Courtesy Photo | Spc. Susan Fautner, native of Gulfport, Miss., helps load a supply truck with...... read more read more
By Sgt. Kajanuary Morgan
926th Engineer Brigade
CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq – Soldiers are expected to be adaptable to any environment and one Mississippi Soldier exemplifies that as she has learned to work outside her military occupational specialty in Iraq.
Spc. Susan Fautner is one of the Soldiers that has adapted to a job and life that is out of the scope of her experience. She joined the Mississippi National Guard in April 2004 as a supply specialist.
"Her ability to multitask, add humor and dependability has relieved me of a lot of extra duty hours," said Staff Sgt. Rico McNair, supply sergeant, 890th Engineer Battalion Forward Support Company. "She has been a great asset for my section."
Fautner was originally part of A Company 890th Eng. Bn. FSC's supply section but because of personnel shortages she is temporarily assigned to the Barrier Yard, normally an all male assignment, to help supervise the Iraqi nationals while they inventory and inspect the barriers prior to delivery. At first Fautner admitted that she was worried about being the only female in the yard, but her faith in God and co-workers give her confidence that her new assignment would work out well.
She learned to become flexible early in the deployment.
Initially, Fautner, a single parent, was full of concerns – 'Who will preserve her children's routines?' 'Who will keep up my apartment?' – were just some of the questions that she had to overcome before she left home for Iraq.
"Child rearing is not an easy task while being deployed, especially with two teenage daughters but support I received from family and friends made it bearable," said Fautner. "Although the internet capabilities have made this deployment more enduring because I can see my children instead of just hearing their voices over the phone."
Fautner watched a milestone in her eldest daughter life by watching her graduate from high school via video conference and helping her enroll into her first semester at the local junior college over the phone.
"Moments that I've spent my entire life waiting to see happen and having to miss them really instilled a sense of pride in the sacrifices that I've made for my country," said Fautner.
Time she has spent mentoring younger Soldiers has helped ease the pain of being away from her teenage daughters. The conversations she has with them are like the same ones she has with her daughters.
"Not only do you have to be a Soldier, but when you are a single parent, the responsibilities double. We do what we have to do. I'm not the only single mother out here, so my hat is off to all single mothers that are deployed," declares Fautner.
When at home, Faunter is employed at Biloxi Regional Medical Center as a food-service worker and has been for three years now. She is anxiously seeking bigger endeavors that await her return back home, like enrolling into Perkinston Community College and purchasing her first home.
"Hopefully my oldest daughter and I will not have any of the same classes," laughs Fautner.
| Date Taken: | 01.09.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 01.09.2009 12:06 |
| Story ID: | 28663 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 353 |
| Downloads: | 303 |
This work, Mississippi Soldier able to juggle versatility at work, home, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
