Usually deployment means not seeing family anywhere from 12-15 months. In the case of one father and son, their deployments to Iraq would bring them back together.

It isn't unusual to find a tradition of military service in families; in fact, it is often seen as a rite of passage. However, it is somewhat atypical for two brothers to be in the same unit and stranger still for them to be identical twins.

Some National Guard Soldiers say their units are like an extended family. For two Soldiers deployed to Iraq, and in Task Force 38, it is.

With personal assurance from the nation's first lady that President Barack Obama is committed to military families, more than 1,500 people participated as the Defense Department's Joint Family Readiness Conference kicked off here today.

An Airman assigned here witnessed the birth of his third child, and he did so without leaving his post.

The Defense Department has launched a blog called "Family Matters" that is dedicated to providing resources and support to military families.

Deployments usually separate Soldiers from their families. However, for one "Red Bull" Soldier, it provided the chance to reunite with her brother.

Faith Pervatt loves being a mommy. She's got that glow so many new mothers have. You can see it, just past the slightly tired eyes as she laughs with the toddlers crawling on her lap, competing for her attention. Her babies, Benjamin and Grace, are 14 months old, but they're not twins. Benjamin is five days older than his sister, Grace.

In today's Army, 'Family First' is a main focus for Soldiers and leaders, and many families are able to deploy together, with the help of their chain of commands.

Deployed Soldiers have all kissed their families good-bye, and headed off to war with the expectation of learning to handle the constant heartache of missing their loved ones.

Tricare is enhancing its programs and services as part of an ongoing commitment to provide quality health care for military families, the new deputy director of Tricare Management Activity said.

In an environment where Soldiers deploy at a moment's notice, taking care of families is vital to the success of the mission. Third Army/USARCENT held its annual family retreat at Callaway Gardens, Ga., July 17-19, giving families the tools that will help them sustain the hardships of deployment.

Instead of gearing up to do yard work, shop, take the kids to sports practice, or head to jobs of their own, nearly 80 military family members donned blue jeans and T-shirts or pieces of their loved ones' uniforms to see how the Marine and sailors of 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion spend their days.

Supporting military families and the volunteers who help them are key elements of maintaining the nation's resolve during prolonged conflict, the chief of the National Guard Bureau said here Monday.

The Department of Defense is committed to supporting Guard and Reserve members and their families through policies that maintain strong family programs and innovative efforts, such as the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program, a senior DoD official told lawmakers, July 22.

When a Soldier makes the decision to serve our country, so does the family. The family is right there next to the Soldier enduring the many moves, separations and sometimes more critical situations.

Defense Department officials are working aggressively to reduce the impact of multiple deployments on the children of military families.

This year, the Fleet and Family Support Centers of Hampton Roads turns 30. The first FFSC opened in Norfolk in 1979 in response to the Navy Family Awareness Conference's realization of the need to support Sailors' families.

It is hard enough to get families together to celebrate birthdays or holidays, but imagine the challenges a family faces when more than family member serves in the military.

Most Soldiers say working with their fellow troops is like working with family.

When Soldiers set out to accomplish a mission, it's important they have a clear head and are ready to focus on the job at hand. The last thing Soldiers should have to worry about is the care being provided to their children.

Combat Center spouses and children gathered at the Officers' Club for the Officers' Spouses Club annual Scholarship and Grant Committee luncheon May 22.

There has been one Medal of Honor, 23 Navy Crosses, and 92 Silver Stars awarded to Marines and Sailors serving with Marine units since the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003.

The torrential downpour didn't stop Temple resident, Steven Castro and his 14-year-old son Jacob from attending Temple's Railroad and Heritage Museum's Military Appreciation and Family Fun Day May 16, in Temple, Texas.

The American Heritage Dictionary defines "tradition" as "a mode of thought or behavior followed by a people continuously from generation to generation; a custom or usage."

Deployments can be strenuous in countless ways for both Soldiers deployed and their families left behind.

An Army family member has earned $5,000, a laptop computer and a trip to the nation's capital as the first Military Child Award winner for a national troop-support organization.

Making sure "we get it right" for the nation's Soldiers and their families is his top priority, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told about 400 4th Infantry Division soldiers here yesterday.

In a war zone, many Soldiers may begin to question their career decisions. As the dangers of war enter their lives and long work hours far outweigh their free time, it may be hard for a Soldier to embrace the concept of continuing this lifestyle for years to come.

The Air Force's top spouse discussed the challenges Air Force members and their spouses face during deployments while she visited the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing April 6 and 7.

The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus invited more than 300 military families to their show at the Patriot Center here last night for "thrills and chills" under the big top in recognition of the Month of the Military Child.

A California based troop-support group has collected and mailed more than 600 Easter baskets as part of April's observance of the Month of the Military Child.

As the April showers arrived and the first signs of spring appeared, the students, faculty, and guests of Butner Elementary School began their celebration, the Month of the Military Child.

For Soldiers returning from deployment, reintegrating back into society can be an unnerving experience. First, there is the highway – horns, loose fan belts, aggressive and distracted drivers. Then there is the chaos and clamor of ringing telephones, the buzz of appliances, the circus of television’s flash and noise.

The National Military Family Association will host more than 9,000 military children at "Operation Purple" youth camps across America this year.

The Family Member Employment Assistance Program at the Air Station is collaborating with Military Spouse Corporate Career Network in order to bring new work-at-home opportunities for military spouses in the Beaufort area.

Our Military Kids is an organization whose purpose is to supply the families of deployed Reservists and Guardsmen with funding so that they can either start or continue extracurricular activities while parents are deployed.

Spouses of Soldiers in the 18th Airborne Corps have a better idea of how to reconnect with their other halves upon redeployment, thanks to the Army's Battlemind reunion training.

More than a name change, Part 1 discussed implementing the new Family Readiness Program. In Part 2, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit Commander Col. Mark Desens described a paradigm shift from former programs and Family Readiness Officer Kelly Cotton described the new program's capabilities. Part 3 described the importance of hiring and training the right FRO, the importance of volunteers and a transformed role for commanders' spouses.

Troops nearing retirement eligibility may be able to tap into the transferability benefits provided in the new Post-9/11 GI Bill, even if they're unable to serve four more years of duty due to service policies, a senior defense official said.

The construction of a new Soldier and Family Assistance Center here underscores the nation's commitment to those who sacrifice so much, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said during a groundbreaking ceremony yesterday.

Fightertown Marines and Sailors must be ready to deploy at a moments’ notice. While they are away performing their duties, they must have complete confidence their families are well cared for and life is running smoothly in the rear. Family Readiness Officers are available to help make deployments run a little smoother for the loved ones at home.

As the Marine Corps transitions from Key Volunteers to the new Family Readiness Program, the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit entered its 10-month milestone with the new program, Feb. 5.

To say the Air Force runs in the family would be an understatement for the Horstmans.

Families and Soldiers of Fort Knox’s 3rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) will lose one of their most important assests this month as their Family Readiness Support Assistant departs for another assignment.

A major health care provider in the suburbs here is teaming up with the Defense Department to help military members and spouses pursue medical careers.

Sesame Workshop will air a PBS special on April 1 aimed at helping military families cope with changes.

A program in Iraq is helping deployed Soldiers bond with their children back home through books.

As Wyoming prepares for the largest National Guard deployment in state history, much of the planning has gone into helping those who will be left behind for a year in communities scattered across the rural state.

Students from Rylander Elementary School, located in Katy, Texas, partnered with students at the Flowers of the Future school in Salman Pak, Iraq, during a school supply drop by a team of Multi-National Division - Baghdad Soldiers from Task Force 2nd Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad.

For all service members, the possibility of crisis affecting their loved ones during a deployment looms as an ominous threat that cannot be easily ignored. Under already stressful conditions, incidents back home can be dehabilitating and cripple job performance, as well as morale and motivation.

Sgt. Erisman and Sgt. Erisman are both mechanics. They have similar Arkansas twangs and freckled faces. They look alike, they talk alike, and, even without the nametags, there’s no mistake. The two Soldiers are brother and sister.

Soldiers and leaders of the 4th Infantry Division and Multi-National Division – Baghdad gathered at the Media Operations Center on Camp Liberty for the monthly 4th Inf. Div. Town Hall meeting, Nov. 26.

Being separated from family can trigger stress and anxiety for deployed servicemembers, especially when children are involved.

Stabilization, family readiness, dwell time, veteran and wounded warrior care and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq-- these are the topics Chief of Staff of the Army, Gen. George W. Casey, Jr. discussed during his visit to Fort Hood while meeting with the Soldiers of the 1st Cavalry Division, Nov. 17.

The Warrior and Family Support Center located steps away from Brooke Army Medical Center here is one packed place.

The dry, freshly cut grass was flying around like snow in a blizzard as the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter came in for a landing.

Melissa Fields is about to experience the daunting task of being an Army spouse as she prepares to say goodbye to her husband Pfc. Raymond Fields. Pfc. Fields, a communication specialist assigned to the 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, is about to deploy for the first time in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. However, thanks to a gracious donation, they won’t have to worry about how to keep in touch.

Children of fallen warriors will enjoy camp activities and get help managing their grief this month at a program designed especially for them.

“Our Military Kids,” a nonprofit support group, recently reached a new milestone: $2 million in grants awarded for sports, fine arts and tutoring programs.

His look is piercing. His movements are sharp. His skills are among the best. He wears a unique patch on his left shoulder that identifies him as the first National Guard Soldier in the state of Louisiana certified to train others to meet the high standards embodied by a member of the Military Funeral Honors Program.

A mother’s job is not easy duty, especially for a Soldier mom serving that role in Iraq thousands of miles away from home. That’s why one service member looks to her own mother to help with her four children back home.

What began as a chat over coffee became a learning opportunity for teachers here.

The Defense Department, in conjunction with the military services and the Department of Veterans Affairs, has created a framework to help wounded, ill and injured servicemembers not only survive, but also thrive as they transition from military service back into their communities.

Ohio is one of 10 states participating in a new YMCA and the Department of Defense collaborative effort aimed at helping deployed National Guard members and their families.

 Emily and Jean Paul looked up at one another over the tops of their steaming coffee mugs as the pitter-patter of tiny feet overhead signaled the end of the morning calm. Emily stood up, pulled an 18-count carton of eggs from the refrigerator and began cracking them into a large glass bowl one by one. The task complete, she pulled out the paper plates and laid them out on the counter in three rows of three.

Affectionately known as "Big Jim," James McCrindle had a Paul Bunyan-sized heart when it came time for taking care of Soldiers and their families as general manager of the Armed Forces Recreation Center's "Shades of Green" facility on the Walt Disney World resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

Wounded service members and their families in San Diego will have a second "home away from home" during the recovery process when Naval Medical Center San Diego celebrates the grand opening of Fisher House II on Oct. 3, 2008.

President Bush signed an executive order this week that will make it easier for spouses of servicemembers to get federal jobs.

As mathematical formulas and reading lists overtake kids’ memories of laughing with friends at summer camp, the National Military Family Association is already gearing up to rekindle those memories for next year.

Like most soon-to-be first-time fathers, Marine Lance Cpl. Jovan Rodriguez anxiously awaited the birth of his child and looked forward to being by his wife's bedside.

The new head of the Army National Guard's Family Support Service Division has one thing on her mind: the wellbeing of Soldiers and their families.

Mark Twain once said, “I can live for two months on a good compliment.”

Air Force pararescue jumpers recover servicemembers from any compromising situation in which they may find themselves. Their motto is “That others may live.”

An organization based here is working to help military infants and toddlers cope with the stresses of a parent’s deployment unique to their age group.

Soldiers and their families are the focus of a new division at the Army National Guard Readiness Center here.

A 75-minute documentary that focuses on the lives of six military widows from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars will start making the rounds this month at military bases and Veterans of Foreign Wars halls across the country.

Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit organization behind the program “Sesame Street,” and the United Service Organizations joined forces to bring “The Sesame Street Experience for Military Families” to 43 installations across the country.

Because it always has been a family-owned and -operated business, it’s no surprise that Coastal Windows, a small Hawaii company, knows how to take care of its employees.

To frock a Soldier is always a special occasion, and getting frocked with two peers is even more unique, but when frocking becomes a family affair during a deployment; that’s incredible.

Two troop-support groups hosted a “Military Showers of Appreciation” for 15 expectant military mothers July 27 at Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Senior Airman Matthew Delgado, 21, made one last trip home before deploying in May. He was set to deploy to Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, and didn’t expect to see his family for months. Half-way into his deployment rotation, he was surprised when someone knocked on his barracks door and told him his brother was waiting for him at the post exchange.

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates today called it a “sacred responsibility” to care for the generation of American military children affected by the deployment, and in some cases the death, of a servicemember parent.

Last week’s ribbon-cutting at the largest military child care center underscores the Defense Department’s commitment to providing more and better child-care for military families, a senior defense official said.

Military children and their sacrifices took center stage here last night during a reception attended by Defense Department dignitaries.

THIS IS A TEST. The Defense Department has identified 10 key issues of importance to military members and their families, including education policies and benefits, accessible support for military families, and spouse employment opportunities.

The Defense Department has identified 10 key issues of importance to military members and their families, including education policies and benefits, accessible support for military families, and spouse employment opportunities.