Stewart-Hunter deployment manager focuses on preparing Soldiers, Families

FORT STEWART, Ga. Aca,!" The Army Community Service Offices at Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield are busy places; that is a given. And in either one of them, you will find a variety of persons who take pride in their work and promise to give all who come in the best service available, even going beyond what may be required for the visitor.

Take for instance the ACS Mobilization and Deployment Manager for Stewart-Hunter, Linda Moseley. According to Moseley, the name is deceiving.

"It's a combination of many things," said Moseley. "But the focus is on mobilization and preparing Soldiers and Family Members for deploying into theater, as well as when they return with their reintegration with Families."

Moseley also finds herself working intensely with the Family Readiness Groups.

"I do extensive training for Families in terms of the battle mind with the new resiliency training," she said. "This prepares Families mentally for some of the stressors they may find themselves facing during and after deployments."

Moseley is a Family Member herself, as the wife of Maj. Steven Moseley, 3rd ID space officer.

With a smile she adds, "The Army does have a space program."

Anything that has to with mobilizing units, Moseley may be in the mix, making sure that Soldiers, single or married, have their Family care plans, and other matters done so that when they are in theater, they can focus on the mission and not worry about situations here in the rear.

Moseley added that her focus comes in line with the main drive of 3rd Infantry Division

Commander, Maj. Gen. Tony Cucolo, "to keep Families and Soldiers resilient and ready."

Moseley is not a novice in her job. Though she has only been in her position at Fort Stewart for just over one year, she has worked in mobilization and deployment for numerous years in different locations throughout the country.

"We have done amazing things between the garrison and division," said Moseley. "We did not always do these pre-deployment fairs; now we are almost at a 98 percent success rate for them.

"We have also increased all of our training by 50 percent," Moseley adds. "In addition to the basic FRG and treasurer courses, we have created advanced FRG and advanced treasurer, which include audit skills. And let's not forget the Family Advocacy Program also."

Moseley has written some curriculum for the Environmental Leave Program.

"EML addresses when the Soldier comes home on mid-tour," she explained. "We have found that can be a difficult time as they have come back, but then leave again. The EML program has assisted many Families."

There is also new reset material that Moseley is happy about and looking forward to as it has separate tracks for both the Soldier and the Family unit.

"'Preparing to be Together' will be presented as we now get ready for reintegration," said Moseley. "In conjunction with MVIC support, a video will be also be made, which will be available for those persons who are unable to attend the actual training,"

Another facet of her work includes the development of Sgt. Rocky, the puppeteer, which was originally written to address the younger Family Members of all that can happen during a deployment.

Now, just as famous as those who live on Sesame Street, Sgt. Rocky goes on the road telling his message with Moseley, a.k.a. Linda Liberty, to schools around the area that may have children of deployed Soldiers attending them.

"Sergeant Rocky and crew have been asked to take on a new theme, which will now relate to reunions," said Moseley. "We are working with the Public Affairs Office to develop a television show where kids can call in and talk to Sgt. Rocky, and the puppets, and I will respond to their concerns. We have found that kids respond better to animated creatures as opposed to a clinical setting."

The mental health program will be one of the key components in this venue for the children.

Moseley said that she has done quite a few things working with the staff in ACS that she has been really proud of.

"The hours have been really long with this job, but I don't regret one moment of it."

Moseley comes from a military Family.

"I don't know any other life than the military, as I grew up in this type of life from infancy. My dad, Gordon Kurowski, is a retired Army command sergeant major."

Fluent in German, Moseley grew up in Europe and graduated from Heidelberg American High School. She proceeded to get her background education in social work from California State University-Sacramento.

She soon found herself following in her father's footsteps by joining the Army and becoming an Intelligence Officer.

"I have seen it from both sides, being a single Soldier, leading Soldiers, and being a Family Member."

The Moseley's are going through their fourth deployment as a Family, and she looks at herself and her Family as being blessed. Married for 14 years, she still gets emotional when she remembers that their son Eric, now 7, was just a few weeks old when Steven left for his first deployment.

"When Steven came back, my son walked up to him, and it just reminded me of the growth that had happened while he was gone," she said.

As if she needs to keep busy from work, Moseley even does volunteer work and is a member of the Fort Stewart Officer's Spouses Club.

"These are good outlets for me," she explained. "I even volunteered to be the basketball coach...I had no coaching experience, and all the father's were gone. But we came in third place, and that is good."

Moseley concluded by saying this is her way of life.

"We have to do what we can to make life better for our Families and their Soldiers," she explained. "To keep our retention rate high, we have to make sure everyone is cared for...and that comes from pre-deployment fairs, developing programs with EML, creating puppet shows, and starting new reset programs.

"Years ago, when I was in the military, we did a lot of telling Soldiers what to do, but not really preparing them.

"Now we are giving them the tools and resources to better prepare themselves and grow. That is really my primary focus."