Family members hold down the home front during ORI

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Christopher A. Marasky
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  Family members played a crucial part as Team Kadena showed their capabilities during this week's Pacific Air Forces Operational Readiness Inspection.

Military members here at Kadena faced longer hours and higher stress as part of the inspection, and dependants had to help out in many cases to allow members to focus on the fight.

"I think we realize that there has to be a certain amount of sacrifice on the family's part to help the military member," said Mark Wielgosiek, husband of Chief Master Sgt. Sherry Wielgosiek, 18th Equipment Maintenance Squadron first sergeant. "I think the important role for the family is to know that if we can take care of ourselves, it lessens the burden on the military member."

That philosophy allows for military members here at Kadena to focus on the mission and with a bit less stress.

"The military member is more effective," said Mr. Wielgosiek. "They can do their job better if they don't have to worry about their family."

If the exercise scenario were real, then family members would have been evacuated from the island as part of a non-combatant evacuation operation. As part of the PACAF ORI, a NEO exercise was conducted in February to show Kadena's ability to move the families out of harm's way safely.

"I think a lot of the dependants have to realize that in a real-world situation they would have been evacuated," said Mr. Wielgosiek. "That's the attitude we take during the week of the exercises. We're invisible so she can have all the time that she needs to focus on what she has to do."

Bearing that extra level of responsibility has its impacts on the family, as Mr. Wielgosiek has to take on extra responsibilities when it comes to helping around the house, such as with homework.

The children pitch in to help as well, picking up a few chores that would normally be taken care of by their mother.

"I take over extra chores while my mom is gone and help out my sisters with their homework as well," said Chief Wielgosiek's 18-year-old son Jacob, who plans to join the Air Force soon himself.

Despite the extra responsibilities, Jacob says that the opportunity to see exercises in person like this helps prepare him for his own Air Force journey.

"Now that I'm going to join the military, it gives me more perspective," he said. "I used to see it around Langley and I just blew it off, but now that I'm joining I'm trying to soak up as much as I can."

The extended work that pulls military members away from their families can also have a large impact on younger children, who see less of their parents throughout the week.

"It's kinda hard since I don't have anyone to talk to about my problems," said Tyler, Chief Wielgosiek's 15-year-old daughter. "But I think it's really important to help her, since we aren't going through as much stress as she is."

Mr. Wielgosiek said this separation is why the military member must make the effort to explain their upcoming absence to their children prior to heading into an exercise or deployment.

"They should explain to the children that they will be working and won't be around as much," he said. "But explain to them this is what I'm doing and why I'm doing it. The kids will have a greater appreciation and feel like they are more involved in the situation."

The influence that dependants at Kadena have upon the military members performing the mission is significant said Chief Wielgosiek.

"I think it's even greater than they realize themselves," she said. "If I had to come home after a 13-or 14-hour day and then worry about fixing dinner, doing homework or whatever, I wouldn't have the energy. They understand that, and that's a great thing."