Neither of them imagined they would meet their future spouse while trying to fix an M-16.
Senior ROTC cadets Marcus Byrne and Alissa (Miller) Byrne met at FTX, or Field Training Exercise, three years ago. Now they balance the responsibilities of ROTC, class and work with an understanding of an unknown future.
"I don't know how many newlyweds met with camo on their face," Marcus Byrne said.
The couple, who walked down the aisle on March 8, slowly flipped through the wide pages of their wedding album in their Scheidler apartment.
They smiled tenderly at each other as they reminisced on the day that changed the direction of their lives.
Several ROTC members played a survival-of-the-fittest game outdoors, similar to laser tag, using M-16s that fired blanks.
They were decorated in camouflage and hid their faces behind green and black paint.
Because Alissa Byrne had no previous experience with an M-16, it wasn't too surprising when she found herself with a jammed weapon.
Frustrated and annoyed, she sat on her Kevlar helmet.
"He came over to help me and un-jammed my weapon, and then we both died," Alissa Byrne said through a chuckle.
She never thought this gesture would lead to a vow.
"I thought he was cute, but I didn't think anything of it," Alissa Byrne said.
The two dated for about five months before Marcus asked her to spend the rest of her life with him.
"It's just a feeling that you have," Marcus Byrne said. "You just know that if you don't catch this person now you're going to miss out the rest of your life and you're never going to get that feeling back that you had when you're with that person."
But alone time is a rare gem for this college couple.
Between the demands of ROTC, school and jobs, their time spent together is minimal.
Marcus Byrne, ROTC's S-1, or personnel administrator, works about 35 hours a week at Taco Bell and is taking a class load of 16 credit hours.
Alissa Byrne is carrying 19 credit hours and works an average of 25 hours a week at Arby's. She is also the cadet in charge of public affairs for ROTC, known as an S-5.
"It adds up," Alissa Byrne said with a sigh.
Although the Byrnes' list of responsibilites seems endless, there's one adjustment they wish they could make.
Alissa Byrne looked down at the Oriental rug under her feet before she let out a slow whisper.
"I know this sounds superficial, but if we had extra money, it would relax some of the stress, and maybe we wouldn't have to work so many hours a week," she said.
Marcus Byrne said less time at work would result in more time spent together.
But as the month of January approaches, just exactly how much time they will spend together in the coming years is unknown.
"Until January, we can't make any plans for our future, because we have no clue what it is," Alissa said.
In November the couple will find out how and where they will serve -- either on the active or the reserve component of the army.
"They know there's going to be periods away from each other, that's part of the job and they both know that," assistant professor of military science John Ward said. "They both have an understanding of what the army is."
The couple had a taste of separation this summer.
Shortly after their wedding, the couple saw each other twice and spent five days together during camp, which lasted about two months.
Although the Byrnes realize the uncertainty of what the future may hold, they are both anticipating their future leadership roles.
"We're training to be leaders of the military," Marcus Byrne said.
Alissa Byrne said it's frustrating to be in the United States with the knowledge of troops in Iraq, but understands the purpose of training in ROTC.
"You want to do your part, and what most people don't realize is that you're actually doing your part by staying behind and learning how to be a more effective and efficient leader," Marcus Byrne said.
Senior ROTC member Adam Sheffield said the couple possesses a high standard of professionalism that is expected among married couples.
"I don't really look at them as a married couple," Sheffield said. "I look at them as individual soldiers."
Alissa Byrne said her career in the military should last between six and eight years. After her service is completed, she plans to return to school for a master's degree in psychology.
On the other hand, Marcus Byrne, who is a telecommunications major, plans to stay in the military until he can retire at age 38.
"I don't see any sense in not doing it," Marcus Byrne said. "The leadership training I have learned here has set me up for success in anything I want to do for the rest of my life."
The Byrnes have an idea of how they would like to see their future blossom. They plan to have two children and move to the state of Washington.
Marcus Byrne said simple math states that he will be placed in a unit and sent somewhere because of the country's need for military involvement.
"Basically they are shipping us out as fast as they did during Vietnam," Alissa Byrne said.
Marcus Byrne said he hoped to be sent to Iraq.
"Not only are you there for the military, but you're there for the people of Iraq, too," he said.
Ward said the military is doing a better job of keeping married couples closer together because it raises the human spirit during tough times.
"Logistically, it's better for the army," Marcus Byrne said. "When they keep us together, it makes us want to stay longer."
Alissa Byrne said it makes more sense for them to be placed near each other, since the military would have to pay the couple stipends for their distance.
"They are both able to take care of themselves and they both know that just because they're not in the same place, that their not going to be without each other," Ward said.
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