It's all about the fear of the unknown. With the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, military families had some idea of the enemy their service members would face.
But some soldiers' families have expressed uneasiness as their loved ones prepare to deploy to Liberia - ground zero for the Ebola epidemic.
As Major General Gary Volesky, Commanding General of 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), explained to Reuters:
"Ebola is a different problem set that the division hasn't (faced) before."
The U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases provided training to Fort Campbell's 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) on Oct. 9 ahead of the soldiers' deployment to West Africa.
The UK newspaper Daily Mail reports:
With the right precautions, the risk is low. US soldiers certainly will not be treating sick Liberians and, if all goes according to plan, they will not interact with them either.
But there is still concern among military families. That is something US forces on the ground say they are wrestling with, even as they report feeling relatively safe from infection.
"I have two kids ... Of course they're worrying about their dad.
"At the same time, I've shared the training that I've received with my family ... That's the way I (relieve) them of their fears."
