Dual military couple re-enlists together while deployed

Photo By 1st Sgt. Justin A. Naylor | Staff Sgt. Franklin MacDonald, a Sugarland, Texas, native and a paralegal, and Sgt. Tiffany MacDonald, an Amarillo, Texas, native and a combat medic, both with 2nd Brigade Combat Team (Advise and Assist), 1st Cavalry Division, raise their right arms as they reaffirm their Oath of Enlistment during a re-enlistment ceremony at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, Nov. 7.  

CAMP BUEHRING, KUWAIT

11.07.2011

Story by Sgt. Justin A. Naylor 

2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs

CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait — For most families, deployments mean not being able to see their soldier’s special career moments like re-enlistments, awards and promotions. But for dual military families, deployments can be an opportunity to not just see these moments, but to take part.

For one married couple, Staff Sgt. Franklin MacDonald and Sgt. Tiffany MacDonald, their deployment with the 2nd Brigade Combat Team (Advise and Assist), “Black Jack,” 1st Cavalry Division, was a chance to reenlist together during a joint ceremony at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, Nov. 7.

“Anytime you can do these things together, it’s best to do it that way,” said Franklin.

Franklin, who served as a Marine for 11 years before enlisting in the Army, is nearly at his 14th year of military service and re-enlisted for “indefinite” status, which means he will not need to re-enlist again before he retires.

“I’ve grown to really love the Army…I’m glad to stay as long as I can,” said Franklin, a Sugarland, Texas, native who serves as a paralegal.

For Tiffany, an Amarillo, Texas, native, and a combat medic, this was her first re-enlistment. Tiffany re-enlisted for an additional six years of Army service.

“Joining the Army was the biggest and best decision I’ve ever made,” she said. “I can’t see myself doing anything else. I love being a medic.”

“This is the last time he gets to [re-enlist] and this is the first time I get to do it,” said Tiffany. “The fact that we can do it together makes it special.”

Both soldiers re-enlisted for the option to stay at Fort Hood. “We’re both from Texas,” said Franklin. “We love it there.”

Franklin plans to continue his education while he is in the military and will continue to work toward his Master of Business Administration degree.

Tiffany also plans to continue working toward a degree and says she only needs four more classes before she can apply to the Army Physician Assistant Program.

This is the couple’s first deployment together.

“Being part of the Army is bigger than just you,” said Franklin. “You’re doing something that’s bigger than yourself.”

“To be deployed together and re-enlisting at the same time, it’s pretty surreal,” said Tiffany.

For Tiffany and Franklin, this deployment presented the opportunity to not only reconfirm their commitment to the Army, but to do it as a couple.

• Date Taken: 11.07.2011
• Date Posted: 11.15.2011 10:14
• Story ID: 80059
• Location: CAMP BUEHRING, KW