Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      Master Sgt. Shalenna Mitchell, 386th Air Expeditionary Wing finance budget analyst and Tech. Sgt. Randle Mitchell 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineering Squadron assistant chief of fire prevention, share their experiences and feelings during the holiday season while deployed at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia.Deployed parents see their children open toys
                        
                        
                        Master Sgt. Shalenna Mitchell, 386th Air Expeditionary Wing finance budget analyst and Tech. Sgt. Randle Mitchell, 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineering Squadron assistant chief of fire prevention, video chat with their children Dec. 21, 2017, as they do daily while on deployment at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Louis Vega Jr.)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        Master Sgt. Shalenna Mitchell, 386th Air Expeditionary Wing finance budget analyst and Tech. Sgt. Randle Mitchell 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineering Squadron assistant chief of fire prevention, share their experiences and feelings during the holiday season while deployed at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia.Deployed parents see their children open toys
                        
                        
                        Tech. Sgt. Randle Mitchell, 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineering Squadron assistant chief of fire prevention and Master Sgt. Shalenna Mitchell, 386th Air Expeditionary Wing finance budget analyst, pose with their sons Rashawn, seven, Ryan and Stefan, six months, during a family photo Oct. 22, 2016. (Courtesy photo)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

Deployed parents see their children open toysPublished Dec. 26, 2017
                    
                    By Tech. Sgt. Louis Vega Jr.
                    
                    
                    386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
            **SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFNS) --**The opportunity to spend time and celebrate the holiday season with family and friends should not be taken for granted. Sharing a deployment with a spouse during this time can be a blessing and provide comfort especially when separated from little ones.
Master Sgt. Shalenna Mitchell, 386th Air Expeditionary Wing finance budget analyst and Tech. Sgt. Randle Mitchell, 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineering Squadron assistant chief of fire prevention, share their experiences and feelings during the holiday season while deployed at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia.
“I was at a different location for the first two months of our deployment and then forward deployed here with my husband,” said Shalenna. “Having each other during the holidays lessens the homesick feelings most (service members) have during this time of year.”
The Mitchells have three young boys; Rashawn, eight years old, and twin toddlers, Ryan and Stefan, 21 months. The boys are being cared for by Randles’ mother and aunt back home.
“We did not have to change much,” said Randle. “Our kids are at home and did not have to move or change the school and daycare they go to.”
Typically, the Mitchells see their boys before school and daycare every day via video chat, and then again when the boys return home. Fortunately, communication has been more frequent recently due to Christmas break in the states.
“Our oldest has not expressed to us, but has told a few people that he misses us and is ready for us to come home,” said Shalenna.
The Mitchells are at the tail end of their rotation here and have  invested 15-years to the Air Force. They are deployed from the 19th Airlift Wing, Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, with five deployments between them. Their plan is to continue their journey with the Air Force and retire serving their country.
“The Air Force is all we’ve known as adults,” said Shalenna. “We’ve pushed this far, so it’s no question that we would continue on to retirement. We’ve accomplished a lot in our careers and most of what we’ve experienced has molded us into the people and leaders we are today.”
The couple will not be home for the holidays this year but say they are grateful for having each other and for their family support system to step in and care for their three children. They also had advice for couples preparing to deploy.
“Always make sure you have a valid family care plan,” said Randle. “We knew there was a possibility of being deployed at the same time and in 14-years it was never the case until now. Many people work long hours here and have different shifts. Enjoy that quality time with each other and get a routine that works for you both and it will help the time pass quickly.”
Randle and Shalenna are one of five military married couples currently deployed to the air base who have married quarters available for them to live together.
“This is my first deployment where I’ve seen quarters for married couples available,” said Master Sgt. Celeste Fletes, 386th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron lodging flight chief. “They should reach out to their first sergeant to prepare the reservation or request when a couple finds out they are deploying here to ensure a room is available for them once they arrive.”
The Mitchells stated that they were happy to watch their kids open their presents on Christmas day and that their deployment experience has been accommodating for their family. Having the internet available to communicate with their children daily made it better.deployment 



retire 



Family care plan 



386th Air Expeditionary Wing 



careers 



386th AEW 



386th ECES 



19th Airlift Wing 



19th AW 



386th EFSS 



386th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron 



386th Expeditionary Civil Engineering Squadron 



homesick 



support system 



married couples 



quarters 



holidays Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                SecAF, CSAF, CMSAF begin Indo-Pacific trip focused on ACE
                    
                    DAF leaders talk budget, reoptimizing the force
                    
                    DAF leaders speak at National Character and Leadership Symposium
                    
                    DAF members recognized during BEYA STEM awards
                    
                    DAF senior enlisted advisors discuss Airmen, Guardians in the fightInnovation
                F-16s arrive to be modified for autonomous testing
                    
                    AFWERX director discusses role of tech startups, quick innovation in Great Power Competition
                    
                    DAF delivers lethality at the speed of data during Project Convergence Capstone 4
                    
                    DAF welcomes industry partners to HQ development program
                    
                    DAF announces Spark Tank 2024 finalistsMAJCOM News
                Safety enterprise announces new mission, vision, goals in 2024 strategic plan
                    
                    Air Combat Command welcomes new commander
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander discusses Integrated Air, Missile Defense during Munich Security Conference
                    
                    Flosi to AFMC family: Embrace change, make every day count
                    
                    AMC rises to increasing global tension
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil