No Result
View All Result
Reserve & National Guard
SUBSCRIBE FREE
No Result
View All Result
Reserve & National Guard
SUBSCRIBE FREE
Reserve & National Guard

Guard couple shares advice for navigating yearlong deployment

Mikayla Bledsaw currently is overseas with the 35th Infantry Division out of Kansas

Shelbie Goulding
by Shelbie Goulding
February 17, 2022
Deployment

Courtesy Martin Bledsaw

Martin and Mikayla Bledsaw have faced several separation periods over the course of their 10-year relationship through college and career paths, including Mikayla’s training for the Army four years ago. But it wasn’t until January that they had to prepare for an entire year apart.

“I had to drop her off at Fort Leavenworth,” Martin said via email. “At that moment the only thought running through my mind when we last hugged and kissed was, ‘Come back safe.’”

Mikayla, a sergeant in the Army National Guard, was set to deploy to the Middle East with the 35th Infantry Division out of Kansas, presenting a new challenge in their relationship. 

“To keep me from thinking about how sad I was, I had to remind myself that everyone around me was going through the same thing as well,” Mikayla said. “Since I am a NCO, I needed to be strong and be there for my fellow soldiers. I did not allow myself much time to think about being away from my husband at that point.”

Martin is among more than 130,000, or nearly 35%, of Reserve Component spouses, according to the 2020 Demographics Profile of the Military Community.

Staying strong amid deployment

A few weeks into the deployment, the couple’s schedules are still getting figured out as Mikayla gets settled overseas, but both Martin and Mikayla remind one another how to stay motivated and strong for the year ahead.

“Predictors of Spousal Support for a Member to Stay on Active Duty,” a 2019 survey note from the Office of People Analytics, found that “long deployments and multiple PCS moves are related to decreased spousal support to stay in the military,” but also that social support leads to a spouse being supportive of continued military service.

Yearlong deployment
Martin and Mikayla Bledsaw currently are navigating yearlong deployment. Mikayla is serving in the Middle East with the 35th Infantry Division out of Kansas. Courtesy Martin Bledsaw

“Based on these results, spouses who have a connection to the institution, high family functioning and better financial condition have greater odds of support for their service member to stay in the military,” the note stated. “However, when the opposite is true … and there are difficulties with military life (e.g., long deployments and many nights away from home), the odds of spousal support to stay in the military decrease.”

RELATED: Surviving Our First Military Deployment

Martin said becoming a recluse during the deployment is not an option and both should find new activities – start a new hobby, workout regimen, watch new shows, try new food. When your soldier returns home, both will have new experiences to share with one another, he said.

‘Distance can’t diminish my love for her’

Communication is critical, according to Mikayla, especially when it comes to keeping loved ones in the loop. She also said to keep in mind what can go wrong at home – not to cause either partner unnecessary stress or worry, but to prevent it. 

Both agreed that sending messages to one another, even when they’re not available to talk, is key. 

“My husband also sends me pictures and videos of himself with our cats and that always brightens my day,” Mikayla said. “Whenever I miss him, I go back and watch the videos he sends.”

Deployment
Martin and Mikayla Bledsaw with their cat. Courtesy Martin Bledsaw

It’s the little things that matter most and will make them stronger in the end. 

“We have been through a lot of tough times together,” Martin said. “I don’t know if my love for her will become stronger – it’s as strong as it’s been since the day I told her, ‘I love you.’ Distance can’t diminish my love for her.”

The Bledsaws both are confident in their relationship, Mikayla said.

“I know that my husband is strong and resilient, and I know that he believes me to be the same,” she said. “I think that our love will become stronger from this.”

The time apart also lets them step back and look at the relationship from a new perspective. 

“Sometimes when you are around each other all the time, you don’t realize all the little things that your partner does for you,” she said. “When you are away it becomes very clear and makes you appreciate your partner and life more.”

For resources to help navigate an extended deployment, visit Military OneSource.

Read comments
Tags: deploymentNational GuardOverseas deploymentYearlong deployment
Shelbie Goulding

Shelbie Goulding

Shelbie Goulding is a born-and-raised Hoosier from Northeast Indiana who has a passion for telling stories. When she’s not busy writing at her desk, she is often traveling the states, hiking national parks and experiencing new things. Shelbie holds a Bachelor of Science in journalism from Kent State University. She resides near Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter, South Carolina, where she reports daily on local government, crime and court and feature stories.

Related Posts

Operation Deep Freeze serves as bucket-list item for Wyoming flight nurse

by Allison Churchill
22 hours ago
0
Operation Deep Freeze

Last fall Capt. Daniel Porter, Wyoming Air National Guardsman, finally got the call that he would be part of Operation...

Read more

Southwest border mission spurs ‘mixed feelings’ among guardsmen

by Will Martin
3 days ago
0
Border mission

The Southwest border mission is a prolonged federal effort and, more recently, a highly politicized mission at the state level.

Read more

‘Retrograde’ documentary captures humanity behind withdrawal from Afghanistan

by Will Martin
5 days ago
0
Retrograde

National Geographic's "Retrograde" captures the humanity behind America’s abrupt Afghanistan exit and its impact on those who remained.

Read more

OPINION: Individual Ready Reserve offers chance to ‘take a knee’

by Emily Solberg
3 weeks ago
0
Individual Ready Reserve

The Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) is a little-known option that could help with retention, according to one reservist and military...

Read more

Citizen airman becomes 2nd nurse in history to receive Distinguished Flying Cross

by Taneika Duhaney
4 weeks ago
0
Distinguished Flying Cross

A once-undecided high-school-graduate turned citizen airman is the second nurse in history to receive the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Read more

Deadly Buffalo blizzard prompts mobilization of 849 guardsmen

by AmeriForce Exclusive
4 weeks ago
0
Blizzard

More than 800 New York National Guardsmen took part in a week-long mission following a blizzard that dumped 50 inches...

Read more

Ads

Let's get social

The RNG Drill

News delivered directly to your inbox

Let's connect!

ABOUT US

  • OUR STORY
  • OUR TEAM
  • OUR WRITERS

MAGAZINE

  • GET PRINT
  • GET DIGITAL
  • GET THE NEWSLETTER

GET RESOURCES

  • VETERANS TOOLKIT

ADVERTISE

  • GET OUR MEDIA KIT
  • PUBLISHER’S STATEMENT

SUBMISSIONS

  • PITCH US
  • SUBMIT YOUR STORY

Never miss out on the latest stories.

© 2021 Reserve & National Guard by AmeriForce. Privacy Policy | Terms | Site by Swiss Commerce

Thank you for your interest in The Reserve & National Guard Magazine!

Thank you for your interest in The Reserve & National Guard Magazine!

No Result
View All Result
  • NEWS
  • YOUR CAREER
    • UNIT TRAINING
    • DEPLOYMENT
    • PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
    • RECRUITING & RETENTION
    • ENTREPRENEUR
    • TRANSITION
  • EDUCATION
  • MILITARY LIFE
    • MILITARY SPOUSES
    • MILITARY KIDS
    • PARENTING
  • OFF DUTY
    • ENTERTAINMENT
    • TRAVEL
  • HEALTH
    • FITNESS
    • MEDICINE
    • MENTAL HEALTH
  • OPINION
  • HISTORY
  • MONEY
    • PERSONAL FINANCE
    • BENEFITS
  • GET THE MAGAZINE
    • PRINT MAGAZINES
    • DIGITAL MAGAZINES
    • GET THE NEWSLETTER
  • RESOURCES
    • VETERANS TOOLKIT
  • ABOUT US
    • MEET OUR TEAM
    • OUR AUTHORS
    • ADVERTISE WITH US
    • SUBMIT YOUR STORY
    • PITCH US
    • CONTACT

© 2022 Reserve & National Guard by AmeriForce. Site by SCBW