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CAMP AS SAYLIYAH, Qatar (February 21, 2007) - "No matter how
stressful things get in a combat zone, family and friends are
always a priority" said 1st Lt. Karly M. Mangen, from Chisago
Lakes, Minn. "Close relationships can become the biggest factors
influencing your mental and emotional state." Mangen is the officer
in charge of the U.S. Central Command rest and recuperation pass
program at Camp As Sayliyah in Qatar, an emirate off the eastern
coast of Saudi Arabia. Since 2004, the program has provided
Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom war fighters
a temporary respite venue within Southwest Asia. U.S. Army Central
Command Area Support Group Qatar executes the program, recharging
over 155,000 participants since its inception.
Mangen is known at Camp As Sayliyah as a positive and devoted
leader. She is a worthy representative of her hometown stereotype:
"Minnesota nice," a behavior attributed to the local hospitality
and courtesy to others. Accompanied by several other Soldiers
within her Minnesota National Guard unit, she deployed to Qatar in
August 2007.
"Since I arrived, the ability for married servicemembers to
cohabitate is the largest change in the respite program," she
said.
The rest and recuperation pass program can now be more enjoyable
for married couples serving in Southwest Asia. New accommodations
were built in January to meet all Army policies, regulations and
standards for in-theater cohabitation. Once the rooms were ready,
the installation commander officially authorized several living
quarters for married couples on pass in Qatar - on a first-come,
first-serve basis.
"I would estimate around 10 married couples have met in Qatar
over the last two weeks," said Mangen. "Before the changes, it was
difficult to break the bad news to those asking to stay together.
Now we jump at the chance to explain the process that allows
married servicemembers to cohabitate while on pass. We have also
had a mother and daughter stay together, as well as a father and
son." The approval process can be submitted prior to arriving and
is expected to take 24 to 48 hours - but sometimes, same day. "We
know time is important to them. They only have four nights."
"Our commands really support family situations - all the way
through," said Sgt. Michael Gross, from St. Paul, Minn., about the
process that enabled him to depart Kuwait on pass with his wife, in
subsequently shared accommodations. "In Qatar, we had approved
cohabitation quarters within 24 hours! We are still waiting in
Kuwait, due to availability." For Gross, the trickiest tricky part
was waiting for his wife to deploy before taking advantage of the
respite program. "My commander talks about the importance of family
all the time. Without their support, we cannot do what we do."
"Being with loved ones makes it easier to decompress; to be your
self," said Mangen. "To me, it just makes sense. If a family member
happens to be deployed at the same time, it is common sense and
beneficial to stay together. I have noticed many units are
supporting servicemembers in selecting pass dates that make this
connection. We definitely see a lot of friends coming together in
Qatar too. Although we offer a lot of trips, events and activities,
the program is much more effective when time can be shared with
friends and family."
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