Teghan Simonton’s parents, Shawn and Donna Simonton, who are Senior Master Sergeants, were both active in the Air Force during her childhood. Texas, Missouri, Virginia, Germany, Maryland, Simonton ticks off the places she has lived throughout her lifetime.

“At the time, I really hated it,” said Simonton, who struggled to make friends as her family moved from base to base. “Growing up like that, at the time, I was really envious of all the people that got to have a base, like a home, now that is the only way I know how to live.”

Simonton did not choose this life for herself. Her parents met in Saudi Arabia while they were both serving in the military, and this circumstance has affected her entire childhood, even pulling away her father from her at times.

“It’s weird knowing that you have someone who is so important to you across the world doing something that you don’t know, and you don’t know if it is safe or not,” said Simonton.

Despite not knowing what her father’s exact responsibilities were, Simonton acknowledges that “you never know if you are going to get that call,” but reinforces that she was never extremely worried.

Because the military lifestyle surrounded her, it was not a surprise to her when her half-brother also joined the military.

“Nobody was angry or upset that he wanted to do this,” said Simonton. “It was more like family pride because he was taking after my dad and he wanted to do exactly what my dad was doing and he has my dad’s badge number…my dad pulled some strings to make sure that he could have that because that was so important to him.”

When Simonton’s brother enlisted, it was not a surprise, but for Maura Fenske and her family, it caught them off guard when her brother decided to enlist.

“My brother was never a school kid, he hated high school, but loved the social aspect of school. He tried to go to college. He was there for a semester, and he hated it. We weren’t sure what he was going to do,” said Fenske. “Then, he was about 21 and he told my mom and my dad first…they were shocked and then I was shocked.”

Fenske’s family history reveals that her grandfather had served in World War II, her two great-uncles served in the Navy and her cousin is currently enlisted in the Army, but no one in her immediate family had ever considered or even discussed any possibility of enlisting. After Fenske’s brother, Grant, finished basic training, any doubt she had about his decision was eliminated.

“He was meant for this,” she said. “He was cut out for this.”

Fenske, however, was not prepared for the flood of emotions once her brother, her best friend, was scheduled to deploy.

“I just prayed. I was a wreck. I was crying that whatever God’s plan for him was, he would see it through and God would protect him,” said Fenske, adding that despite knowing he was doing what he loved, she never found extreme comfort in that knowledge. “That didn’t really make it any easier, but I tried to keep it in mind.”

She did find comfort in her family though, because all of them were so unfamiliar having someone so close take the step to serve for our country.

Fenske and her parents turned to God in their loved one’s absence, but for Waynesburg University’s President, Douglas Lee, his son’s deployment was evident and he prepared by doing the only thing he could: “pray.”

Lee’s son has served as an airman in the Air Force for the past five years, being deployed three times. After a long discussion with his son, Lee has full confidence that this was his calling.

“As a parent, you have to at some point be willing to let your children follow their life ambition,” said Lee.

Lee knew that when his son was going into the service, he would have to prepare for his deployment.

“I think you really have to trust God with these matters and know that He ultimately has a plan,” said Lee. “That is the comfort that you got. The assurance that you got as a parent when you let your kids go off into the world. As long as you know that they have a commitment to God and they seek to follow God’s call, then you know then. That’s all you can ask for.”

Currently, his son is stationed in Alaska, a place he loves.

“That is very fulfilling to me to know that he is in a place that he absolutely loves,” said Lee. “To know that he does that in addition to serving his country, that selfless commitment to stand in harm’s way, protecting all of us… I’m very proud of him for that.”

Not only has the military offered Lee’s son a fulfilling life, Simonton can attest to the opportunities that the military has provided for her, as a dependent.

“I think a lot of people think of this military lifestyle as tragic almost. Like, ‘Oh it’s so sad that you had to grow up like that,’” said Simonton. “I do remember it being really hard as a kid, but now looking back, I can’t imagine. I don’t know what regular life looks like, so I know I am only getting one side of the story, but looking back, I wouldn’t change it.”