Courtesy Photo | Staff Sgt. Rakeena Kameka Lipkins, a Forward Operating Base Kalsu combat medic, and...... read more read more
Sgt. Luis Delgadillo
MND-C PAO
CAMP ANACONDA – For two newlywed Soldiers, re-enlisting meant they would spend some quality time together.
Staff Sgt. Rakeena Kameka Lipkins, a Forward Operating Base Kalsu medic, and Sgt. Mario Alonzo Lipkins, a track vehicle mechanic, attached to the 1st Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment at LSA Anaconda, renewed their commitment to the Army and reinforced their commitment to each other June 20.
Rakeena, a Washington D.C., native, said that if she had not jokingly requested to re-enlist with her husband at Anaconda, the two may not have had the opportunity to spend time together on their reenlistment day.
Rakeena said that she and Mario, a Benton Harbor, Mich., native, discussed re-enlisting before their deployment, but the tipping point came when they found out that they could spend four days together. Both are assigned to the 26th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division.
Everything came together June 19 when Mario signed up for six more years and Rakeena indefinitely.
"Believe it or not, I... reenlisted to go spend four days with my husband," said Rakeena.
"She sacrificed her time to come over here (to Anaconda) to spend time with me," said Mario.
Sgt. 1st Class Vashana Chambers, a 2nd BCT career counselor, said once Rakeena made the request and it was directed up the chain of command, leadership had no problem approving it.
The Lipkins help promote re-enlistment to younger Soldiers because they see there are people making their marriage work as a dual military couple, Chambers said.
The next chance the two will get to spend together is during rest and recuperation (R&R) when they will go home to see their children, Rakeena said.
Though the chances of them meeting again outside of R&R are few, speaking with her husband gives Rakeena peace of mind.
"Knowing that he's here and when I get stressed out I can call him makes it easier," she said.
Working as a team on deployment helps to keep their commitment strong, Rakeena said.
On Dec. 31, 2006, the couple exchanged wedding vows.
| Date Taken: | 07.02.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 07.02.2007 14:49 |
| Story ID: | 11078 |
| Location: | BALAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 350 |
| Downloads: | 175 |
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