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Ask military family members about the prospect of their loved one deploying, and the odds are good you’ll be met with a long face. However, Soldiers with the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command recently participated in a readiness fair aiming at easing the pressures often associated with deployment.
The Sept. 26 event, officially billed as a Family and Soldier Readiness Fair, brought together more than 25 agencies from across the KMC. The purpose of the event was to bring Soldiers and their families into contact with helpful vendors in preparation for deployment. Among the many agencies present were the USO, Kleber Health Clinic, Edelweiss Lodge Resort and the University of Maryland.
One vendor said the numerous agencies and Soldiers under one roof at Armstrong’s Club made for a tremendous success.
“It’s been a fantastic day,” said Berniece Jones, president of the Kaiserslautern Landstuhl Spouses Association, whose organization spent the afternoon passing out literature to those who filed by.
The KLSA, which presently has 80 members, meets regularly to promote friendship and belonging through social activities and community involvement. Along with the other groups and organizations present, Jones was pleased with having the chance to share KLSA’s mission with others.
“We’re just thankful for being able to give to the community and hope to be able to for a long time,” said Jones, citing the more than $100,000 the KLSA has donated this year to deserving groups. Recipients include the USO, wounded warriors, KMC schools and the Red Cross, among others.
For many, it was their first exposure to the offerings available by the many vendors. This proved vital for a deploying Soldier or the family members left behind.
“I learned about a lot of new agencies in the community, especially some of the ones affecting the single Soldiers,” said Pfc. Damon Phillips, an early warning systems operator with Bravo Battery, 5th Battalion, 7th Air Defense Artillery, 10th AAMDC.
The event was weeks in the making, and the final result was worth it as evidenced by the large amount of people who turned up.
“We thought it would be great if we could make it personal and convenient,” said Lori Sweazey, the family readiness support assistant for the 10th AAMDC, and one of the people most responsible for bringing vendors, Soldiers and families together.
Sweazey, married to a 10th AAMDC Soldier assigned to the 5th Battalion, 7th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, was thrilled with the turnout.
“It really is one-stop shopping,” Sweazey said.
