On this Mother’s Day, U.S. Army Commission Warrant Officer Roxanne Pitts is putting her military training to good use.

The Army reservist and mother of three also is the full-time supervisory logistics management specialist, a civilian position, at Vicksburg’s 412th Theater Engineer Command headquartered on Porters Chapel Road.

She and her husband, Jason, also an Army warrant officer, have completed two back-to-back deployments to Iraq, and balance the goals and demands of military careers with those of raising a family.

“For women in general, she’s a shining example of what you can do if you put your mind to something and strive for a goal,” Jason Pitts said. “In the military we’re all equal. There are standards we have to achieve, and to progress, you have to show initiative and be dedicated to your job.”

Roxanne and Jason are the parents of 10-year-old Evelyn, a fourth-grader at South Park Elementary School, and Roxanne has two sons Austin, 16, and Christian, 20, by a previous marriage. The boys live with their father in Pennsylvania, where Austin is in high school and Christian is a student at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

The Pittses have logged long military careers. Roxanne Pitts, 39, a native of Patton, Pa., joined the Reserves in 1990. Jason, 44, grew up in Des Moines and is a 27-year veteran.

They moved to Mississippi in 2008, when Roxanne Pitts applied for and got the job with the 412th. Jason was able to get assigned to Camp Shelby, south of Hattiesburg, a short time later. He comes home on weekends, a practice he’ll continue with his reassignment to the 377th Theater Sustainment Command in New Orleans in July.

“Career progression,” she said when asked about the move to Vicksburg. “It’s a really good job. And it took me off of active duty so I would not have to move around and deploy again. It gives Evelyn a lot of stability.”

Evelyn was about 7 months old when Roxanne was first deployed to Iraq in February 2003. She was there 15 months. Jason was sent over in April 2004, just before Roxanne returned home.

Their second back-to-back deployments lasted from 2007 to 2009.

To get the family through these challenges, Jason and Roxanne had the help of her parents, Gene and Shirley Markel. Both retired, the Merkels moved with the Pittses from Pennsylvania to Vicksburg in 2008 and stayed here until about six months ago.

Roxanne Pitts’ sister, Sherry Glacken, then moved to Vicksburg to help. Glacken, 41, is a nursing assistant at Shady Lawn Nursing Home.

“It’s a whole family commitment when you join the military,” Roxanne said.

People have heard the expression, “it takes a village to raise a child,” but her kids have lived it and it’s been good for them, Roxanne Pitts said.

“My family believes in that,” she added. “My children have seen them (my parents and sister) living with me. They’ve seen three generations living in one home, knowing that family is the most important thing.”

She misses her boys, but sees them five or six times a year, sometimes going to Pennsylvania to see them, sometimes having them come here.

Christian, completing his sophomore year, wants to be a stockbroker and is majoring in accounting and finance. Austin, who was about 12 when she came down to work for the 412th, was given the choice to come to Vicksburg or stay in Pennsylvania with his father. He had gone to school there since kindergarten, had his friends and was comfortable there.

“It’s hard, but it’s best for them,” Roxanne Pitts said.

Evelyn is a Girl Scout, loves horseback riding, her friends and shopping. She draws pictures for her mother’s office wall and gave her a doorknob hanger that reads, “When God created mothers, I was given the best.”

“She’s 10 going on 30, and it’s probably my fault,” Pitts said and smiled. “It’s her and I most of the time, with her father here mostly on weekends, and we go for manis and pedis together.”

Roxanne Pitts said she’s not necessarily going to encourage the kids to pursue a military career. “If they choose that way, fine, but I want them to go to college first.”

“She leaves it up to them but she definitely pushes education,” said Jason. “Being in the military, we’ve taught our kids that everybody’s the same, we’re all equal, but education is key. The world is yours — you can do whatever you want.”

Roxanne said Army values are summed up by the acronym LDRSHIP — loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage.

“That’s absolutely what it means, and you have to be committed to that to make it a lifestyle,” she said. “It takes commitment, dedication and selflessness, but you get so much in return.”