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Military spouses need each other's support

Feb-24-2006 » Filed Under: Homefront

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By Michelle Cuthrell

Though he only deployed with the 4-14 Cavalry Unit with the Stryker brigade in August, Kim Fonville has already been separated from her spouse for more than a year. And she still has six months to go.

Her husband joined the military in January 2005, completed basic training at Fort Benning, Ga., and then was almost immediately stationed at Fort Wainwright in May. But by the time he arrived in Fairbanks and would have normally moved up his wife and two daughters, two sergeants advised him to leave his family in the comforts and familiarity of home. After all, he would be deploying in two months, and he wouldn't want them to be all alone while he was gone.

Fonville says it was the worst decision her family could have ever made.

"We stayed here with nothing, with nobody to talk to," she told me. "I don't even know what I'm supposed to do."

Fonville is one of many spouses who chose to either return home or never move to Fairbanks upon the deployment of the Stryker brigade.

Though there are many advantages to living near family in a familiar hometown during the deployment of a spouse, as this mother of two pointed out, there are also several struggles.

Finding support, for one.


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