Program eases the heartache of deployment

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jennifer Foster
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, MASS. --  When a servicemember deploys, the family does whatever is necessary so the time apart is a little easier. For one Hanscom family, that means treasuring each moment and counting down the months until daddy is home.

When Riley Wilson was born in November 2012, she had no idea that her father, Capt. Jonathan Wilson, would be on his way to Afghanistan just three weeks later.

Jade Wilson, Riley's mom, wanted a way to count down the time until her husband would be home. She knew how hard it would be for her husband to miss the first eight months of his daughter's life and wanted to ease the pain somehow.

When Wilson met with Master Sgt. Raymond Merring at the Airman and Family Readiness Center to look for ideas, he told her about the Readiness Emergency Sleeping Tools program that was established to support families with a servicemember who is either deployed or on an extended TDY. The program allows a photo of the deployed member to be transferred to any type or color fabric and is usually put on pillowcases, t-shirts, bags or teddy bears. Transfers can also be put on baby onesies.

"I thought it would be perfect to take her monthly pictures in these onesies to count down the time until my husband gets back home," said Wilson.

Wilson takes a picture of Riley wearing a onesie with her dad's photo on it once a month and sends it to her husband so he can see how she has grown. She has a onesie ready for each of the months her husband will be deployed.

"I know my husband feels special every month when I send him pictures," said Wilson. "He hates not being able to see Riley develop and grow, so anytime I can include him in a part of our lives here, I do."

Although military families come to expect deployments and lengthy separations from loved ones, it does not make the time apart any easier.

"I think any program, activity or aid that eases the burden on deployed members and their families is critical to a successful deployment process," said Merring. "That includes pre- and post-deployment, not just during the separation. Programs that help the family and servicemember cope with the personal situation aid the deployed member in focusing on the professional situation and taking care of the mission."

Members that are eligible are informed about the program at their pre-deployment briefing or sustainment meeting after the service member is deployed.

"I knew, more than anything, my husband would cherish these pictures and feel closer to us--like he's a part of what's going on in our lives when he's so far away," Wilson said. "These onesies are also something that we will keep forever as precious keepsakes."