Photo By Staff Sgt. Larry Barnhill | Chief Warrant Officer 2 Kenneth Kloeppel, a mobility technician assigned to...... read more read more
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Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base, Romania – In the military, periods away from home and loved ones can be expected because of the nature of Department of Defense service. Fathers who serve, at some point, may miss birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays with their children during their military career.
Fathers like Chief Warrant Officer 2 Kenneth Kloeppel, a mobility technician and father of two from Fountain, Colorado, and Staff Sgt. Mekhi Jackson, an Army airspace command and control sergeant and father of one from Lithonia, Georgia, both assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division, are just a few of those currently missing important moments at home as they serve their nation on rotation in Romania. They both see similarities between their military service and their role as fathers at home.
"With raising little people, you want to raise them to be good people, first and foremost, and as a leader, you want to make sure people are doing their best and always rooting for their success," said Kloeppel. "It's important to care about the human aspect; be empathetic; you want to know when it's a serious moment, with being a parent, there are also moments that don't require you to be as assertive and understanding the difference," he continued.
"Being a parent in the Army has also come with its own unique experiences, which have made me not only more personable with fellow service members but made me more knowledgeable on the Army's programs and regulations available or pertaining to parents and guardians within the armed forces, making me a more resourceful leader," said Jackson. "Being a dad has positively affected my leadership in many categories, but the biggest changes have been in my creativity in teaching styles to accommodate for different learning styles when it comes to training, mentoring, and guiding others," he added.
Despite being away from their children during Father's Day this year, Kloeppel and Jackson, respectively, are always thinking about their children and how they make them proud to be their dads.
"Father's Day is kind of hard being forward, and this one is kind of a special one because I think about how I can show the kids that I'm still here and getting the job done, making each day count," said Kloeppel. "My very first Father's Day was awesome because my kids' mother and I found out we were pregnant in February of 2018. All the dads told me I was a dad even though my first child wasn't born yet; all the other dads were telling me that being a dad is awesome," he added.
While social media and an ever-growing array of phone apps make communicating with family easier than ever, even across the globe, it does not replace time spent together.
"All this technology for communicating is nice, but none of it will ever beat being able to be physically present with my son because using it to talk to him doesn't feel the same as being there with him," said Jackson. "The Father's Day that I remember most, or rather that I look back on with the most fondness, would be the first Father's Day I got to spend together with both my dad and my son and being able to have the opportunity to cherish multiple generations of a family unit, love, and success is something I will always appreciate being able to experience and live in that moment fully," he added.
Sometimes, the same interpersonal skills developed as a father can be used as a leader in the Army, and these can strengthen the ability of the leader to relate to their subordinates.
"In being a dad, I pride myself on being able to be in the house to show my children what gentle love is and that a man can have emotions, and my children having someone there to be proud of them matters a lot to me," said Kloeppel. "Being a father figure in the military, showing Soldiers empathy by letting them know that we all make mistakes, and I get it, I understand what you're going through," he surmised.
"I pride myself on exposing my son and Soldiers alike to new experiences and opportunities to grow, and I think knowing you've done well as a leader and as a father is when those you're responsible for are then able to face these new challenges head-on and solve them on their own," asserted Jackson. "Those milestones or passing of the torch moments are arguably the most rewarding moments I've experienced," he continued.
The bond a father has with his children comes with meaningful moments that can be called to memory instantly when a similar subject is brought up in a random conversation. These moments help keep Soldiers going in times of stress.
"All of the hugs, smiles, and conversations I get to have with my son when I'm home are enough to keep me going and being the best I can possibly be for him," said Jackson. "Hearing those laughs, giving and receiving those hugs, and putting him to bed makes me feel like the luckiest man in the world. It doesn't matter if I had the worst possible day or the best; they show me they're proud of me and make being a dad feel like I'm their rock star. It means a lot to me to be the best dad for them," he concluded.
Whether at home or abroad, military fathers work hard to strengthen their families and ensure those around them know they are always there for them in spirit, even when they are away.
| Date Taken: | 06.05.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 06.13.2024 08:49 |
| Story ID: | 473082 |
| Location: | RO |
| Hometown: | FOUNTAIN, COLORADO, US |
| Hometown: | LITHONIA, GEORGIA, US |
| Web Views: | 120 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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