Be safe, good luck, and Godspeed, RedballX!
And, enjoy yourself when you have the chance. Great friend of mine was there for 18 months--got the call while at my house. Father of 3, with a stay at home wife. His company paid his salary the entire time he was out.
Anyway, while I think he would have preferred being home, he took the opportunity to enjoy what he could while there. Being very religious, he was able to visit the traditional house of Abraham. His slide show of pics takes about 2 hours to watch.
Best part, they had one serious injury--from a softball game.
I wish you and your unit the same luck.