaving for R&R serve as constant reminders of the happiness they will too get to experience. Additionally, having R&R scheduled for later in the deployment allows for these soldiers to learn from the advice and experience of others, and adapt their plans accordingly making the most of their R&R time.
Regardless of what leave cycle a soldier is on, everyone from Delta Company gets excited when another cycle is complete. Much like flipping over the calendar to a new month, the beginning of a new R&R cycle represents one thing; we are one-step closer to the day we are all back for good in the arms of the ones we love the most.
| Date Taken: | 11.09.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 11.09.2011 04:22 |
| Story ID: | 79766 |
| Location: | CAMP VIRGINIA, KW |
| Web Views: | 410 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, 1-194 CAB Marks deployment with rest and recuperation, by 1LT Travis Tomford, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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