TULSA, Okla. — There are thousands of U.S. troops deployed in the Middle East.
One of them left this week from Tulsa. His wife, Master Sergeant Annie Hawkins knows and is trained for the risks that come with deployment.
Hawkins was deployed twice. This is her husband's second time. They have 40 years of military experience combined.
Hawkins' husband is a branch chief in the communications department. She is a host aviation resource manager.
"My role here is to ensure that all of our air crew are legal to fly, and I track everything they do -- as far as their training and hours."
The toughest part of the job is separation. Hawkins cannot say how long her husband will be gone for.
"With the kids is where I got the most emotional. It was hard to watch him tell them 'bye.’ We've been married for 10 years."
Despite the risks that come with deployment, she pushes her worry aside.
"You know, during the military, that there's always a chance that something can happen. That's what we train for and that's what we have to be ready for. So, I have faith the troops there in harm's way are going to do their jobs right. I don't have too much worry about him."
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