Families to say goodbye as 278th is set to deploy

For the second time in 5 years, members of the 278th ACR are preparing for weeks of grueling training.

One month from today, Tennessee's largest National Guard combat unit, the 278th Armed Cavalry Regiment, will ship out to Camp Shelby, Mississippi.

The soldiers' field training is expected to be similar to what they experienced in 2004, including mock attacks, controlled car bombs, and intensive real-time drills.

After two months of training, the unit will head to Iraq.

For half of the group's members, this deployment will be the first.

The tour will be the second for Jared Smith, who is a member of the 278th ACR's HHT unit, based in Knoxville. However, this time is a little different.

"Together, it's the first time. I've already had a previous deployment," Jared Smith said.

"It's the first since our marriage," Jared's wife, Nicole, added.

"It's not just going to be me that's separated from family, my wife will be also," Jared said.

Dealing with the deployment emotionally is only one aspect. The daily grind is another. For the newly-weds, preparing is a little easier in some regards.

"We don't have a lot of bills to pay, rent, utilities, cell phones. That's about it," Jared said.

However, it's a challenge for the two in other respects.

"Besides taking out the trash?" Nicole said. "I guess a lot of it is learning how to spend my time again. We've just gotten used to each other. We've only been married 7 months. You have to readjust yourself to being on your own and coming home to an empty house again."

Support structures have already mobilized.

"Unless you've gone through this or are going through it, no one knows how you feel. The fear or the anxiety that may come along with the unknown," said HHT Family Readiness Group President Tina Copeland.

The Family Readiness Group helps families like the Smiths prepare for the everyday tasks, and tears.

"No matter how ready you think you are, it's never easy. You don't really want him to go," Nicole said, wiping tears from her eyes.

"I never thought it would be as difficult as it is. I love what I do, but it's hard," Jared said.

The 278th ARC members will get a break for Christmas to return to their families, but they have to pay their own way back.

If you'd like to help the soldiers with bus tickets, or make any other donation, e-mail Tina Copeland at tina.copeland@us.army.mil or call her at (865) 300-8242.