FORT DIX, N.J. — Service members rarely expect to be deployed at the same time as a relative. However, that’s become reality for Allenhurst residents Lt. Col. Anna L. Rego and her son, 1st Lt. Harry Cambrelen Jr.

She is a logistical support officer. He’s the executive officer for the 359th Inland Cargo Transportation Company.

Rego’s family has a tradition of military service. She serves in the Army Reserve and Cambrelen is active Army. She has served in the military for 26 years. Her son has served for 18 months.

“The only thing I ever wanted to do was be in the Army, and when my son joined the Army it was the best honor he could have bestowed upon me,” said Rego. “I’m hoping my two daughters, Barbara and Heather, follow his lead.”

Cambrelen decided to join the Army ROTC in college. He was commissioned in May 2011 from Georgia Southern University.
In November, Rego had the opportunity of promoting her son.

“We promoted him the weekend after Thanksgiving. My brother and sister were there and so the internal family was together for the first time in years,” Rego said.

Her husband, Robert M. Rego, served 20 years in the Army, infantry.

“I feel really proud of my wife and son deploying to Afghanistan together,” Robert Rego said. “I was a little concerned, but my wife and son are well trained and know what to do.”

This will be the first deployment for both mother and son. They are expected to be at the same base in Afghanistan.

“I didn’t ask for it. It just happened that way,” Rego said. “I have great comfort knowing that God is in charge, and he will take care of both my son and me.”

Rego’s mission will be to oversee contracting support. Her group falls under the Logistics Civil Augmentation Program Support Brigade, headquartered in Fort Belvoir, Va.

“During pre-mobilization at Rock Island, Ill., the group had theater logistics training, which is our technical training,” Rego said. In contrast, the training at Fort Dix reinforces basic soldiering.

“The training we’ve received here at Fort Dix is basic fundamentals that I feel has been effective and relevant,” Rego said. “Although the training does not reflect our mission, I feel we can get to theater and protect ourselves and come home safely knowing those skills.”