Capt. Larry and Sgt. Dawnle Scheetz of Sharon met in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Storm.

Through the efforts of fellow soldiers, the two Army Reservists fell in love soon after and were married in 1991, three months after returning to the United States.

Mrs. Scheetz is a staff sergeant at Pendel-Caminiti Army Reserves Center in Farrell and Scheetz is a communications officer in the 475th Quartermaster Group in New Castle.

As military parents, the Scheetzes said there's a possibility that one or both of them could be mobilized for active duty at any time.

Their main concern is their 10-year-old daughter Adrienne. They have several older children who have moved out of the house, including 18-year-old Melanie, who is away at college.

The Scheetzes made plans for Adrienne in case they both have to leave. Adrienne will be sent to live with her oldest sister, Jennifer, and her husband, who live in West Virginia.

They say it's nothing new for the children to see both of their parents sent off. It's happened before. During the bulk of Desert Storm in 1990, Mrs. Scheetz spent Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter in Saudi Arabia.

She wasn't married at the time and Melanie -- who was 7 years old -- was her only child. Melanie lived with an aunt and uncle in Indiana, Pa. where she finished second grade.

The Scheetzes said their children have always understood the possibility that one or both parents could be shipped out at any time.

"Kids get used to this life. We try to disrupt the girls' schooling as little as possible," Mrs. Scheetz said. "Our kids understand. With both of us being in the military, we're always coming and going. The girls can deal with it."

In 1995 when Mrs. Scheetz was transferred to Traverse City, Mich., for three months, she had to leave behind her husband and Melanie and Adrienne, then 12 and 3.

Scheetz said he had to play the role of single parent for awhile.

"I was Mr. Mom, Mr. Dad and a little bit of everything else," Scheetz said.

Mrs. Scheetz said her husband has also left on several occasions.

"He (Scheetz) sometimes leaves weeks at a time and comes back," she said. "When you're married to someone in the military you're adaptive. You learn to handle things on your own."

Mrs. Scheetz said her mother has been "indispensable." She said it helps to have a backup plan, but it's also important to have family support.

She said some military families find situations harder to cope with after a loved one is gone and added that such feelings are OK.

She said the military provides support for families who need help coping with hardships.

Mrs. Scheetz helps to run the Family Readiness Group. She said every military unit has a family support group, which helps families cope with their problems and answers their questions. The support group is available during mobilization and peace time.

Scheetz said the most important priority for the military is making sure that the soldier and the soldier's family are taken care of.

"If you have a happy soldier and the family is well taken care of, then the soldier will take care of the mission."