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Each year in November, the Department of Defense celebrates Month of the Military Family, a time to honor the sacrifices and contributions of the nation’s military families.
The Brunsvold Family
For Army 1st Sgt. Ryan Brunsvold, 151st Field Artillery in Marshall, Minn., the observance is a way to thank military families for all they do to support their service member.
“I don’t think we could thank families enough as they do not get near enough credit for their role,” Ryan said. “I am forever indebted to my wife for the support and love she has shown me through my entire military career.”
Ryan and his wife, Whitney, have four children, McKenna, 12; Ava, 9; Emersyn, 4; and Lincoln, 3. As the senior enlisted advisor to the unit commander, Ryan maintains and enforces standards, oversees unit training, and ensures the health, morale, and welfare of soldiers and their families. After all, military families face many challenges, and the Brunsvolds are no exception.
“The most challenging thing to me is missing events. Drill weekend never fails to fall over some family or child event, and annual training generally takes two weeks away. I’ve had past annual training periods that have lasted an entire month,” he said. “There are also additional schools needed for promotion, or for additional skill identifiers, etc., that take me away from my family for extended periods of time.”
The time away can be tough for Ryan’s family.
“When Ryan is gone, I act as both mother and father, as well as deal with the mixed and strong emotions from the children, confused as to why Dad is gone,” Whitney said.
“Dad always seems to be gone at Guards,” Ava said. “He has to be gone a lot.”
And with Ryan’s absence comes added fear. “The hardest thing for me is the fear that Dad is never going to come back,” McKenna said.
Despite the difficulties of military family life, the Brunvolds look to the positives.
“There’s a certain level of pride in my children’s eyes when they tell people I am in the military. With the military being a big family itself, our support structure is huge. There is no shortage of people we can turn to in times of need,” Ryan said. “I would feel a little wrong if I didn’t mention the travel perks, like free baggage, discounted Disneyworld tickets, and a cheap place to stay if you are traveling near a military post.”
McKenna and Ava appreciate being able to go on vacation with their family and they enjoy special events hosted for military children, like the youth camp, which provides them an opportunity to connect with other miliary children.
“Being in the military has allowed us to give our children amazing, once-in-a-lifetime experiences,” Whitney said. “It’s also nice not having to question medical care as having Tricare has been a lifesaver.”
Military life has its ups and downs, and Whitney suggested families develop and maintain a good support system, both inside and outside of the military. They should also do their best to continue moving forward with daily life, making memories, even when their loved one is away.
“You must continue living your life,” Whitney said.
McKenna shared a creative way for military families to keep track of when their loved one will return home.
“If your family member is going to be gone for a long time, create a fun countdown for their return,” she said. “We have used chocolate kisses and hugs, made paper chains, things like that.”
Spending time with others can also help ease the pain of missing a service member.
“Sometimes, they have to be gone for a really long time, which is hard,” Ava said. “So, it’s good to have people around you.”
Ryan and Whitney encourage everyone to get to know the military families in their workplaces and communities.
“If you work with a child or spouse of a military member and you notice they are off, don’t be afraid to speak with them,” Whitney said. “You never know what they may be going through at that moment.”
Ryan added, “Military families are strong, and, generally, have no problem talking about what is happening in their life.”
The Zupancic Family
Military family life can be tough with one member serving. But how about five service members in one family? The Zupancic family know about this all too well.
Air Force Col. John Zupancic, 148th Fighter Wing Medical Group commander in Duluth, Minn., leads and coordinates medical assessments, services, and training for the wing and ensures all members are qualified for worldwide deployment and duty. He served as a dentist in the group before being promoted to commander three years ago.
John’s wife of 31 years, Claudia, is an elementary school teacher. They have three children, all of whom serve in the military. They are Tech Sgt. Catherine Schmisek, 29, 148th Supply Squadron; Staff Sgt. John Zupancic, 27, 148th Munitions Flight; and Staff Sgt. Carl Zupancic, 23, 148th Fuel Systems Flight. Their son-in-law, Staff Sgt. Matthew Schmisek, is with the 148th Aerospace Ground Equipment Flight.
The Zupancics are proud of their family’s military service that dates back to World War II. John’s father served in the European theater and was seriously wounded during the Battle of the Bulge.
“Yet, despite his scars, every morning he would raise the American flag in our yard and would take it down each night. He did this until the day he died,” John said. “That display of his respect and pride in his country was obvious to me at an early age. I did my best to instill that same love of country in my family.”
This love of country and service have led John and his children to military service. Today, the Zupancics are accustomed to life as a service member and a military family, along with the hardships it involves.
“The time commitment and the time spent away from my loved ones have been the most challenging aspects of being a military family, particularly when my children were young,” John said. “Now, I am extremely lucky to have my three children and son-in-law serving alongside me at the 148th, and once a month, we all have the ability to get together again away from our civilian commitments.”
Preparing for deployments and homecomings can also be stressful.
“The checklist and mental preparation that comes before a deployment, especially the first one,” Claudia said. “The anticipation to hear they've reached their destination safely and when they're scheduled to return are also a big part of that challenge.”
Even with, and because of, the numerous stressors, John said military service has strengthened their family bond.
“My family shares a level of values and challenges that other families may never have the opportunity to experience,” he said. “These same experiences make us a stronger and more close-knit family.”
The Zupancics are thankful the military itself is also a close-knit family.
“All military families knowingly and willingly give a part of themselves for the good of our country, and regardless of branch, there is immediate support and kinship that is established when meeting other families,” Claudia said. “Regardless of duty station or deployment mission, your family is never alone. You have so many other military ‘relatives’ who understand what service to our county entails and there is always someone out there praying and supporting you and your military member.”
John appreciates all military families.
“You have my undying gratitude, and I extend a heartfelt thank you for your sacrifices,” he said. “I know firsthand how challenging and stressful military service can be to a family, but the benefits military service instills in your family's character and values far outweigh the costs.”
John and Claudia would like the public to know that military families contribute a great deal to the places where they live and work, and they are grateful for any support they receive.
“Our dedication follows us in our civilian lives as well, strengthening the fabric of the communities we live in,” John said. “We stand by to serve you at a moment’s notice anytime and anywhere. We could not do this without your support.”
Claudia said military families do not take lightly their decision to serve.
“We understand the risks involved for our family member, but we also know the freedoms our constitution provides each citizen is worth defending,” she said. “It’s our way of saying thank you and giving back to our country which gave us those freedoms in the first place.”
| Date Taken: | 10.29.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 10.31.2024 10:26 |
| Story ID: | 484085 |
| Location: | MARSHALL, MINNESOTA, US |
| Hometown: | DULUTH, MINNESOTA, US |
| Web Views: | 404 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Highlighting families on Month of the Military Family, by Cristina Oxtra, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
