Photo By Sgt. Jonathan Thomas | Sgt. Bianca Paz sits with other Soldiers in her unit at the Departure/Arrival Airfield...... read more read more
Subscribe
By Spc. Jonathan W. Thomas
16th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
Preparing for a long deployment can be a challenging time for everyone involved, but especially for non-commissioned officers who have added responsibilities. Not only are NCOs required to prepare themselves for the mission, they must also ensure their Soldiers can handle the requirements of the mission.
Sgt. Bianca Paz, a battle NCO with the 93rd Military Police Battalion, is one of those NCOs – one who sacrifices much and still has the ability to use her experiences to prepare other Soldiers. Paz, along with nearly 100 Soldiers, from the 93rd MP Bn., deployed Jan. 24 to conduct police transition training in Iraq.
Deploying is a fact of life in the Army, and Soldiers can feel the strain of this, but NCOs do a lot to help Soldiers cope. Paz said because she had deployed before she knew how to get Soldiers ready and also helped prepare them mentally.
"You have to prepare them emotionally and mentally – especially mentally – you have to prepare them for what might happen," said Paz. "Training is the key; you have to train 110 percent all the way."
Training can only prepare a Soldier so much, Paz said, and there are several factors that weigh on Soldiers as they get ready to deploy.
"The preparation part gets easer your second time, but you're mentally exhausted and the mission doesn't get any easier because you know what missing home is like," said Command Sgt. Maj. Dawn Rippelmeyer, the battalion's command sergeant major.
Preparing for a deployment also involves the families of Soldiers. Paz met up with family – the last opportunity before the deployment – at Milam Gym before heading to the Departure/Arrival Airfield Control Group facility on East Fort Bliss.
Paz said to prepare her son Devon for when she deploys she gave him pictures and talked to him about how being apart from her family comes with being a Soldier, though she added, "... it would be harder if he was older."
Soldiers have several adjustments they need to make as they get ready to deploy.
"The hardest part, in my opinion, is leaving family and transitioning to a 24/7 job," said Paz.
Paz said what she is going to miss most is her son, but said she knows she will also be missed by her family back home.
"She's the daughter I never had," said Rosa Hernandez, Paz's mother-in-law.
Paz said she has done all she can to prepare her Soldiers and her family, but it will still be a hard transition.
| Date Taken: | 01.29.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 01.30.2009 20:27 |
| Story ID: | 29485 |
| Location: |
| Web Views: | 308 |
| Downloads: | 105 |
This work, A day in the life of a deploying non-commissioned officer, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
