Photo By Sgt. Amanda Gauthier | Sgt. Emily Suhr and Sgt. Mathew Suhr, husband and wife from Headquarters 81st BCT,...... read more read more
By Army Sgt. Amanda Gauthier
Headquarters 81st Brigade Combat Team, Washington Army National Guard
Multi National Force-West
CAMP AR RAMADI, Iraq – Husband and wife, Sgts. Mathew and Emily Suhr, from Headquarters, 81st Brigade Combat Team, took the oath to extend their enlistment in the Washington Army National Guard for three years, Feb. 13, while deployed to Camp Ramadi, Iraq.
In a quaint ceremony held on a patch of gravel outside their commander's office, the two recited the oath of enlistment together, vowing to obey the orders of their commanders in chief for three more years. As National Guardsmen, they call both the president of the United States and the governor of their state commander in chief.
"It is a unique opportunity to reenlist a married couple at the same time," said their company commander, 1st Lt. Buddy Francisco.
Both soldiers, who are former Marines, volunteered to deploy to Iraq when they heard the 81st BCT was being mobilized. Emily enlisted in the Guard in April 2007 and had been working for another Washington National Guard unit full time, but Mat was out of the military completely.
He completed his contract with the Marines and was honorably discharged Dec. 24, 2006 after seven years of service. He joined the Guard in July just to mobilize with the 81st Brigade. After a two-week school, he caught up with the brigade and his wife during the mobilization process at Fort McCoy, Wis.
The Suhrs have been married for just over a year, but have known each other almost five years. They met while serving with the Marines at the U.S. Embassy in Bogota, Colombia.
Currently Emily is working in the public affairs office for the 81st Brigade and Mat is part of the personal security detail team. Though they get to share living quarters, their jobs call for some of time apart. Though they miss each other and worry during their separations, their military training gets them through it.
"I worry about my wife very much. But since we were both Marines, we both have that 'go-hard, get-em' attitude," said Mat.
This is not their first military ceremony together. Emily pinned Mat with his sergeant stripes while they were still in Colombia, and she was there when he enlisted in the National Guard in July. Mat is hoping to take part in promoting Emily to staff sergeant in coming weeks.
Headquarters, 81st BCT will be headed home to Washington this summer without the Suhrs -- they have not only extended their enlistment in the National Guard, they have also volunteered to stay in Iraq to serve with the unit taking HQ 81st BCT's place at Camp Ramadi.
"I think it shows a lot of dedication to the service of their country and dedication to each other," said Staff Sgt. Jason Muzzy, Mat's supervisor, about their reenlistment and voluntary extension in Iraq. "It isn't an easy thing being married and in the military, let alone being married to a spouse who is also in the military."
When the couple does return to the U.S., they plan to move to California and continue with their college education.
| Date Taken: | 02.15.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 02.15.2009 02:06 |
| Story ID: | 30041 |
| Location: | RAMADI, IQ |
| Web Views: | 672 |
| Downloads: | 577 |
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