There's something familiar about this deployment ...

Published March 28, 2012
By Staff Sgt. J.G. Buzanowski
380th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- The family that deploys together, enjoys together.

At least that's true for several members of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing who are deployed with some of their nearest and dearest.

FATHER AND SON

For the Bandas, the experience has been a crossroads of sorts. This will probably be the last deployment for Chief Master Sgt. Nick Banda, but it's the first for his son Airman 1st Class Andrew Banda, who wants to serve "at least 20 years."

Nick is the chief enlisted manager for the 964th Expeditionary Airborne Air Control Squadron from Tinker Air Force Base, Okla.; Andrew is part of the 380th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, here from Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, where he was also born.

The younger Banda grew up as an Air Force "brat." Between both sets of his parents and step-parents - all senior NCOs - he has roughly 100 years of experience in the Air Force to rely on for life lessons and mentorship.

"If there's anything I've learned from them, it's that it's important to get things done correctly the first time," Andrew said. "I thought about joining the Army, but really, the Air Force is all I've ever known. And it's good to know that I'm doing something with my life now."

Being at the same location has given the Bandas opportunities to spend time together, but also the opportunity to chat via online video at the same time with their family members back home.

"We got to spend a couple of holidays together, and we've kept each other in the loop on how the rest of the family is doing," the chief said. "Every few days we've been able to have a meal together, but they keep him pretty busy. I'm just glad we had this opportunity."

BROTHER AND SISTER

Despite representing different services, there's virtually no sense of rivalry between Staff. Sgt. Jovan Boisselle and Army Spc. Alberto Romo. That wasn't always true of the siblings.

Deployed from Tinker, she works in supply for E-3 Sentry maintenance; Alberto is part of the Patriot missile air defense artillery regiment deployed from Fort Bragg, N.C. Both are part of the 380th AEW and were pleasantly surprised when they realized they'd be deployed to the same location.

They're usually able to get together every few days for a meal or to talk with their mom back home.

"She always tells us the same thing: be careful and look out for each other," Boisselle said.

The two have actually spent more time together over the last few months while deployed than they have over the last nine years. And while she tried to convince her brother to join the Air Force, she's just proud that "he's done something with himself," she said.

"My aunt was in the Army and then became a U.S. Marshal, and that's exactly what I want to do," Romo said.

When the siblings do get together, they rarely talk about work.

"Mostly, we just reminisce about growing up," Boisselle said. "I've really liked having him here because he's always someone I can talk to."

HUSBAND AND WIFE

Senior Airmen Michael and Josie Stallings actually see each other more while deployed than they do at home station.

The Stallings are both aerospace ground equipment technicians deployed from Ramstein Air Base, Germany, but back home they're on opposite shifts. The biggest challenge for the couple, because of male-female room restrictions and a prohibition on public displays of affection, is that they "can't act like husband and wife while deployed."

"It's hard because some days you just want to curl up together, but we don't have that option here," Josie said. "You don't get to have a lot of couple time, so it's been a little stressful. But he told me something that helps me get through the rough days: if we have a problem out here, it's not necessarily a real problem because this isn't our real life. That's helped give me some perspective."

On the flip side, the Stallings have focused more on communication in their relationship, which will help them in the long run, she said.

"Because we're both here together, there's no falling out of contact with each other and no time difference to worry about either, so that part of it has been good," Josie said. "And whenever I'm stressed, we can take a walk and he tells me everything is going to be okay. It's different to hear that in person than it is over the phone."

"Basically we're just best friends while we're out here," Michael added. "We can't hold hands or kiss, but we can talk, eat dinner and do laundry together. I think it's bonded us even more to go through the deployment together. I wouldn't want it any other way."