By Spc. Anthony Bryant
4th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office
Soldiers with the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, and their Families speak with representatives from various agencies during a predeployment fair at the William “Bill” Reed Special Events Center Feb. 2, 2018. (Photo by Spc. Anthony Bryant)
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Leaders with the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, hosted a predeployment fair Feb. 1-2, 2018, to help prepare Soldiers and their Families for an upcoming deployment to Afghanistan.
Held at the William “Bill” Reed Special Events Center, the fair served to educate and assist Family members in a centralized location where agencies showcased their resources and explained the assistance available throughout a deployment.
“The fair offers Families the opportunity to come and meet face-to-face with agents from Army Community Service or Evans Army Community Hospital, for example,” said Capt. Jeremy L. Prater, rear detachment commander, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 2nd IBCT. “(Child and Youth Services) is here to enroll children and to schedule child care for deploying Soldiers. Unit Family readiness groups are present to build contact rosters and to tie Families into the deployment schedule.”
Sgt. Kenneth Vaughan, fire control repairer, 704th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, signs a power of attorney form alongside his wife, Kristie Vaughan, during a predeployment fair Feb. 2, 2018, at the William “Bill” Reed Special Events Center. (Photo by Spc. Anthony Bryant)
Other organizations in attendance included Office of the Fort Carson Staff Judge Advocate, the American Red Cross and various financial institutions.
“The agencies are really well set up … (and) can take care of a lot of different (items) for us here,” said Nicole Williams, Family readiness assistant, 2nd Bn., 12th Inf. Reg. “We try to encourage as many of our Family members to (attend) — not just Soldiers — so they can see all the agencies that are available to them during the deployment. That is our goal; to get as many spouses involved as possible so they can have some assistance.”
According to Prater, the fair also served as an opportunity for Soldiers to set themselves up for success prior to deployment.
“It’s also to prepare Soldiers in tying up the loose ends they won’t be able to while … deployed,” said Prater.
Staff Sgt. Justin N. Golder, infantryman, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, and his wife, Brandy Golder, speak to Rob Day, Army Community Service specialist, about programs the agency offers, during a predeployment fair at the William “Bill” Reed Special Events Center Feb. 1, 2018. (Photo by Spc. Anthony Bryant)
He pointed to a long line, and said, “That’s our legal — they’re setting up powers of attorney. A lot of these Soldiers aren’t going to be able to file their taxes downrange so they’re going to leave it in the hands of their spouses or loved ones.”
The U.S. Army Garrison Fort Carson team provided mission support and services for the predeployment fair to sustain Soldiers and their Families during the deployment. “It’s really a one-stop shop here,” said Williams. “Each of these agencies has something to offer (Families during deployment). Events like these are crucial in knowing what resources are available so you can access them.”