BENTONVILLE — Maj. Jason Arndt and his soldiers attended a workshop Saturday morning in preparation for their deployment.
Twenty four members of the Army Reserve’s 362nd Tactical PsyOp Company will be departing Aug. 26 for Fort Dix, N.J., and will head to Africa for a 10-month deployment.
The soldiers attended a workshop at the Armed Forces Reserve Center focused on issues facing deploying servicemen and their families. The workshop was held by Operation Renewal.
Ron Dilbert, Operation Renewal founder, said the workshop focused on providing information on life skills, finances and the job market.
“We really want to focus on providing information that keeps the family together,” Dilbert said. “These guys risk their lives for us, so it is important that we be there for them.”
Arndt said the workshop provided useful information to soldiers.
This will be Arndt’s fourth deployment. He’s served in Kuwait and two deployments to Afghanistan.
Arndt of Fayetteville said deployments are stressful for soldiers and their families, but Operation Renewal’s workshop and the military also has soldiers and their families attend a two-day program in Texas to prepare for the deployment.
“The best soldiers are stress-free, so we want to make sure their family stays intact,” Arndt said.
It will be the third deployment for Staff Sgt. John Harris. Harris said he didn’t have any classes such as Operation Renewal during his first deployment.
Harris of Fayetteville believes the workshop provided useful information, not only to soldiers facing their first deployments, but also for those that have been deployed before, such as him.
Harris said deployments are tough on families, but also the soldiers.
“You really miss the day-to-day stuff and being involved in their lives,” Harris said. “It’s those nice fall days and football that you miss.
Jackie Rogers is on the other side of the spectrum from Arndt and Harris. Her husband, Tim, is a first sergeant with the 362nd and this will be his third deployment.
Jackie Rogers attended Saturday’s workshop and she thought it was informative, especially the portion dealing with job interviewing and careers.
She said deployment can be tough on families. The couple’s daughter was 3 years old when her husband first deployed. She was 9 for the second deployment and is 13 as her father is headed to serve in Africa.
“It’s tough having someone gone such long periods,” Rogers said. “It’s tough you become a single parent.”
Rogers said she likes to assist and support other families when their loved one is deployed.
Mark Foster with Credit Counseling of Arkansas led the portion of the workshop on financial issues.
“They are sacrificing for our country and us,” Foster said. “It’s great to be able to give back and help them.”
Dilbert urged people to support military families, especially during deployments.
“If you are a neighbor of a family then how about cutting the lawn or one night bringing dinner over,” Dilbert said. “It’s the little things that we can all do.”
Arndt said only a quarter of the members of the 362nd will be deployed to Africa. “We have a good plan for the soldiers staying,” Arndt said. “They are going to continue training for other possible missions.”
The soldiers were recognized Saturday on the square after the workshop.
They were given ice cream and the Walmart Visitor Center donated $5,000 to Operation Renewal.
People on the square greeted the soldiers and thanked them for their service.
More information about Operation Renewal is available by calling 479-935-3986. The organization’s website is www.OperationRenewal.org.