NATIONAL DAY OF THE DEPLOYED

Day of the Deployed: Recognizing Service Abroad and Strength at Home

October 26 marks Day of the Deployed, a time to recognize the men and women serving in active duty missions worldwide and the families who keep life steady while they're away. 

The observance began in 2006, when North Dakota Governor John Hoeven proclaimed the first Day of the Deployed at the request of Shelle Michaels Aberle, a military spouse and volunteer with Soldiers' Angels, whose cousin, U.S. Army Lt. Col. David Hosna, was serving in Iraq at the time. October 26 was chosen to honor his birthday. What started as a local appreciation soon became a nationwide effort, with all 50 states now recognizing the day in honor of those serving far from home. 

Day of the Deployed shines a light on the ongoing sacrifices of service members stationed abroad. These men and women spend months or years away from their families, often in difficult or dangerous environments, carrying out missions vital to national security and humanitarian aid. Their service may not always make headlines, but this day ensures their dedication and courage are never overlooked. 

It also reminds us of the families who carry the weight of deployment at home. Behind every service member is a network of spouses, parents, and children who manage daily life with quiet strength and resilience. Their sacrifices, though different, are no less profound.  

Day of the Deployed is both a day of gratitude and a call for awareness. It asks us to recognize that deployment is not just a mission but also a shared experience of service, endurance, and hope that continues long after the uniform comes off. 

HERO SPOTLIGHT

Captain Jennifer Moreno: Combat Nurse, Leader, and Fallen Hero of Afghanistan 

Jennifer Moreno was born on June 25, 1988, in San Diego, California, and grew up in the Logan Heights neighborhood. From an early age, she was known for her kindness, discipline, and desire to help others. A San Diego High School graduate, she was active in the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC), where her sense of duty and teamwork began to take shape.  

Moreno attended the University of San Francisco, earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing through the Army ROTC program. Commissioned as a U.S. Army Nurse Corps officer, she was assigned to Madigan Army Medical Center at Joint Base Lewis–McChord, Washington. Her dedication and leadership quickly stood out to those around her.  

When the Army Special Operations Command sought volunteers for its elite Cultural Support Team (CST) program, women who would deploy alongside Army Rangers and other special operations units in Afghanistan, then-First Lieutenant Moreno volunteered immediately. The program, part of the Army’s effort to engage Afghan women and families in ways male soldiers could not, required intense physical and tactical training. Moreno completed the course and deployed to Afghanistan in June 2013.  

On October 6, 2013, while supporting Ranger Regiment operations in Kandahar Province, Moreno’s team was caught in a deadly IED ambush during a nighttime raid. When one of the soldiers triggered an explosive device, she rushed forward to help the wounded despite warnings of additional mines. As she moved to render aid, another explosion detonated, fatally injuring her. Her actions that night reflected the highest traditions of selflessness and courage, placing the lives of others above her own without hesitation. 

Captain Moreno was 25 years old. She was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Purple Heart. 

Her legacy is a powerful symbol of compassion in combat and the vital contributions of women in deployed operations. Her name now graces both the Captain Jennifer Moreno Clinic at Joint Base Lewis–McChord and the Jennifer Moreno Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in San Diego, honoring her commitment to healing and service. Her story inspires nurses, soldiers, and civilians alike, reminding us that courage is often defined not by position or rank, but by the instinct to serve when others are in need. 

Captain Jennifer Moreno’s life bridges the roles of healer and warrior. She represents the heart of deployment dedication to mission, care for others, and the quiet bravery that shines brightest in the darkest moments. 

THE HISTORY OF THE DAY OF THE DEPLOYED

The story of Day of the Deployed began in 2006. Shelle Michaels Aberle, a volunteer with Soldiers’ Angels and a military spouse from North Dakota, saw firsthand the quiet sacrifices made by deployed troops and the families they left behind. Her husband, Lieutenant Colonel David Aberle, served overseas at the time. Wanting to create a public way to recognize those still in harm’s way, she reached out to Governor John Hoeven with a proposal for a state observance. 

That year, Governor Hoeven issued the first proclamation, officially designating October 26 as Day of the Deployed. The date held personal significance. It marked the anniversary of LTC Aberle’s unit deploying to Iraq. The proclamation honored two North Dakota National Guard units serving abroad and encouraged citizens to show appreciation for the men and women on active duty worldwide.  

The idea quickly spread beyond North Dakota. Within a few years, dozens of other states adopted their own proclamations, inspired by Aberle’s advocacy and the growing public recognition of military families’ resilience during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.  

In 2011, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution designating October 26 as a National Day of Honor for deployed service members, formally recognizing what had become a nationwide observance. From that point forward, Day of the Deployed became part of America’s calendar of remembrance, standing alongside Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Armed Forces Day as a moment of reflection and gratitude.

Unlike commemorations that honor past service or fallen heroes, Day of the Deployed focuses on those still serving. It reminds the nation that deployment is not only a military operation but a shared human experience, defined by distance, uncertainty, and unwavering resolve on both sides of the ocean.

What began as one spouse’s idea in North Dakota has become a national symbol of unity and appreciation. Day of the Deployed endures as a reminder that every service member abroad and every loved one waiting at home deserves to be seen, supported, and honored. 

WEBSITES AND RESOURCES

Ways to Support Deployed Service Members 

If you want to support deployed soldiers, below are trusted organizations that make it easy to send care packages, write letters, or contribute to programs that boost morale for deployed troops and their families. 

• Soldiers’ Angels – Deployed Support Programs: 
  One of the largest volunteer networks supporting deployed troops. You can “adopt” a deployed service member, join a letter-writing team, or send care packages with essentials and snacks. 

• Support Our Troops – Care Package Requests and Donations: 
  This nonprofit coordinates care packages, hygiene kits, and comfort items for deployed units. Readers can donate funds, sponsor shipments, or submit a deployed troop’s mailing address to receive support. 

• Operation Gratitude – Letters and Care Packages for Deployed Troops: 
  A nationwide organization that sends personalized care packages, letters, and handmade items to deployed troops, veterans, and first responders. You can volunteer locally or write notes online. 

• Any Soldier – Send Mail Directly to Deployed Units: 
  Founded by a U.S. Army family, Any Soldier connects volunteers with deployed service members through verified mailing addresses. Participants can send letters or care packages directly. 

• Operation Shoebox – Care Packages for Deployed Troops: 
  This all-volunteer nonprofit sends care packages filled with snacks, toiletries, and thank-you notes to service members around the world. 

• Blue Star Families – Supporting Military Families at Home: 
  This national nonprofit supports military families facing deployment through community programs, child enrichment events, and peer-to-peer networks.