Valentine's Day: Military couples and the mission Published Feb. 5, 2010 By Airman 1st Class Valerie Hosea 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) -- Valentine's Day is a day for people to share and show their love for another. For military couples, this day is a day of spent with their loved one or apart because of the mission. The Air Force mission affects couples in different ways, but many agree that overall they're closer to one another because of it. Having an instant friend Lt. Cols. Mark and Michaelle Guerrero met at the combat arms training and maintenance range and have been married for 16 years. At most they've spent one year apart. However, they said they feel that other military couples have faced harder times and more difficult challenges. "Between all of the deployments, PCSing and TDYs, this will be only our third Valentine's Day in 16 years," said Colonel Michaelle Guerrero, the 82nd Medical Support Squadron commander. "But we are very fortunate because a lot of couples have it much worse." The Guerreros said one of their favorite benefits of being assigned to the same wing is that they each have an instant friend. "We haven't had too many assignments where we've been at the same wing, but it's always nice to know that there's someone here who shares enough of my interests and goals that she can finish my sentences," said Colonel Mark Guerrero, the 82nd Training Group deputy commander. They said the mission can be taxing at times, but it's never too much for a marriage if both realize one thing. "Over time we learned that it's not about her career or my career, but that it's about our careers together and family wrapped in one," the deputy commander said. Never stop dating Senior Airman Cedrika Caul of the 82nd Medical Support Squadron, married Tevon Caul Dec. 31, 2009, after a six-month deployment to Southwest Asia. They've been together off and on for about six years now; serving in the Air Force for three of those years. While the Air Force has put their relationship in challenging situations, she said it's never been too difficult. "When I joined the Air Force, I had to move across the country for the mission and in doing that, I had to leave Tevon in Georgia, our home state," she said. "It was a little difficult because he was in Georgia while I was in Texas, but we got through it." Another challenge the young couple faced was when Airman Caul was deployed in June 2009. However, they decided that when she returned, it was time to tie the knot, she said. "We got married one hour after I got off my returning flight to Texas," she said. "Tevon was fully packed and ready to move in our apartment out here." Airman Derrico said that was one of the happiest days of her life and surprisingly one of the most nervous days as well. "We were so nervous about seeing each other after being apart for so long," she said. "I wondered if I had changed too much, if he wouldn't be able to recognize me or even if he might have changed. Little silly thoughts, that all went away the instant we reunited." Mr. and Airman Caul said that a key factor in their marriage is to never let romance get old. "We have a date night every week, because even though we're married, we never want to stop dating each other," Mr. Caul said. Different marriages, same values The Guerreros and the Cauls may differ in rank, time in service, authority and other things. Both couples share the objective of finding the key to their marriages, abiding by it and supporting the Air Force mission at the same time. Regardless of how demanding the mission has been, the Guerreros and the Cauls managed to persevere as one of the lasting military couples.