Photo By Sgt. Maj. Rich Greene | Newly promoted Staff Sgt. Crystal Jones of the 1st Sustainment Command (Theater), or...... read more read more
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By Master Sgt. Michele R. Hammonds
1st Theater Sustainment Command Public Affairs
CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait – Staff Sgts. Crystal Jones and Kimberly Ferguson recently shared a memorable time together when they received promotions to staff sergeant in a brief ceremony on Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, July 1.
Even though they were thousands of miles away from home, family members of Ferguson and Jones had front-row seats for the ceremony. That is because the event took place via video teleconference from Kuwait to Fort Bragg, N. C.
When the ceremony began, Fergusons' and Jones' families looked on as they saw their moms promoted to staff sergeant. Ferguson and Jones are deployed with the 1st Sustainment Command (Theater), or 1st TSC, as a part of Third Army (Forward) in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
"We got five minutes to say, 'Hi.' We could see them and they could see us," Jones said. Her oldest son, 9-year -old Marcus II, said, "Hi mom." Her other two boys, Nathan, 7, and Zachary, 4, soon followed suit, "Hi mom."
Staff Sgt. Marcus Jones, Crystal's husband of 10 years, sat with their boys and said, "Hello. Congratulations. I am very proud of you," via video teleconference. After seeing her three boys with her husband, Jones said reality set in.
"Gosh, are they really that big? My youngest just looked a lot bigger, and it made me miss them all. It dawned on me, I am not going to have to go home and cook dinner tonight."
Routine activities such as cooking meals for her family or taking her sons to various sports activities is something Crystal admits she misses.
Crystal, 32, is a Woodbridge, Va., native, and an 11-year military veteran. She has grown accustomed to being absent from her family because of her military obligations and responsibilities. She said watching her husband interact with her boys at the ceremony made her feel proud. "It makes me very proud of my husband, Marcus, who is active duty, works full time and takes care of our three children."
As members of the regular Army and a dual military couple, Crystal and Marcus know all too well about being away from each other and their family. Marcus spent a year in Tikrit, Iraq, from 2005-2006. Crystal spent almost a year in Baghdad, Iraq, from February-October 2006. Her recent deployment to Kuwait makes this her third overseas tour to the Middle East.
"This is the Army life. That is how dual military works – you come and cherish the moment you have," she said. "You have to have a good support channel. When Marcus told me he would be deployed, my aunt said, 'Okay let me pack my stuff, and I will come and take care of the kids.'"
Unlike her previous deployments, Crystal said her son, Marcus asked her a lot of questions and finally told her, "This time mommy has to leave again ... so we can have freedom and that makes me proud of you," she said as her eyes filled with tears.
Moments later, Crystal jokingly said, while her sons will bond with their dad while she is gone, they are 'mama's boys'.
"As soon as I come back they will say, 'I'll wait for my mom to do it.'"
After she found out she would deploy, Crystal said to her husband, "Here are the bills, the kids, the house, the dog. I can feel confident, I won't get a Red Cross message that the house burned down or the dog does not have any hair ... in the end, it all works out."
Ferguson, 39, who hails from Corning, Ark., agrees that receiving her promotion makes it all worthwhile.
"It has been a long time coming," said Ferguson, referring to her promotion to staff sergeant - she had an 11-year-break in service when she left the Army in 1999.
Ferguson decided to remain in the Individual Readiness Reserve despite completing all of her military service obligation.
"They extended me for four years, and finally I decided to enlist back into the Army in (2002)," she said. "I like working with Soldiers. It is like I am making a difference. I continue because I am making a difference in the fight."
Nonetheless, Ferguson, who is a divorced mother with three children – two sons: Johnathan, 15; and Andy, 22; and daughter, Robin, 19 – says her family is important to her.
"I thought it was good that my family watched me get promoted," she said.
In addition to her children being able to view her promotion, her adopted father, David Stewart, traveled from Balad, Iraq, to Kuwait to see his daughter get pinned with her new rank.
"It was a smooth trip, and was worth it. I'm glad I could be here," Stewart said.
Ferguson added, "It was great seeing him. He would not have missed it for anything. The last time I saw him was in December 2005."
Ferguson said she misses seeing her children and her dad on a regular basis. She has managed to juggle motherhood and her Army career at the same time by obtaining four military occupational specialties to include, administration specialist, postal operations, embassy attaché and unit supply.
After leaving the active Army in 1991, Ferguson continued her career with the federal government, but instead of donning the battle dress uniform, she traded it along with her combat boots for business attire when she became a Department of the Army civilian. She taught deployment and anti-terrorism for 10 years at Fort Stewart, Ga. However, she missed the Army and the day-to-day interaction with Soldiers.
"The job I have now, I like this better," said Ferguson.
Looking toward the future, Ferguson and Crystal said they plan to make the Army a career and welcome future promotions as they progress up the enlisted ranks.
| Date Taken: | 07.13.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 07.13.2007 12:20 |
| Story ID: | 11266 |
| Location: | CAMP ARIFJAN, KW |
| Web Views: | 313 |
| Downloads: | 217 |
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