Serving in the military is a long-standing tradition for many American families. Although military members devote themselves to defending their country, it can sometimes be tough when they are called away from home and lose time with their children.
Thanks to modern technology, families can communicate much easier while on deployment these days, and hearing a loving voice and seeing a happy smile can make the days go by faster.
Still, being away on holidays can be particularly tough, especially for moms and dads. Millions of American moms will celebrate Mother's Day on May 12, and for one US Air Force mother/daughter duo, it will be particularly special. Senior Master Sergeant Jennifer DeCou, 44, and her daughter, Senior Airman Jenaka DeCou, 21, will spend the day together deployed in Japan.
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Military life is very familiar to the DeCou women.
Jennifer DeCou told Good Morning America that she was inspired to enlist by her grandfathers, who served in the Army and Air Force 26 years ago. Jenaka DeCou enlisted at the logistics field at Joe Foss Field, where her great-grandfather, John Roe, worked while serving in the 114th Fighter Wing of the South Dakota Air National Guard.
"Hearing my mom talk about her deployments that she had been on just seemed like a really amazing and unique experience," Jenaka DeCou told the morning show.
"It was something that I've always kind of been interested in and then also going out to the base and just seeing her work and [seeing] the people that are working with her, I just really fell kind of in love with the environment and the people that were there as well."
Serving together is a special experience.
Jennifer DeCou, a mother of three, told Good Morning America that spending time in Japan with her daughter while on deployment is a gift. She was previously deployed to Iraq, but this experience is unique.
"It's not something that I actually thought we'd be able to do together. So, it's been really great just to watch her and kind of sit back and watch her pave her own path and make her own name," Jennifer DeCou shared.
It's been a relief for Jenaka DeCou to have her mom nearby.
The pair are best friends, and being able to spend this time together is something most people will never experience.
"A lot of people don't really get to have family members on these deployments, so having her be here, especially for my first deployment, it has been a really, really great blessing," Jenaka DeCou explained to the morning show.
She added that having her mom to lean on makes all the difference when she is homesick. "On those harder days, especially with the big time difference from back home, it's really nice to have her here and just have somebody that you feel comfort in and can always run to and talk to."
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The DeCous are proud to be women in the military.
Jennifer DeCous told Good Morning America that being from a military family helped to influence her decision to enlist, but she encourages all women to explore military careers.
"We're surrounded by people that do every job at every spectrum of the military and serve in all ranks. And so, I just always encourage young women to enlist if they think it's something that they're interested in … It's definitely something that they can do," she said.
