AGAIN|’She’s got a much harder job than I do,’ soldier says of wife

FLOWERS — As the 168th Engineer Brigade of the Mississippi National Guard prepares 139 soldiers from around the state for another deployment to Afghanistan in early December, it is taking steps to prepare the families of its soldiers to be ready for the departure, too.

“Nothing about it’s easy. It’s difficult, it’s stressful, it’s lonely; and it affects the whole family,” said Mary Ann Iverson, who is preparing once again to send off her husband and her 21-year-old son. 

“She’s got a much harder job than I do,” added her husband of 30 years, Command Sgt. Maj. Gary Iverson, who is readying for his third deployment — this time with the couple’s son, Sgt. Dustin Iverson, who has already served one tour of duty abroad.

On Saturday and Sunday, the 168th hosted a “Beyond the Yellow Ribbon” pre-deployment readiness weekend at its headquarters east of Vicksburg to help military family members of the 11 being sent in harm’s way. Two hundred, forty-one of their family members converged to take part in workshops and seminars designed to help with everything from handling finances to learning about transitional behaviors and dealing with stress.

“What you see a lot of among soldiers who return from serving abroad is collateral damage; DUIs, divorce, financial debt and domestic problems,” said Capt. Deanna Butler, who coordinated the yellow ribbon weekend and is also readying for her first deployment. “What this program does is bring together all of the pieces in a round-robin education forum to prepare soldiers and their families before they deploy, during their absence and after they come home.”

The program is required under the National Defense Authorization Act of 2008. Along with the seminars and workshops, there were activities for children including a rock-climbing wall and inflatables.

“This is a great experience,” said Mary Ann Iverson, whose family traveled from their Hattiesburg home to take part. “No matter how many times you go through a deployment, there’s always something else you can learn about dealing with it. The speakers and experts here have presented a lot of ideas and issues that I have never thought of before.” 

Mary Ann Iverson said she has also found a helping hand in another preparedness and support organization sponsored by the Army called Strong Bonds, and recommended all soldiers facing deployment and their families to look into the organization.

“The military is changing, and they’re more supportive of the soldiers and their families than ever before. I would tell anyone who has a family member in the military to come to these meetings, listen to the experts and heed their advice,” she said.

On Sunday, North Ward Aldermen Michael Mayfield and County Administrator John Smith were on hand at the readiness center to sign a community covenant. The covenant, Butler said, is a symbolic way for the Vicksburg community to pledge its continued support for both the soldiers serving abroad and their families at home.  

Some of those with the 168th will be on their fourth tour in Iraq or Afghanistan, and among them there are four fathers and sons deploying together and one husband and wife. Each situation is unique, and none is easy, but Iverson said with the proper support all the challenges can be overcome and deployment doesn’t have to strain relationships.

“It’s amazing how strong humans can be when they choose to be,” she said. “But it’s all about choices, and you have to choose to be strong in this situation.”

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Contact Steve Sanoski at ssanoski@vicksburgpost.com.