But on this Southern Arizona Army post, when mom is a sergeant and daughter is a private first class, parade rest is the position to take — especially when other soldiers are present.
Both women are attending training at the Intelligence Center. Sgt. Sylvia Gamble is working to become an intelligence analyst, and Pfc. Sabrina Gamble is going through the intelligence systems maintainer and integrator course.
 Sgt. Sylvia Gamble, of the 305th Military Intelligence Battalion, Company C, describes how she reacted when she found out her daughter, Pfc. Sabrina Gamble, right, of the 305th’s Company B, had joined the Army. The mother and daughter are in intelligence training on Fort Huachuca. (Ed Honda-Herald/Review) |
Sabrina’s enlistment in the Army brought Sylvia back into the ground service. The mother started in the Army, serving in the Reserves for more than five years, then a Navy reservist for two years and then into the Air Force National Guard program for three years, before applying to return to the Army, this time on active duty. During her previous service tours without a break, Sylvia has been an aviation operation specialist in the Army, a Seabee construction worker for the Navy and an Air Force medic.
Sitting in the conference room shared by the 305th and 309th Military Intelligence battalions, the pair talked about how their paths of parent and daughter, and now as soldiers, are intertwined.
Sylvia, 43, got a telephone call from Sabrina, 20, a few months ago while she was on vacation in Washington, D.C. Sylvia remembers her daughter’s “surprise” announcement starting short and simple: “Mom, I’ve joined the Army.”
Looking over at her mother Wednesday, Sabrina said her decision was made because “I wanted to serve my country. I decided I was ready.”
It wasn’t until after Sylvia was informed that Sabrina told her dad, Roger, of her decision. Sylvia and Roger, a retired Army master sergeant, are divorced.
Sabrina initially looked into enlisting in the Air Force, but that service recruiter was not up front with her, leading her to look at the Army.
At that time, Sylvia was in the Air Force. Sabrina said she thought it would be nice to be in the same service.
Sylvia decided to end her connection with the Air Force when she found out there was a possibility for her to again become a soldier, and this time on active duty.
Now that she is again a soldier, Sylvia is looking at becoming a warrant officer, which, if she is successful, will mean Sabrina will not only have to stand at parade rest while talking to mom while both are in uniform, but she will have to salute her, too.
The mother once came upon her daughter, who was with a group of fellow soldiers. Everyone came to a parade rest, Sabrina, too, as mom and daughter talked.
Finally, Sabrina introduced Sylvia: “This is my mom.”
Sabrina has some college courses under her belt. She attended Stark State in Canton, Ohio, where she planned to major in computer security.
But the call of the military became increasingly important to the young woman.
Like her mom had done more than a decade before, she went to basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.
The connection to the Missouri post allowed mom to understand what her daughter was going through.
Of the first few weeks in training, Sabrina said, “I wondered what I was doing, did I make the right decision.”
Phone calls to Sylvia were like long-distance therapy sessions.
The separation was difficult. Sylvia remembered the times she stood in a phone booth at Fort Leonard Wood seeking solace during basic training.
“The best advice I could give her was to take one step at a time,” Sylvia said, admitting that at times she cried with her daughter and sometimes later after a call was completed.
As a soldier in training with Company B, 305th Military Intelligence Battalion, Sabrina said her mother is still part of her survival connection, although Sylvia will be leaving Fort Huachuca in mid-September after she completes her course. Mom is a member of the 305th’s Company C.
Both laughed, saying that each have two sets of drill sergeants, the ones handling Sylvia and the second set involving Sabrina.
As much as possible, the pair try to get together each day. When they have mutual free time, they go off post and shop.
“My view of good PT is walking around the mall,” Sylvia said.
That comment put a smile on Sabrina’s face as she shook her head back and forth in mock disbelief.
Shrugging her shoulders, Sylvia added that to her “weight lifting is lifting a can of Coke and a hamburger.”
Sabrina again had a fake expression of horror on her face.
With a laugh, Sabrina said it’s true her and her mom do like to eat off post, much of which involve fast-food eateries.
“Fine dining is anytime but the DFAC (post dining facility),” Sabrina said as her mom pretended to be shocked.
While each woman have a battle buddy as part of their training, mom and daughter admit they are a special pair of battle buddies.
With an assignment to Hawaii pending, Sylvia said she and a male sergeant in training may seek an assignment switch. He has orders for Fort Campbell, Ky.
What both mom and daughter know is that sometime in the future, after training on Fort Huachuca is completed, they will go to Iraq or Afghanistan.
Their personal philosophy as mom and daughter, but more importantly as soldiers, came about through how they will handle the situation of deploying to a world hot spot — by taking one thing at a time.
Herald/Review senior reporter Bill Hess can be reached at 515-4615 or by e-mail at bill.hess@svherald.com.
