Question for soldiers who have ever been deployed?
478362
my husband was on deployment not too long ago.  letters are great, try to keep them positive.  don't go on and on about how awful the war is and how stupid bush may be...they will either agree or disagree, but it doesn't change the fact that they are there.\n\nalso, black socks, underwear, t-shirts, toothpaste, handi-wipes etc. all help.  there was a period of time when my husband was without a shower for a month or 2 because their water resources were blown up.  so, showers came from handi-wipes or wet nap, ya know baby wipes.  get things that are unscented, though.  snacks are good, granola bars, nuts, cookies, chips, etc.  someone mentioned non-melting things...that's best since it can get to 120 degrees by 9 am.  also, movies, books, magazines, cds...my husband's biggest complaint was boredom alot of the time. they spent a lot of time swapping movies and music. \n\nalso, if you are writing to some troops, ask them if they have any friends that wouldn't mind a care package.  my cousin got lots of packages, but some of his buddies didn't get any at all....he shared, but it wasn't quite the same.\n\nthank you from all of the loved ones of the troops over there for being so compassionate to their personal needs.
761377
Yes they do, like everyone is saying, I just wanted to put my two cents in. I had exodus last year, but I was already done with basic and moved into my actual training. But the soldiers who came in afterwards, one unit did the normal leave, while another unite actually shortened their basic by two weeks to have them out and done by exodus. Bullcrap! I did 9 weeks!
389560
Lots of soldiers do get R&R leave (2 weeks of uncharged leave) in the middle of a year-long deployment.  This, however, is not guaranteed, and I don't think you can request.  I'm pretty sure it has to just be given to you.  SO, it depends on many factors, but yes, it is possible.
999455
I went to basic in fort jackson....i went on june 2nd 2004. Dont bring a damn thing.....When you get there...they give you a 'smart card' and they make you buy shoes...clothes..socks..etc. Keep in mind everything you bring you will be holding with your arms straight out for atleast an hour... so dont buy anything. Try to be what we call'high speed' dont kiss ass..and DONT ASSUME THE DRILL SERGEANTS LIKE YOU..BUT do everything your told to the best of your ability and as fast as possible. Try to become the bay leader or the platoon leader. Work your ass off in pt and dont cry or whine. Whether you like the training..(rifle,landnav,bayonette courses..etc) or not have fun with it but dont smile. Say YES DRILL SEARGEANT , NO DRILL SERGEANT as loud as possible. Keep your area clean and learn how to do hospital corners on your bed BEFORE you go to basic. Start drinking plenty of water now....youll have what is called force hydration where you have to drink 2 qts so you might as well start now so you dont get sick. Make sure your 'battle buddies' dont fuck up...stay on them even if they hate you tellin them what to do itll look good on your part and youll have a smoother ride. Be aware that theyre will be some 'crazies' when you get there...people will try to pull some bullsh it and kill themselves, run away, talk back....just ignore them and do what your supposed to do. The red phase is the worst. Oh and once you get to the blue phase ( last phase) youll be right back to red phase...they like to mind fu ck you like that. Dont stress it though. Youlll learn to like the chow...no soda or dessert but youll be alright...umm if you have anymore questions you can message me on im whatever496@yahoo.com
590409
I was stationed at FT Jackson as a Drill Sergeant for a time in the 1990's. Lots of sand and bugs. Lots of heat as well. Expect early mornings and long days. Just remember it is all a head game. The Drill Sergeant's job is to make you a soldier. It is not hard, you just have to listen and do what is asked of you. You can do it. Their job is to make you think, walk, talk, like a soldier. You will have to learn military customs and tradition, rank structure. How to properly maintain and fire a weapon. How to properly wear your uniform, boots and how to have a professional look about yourself. Be proud to be in the US Army. \n Physical training is a big part of it. Be ready to get fit and lean. Don't worry, they will not leave you behind. They will make every effort to help you and make you a soldier. Also weapons qualification is the other key. If you don't qualify with the M16A2, you will not graduate. A soldier is nothing if he or she cannot properly use the weapons they are given. \nBe ready for FTX(field training exercise) for about 2-3 days and a 10-20 mile road march. Don't worry they will be checking on you and you will stop and take breaks. Keep plenty of water in you at all times. You can't drink enough water. Drink it till it makes you think you will hurl. You don't want to get stuck by a medic with IV bag or in the hospital. Also you will have access to medical care. If you have a problem,let your Drill Sergeant know. Good Luck!
1029602
i have a friend who's husband is security forces, he deploys alot but then again he is an officer, not sure if that makes a difference.  if i  were you though i'd count on being deployed with that job.
959707
My dad was deployed on a lot of holidays when I was growing up.  My mom invited soldiers over whose family was in the States or somewhere else.  Thanksgiving isn't just about family its about being with friends too, so she just made sure that if anyone didn't have a place to go they were at our house!
642009
Thanks for anwsering my question now I will anwser yours.\nI have been in the Army for 6 years now. What is your MOS? (job title) Im a 11B Infantryman. \n\nWhat to bring. Well when I went I was told to bring all kinds of crap and ended up not needing it. \n\nGet a nice new pair of running shoes try and brake them in before you go.\n1-2 towels/washcloths. Basic Hygene kit, razors, 1 can shaving cream, tooth brush/paste, None brakable mirror, fingernail clippers WITH NO FILE, and q-tips. \n\nDO NOT BRING knifes, files, pocketwatches. ect..... anything that you think they might take from you they probably will. NO sharp objects... you get the picture. \n\nUnless they changed it over the last 6 years you will get a debit card that has $300.00 (of your first pay check of course that can only be use at the PX store on base) So you will be able to buy more crap that you think you will need when you get there. \n\nAs far as if your in shape or not. If your not in shape now dont worry about it cause you will be by the time you are finnished. When I joined I was 210 .lbs I came out at 150! 4 years later gained it back lol beefcake! Anyways, here are some pointers. If you have a temper learn to keep your mouth shut. Learn quickly what your are tought. If a drill Sgt tells you to do something do it good and as fast as you can. If you fck up alot you will stick out more and they will make your life more of a living hell as they can. I have heard that Basic training has gone soft comparied to what I or thoughs before me went through, not as much yelling and crap. When you get deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan remember what you have been taught and if there is someone in your unit that has been there before get with them and ask as many questions as you can. Learn your job!  \n\nPlease email me and let me know what your MOS is and I will try and give you an idea of what you are in for alittle more. \n\nOh yeah and when you get in ask about the Rakkasans\nwe are the craziest unit there is. \n\nHave fun and good luck
941062
My, a lot of negative answers so far!  I am not in the armed services, but do have family and friends who are!  Those of you in the military on active duty to the war zones - you've been given a big job, but your the best trained, best armed soldiers in the world (despite politicians like Kerry who ship you out and then cut your funding)!  Keep up the good work, remember your training, keep up the morale, and come home safe!  Thank you for serving, we're all pulling for ya!
800602
First\nThank you for doing this!!!! We currently sponsor 5 groups of soldiers across afghanistan and Iraq.\n\nwww.anysoldier.com\n\nits the best site we found for being able to search and read descriptions etc.. covers ALL branches of soldier overseas\n\nNow for mailing.. we are pro;s at this now\n\nNo mailing of wax items, crayons or chocolate anything between May and Nov\n\nIt melts and you get liquid pacakges\n\nSoldiers are told not to eat homebaked  or unwrapped items.. so if you send these you take a good chance on having them not eaten.\n\nOur groups are 1/2 way through deployment and we know them now and will be seing homemade xmas foods... but they will take now and would not have 6 mos ago before they knew us.\n\nMost soldiers have some way to email.. some have laptops with daily access others dont have reg access... Include and email address with your packages,, many will email back..\n\nWe love our emails and pictures\n\nDo not send stamps as mail for them is free to send out\n\nDVD's unless  a soldier specifically asks for it are a waste of time as they sell bootleg copies over there for 1.00 new releases!  The Black market  is alive and well in Iraq!\n\nEach soldier will put items out on the site they would like etc... We avoid the long lists or lists with silly items.... The bottom line is... they are thrilled with just letters  , and many dont get mail.\n\nWe look for FOB's Forward operating bases or other more remote soldiers over ones on reg bases... these are the guys who dont have access to PX's ( stores) etc...\n\nMOST have chow halls called KBR's but some dont... \n\nThings we send to our guys are Microwaves stuff anf popcorn.. we also tape to DVD weekly shows they are missing like CSI and NCIS they like those.. we send Hard candy  , does nto melt and can be passed out to local kids..\nwe send Pnut butter, crackers, Powdered drink mixes like gatorade, T pastes, soaps,Jerky,\nChex mix, Pringles as they dont get crushed like a bag would, etc...Cookies\n\nOK so for mailing..... Dont mix food and toiletries.... even if you put stuff in baggies the food will taste like soap\n\nWe have mailed t paste with food though put it in ziplocs\nDont mail anything in a glass jar or that can break.... If it can leak, explode or break... IT WILL\n\nSo how much does it cost to mail???????\nWell you dont pay shippin to Iraq!\n\nYou pay shipping costs from where ever you live to NY. In NY it is handed off to the Military Postal system and they fly it overseas,, then it is sorted again by the APO or location and trtucked off to those places as soon as they can safely get it there.\n\nOur experience is ... about 3 weeks til arrival ..\nThere are 2 types of  ways to mail a package at the post office.. Priority and SAM ( space Avail Mail)  SAM is cheaper but can take longer to get to the soldiers.. SAM means once the plane is full and all 1st priority mail is loaded they shove any SAM mail in that will fit ...\nThe Post office will tell you it will never get to the soldier if you send SAM but thats not true...\nSAM mail is cheaper to send and good if its heavy or you can wait  for it to go... it will get to th em.. we have sent both ways... and sincec most of our guys only get mail runs every 2-3 weeks it did not matter.\n\nWhen you pack it ,,make sure you put stuff on the slip..if for soe reason you DO send DVD's DONT list it on the packing slip.. makes your box a target to get stolen!  If you ask post ofice about this they will say you HAVE to list it... so dont ask.. they dont go through the boxes and if you list it it may not get there... this is advice right from the soldiers.. they know.\n\n ALso there will be a box that says if package is undeliverable what do yu want done?? Instead of putting  our return in there to get it back.. we put another Units Address on there so if hte unit we were sending to is gone or cant be found it goes to another one!\n\n   ALso pack your items in plain cardboard or a pos
474717
The Unseen Veteran\n \nTo understand military life, or what it feels like to be the proud wife of a soldier, you need to experience it.\nOne day he was here and now he is gone...He isn't beside me in bed...His scent slowly fades, as dose the memory of his face...I can barely remember the familiar sounds of him at home. I long for comfort when I have a nightmare. I want him to hold me. I wait for those comforting letters or phone calls that come after three months of silence.\nNow, I look upon single parents in awe...and learn to do what they do, until my husband comes home. I don't need a man to put a crib together, to take care of the car or to take out the trash. I have learned to be empathetic. I have become self-sufficient.\nAnd even though these are wonderful things, I would give up everything that I have learned to bring him home right now.\nwhen I think that I cannot go on, I rely on my routine so that I can support my husband while he defends our freedom. And I know that I am not the only one.\nI am an unseen veteran. S are all the other military spouses out there. We have different battlefields. Our maps have pins in the countries of worry, heartache and loneliness. Our battles will end when our husbands come home and are in our arms again. Until that day, I say thank you to all the invisible soldiers who are there for each other, who are there for me. We lend a strong shoulder when needed and we keep up the brave front at home. The war could not be won without us.\n\nSomeone in my FRG sent this to me 2 days after our husbands where deployed. Sent me to crying all over again.
83351
Yes. My husband is in the Army, and was over there. We lost so many friends over there.
1018552
I was in Iraq during Operation Desert Storm.  It was bleak.  After the war ended, many, many, many families were left homeless.  We had hundreds of Iraqi soldiers surrendering to us every day, just to get some food.  We helped many Iraqi families flee from Iraq into Saudi Arabia.  The skies black from all of the oil fields burning in neighboring Kuwait.  I lost a good friend there.
487337
Unfortunately nowadays...it is VERY difficult for them to let go. I got a General Discharge under Honorable conditions while being activated under the Army reserves. My best advice is to get out if you are not deployed. Fail PT tests or gain weight. If you are deployed it will be that much harder...It will take time, but if you don't mind it is possible. Seek for a medical discharge or you have to file a claim against their beleifs...something like you are against war and can not be in the Army beacuse of your religion. It will take time, but it will be worth it. GOOD LUCK!\n...FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE NO CLUE, IT IS NEVER TO LATE TO CHANGE YOUR MIND, AND SOMETIMES YOU ARE NOT TOLD THE TRUTH, NOT JUST ABOUT THE MONEY, BUT TIME TO GO TO SCHOOL, HELP WITH SCHOOL, AND THE ACTUAL JOB YOU WOULD BE DOING. I SIGNED UP TO BE AN ADMINISTRATIVE SPECIALIST, AND I ENDED UP BEING DEPLOYED FOR POSTAL WORK IN SOME INFANTRY UNIT RIGHT IN THE HEART OF IRAQ. I HAD NO TIME FOR SCHOOL, WHEN I APPLIED FOR VA ASSISTANCE I WAS DENIED, AND MOST OF ALL WHEN I WAS SICK THEY PRETTY MUCH SAID 'WELL YOU LOOK PHYSICALLY OKAY, SO O WELL.' THEY FINALLY LET ME GO, WHEN I SHOWED THEM PROOF OF MY REGUALR DR. AND SAW THAT I WAS NOT OKAY!
103060
I am not a soldier...anymore.  I was active duty army for 2 1/2 years and also did a tour in Iraq.  I am now a soldier's wife.  My husband just left a week ago.  I know what you are going through.  You need to understand though that when he says he doesn't want you to worry...that's the truth.  I told my husband before he left that I don't want to know if he gets fired upon, has to shoot anyone, etc.  I would rather just stay in a lovely state called denial. LOL  When I was in Iraq I made that mistake of telling my mom when I was shot upon...I never told her about another incident.  I didn't want her to worry. (Keep in mind...is was there in the beginning)  Give him some time...hopefully he will start having some stories that he cares to share soon.  I am am yahoo messenger quite a bit...my email address is in my profile.  Keep your head up...good luck!
980077
Having been in for 20 years and deployed many times, I can honsetly say that it has to be harder to be left !!  While I was deployed I usualy was kept occupied on the mission at hand, worrying about my soldiers etc...    My wife on the other hand though  had to keep our Household running,  all the bills had to be paid, the kids school and after school activities needed to be met (Taken to and from, all the practices, all the games) etc...  Our household still had to run and she was the one who did it and she had to do it alone most of the times.  Yes the FRG was there to assist and the friends were there to assist also but it was all on her shoulders to keep our household up and running.   I have always said that the role of the Military Spouse has never been properly addressed.  A Good Military Spouse is a rare gem and one that needs to be kept and appreciated (Something that Military Members need to keep in mind).  I thank God for my wife who dealt with the military during our service and all of the deployments.  \n\nThe Military Spouse   \n\nWhen the good Lord was creating military spouses, He was into His sixth day of overtime. \nAn Angel appeared and said, "You're having a lot of trouble on this one. What's wrong with the standard model?" \nThe Lord replied, "Have you ever seen the regulations? It has to be completely independent, must be sponsored to get on base, have the qualities of both mother and father during deployments; Be a perfect hostess to four or 40, handle emergencies without military orders, cope with the flu and move around the world, have a kiss that cures anything from a child's torn valentine to a soldier's weary day, have the patience of a saint when waiting for the unit to return stateside, and have six pairs of soft hands."\nThe Angel shook her head slowly and said, "Six pair of hands? No way!" \nAnd the Lord answered, "Don't worry. We'll make other military spouses to help. Besides, it's not the hands that are causing the problem - it's the heart. It must swell with pride, sustain the ache of separation, beat soundly when it's too tired to do so, be large enough to say 'I understand' when it doesn't, and say 'I love you,' regardless." \n"Lord," said the Angel, touching his sleeve gently, "go to bed. You can finish that tomorrow." \n"I can't," said the Lord. "I'm too close to creating something unique. Already I have one who can heal itself when sick, feed unexpected guests who are stuck in the area due to bad weather, and wave goodbye to its spouse from a pier or runway and understand it's important to the country that the spouse leave." \nThe Angel circled the model of the military spouse very slowly. "It's too soft," she sighed. \n"But tough," the Lord said excitedly. "You cannot imagine what this being can do or endure!" \n"Can it think?" the Angel asked. \n"Can it think? It can convert 1400 to 2 p.m.!" the Lord said. \nFinally, the Angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek. "There's a leak," she pronounced. "I told you that you were trying to put too much into this model." \n"It's not a leak," said the Lord. "It's a tear." \n"What's it for?" asked the Angel. \n"It's for joy, sadness, pain, loneliness and pride," the Lord said. \n"You're a genius," said the Angel. \nThe Lord looked somber and said, "I didn't put it there." \n~Author Unknown
669659
I am an Army brat. My dad is now a retired Lt Col. I've been to Ft. Meade in Maryland, El Toro in California, Keflavik in Iceland, Ramstein in Germany (which I am now at stationed in the Air Force), Mildenhall in England, and Ft. Lewis in Washington. I'm glad that your dad is coming home to you soon. Hope he enjoys his short break from the desert. God bless!