Nevada Guardsmen get get Valentine’s Day break

Dick Benoit

Thursday, Feb. 14, 2002 | 8:27 a.m.

Since Sept. 11 National Guard troops have been called to serve from Afghanistan to Europe to U.S. airports and all points between.

Guardsmen who previously served one weekend a month and two weeks a year are now deployed for lengthy periods of time and will not be home today to place the candy or the roses in the hands of their loves ones.

The wives and children of the 72nd Military Police from Ely are lucky though. This week the 72nd MPs, deployed to guard the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, Calif., get a Valentine furlough to visit home.

They have been deployed since early October and could continue on active duty up to two years. Staff Sgt. Lisa Kent, a National Guard public affairs specialist, visited with unit wives at a recent gathering in Ely.

"He wasn't able to come home for Thanksgiving or Christmas," said Natalie Martinez, wife of Staff Sgt. Kenneth Martinez. "I'm really looking forward to him being here for Valentine's Day. We've been married 18 years and I've learned to become self-sufficient, but I miss the romance."

Alice Jacoby, wife of Sgt. Matthew Jacoby, brought her two children to the meeting. "I look forward to him coming home," she said. "But it can sometimes be difficult. The dynamics of the relationship change. I've taken more responsibility with disciplining the children and financial responsibility. I'm extremely happy to see my husband. We'll both have to adjust to the way the relationship has changed."

Sheila Allred, wife of Staff Sgt. James Allred, laughed. "You have to be careful how you change things. James came home and the first words out of his mouth were 'You moved my chair! It's been there 15 years!' So I moved it back.

"I think because their job is filled with uncertainty, they want stability at home."

"Valentine's Day is all about love," said Cynthia Davis, who has been married to Sgt. Christopher Davis for six years. "My husband has great love for his country. When I get frustrated at being left alone, he reminds me there are husbands, wives and loved ones never coming home. Then I realize how lucky we really are," she said.

In brief

During the six weeks of training, the new airmen studied the Air Force mission, organization and customs; performed drill and ceremony and received physical training and training in human relations.

They also earned credits toward an associate degree through the Community College of the Air Force.

The new soldier, son of Dorrie Jenkins of Las Vegas, received training in drill and ceremonies, map reading, tactics, military justice, physical fitness, first aid, and Army traditions. He developed basic combat skills and battlefield operations and tactics, and used various weapons.