LT. J.G. CHARLENE


SIPPEL Lieutenant junior grade (Lt. j.g.)


Charlene Sippel, 26, is a surface warfare officer in Mayport who has served four years of active duty. She and her husband Patrick have a 1-year-old daughter, Michaela.


For Charlene, the transition into


motherhood has helped her put aspects of her job into perspective. “It’s helped kind of prioritize things that are more important. You get stressed a lot in this job for smaller things and when you’re a mom, you’re like, Oh, that’s not that stressful.” Charlene emphasizes that despite the pressures of being in the military, being a mother comes


first. “You’re a mother always,” she says. “It’s a wonderful job…but it’s a job. Don’t feel bad that you’re a mom first, and [that] you’re going to need to take time to be a mom.”


Charlene has not deployed since her


daughter was born, but when she does, she plans to keep in touch by recording videos of herself reading books and sending little


currently stationed in Jacksonville. She and her husband Michael have two children, Gisselle, 7, and Giovanni, 3.


Like others, Jessica says time away


Gomez, 24, a petty officer 2nd class, has served in the military for five years and is


YN2 JESSICA GOMEZ Yeoman second class (YN2) Jessica


LT. J.G. VERONICA


BAKER Lt. j.g. Veronica Baker, 25, is in her


third year of active duty as a surface warfare officer at Naval Station Mayport. She and her husband Stephen have an infant daughter, Camila.


When she first found out she was


having a baby, Veronica worried about what her fellow officers would think. “You can’t really enjoy [the pregnancy] at first because you think people are going to say,


from her children is the most challenging aspect of her job and believes it is important for mothers to stay in touch with their children as much as possible while they are away. “Whenever I would get a chance to call [Gisselle], I would call and see how she’s doing and ask her about school…letting her know that I still want to be involved as much as I can be.”


Oh, she got pregnant to get off the ship.” Getting past that feeling was difficult for her, and preparing herself to go back out to sea is another struggle. “Just thinking about having to leave her for months at a time, it’s just hard.” However, Veronica also sees the benefits the military lifestyle has to offer her daughter, such as experiencing life in different places around the country. “I definitely want her to travel while she’s young, because I got to do it and I think it’s opened my eyes a lot more.”


As a new mom, Veronica says she


doesn’t need much to relax—getting her nails done or a little shopping does the trick. “It’s actually nice to have a weekend where you can just stay at home!” Family is what matters most to her. When it comes to work, “it’s not the end of the world,” she says. “Spend time with the people that you care about.”





gifts to a special “mailbox” in Michaela’s room. In the meantime, she maintains balance by enjoying quality time with her family, seeking support from friends and other military mothers, and jogging—“Te jogging stroller has come in very handy, that’s for sure!”


Jessica’s civilian friends constantly ask


her how she does it. “Talking to other moms helps a lot, mothers who have been through it and understand how you feel being away from your kids, especially when it’s your first time,” she says. Support from her husband and mother, together with keeping busy while away, also helps her get through difficult times. Jessica says she makes the sacrifice because of the long-term security the military can offer her children. “You know they’ll be well taken care of, that they’ll be fine…it’s easier said than done, but it’s not impossible.”


MY HERO!


 “Even though it was hard leaving the girls behind [when I deployed]… I never worried because I knew Rachel would be able to handle everything.”


—Chris, Rachel’s husband


 “She loves me more than the world. She works hard to serve our country… for me, and the rest of our family.” —Jalen, Donna’s son


 “I am incredibly blessed as a husband and father to have a wife who excels at both of her roles in life—being a mom and a member of the armed services.” —Patrick, Charlene’s husband


 “Because she works for the country, me and my brother. Even when she’s gone, I know she’s going to come back, and I pray for her every day to come back safe.”—Giselle, Jessica’s daughter


 “Veronica has always felt honored to serve our country. Tank you,Veronica—you are a true hero!”


—Anne Marie Ramos, Veronica’s mother


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