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This column is the fifth and final in a series focusing on Army Wives and their sacrifices.  Devon Connaroe coauthors the series, drawing on conversations with five Army Wives:  Robyn Mroszczyk, Melissa Salmon, Sheena Jorgensen, Erin Wackerhagen and Rasheedah Stewart. 

Throughout a deployment, the spouse of a Soldier endures a great sacrifice.  A script on how to converse with the spouse of a deployed Soldier does not exist.  The right things to say are not lines stored on a pocket-sized notebook, which can be pulled out in the necessary moment.  Read more »

This column is the fourth in a series focusing on Army Wives and their sacrifices.  My Army Wife, Devon Connaroe, compiled the following second half of the list, "Top Things Not To Say To The Spouse of a Deployed Soldier.” 

Five Army Wives, whom my wife has befriended during our last five years in the military, contributed to the list:  Robyn Mroszczyk, Melissa Salmon, Sheena Jorgensen, Erin Wackerhagen and Rasheedah Stewart.  Many of these sayings were not exclusive to one individual, but heard by multiple women. Read more »

This column is the third in a series focusing on Army Wives and their sacrifices.  My Army Wife, Devon Connaroe, compiled the following first half of the list, "Top Things Not To Say To The Spouse of a Deployed Soldier.” 

Five Army Wives, whom my wife has befriended during our last five years in the military, contributed to the list:  Robyn Mroszczyk, Melissa Salmon, Sheena Jorgensen, Erin Wackerhagen and Rasheedah Stewart.  Many of these sayings were not exclusive to one individual, but heard by multiple women. Read more »

This column is the second in a series focusing on Army Wives and their sacrifices.  Devon Connaroe, who drew from conversations with six Army Wives, coauthors the series, which will feature a list of "Top Things Not To Say To The Spouse of a Deployed Soldier."

Occasionally, Soldiers are complimented for their service.  While recognition never fails to bring a smile, there is a group of much stronger, much more deserving individuals:  Army Wives or military spouses. Read more »

This column is the first in a series focusing on Army Wives and their sacrifices.  Devon Connaroe, who drew from conversations with six Army Wives, coauthors the series, which will feature a list of "Top Things Not To Say To The Spouse of a Deployed Soldier."

The U.S. Army is the strongest army in the world, in part, because we have the most thorough training.  Read more »

On May 12, my family and I began a 15-month period of separation—deployment. Though my wife and I had known of the date months in advance, that did little to ease emotions around my departure to Forward Operating Base (FOB) Falcon in Baghdad. Actually, the benefit to short-notice orders is that they allow only enough time for compliance. Instead, family time and denial gave way to reality at the moment of goodbye.

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I said the big goodbye with my family on the morning of 01AUG08 after two weeks of leave in Virginia. The next night in Kansas, my team boarded a plane for Iraq. My second column will recount the departure in detail from VA in detail.