Sunday, August 17, 2008

Hello Alpha, good bye Bravo

In recognition of his promotion, Mark moved to Alpha Company Monday as a team leader in third platoon. It was an unexpected turn of events but apparently the battalion is moving around many if not all of their rising E-5's to new companies.

Of course, when he was transferred, so were we. Bravo Company, where he has been since he joined the 82nd Airborne, had a terrific Family Readiness Group (FRG). When you mention the FRG, many folks roll their eyes and on the first deployment Mark, who had heard horror stories about FRGs, didn''t want to sign us up. Eventually, he registered us to receive e-mails and other updates.

The FRG really helped us particularly during the second deployment when a "Swamp the First Sergeant" campaign was organized. A lot of soldiers have extensive family support networks but some don't. So the FRG encouraged us to send packages directly to the First Sergeant who would hand them out to soldiers who weren't receiving any care packages. A friend of mine whose son attends Atlantic Beach Elementary two towns up got involved. We ended up with an SUV full of goodies.

We wish Mark well on his new assignment and if the Alpha Company FRG needs us for any future - God forbid - deployments, we will be there.

3 comments:

MightyMom said...

may all of you find welcoming arms and support in your new company

and are you still it that storm's path??

ABNPOPPA said...

Good Luck to SGT. Mark!!

I am sure he will do excellent with his new Company!!

Keep us posted on your weather situation, now, instead of the parent watching out for the kid, the kid, Sgt. Mark, may have to watch out for the parent. Batten down the hatches!!! There's a storm ah brewing!!!

Airborne dad said...

As of 11 a.m. today, we are. But we live in North Florida so the storm will weaken by the time it comes here.

Pops,

I'm not sure that there isn't a Ft. Bragg component in this storm :)

And thanks, Mom. Nicely said.