Brave New Foundation: In Their Boots Episode 7

Originally aired on August 13th, 2008

Topic: Pre-Deployment Stress and Children's Issues
Departure: Chapter 1

Amanda Raymond
Navy Wife

Virginia Ruehrwein
Director of
Youth and Community Outreach
Armed Services YMCA, San Diego




Amanda Raymond
Amanda Raymond lives in the small town of Prospect, Maine and works as a “domestic engineer” — the 24/7 job of raising her 5-year-old daughter, Olivia, and 10-month-old son, Cole. Amanda grew up Navy. Her grandfather was in the Navy. Her father was in the Navy. So it was no surprise when Amanda joined the College NROTC Program in 1997. She met her husband Gary while they were both midshipmen at the University of Maine in Orono. She was commissioned into the Navy in 2000 and served for five years. While she eventually separated to become a full-time mom, Gary stayed in the service. And in April, Gary deployed to Iraq. He’ll be gone for 406 days. Most of those days she’ll have to explain to Olivia where daddy is. And while she’s a tough lady, she knows it’ll be hard.

Gary Raymond
Lt. Gary Raymond met his wife Amanda in college. They were both midshipmen at the University of in Maine in Orono, and got married the same weekend he graduated. Since then he’s been an Assistant Professor of Naval Science at the Maine Maritime Academy, a Navy Nuclear Power Officer on a submarine, and on April 27, 2008, he deployed to Iraq to work as a Watch Officer, monitoring communication networks throughout the country. Gary will be gone for 406 days. While he’s overseas, he’ll miss Christmas with the family, his daughter Olivia’s first day of kindergarten, and his son Cole’s first steps. By the time he comes home his son will be almost 2 years old.