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

Deployment Advice for Military Kids

Madison Linnihan
by Madison Linnihan
July 8, 2017
090513-N-0743B-057 GULF OF ADEN (May 13, 2009) Members of a visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) team from the guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg (CG 64) and U.S. Coast Guard Tactical Law Enforcement Team South Detachment 409 approach a suspected pirate mothership after responding to a merchant vessel distress signal while operating in the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) area of responsibility as part of Combined Task Force (CTF) 151. CTF 151 is a multinational task force established to conduct counter-piracy operations under a mission-based mandate throughout the CMF area of responsibility to actively deter, disrupt and suppress piracy in order to protect global maritime security and secure freedom of navigation for the benefit of all nations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Eric L. Beauregard/Released)

090513-N-0743B-057 GULF OF ADEN (May 13, 2009) Members of a visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) team from the guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg (CG 64) and U.S. Coast Guard Tactical Law Enforcement Team South Detachment 409 approach a suspected pirate mothership after responding to a merchant vessel distress signal while operating in the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) area of responsibility as part of Combined Task Force (CTF) 151. CTF 151 is a multinational task force established to conduct counter-piracy operations under a mission-based mandate throughout the CMF area of responsibility to actively deter, disrupt and suppress piracy in order to protect global maritime security and secure freedom of navigation for the benefit of all nations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Eric L. Beauregard/Released)

Any military kid will tell you that deployment is the most difficult aspect of military life. Lasca Lawniczak, the daughter of an Air Force Field Engineer, knows the struggles of deployment all too well. Ever since she was four, her dad, Sean Stafford, has worked on military drones in war zones. He monitors the communication between the pilot and the grounds.In addition to monitoring communication, he also conducts general maintenance on the drones. Because of this, he is on a challenging deployment schedule. Lasca says, “He’s gone for at least 50% of the year.”

Living in Dangerous Places

“The only difference between him and a soldier is that he’s not armed. He’s not shooting at anyone, but they’re shooting at him. There are air strikes in these war zones,” she explains. Over the years, Stafford has lived in many dangerous countries. “Sometimes he couldn’t even tell us where he was getting deployed to,” Lasca says. However, she does know that he’s lived in Afghanistan, United Arab Emirates, and Cyprus, to name a few. Right now, Stafford is in Turkey, where he lives in a tent on a twin-size cot (he’s 6’4″). Lasca explains that sometimes he only gets two weeks notice before he has to pick up and move somewhere else.

On Swafford's 41st birthday, he wasn't home with his family, so they made a paper cut-out of him
On Swafford’s 41st birthday, he wasn’t home with his family, so they made a paper cut-out of him

Moving Around

Just like most military kids, Lasca has lived all over the place. While her dad may technically be a civilian, she’s spent her fair share living overseas. She says that she lived in the United Arab Emirates and Cyprus for a little while, and moved constantly growing up. It didn’t bother her too much though because she loved seeing the world. She says that she appreciates her childhood now and realizes how lucky she was to experience other cultures. Additionally, as a college student today, she is incredibly thankful to have a worldly perspective. She admits that the actual moving process isn’t fun, the experience is definitely worth it.

Staying in Touch

While Lasca did travel with her dad a lot as a child, he’s also spent a lot of time away from her and her family. Growing up, she said her dad was typically overseas 4-10 months of every year. However, she wants other military kids to know that just because a parent isn’t physically there, it doesn’t mean you have to have a distant relationship with them. “There’s so much technology that makes it easy to stay in touch with him,” she says. She wants kids to know that even though it can be a challenge, they should never give up on their relationship with their deployed parent. “We talk on Google Hangouts every night! I’m incredibly close with my dad,” she admits.

download (4)

Most importantly, Lasca says that she has learned to cherish the time she has with her dad when he’s home.

 

Read comments
Tags: AfghanistanAir forcecoping with deploymentCyprusdeploymentdeployment and childrendeployment cyclesDODdronesMilitary ChildrenMilitary SpouseTurkeyUS Military
Madison Linnihan

Madison Linnihan

Madison Linnihan is a contributing editor with AmeriForce Media. She currently writes weekly blog posts for Military Families Magazine and The Reserve & National Guard Magazine, as well as contributing feature articles to both magazines. She is a senior at Troy University with an English Major and dance minor.

Related Posts

Navy reservist captures history over 30-year career

by Taneika Duhaney
4 hours ago
0
Navy reservist

Amy Forsythe, now a Navy reservist, has documented service members in some of the most remote regions in the world...

Read more

Marine Corps Reserve veteran reflects on ‘fly on the wall’ view of Iraq War

by Kari Williams
2 days ago
0
Iraq

When talk of the Iraq War began, retired Marine Corps Capt. Matthew Hoh was a junior officer for the Secretary...

Read more

Our Military Kids shines light on ‘hidden helpers’ with annual contest

by Kari Williams
6 days ago
0
Our Military Kids

When reviewing nominations for the Our Military Kids Courageous Kids contest in 2022, one child’s story spurred the creation of...

Read more

National Guard, reserve veterans among IAVA’s advocacy all-stars

by AmeriForce Staff
3 weeks ago
0
IAVA

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America's (IAVA) All-Star Advocacy Fly-In on Capitol Hill included several reserve component veterans.

Read more

Wisconsin brigade marks first Africa deployment by preparing for crises, supporting partners 

by Ben Greene
3 weeks ago
0
Wisconsin brigade

Two days after the first Wisconsin brigade to deploy to Africa arrived, Maj. James Schmitz departed for a crisis-management exercise.

Read more

Military services will amend COVID vaccine-refuser records so they aren’t passed over for promotions

by Military.com
3 weeks ago
0
Vaccine

All military services are reworking their policies to adjust separation & promotion records for those who refused the COVID-19 vaccine.

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
  • SPORTS
  • 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

Skip to toolbar
  • About WordPress
    • WordPress.org
    • Documentation
    • Support
    • Feedback
  • AMP
    • View AMP version