European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 12, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 4 stars and stripes july Ira bound 2nd cavalry regiment Stryker armoured personnel carriers prepare to Load onto trains at Grafe Wohr on the unit arrived in Germany last photos by set Robson stars and stripes strikers loaded begin journey to Iraq soldiers to meet up with vehicles in August for training in Kuwait before going to Iraq by Seth Robson stars and stripes Germany less than a year after arriving in the 2nd cavalry Stryker regiment already is on its Way out of last Cav soldiers began loading the More than 300 Stryker armoured personnel Carri ers onto trains at Grafe Wohr for the Long land and sea journey to final destination on the movement was still in Progress at Grafe Wohr with soldiers loading 40 strikers from 2nd cars 3rd Squadron onto in a scene that is a reversal of the strikers arrival in Vilseck in late july Jon 2nd Cav said transport of the eight wheeled vehicles is the first phase in the units this is the first time we have deployed strikers out of we had our test run when we came now we Are pushing the strikers out to a combat he in soldiers from the regiment will join the vehicles in the desert and begin the last phase of training for deployment to he one of the sol Diers helping Load the strikers Travis of Tole Ohio appeared eager to get to Iraq As soon As its time to go do the weve been training Long he adding that he expected the i got Here in August last and i thought we would be leaving soon Stryker Driver James of was Busy driving strikers onto freight cars on who joined the army in will be on his first trip Down i know in prepared for the and in looking Forward to it just to say Ive done he the hardest part of the deploy ment will be separation from his who works at the Vilseck Burger Shes going to be Here in Ger Shes getting a lot of sup port but Shes is still worried about Jones another Soldier helping Load the strikers Steven of is also leaving a Young wife grim said he met his German wife shortly after arriving Here last the couple married in april and is expecting their first child in hopefully i can come Home on leave for the he email Seth Robson at  army Rodeo shows 2nd Cav spouses benefits of staying in Germany when gis deploy by Seth Robson stars and stripes Germany officials Are encouraging 2nd cavalry Stryker regiment spouses to stay in to sup port networks during the units 15month Iraq army Community with the help of 2nd is showcasing services for families of deploying soldiers at a redeployment Rodeo at Vilseck memorial fitness Center this on often accompanied by Small wandered through the gym checking out a Range of support services educational and recreation activities to lists of emergency phone numbers within army Garrison second Cav officials were not Able to say How Many spouses will be left behind in Germany or How Many families will return to the states while their soldiers Are de but Ruth the family readiness support assistant for 3rd squad 2nd said there Are Many advantages for spouses who stay in they have a read made support sys tem they Are All in the same boat whereas family and friends Back in the states dont have the same perspective As the spouses who remain she support agencies at Vilseck will often be staffed by 2nd Cav family cow Art so there is that Little extra car ing and giving to the family members be cause they understand what you Are going spouses can face a Range of challenges while their soldiers Are she it can be anything from the cars not starting to i woke up this morning and i have got the flu and the baby is throwing up As she adding that lists of emergency phone numbers Are being handed out at the families who stay also will be close to people who have direct Contact with the spouse she some people will still head Back to the mostly for the Comfort of familiar surroundings and to be with friends and Cowart second Cav has created a virtual family readiness group allowing families to keep up to Date through email and a web efforts Are under Way to establish Points of Contact in the for family she one of the 2nd Cav spouses at the Rodeo was Nivia whose Dominick is getting ready to Nivia said Shell stay in Vilseck with her two Young 3 and from left 2nd cavalry Stryker regiment spouses Miranda Alana Melissa Stacie Herman and Ajnese Walter attended a pro deployment Rodeo that showcased support services available to spouses at Vilseck on in staying close and getting All the in formation my husband has been deployed before and staying close to the unit is the closest thing you have to being with she All the spouses at Vilseck will be in the same she you All share in your own advantages and Well go on take kids to the even just going to Burger King and letting the kids she a group of women married to soldiers from the same 2nd Cav company came to the Rodeo in Matching red company b Alese whose husband is Derk said Shes staying in Vilseck because of the support of the other they know what you Are going through god if something you Are going to be Here for them your spouse a lot she Melissa whose husband is Mike said Shes going Back to her own House in next door to her Par she said she will study business management in Oregon but stay in touch with her friends in Vilseck Over the internet and through phone email Seth Robson at