Thirty-four served, nine-plus to go

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Lesley Waters
  • 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  With a combined 34 years of Air Force service, a joint-military couple received possibly their final assignment to Misawa Air Base, Japan. In order to accept the assignment and have enough time on station, both Airmen had to reenlist or extend.

Master Sgts. Shaffinie Wallace, 4th Medical Group first sergeant, and Ataya Wallace, 4th Fighter Wing command section superintendent, decided to reenlist in the Thomas Koritz Clinic training room Feb. 19, 2010.

The idea of reenlisting together was not originally part of their plans, each of them chose separate dates - he selected Feb. 12 while she picked Feb. 19. Shaffinie then changed his date to Feb. 19, because he wanted to use the opportunity as a mentoring session for some of his Airmen.

"I wanted to show reenlisting is a privilege and an honor," Shaffinie said. "It isn't something you expect to just be given to you."

It also did not hurt that Ataya suggested they reenlist together.

"How often does a husband and wife reenlist together," she said. "This could be our last enlistment and I thought it would be pretty special to cement our bond to the Air Force and as husband and wife."

The couple met in 1997 while stationed at Langley Air Force Base, Va., and married five years later in August 2002. Shaffinie and Ataya have two children together, 5-year-old Aaron and 2-year-old Kyra. Shaffinie also has a 15-year-old son, Tearris.

The couple recognizes military life is not easy on a family, but when both parents are in the military it can be twice as difficult finding the right balance between work and family life.

"A lot of times we have to divide and conquer, one of us takes one (child) to the doctor, while the other (parent) takes one (child) to a game or event," Ataya said. "Then there are those nights when one is working late or has been called out in the middle of the night and the other parent has to take care of everything by themselves."

There has been a few times when Shaffinie and Ataya have had to step-up and be both parents while the other has been deployed. Shaffinie, a native of Butler, Ala., has deployed five times in his 17-year career while Ataya, who has deployed twice in her 17 years, recently returned from Southwest Asia. They have been fortunate to not have been deployed at the same time, but say they have a great support system in place in case they are.

"When you are dual military with children, you need family and friends who are willing to care for your children at a moment's notice and thankfully we have been blessed with that," Ataya said.

It still does not make it easier for the children, whether it is one or both parents deployed. Before she left on her last deployment, Ataya made videos for the children. She read books and created little messages for each child and Shaffinie would play them every time one of the children asked.

"You do your best as a parent and a spouse to make sure those bonds are cemented before you go, so they know you love them no matter where you are and you'll only be apart for a short period of time," Ataya said.

For Shaffinie, he said it was all about routine. He established a routine for himself and the kids and stuck to it as best he could.

With four years left on Ataya's enlistment and five years on Shaffinie's, they both say their goals for staying in the military are to continue to serve their country, take the fight to the enemy and provide a high quality of life for their children.