Fort Bliss Monitor

Multinational Corps-Iraq
108th, XVIIIth Airborne Corps Soldiers deploy for OIF-II

Spc. Jason Stadel
108th ADA Bde. Public Affairs

Eighteen Soldiers from the 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade will be attached to the XVIII Airborne Corps’ “Dragon Brigade” in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II. The 108th ADA Brigade is one of the XVIII Airborne Corps 13 separate brigades.

While in Iraq, the unit will be called the Multinational Corps-Iraq. The officer in charge of the troops deploying, Maj. Larry Ritter, said the majority of the Soldiers work would be with the corps staff or for support elements of the corps.

The Soldiers that are part of the deployment come from every unit in 108th: the 1st Battalion, 7th Air Defense Artillery, 2nd Bn., 43rd ADA, 2nd Bn., 44th ADA (Fort Campbell, Kentucky), Headquarters and Headquarters Battery 108th ADA Bde. 0and the 208th Signal Company.

The troops are preparing to deploy in early February, which makes the focus now on pre-deployment operations. Soldiers and their families have received briefings on legal matters, Red Cross, finance, and the family readiness group.

Nancy Thomas-Mainor is a mobilization and deployment coordinator for the Fort Bliss Army Community Service Center. In the last year she has given more than 50 briefings to deploying Soldiers and families. “We help to prepare the Soldiers and families for the upcoming separation. We try to cover the practical concerns as well as the readiness parts of the deployments,” Thomas-Mainor said.

108th Air Defense Artillery is doing what they can to help with the practical concerns of the troops deploying. “You are our responsibility,” Col. David Mann said, 108th ADA Brigade Commander, “[Although] your spouse is deploying to Iraq, we’re still going to take care of you and your family.”

The deployment situation for the Soldiers and their families differs from family to family. For some this will be a second trip to Southwest Asia, while for other it will be their first time going into a combat zone. Pfc. Cliff Barden, HHB, 108th ADA Brigade, is a newlywed, but has yet been able to live with his wife. Barden’s wife is in the Army and stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C. He has been trying to get stationed with his wife for almost a year, when things started to look as if they would go in his favor, the deployment order came. “The time I’m going to get deployed, was the time we were suppose to finally be together,” Barden said.

Like most other families, Barden and his wife have been preparing for the deployment. And he added that he and his wife know that he has a job to do. “At least we’re both in the military and we understand that these things happen.”

For Diana Reyna, this will be the second deployment for her family in two years. She is married to Capt. Mario Reyna, the intelligence officer for 108th. Although she’s been through a deployment before, Reyna said preparing still isn’t easy. “There’s a sense of uncertainty,” she said, “It’s still an emotional roller coaster.”

During the previous deployment for Reyna, her husband was the battery commander for HHB, 108th ADA Brigade. Reyna was the FRG leader for the battery. “Last time it felt more like I was his teammate because I was the FRG leader. Now I have the same questions that any other family member would. I just have to keep my family motivated and help where I can.”

Children will also be affected by the deployment. Reyna said her daughter is more aware of how long her dad will be gone. “She stops dead in her tracks when she hears ‘deployment’,” Reyna said. She added her daughter knows more about Iraq and what’s going on in the Middle East. “I can see the fear when see knows where her dad’s going.”

Reyna added it’s important for parents to be reassuring to their children. “You have to keep reminding them, that everything is going to be ok.”

It’s obvious that most of the families don’t want their Soldier to leave, but Reyna said they know what the military life entails. “We understand the mission comes first.”

For family support leading up to and during the deployment, FORSCOM FRG assistant for 108th, Jen Evanko said it’s important to bring up issues and questions. “We want [families] to ask questions. That way we can spread information to FRG leaders to all the units. We need to resolve issues, so Soldiers know everything is being taken care of back home. Because if we don’t it could affect the mission.”

In the time leading up to the deployment Reyna added it’s important for the families to keep their normal routine, and try not to change too much. She also offered advice for families yet to experience a deployment. “Support what they are doing, be positive, put them on a prayer list and get others to help you.””



www.bliss.army.mil	Published for the Fort Bliss/El Paso, Texas Community	January 20, 2005

<map name="boxmap-b4"> <area shape="rect" coords="0, 589, 120, 600" href="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm/privacy-policy.html?o=1" > <area coords="0,0,10000,10000" href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=&creative=92501&camp=8117&link_code=dl1&path=subst/misc/amazon-cobrand-cc/v3/marketing-from-associates-step1.html/ref%3Db1_assoc_29" > </map>	Multinational Corps-Iraq 108th, XVIIIth Airborne Corps Soldiers deploy for OIF-II Spc. Jason Stadel 108th ADA Bde. Public Affairs Eighteen Soldiers from the 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade will be attached to the XVIII Airborne Corps’ “Dragon Brigade” in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II. The 108th ADA Brigade is one of the XVIII Airborne Corps 13 separate brigades. While in Iraq, the unit will be called the Multinational Corps-Iraq. The officer in charge of the troops deploying, Maj. Larry Ritter, said the majority of the Soldiers work would be with the corps staff or for support elements of the corps. The Soldiers that are part of the deployment come from every unit in 108th: the 1st Battalion, 7th Air Defense Artillery, 2nd Bn., 43rd ADA, 2nd Bn., 44th ADA (Fort Campbell, Kentucky), Headquarters and Headquarters Battery 108th ADA Bde. 0and the 208th Signal Company. The troops are preparing to deploy in early February, which makes the focus now on pre-deployment operations. Soldiers and their families have received briefings on legal matters, Red Cross, finance, and the family readiness group. Nancy Thomas-Mainor is a mobilization and deployment coordinator for the Fort Bliss Army Community Service Center. In the last year she has given more than 50 briefings to deploying Soldiers and families. “We help to prepare the Soldiers and families for the upcoming separation. We try to cover the practical concerns as well as the readiness parts of the deployments,” Thomas-Mainor said. 108th Air Defense Artillery is doing what they can to help with the practical concerns of the troops deploying. “You are our responsibility,” Col. David Mann said, 108th ADA Brigade Commander, “[Although] your spouse is deploying to Iraq, we’re still going to take care of you and your family.” The deployment situation for the Soldiers and their families differs from family to family. For some this will be a second trip to Southwest Asia, while for other it will be their first time going into a combat zone. Pfc. Cliff Barden, HHB, 108th ADA Brigade, is a newlywed, but has yet been able to live with his wife. Barden’s wife is in the Army and stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C. He has been trying to get stationed with his wife for almost a year, when things started to look as if they would go in his favor, the deployment order came. “The time I’m going to get deployed, was the time we were suppose to finally be together,” Barden said. Like most other families, Barden and his wife have been preparing for the deployment. And he added that he and his wife know that he has a job to do. “At least we’re both in the military and we understand that these things happen.” For Diana Reyna, this will be the second deployment for her family in two years. She is married to Capt. Mario Reyna, the intelligence officer for 108th. Although she’s been through a deployment before, Reyna said preparing still isn’t easy. “There’s a sense of uncertainty,” she said, “It’s still an emotional roller coaster.” During the previous deployment for Reyna, her husband was the battery commander for HHB, 108th ADA Brigade. Reyna was the FRG leader for the battery. “Last time it felt more like I was his teammate because I was the FRG leader. Now I have the same questions that any other family member would. I just have to keep my family motivated and help where I can.” Children will also be affected by the deployment. Reyna said her daughter is more aware of how long her dad will be gone. “She stops dead in her tracks when she hears ‘deployment’,” Reyna said. She added her daughter knows more about Iraq and what’s going on in the Middle East. “I can see the fear when see knows where her dad’s going.” Reyna added it’s important for parents to be reassuring to their children. “You have to keep reminding them, that everything is going to be ok.” It’s obvious that most of the families don’t want their Soldier to leave, but Reyna said they know what the military life entails. “We understand the mission comes first.” For family support leading up to and during the deployment, FORSCOM FRG assistant for 108th, Jen Evanko said it’s important to bring up issues and questions. “We want [families] to ask questions. That way we can spread information to FRG leaders to all the units. We need to resolve issues, so Soldiers know everything is being taken care of back home. Because if we don’t it could affect the mission.” In the time leading up to the deployment Reyna added it’s important for the families to keep their normal routine, and try not to change too much. She also offered advice for families yet to experience a deployment. “Support what they are doing, be positive, put them on a prayer list and get others to help you.””