Fort Hood spouses got a taste of the action today.
They tried out what their soldiers do on a day to day basis at III Corps's Spouse Combat Day.
It was also some much needed bonding time for those who have spent months apart.
As Army wives competed in categories like tug-of-war, they were all too familiar with the push and pull that comes along with military life.
SGT Russell Bopst cheered on the woman who has been his hero through a recent deployment to Iraq, grateful to spend time with her.
"When you leave, and you're gone for a little bit, you start to realize how precious these moments are, so you take them a little bit more serious, and it's amazing," he said.
From a medical evacuation simulation to throwing grenades, his wife Esther was glad to get a feel for what he does, especially the things he has to deal with when there are oceans between them.
"I can kind of see what he does maybe when they go to the field or like a little bit of what they do when they're deployed," said Esther.
That's what Spouse Combat Day was meant for, with the added bonus of some much needed quality time.
"With deployments, it's always hard on the families, just as much as it is on the soldier, so it's important to get that bond time and to understand what each other is going through," said Cleo McDonald, III Corps's Family Readiness Advisor.
So Russell says he's tucking these memories away, just in case he finds himself miles from home once again.
"These are just those things that you think back on, you look back on and you take comfort from them," he said.
Reporter/Photographer: Sophia Stamas sstamas@kcentv.com
