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Joint-military couple spends first anniversary in unlikely place

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Samuel Morse
  • 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan --  Marriages with military members are never easy. Marriages where both partners are military prove to be even more difficult at times. When each spouse is in a different branch of the military, challenges arise that can be almost impossible to overcome.

One couple seems to have made this work. Air Force Capt. Vanessa Mahan, an F-15E Strike Eagle weapons systems officer, and Navy Lt. Larry Mahan, a naval aviator, have gone against the odds and just celebrated their first anniversary on the other side of the world.

The couple met during Aviation Preflight Indoctrination in Pensacola, Fla. The close proximity was short-lived though, and the new couple was split; Larry to Washington, and Vanessa to the 335th Fighter Squadron, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C. The Mahans settled into life under the strain of a long-distance relationship.

The couple remembers the constant barrage of comments such as "it will never work," but were determined to see the relationship through.

Making it work was easier said than done.

"We make an effort to see each other as much as possible," said Vanessa, "which means lots of time in airports and lots of money spent on plane tickets. When we are both stateside, we've made a commitment to talk multiple times a day, even if it's just to say 'hi.'"

Deployments also proved to be a challenge, making it even harder to stay in touch.

Earlier this year, Vanessa deployed to Bagram Air Field. The Mahans knew they'd have some overlap - time where both of them would be at Bagram at the same time, but also knew it would only be for a short while.

Vanessa's commander with the 335th FS, Lt. Col. James Jinnette, had mentioned the possibility of extending Vanessa's deployment by a few days to allow her more time with her husband. In a case of "hear what you want to hear," Vanessa followed up, asking for an extra month or two.

By chance, there was an opening in the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing for a deputy chief of wing plans. Seizing the opportunity, the leadership of the 335th FS and 455th AEW worked together to make the extended deployment happen. The 455th AEW gained a deputy chief of wing plans, and the Mahans gained a few precious months together.

On Sept. 1, they celebrated their first anniversary together here with a lunch of pizza and iced tea. The informal nature didn't matter to them, because if it wasn't for the efforts of their commanders, this anniversary celebration would have never happened face-to-face.

The couple's time together was not limited to the ground. In some cases, they remember being in the same operation together. They were flying in different aircraft, at different altitudes, but both were working towards the same goal in Operation Enduring Freedom.

"It's awesome. I can't wait to tell our kids about that," said Vanessa.