WOW 12 months home, not great in my book!! You'd think our soldiers would be given the 15 months home having sacrificed so much for this country. Nice thanks that is to everyone over there that thinks they are coming home after their original 12 month tour. You aren't guaranteed 12 months home anyway cause my husband was home maybe 7 months and they were ready to send him back. They tell you what you want to hear and that's that.

quote:

Originally posted by Dreamstalker:

quote:

Originally posted by KingofMinot:
Hmm. So let's see they made the recruiting goal but we are still going to deploy for 15 months. And on top of that this year will mark less promotions to the E5,E6 paygrades?

I am lost with your statement of their being less promotions to E-5 and E-6 correlating to recruiting command not making their mission. The recruirters dont recruit E-5 and E-6s if anythign that shows that they have been making their mission to me. On the issue of them letting in Felons. The Army has been letting in felons forever. Now there are very specific criteria that they must be met to qualify for a waiver and those have not changed in the AR 601-210 ever since before I became a recruiter which was before the war.

I was a recruiter yest but I am not now. In the time I was out there my office did not make mission (over 4.5 years). Now that office has made mission 5 months straight.

Here is another thing to think about with this topic:
Would you rather do 15 months then know you will be home for at least a year or do 12 months and possibly go back sooner than a year?

I'd rather do 18 months and have a choice of what assignment to PCS to until it's time to deploy again. But I rather do the 15months. Hopefully I can finish my degree this go around.

To me this just shows how out of control this war is! - the conditions there were GREATELY underestimated, the insurgents now are better at what they do and getting more creative in finding ways to kill military personnel and civilians (like using babies for example); Last year there were talks to reduce the amount of troops in Iraq, then talks on how the IA is getting control and doing well, now - we need more of our guys...What in the world is going on? I am just so tired of the way this war is ran. I don't believe a word that comes out of Bush's mouth. I don't think that he has a plan at all


OFF TOPIC - If you are a Dallas Stars fan or are in the DFW Area, check out my post in the Off Topic discussion about an oportunity to get free tickets. Sorry for putting this here, but it's not showing under "the last" dicussions on the right and don't want you guys to miss it.

Oh c'mon guys, did you really think the end was in sight? It never ceases to amaze me how much our country's upper management makes us out to be pawns. Folks, we must have a seriously confused President. He may as well just stage a coup and take over the presidency forever so he can carry on this war for the next 50 years.

I'm just tired of being away from family for so long. Then again, at least it isn't like WWII when they were pretty much over there for years at a time before ending their "tour".
What killed this statement for me was the part where it stated that the guard and reserves still only have to do 12 months now, and that the Marines' 7 month deployment cycle isn't effected. So one of our tours in Iraq is twice as long as a Marine's tour in Iraq? That's just gravy.

In case your not sure how bad it really is, go to this site:

www.icasualties.org

We are getting hit HARD. this sh*t's gotta stop.

from KingofMinot: I'd rather do 18 months and have a choice of what assignment to PCS to until it's time to deploy again. But I rather do the 15months. Hopefully I can finish my degree this go around.

If you have time to finish your degree while your here in Iraq, then your hardship isnt as bad as you make out. We spend 4 days at a time "outside the wire" with one day of maint. & refit. We've lost 7 guys from our company in the last month, and I personally just found out that instead of going home in 5 months, Ill have to wait till Jan. and will miss my little girl's 3rd christmas out of the last 4. For some of us there is still a war going on, and getting civ. education is the last thing on our mind. Its ok though, my little girl understands that daddy is doing "HIS JOB". Maybe some people should remember the oath of "COMMITMENT" they took and suck it up, and drive on.

quote:

Originally posted by Rodeo11B:
If you have time to finish your degree while your here in Iraq, then your hardship isnt as bad as you make out. Maybe some people should remember the oath of "COMMITMENT" they took and suck it up, and drive on.

Amen!

I'm a Soldier. I go where I'm told, when I'm told, for as long as I'm told. It sucks to be away from the family, but if that's what the mission requires, so be it. Accomplishment of my mission is the first of my responsibilities.

Perspective:

War on terror:

9-11 American deaths: 2,819

• US military deaths: 3,653 (Iraq and Afghanistan)
  
• Current US population: about 300 million
  
• 0.0012% of the population
  

WWII:

Pearl Harbor: 2,388 American deaths

• US military deaths: 407,300
  
• 1939 US population: 131,028,000
  
• 0.31% of the population
  

Well, at least they are trying to get them some time home. Good post DW, alot of people forget that things could be worse.

Let me first say that I don't like Iraq, or much anything that reminds me of the middle east (such as being here). I married, 11 days later he deployed, 12 days later I PCS-ed to Germany and the month he re-drployed CONUS, I deployed to Iraq. By the time we have our 2 year anniversary, we will have been together (same country) for 44 days. This was not a marriage of convience for the money, but for life-partnership. I learned of the extension 2 days before returning to Iraq from R&R, but I returned. Not all Soldiers that went with me on R&R did.
That having been said, I am not bitter about the extension. I don't like that he is still CONUS (Army says "we're at war, no guarantee's on MACP"), and I don't like to think of how much time we will have together over the next 3, 4, 5, 10 years.
I do understand that this is my job. I gave my word, an oath, to protect and defend my Constitution from all enemies. That sounds like fluffy words, but it translates into being there for my fellow battle buddies. I will not get pregnate to get out of Iraq or the Army. I will not abuse pharmaseuticles, go AWOL, use illegal drugs, or do anything to get out of what I chose, and committed, to do.
Yes 15 months isn't fun. But, like mentioned by others, I have college accesss, free food, a place to sleep, plenty of ammo (unused for now), no shortages of necessities, lots of books, games, internet contact, proper uniforms and hot/ cold/ wet weather gear. Because I am here, combat Soldiers still live. My medics and I save lives, comfort the wounded and sick, and render honors to the dead. We treat Americans, KBR employees, and local nationals with dignity and respect, easing suffering and preserving quality of life. So far, we have never been desperate for medical supplies. We have never wanted for working equipment, or feared that our resources or training was inadequate to accomplish our mission.
Yes my job isn't leaving the gates daily, but we have an important job. Because of us, our fighters can focus on their jobs, not on their potential wounds or deaths. Because of our fighters, our citizens at home can completely ignore us, never fearing for their security from foreign forces. We have free elections with no threats or coersion to vote for this or that political faction. We need only go to the store to get whatever we please from this, and many other contries. I can connect with people from home on the phone and internet. My family will recieve money and some benefits if I do die, and all my medical expenses are taken care of by my employeer, with no deductible or insurance company papers! Millions of Americans (and many non-Americans) ages 5-18 recieve FREE education regardless of their color, religion, income. Yes there have been a few incidents of violence in schools, but nowhere near enough to say that we are in jeopardy of death and cannot attend education.
I am lucky to be an American citizen. What are the chances of being born into the top 8% of wealth, one of the highest food prosperity areas, educated citizens, freedom of expression and ideas (where no one riots at a rude of off-color cartoon, or for talking trash about policical leaders)? It was said many years before I was born," Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." I may be a small, mostly insignificant medic (not a doctor, a celebrity, a millionaire, or a celebrated thinker inventing amazing new technology), but I am a Soldier. I stand up and scrafice my time and comfort 'that others may live', and live well in prosperity. Americans have had less, sacraficed more, and achieved a great continuing legacy. I will give up 15 months (plus last deployment, and the next deployment, field rotations, weekends of staff duty...) for what I believe in. I believe in my fellow Soldier, my family at home, my citizens, and they make up my country.
Am I the only one to see this? Are the words of the Warrior Ethos and the Constitution just empty phrases to so many people out there? Lets step up and be firm in our decisions and proud of ourselves and our fellow Soldiers. Screw the politicians, I will not let them affect my actions, I am a professional Soldier, not a whiny child or a disgruntled mercenary.

quote:

Originally posted by Rodeo11B:
from KingofMinot: I'd rather do 18 months and have a choice of what assignment to PCS to until it's time to deploy again. But I rather do the 15months. Hopefully I can finish my degree this go around.

If you have time to finish your degree while your here in Iraq, then your hardship isnt as bad as you make out. We spend 4 days at a time "outside the wire" with one day of maint. & refit. We've lost 7 guys from our company in the last month, and I personally just found out that instead of going home in 5 months, Ill have to wait till Jan. and will miss my little girl's 3rd christmas out of the last 4. For some of us there is still a war going on, and getting civ. education is the last thing on our mind. Its ok though, my little girl understands that daddy is doing "HIS JOB". Maybe some people should remember the oath of "COMMITMENT" they took and suck it up, and drive on.

I've been there before and in the future as jobs change positions may change but fact still is I'm sure you want to be home. Just because I stay in the rear now and you don't doesn't mean that I haven't been in combat. Hopefully I will never have to be in it again but I do know I'd rather get it all over with now then steady doing this every year for the next 10.

Also if you noticed I said hopefully. Because I realized all that time I spent waiting in line to call home or use the internet I could of being doing clep test and what not. By no means do I expect to do it but I hope to. To be honest I don't know what my mission will even consist of this next go round.

I wish my tour were only 15 months long.

quote:

Originally posted by Daddy Warcrimes:
I'm a Soldier. I go where I'm told, when I'm told, for as long as I'm told. It sucks to be away from the family, but if that's what the mission requires, so be it. Accomplishment of my mission is the first of my responsibilities.

Perspective:

War on terror:

9-11 American deaths: 2,819

• US military deaths: 3,653 (Iraq and Afghanistan)
  
• Current US population: about 300 million
  
• 0.0012% of the population
  

WWII:

Pearl Harbor: 2,388 American deaths

• US military deaths: 407,300
  
• 1939 US population: 131,028,000
  
• 0.31% of the population
  

WOW, this is like comparing apples to oranges. So not alike for so many reasons.

Many soldiers died in WW2, yes, but this is how this is different. During that time, America came out of the Great Depression and during the war became the greatest power in the world, over 12 Million jobs were created, the economy picked up at a high rate, and the war lasted from 1941 to 1945 (4 years). Japan surrendered.

Iraq - Bush failed to find WOMD, is constantly linking 9/11 to Iraq, while calling the war "OIF", the economy is not doing so great, the rest of the world does not like us,the gas prices have trippled, but Exxon/Moble is making about $360 BIL PROFIT, unepmployment rates are way higher, constantly hear about job cuts, this war is costing an incredible amount of money, it's in its 5th year with very little accoplished.

Yeah, I am not a happy camper....Bush et. al did not plan this as they should have.

I want to address the Marine 7 month deployment, to answer the question why is our deployment twice as long, it is shear numbers, by percentage they have a very large commitment. I did not realize this until I worked closely with them on my last deployment.

If we look at this positively, the reason for the extention was not made to keep us deployed longer but to ensure a 12 month home stay. At least someone is thinking about us and our families. A small gesture is better then no gesture.

LIGHTFIGHTER

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Combatdoc7ID,