Deployment may be months away, but for the families of one local Army Reserve unit, preparations never can start too early.
"This pulled family and friends together," said Joan Gallagher, mother of Pfc. Jessica Gallagher, who is serving with the Chattanooga-based 212th Transportation Company.
Mrs. Gallagher and her husband, Patrick, traveled from their home in Charleston, S.C., for a three-day training seminar for families.
Capt. Harry Horton, company commander, said family members from out of state were flown in or drove here to learn about resources and benefits for soldiers and their families.
"This is my one chance to get the families here," Capt. Horton said Tuesday morning after the last meeting at the Chattanooga Choo Choo hotel.
More than half the company's soldiers are from Chattanooga and North Georgia, but the rest are spread from New Jersey to Minneapolis and Miami, said 1st Sgt. Brian Faulkerson.
Most of the families headed home Tuesday or will leave today. On Thursday, the soldiers will board planes for Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif., for basic combat skills refreshers. Then they'll have a break of a few weeks before they leave for mobilization training at Camp Atterbury near Edinburgh, Ind., in early April.
From there, the 212th, attached to a regular Army support unit, will deploy to Afghanistan to drive truck convoys moving supplies throughout the country.
The sergeant said the families are scheduled to meet before, during and after deployment to address any problems that may arise, such as a military member developing post-traumatic stress disorder.
Shannon Asher is the president of the unit's Family Readiness Group, which shares information about deployments with soldiers' families and friends. The group also arranges events such as regular meetings, homecoming celebrations and care package shipments.
Mrs. Asher said her husband, Pfc. Richard Asher, is not deploying with the 212th but may deploy with another unit. That's something she'd rather not have happen.
"If he's going to deploy, I'd rather have him with his guys," she said.
Pfc. Asher's job specialty already is filled in the unit, and some reserve and Army National Guard units assign nondeployed soldiers to other units that need a specific job specialty, she said.
212th FAST FACTS
* The U.S. Army Reserve 212th Transportation Company is a heavy truck company that is based in both Nashville and Chattanooga.
* One hundred and fifty to 200 soldiers leave Thursday for Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif. They will return home for a few weeks before heading to Camp Atterbury near Edinburgh, Ind., in early April for final pre-deployment training for Afghanistan.
* The unit's mission will be to transport supplies in support of a regular Army unit.
* The 212th deployed to Iraq for a year in April 2003, shortly after the U.S.-led invasion.