Staff Sgt. Brock Cochran and his wife, Master Sgt. Amanda Cochran, both serve in the Ohio Air National Guard. Amanda will be deployed to the Middle East this summer, while Brock will remain to care for their three children.

“It’s a little scary, a little moving. This is the first time I’ve been deployed, the first time we’ve been six months apart,” Amanda said.

The hardest part is being away for the three children’s birthdays, as well as holidays like Christmas and Thanksgiving.

“It will definitely be difficult,” Brock said. “We have a good support system and they understand what’s going on, but they need their mother.”

Colonel Dominic Fago, 178 Wing Commander, emphasized the importance of families.

“Each of these members has a family that is counting on them,” Colonel Fago said. “Family support is equally, if not more, important to the success of our mission.

Legend

Maj. Gen. James Camp, deputy adjutant general for air, Ohio National Guard, speaks to Airmen from the Ohio Air National Guard’s 178th Wing during a call to duty ceremony Sunday at Springfield Air National Guard Base. BILL LACKEY/STAFF

Credit: Bill Lackey

Credit: Bill Lackey

Legend

Maj. Gen. James Camp, deputy adjutant general for air, Ohio National Guard, speaks to Airmen from the Ohio Air National Guard’s 178th Wing during a call to duty ceremony Sunday at Springfield Air National Guard Base. BILL LACKEY/STAFF

Credit: Bill Lackey

Credit: Bill Lackey

Camp, who has deployed several times during his career, advised Airmen to trust their training.

“Everything the military does to prepare them is for that,” he said. “Not a day goes by that I don’t think of the Airmen I have in Ohio who are currently deployed. I have confidence in their training, I have confidence in the military command, I have confidence in the airmen who will surround them, that they will take care of each other.