May 18, 2013
The 164th Theater Airfield Operations group loaded the bus Saturday morning for a routine deployment. The hardest part…. Leaving behind the family.
"Well the hardest part of deployments for a lot of soldiers is being away from their families especially being so distant since the holidays are coming up."
And while it's not easy, most understand that it's just part of the job description.
"We already knew when he signed up that this was going to happen, you're just preparing yourself for when it's going to happen. And this being our first post, it happened sooner than we hoped."
“It's the job. You walk into it knowing what it's going to be so if you're surprised you're kinda in the wrong field."
The Pressley family has prepped for "the goodbye" more than once, but the last time he was set to deploy he was treated to a delay.
"Originally I was set to deploy with the first group but my colonial let me stay behind so I could be with my wife when my son was actually born."
"It's easier when you get the news because it's like, okay we've done this before. You know what's going to happen. But at the same time, you know what's gonna happen so you know it's gonna get frustrated and you know you're gonna get lonely."
But as for the Castillo family, they're relying on technology to get them through the lonely months.
"Hopefully technology doesn't fail us and we get to skype or email or facebook, anything!"
Anything to pass the time until loved ones get back home safely.
