Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: MarineUS on March 05, 2011, 01:02:28 AM
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Ok. I was told today (Friday) that I had until Saturday at 1300 (1PM EST) to decide whether or not I want to volunteer for a deployment to, Afghanistan.
I know as a, Marine I should WANT to...and normally I would but...with all that my fiance' and I have been through with us losing the baby....
The deployment length is unknown, I'll be shipping out on my 21st birthday, and all that we know is we'll be relieving some of our guys on their rotation and they got beat up pretty bad. We had two KIA's in December, and several of them lost limbs from that month alone. That was the only report we got from them.
I know you guys may pick on me, but I love this girl to death. She is my everything, my foundation. She's been through the thickest and thinnest with me and has ALWAYS supported my decision no matter what it was. She rubs my back, cooks me meals, helps me do anything I ask her to....She is the best thing I could ever ask for...and I don't want to leave her without a way to make it. She's a smart girl and has the potential to do anything she wants in life, but it doesn't mean I don't worry about her.
She has already said she'll support whichever decision I make, I just wish it wasn't so hard.
What would you guys do in my situation?
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Will this be the first for you?
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Into a combat zone, yes.
I did some work in Kuwait (about a month and a half), minor stuff in other places.
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Soon after 9/11, i was in my last year to graduate from college. Soon after, i wanted to join the army but was rejected because i have Hepatitis C. I still want to join some military, however, now that i had that dam heart attack this past December, that pretty end any chance. Yes, i want to do my part for my country and look up at those who are and have in the past.
MarineUS, you join the Marines for a reason and know that you will fight in Iraq or Afghanistan. Yes, you should go. But do what you feel is best. Personally, you asking any of us to fight in a war that you may die...i think it should be up to you to make that call.
Niether way, i want to thank you for serving our country. :salute
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Ok. I was told today (Friday) that I had until Saturday at 1300 (1PM EST) to decide whether or not I want to volunteer for a deployment to, Afghanistan.
I know as a, Marine I should WANT to...and normally I would but...with all that my fiance' and I have been through with us losing the baby....
The deployment length is unknown, I'll be shipping out on my 21st birthday, and all that we know is we'll be relieving some of our guys on their rotation and they got beat up pretty bad. We had two KIA's in December, and several of them lost limbs from that month alone. That was the only report we got from them.
I know you guys may pick on me, but I love this girl to death. She is my everything, my foundation. She's been through the thickest and thinnest with me and has ALWAYS supported my decision no matter what it was. She rubs my back, cooks me meals, helps me do anything I ask her to....She is the best thing I could ever ask for...and I don't want to leave her without a way to make it. She's a smart girl and has the potential to do anything she wants in life, but it doesn't mean I don't worry about her.
She has already said she'll support whichever decision I make, I just wish it wasn't so hard.
What would you guys do in my situation?
It isn't any man's place to tell another how to live their life. You need to do what is in your heart.
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Ok. I was told today (Friday) that I had until Saturday at 1300 (1PM EST) to decide whether or not I want to volunteer for a deployment to, Afghanistan.
What would you guys do in my situation?
what Moray37 said it, it is all on you MarineUS...... and most military I know including "my new son-in-law Marine" who just left this past Monday from Hawaii hdg back to Afghanistan for his second tour there after one tour in Iraq already .......... he did not have any choice...... but he did have the choice to want to marry my oldest Daughter before he left this time, and was one of the types who actually asked me for premission before he even popped the question to her..... ( Big wedding planned when he returns in 8 months )
I thank you for your volunteering to serve and protect all of us..... all of you are in our prayers & thoughts
make your own decision, and think back to what you was joining the Marines for in the first place, when you volunteered........ that should give you your answer
<S>
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I'm going really soon, its going to be a complete suckfest but im also glad im going, man do whatever u think is best for u and ur family
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Yeah. It's just the thought of leaving her so soon after what we had to go through. I know she'll be fine, just hard to.
The word I got handed down was "They need bodies, they're way short.", just a little nervous that she'll end up with nothing if something happens to me I guess.
Old Glory's callin' my name it seems. Best I answer.
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Yeah. It's just the thought of leaving her so soon after what we had to go through. I know she'll be fine, just hard to.
The word I got handed down was "They need bodies, they're way short.", just a little nervous that she'll end up with nothing if something happens to me I guess.
Old Glory's callin' my name it seems. Best I answer.
stay safe, and thank you
:salute
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Do whatever you think is best. :salute
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I am waving my dwell time and trying to go back, it is what I do, who I am and it is my duty. Marine, do not worry about what others think, it is what you think is the important thing. In the end, no matter what you decide to do, this Vet salutes you :salute
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Marine...sounds like you're a pfc...not an easy pay grade to try and support a family...regardless of your mos, all marines are grunts first...if your fiance is the only thing holding you back, put her down as beneficiary on your life insurance and make sure she has access to your bank account...set things up as if she was your wife...would be better/easier if you were married but...
going over there is going to be a life changing experience...especially if you see action...you may not be the same person when you get back...be sure she understands that and can handle it...be sure you can handle it.
the decision is solely yours to make...it's rare to be given a choice during war time...in my time we volunteered before they asked but this generation is different...whatever you decide, it has to be you and you alone to make the decision.
Semper Fi :salute
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If you're going to marry her anyhow, consider going to a justice of the peace and get a quickie marriage done. Get her enrolled on base, registered as a dependent, etc. Get a living trust through the base legal office.
Have a regular wedding when you get back.
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If you're going to marry her anyhow, consider going to a justice of the peace and get a quickie marriage done. Get her enrolled on base, registered as a dependent, etc. Get a living trust through the base legal office.
Have a regular wedding when you get back.
Never known eagl to offer bad advice, listen to him.
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If you go, shoot one right between the eyes for me! :rock :salute
Unfortunately I cant enlist cause I have epilepsy.
-BigBOBCH
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If you're going to marry her anyhow, consider going to a justice of the peace and get a quickie marriage done. Get her enrolled on base, registered as a dependent, etc. Get a living trust through the base legal office.
Have a regular wedding when you get back.
Yeah thats what I was gonna suggest, just go to the court house before you deploy to just make it legal, when you get back you can do the whole family big ceremony thing at the church, I mean if your going to marry her anyways at least make sure she gets the full benefits that come with being the spouse before you deploy, this way if god forbid something does happen to you then you know she'll be taken care of.
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What eagl said. :salute
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If you're going to marry her anyhow, consider going to a justice of the peace and get a quickie marriage done. Get her enrolled on base, registered as a dependent, etc. Get a living trust through the base legal office.
Have a regular wedding when you get back.
went through a ordeal with my girlfriends daughter, Her and Ryan were supposed to get married when he returned, sadly he returned in a casket and they only thing she was left with was his life insurance, she had no other rights to him according to the laws, i ride with the Patiot Guard Riders ( 25 rides in 3 years) so we worked with both families and the military to get her as much help as we could, if i could turn back time i would of made sure they got married first, Marry her Brother before ya go :salute Semper Fidelis
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I am waving my dwell time and trying to go back, it is what I do, who I am and it is my duty. Marine, do not worry about what others think, it is what you think is the important thing. In the end, no matter what you decide to do, this Vet salutes you :salute
thats some good stuff man, :salute
btw do u have orders yet for when u get up here? we just got back from NTC last night.
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You signed up and a lot of time and money went into training you. I'm sure others in your group depend on you to pull your weight.
The girl that you say is so special is not married yet.
Only you can make that decision.
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I say go for it, do our country proud! :salute
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Do as your heart tells you. Just keep your wits about you and remember that you are mortal and simply just can "re-up from the SW runway" is you get shot down. ;)
Best of luck!
:salute
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Thanks guys. I put in my word today.
I am waving my dwell time and trying to go back, it is what I do, who I am and it is my duty. Marine, do not worry about what others think, it is what you think is the important thing. In the end, no matter what you decide to do, this Vet salutes you :salute
:salute
This will be the third deployment I've opted for, but I got passed up on the other two because they needed NCO's (I'm a Lance Corporal)m but now they're short on everything, especially E-3's.
Marine...sounds like you're a pfc...not an easy pay grade to try and support a family...regardless of your mos, all marines are grunts first...if your fiance is the only thing holding you back, put her down as beneficiary on your life insurance and make sure she has access to your bank account...set things up as if she was your wife...would be better/easier if you were married but...
going over there is going to be a life changing experience...especially if you see action...you may not be the same person when you get back...be sure she understands that and can handle it...be sure you can handle it.
the decision is solely yours to make...it's rare to be given a choice during war time...in my time we volunteered before they asked but this generation is different...whatever you decide, it has to be you and you alone to make the decision.
Semper Fi :salute
Part of the LCpl underground ;)
Past due for Cpl - but the USMC has pretty much frozen promotions(funding).
She knows I can change, her family was military to the max. She's told me that no matter what happens that she'll be right here beside me.
As for being able to volunteer, it's because they're in short supply on a large scale.
Semper Fi brother :salute
If you're going to marry her anyhow, consider going to a justice of the peace and get a quickie marriage done. Get her enrolled on base, registered as a dependent, etc. Get a living trust through the base legal office.
Have a regular wedding when you get back.
I'm thinking that's what we're going to end up doing. Never really been briefed on the whole marriage ordeal for the military but I'll go up my CoC and see what to do.
Do as your heart tells you. Just keep your wits about you and remember that you are mortal and simply just can "re-up from the SW runway" is you get shot down. ;)
Best of luck!
:salute
What do I do if they get a CAP then? Can't I just up a death star and roll at 'em over and over??:P :P
Thanks for the support again guys.
:salute
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I'm kinda in a similar conflict. About 3 days ago I was contacted by West Point about the application I put in acouple months ago....problem is my deployment is quite soon. Either I go to west point or deploy....
I ain't no girl I'm deploying.
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I'm kinda in a similar conflict. About 3 days ago I was contacted by West Point about the application I put in acouple months ago....problem is my deployment is quite soon. Either I go to west point or deploy....
I ain't no girl I'm deploying.
:headscratch: That is just a serious headscratcher, sorry. It's not like they are going to keep your appointment open there. Girl or not, if you passed up an academy appointment, you need another psych exam.
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^ Lol
You could always deploy in the future. Especially as an officer.
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:headscratch: That is just a serious headscratcher, sorry. It's not like they are going to keep your appointment open there. Girl or not, if you passed up an academy appointment, you need another psych exam.
complete sarcasm :aok
My opinion on that is that all Officers should serve as enlisted before they get their commision so they know what the lowest level Soldiers go through.
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Stay safe MarineUS, or I'll come over there and kick your ass.
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You have some decisions to make. I got into this late and it sounds like you made one of them already. What I was going to do was ask you a question and there is no sarcasm intended, just one old soldier to a younger one. What did you join up for? Then make the decision about deploying on that basis.
The second issue is your fiance. How much do you love her? Do you want her recognized by the Military and have benefits? You know that won't happen as long as she is not married to you. She is just a girlfriend as far as as the military is concerned in that case. If you want to take care of her you need to decide something. Eagle and a couple others already hit the high points on that issue and you can have the fancy shindig when you get back.
You are in the adult world now and decisions can be tough to make. You DO have to make them though and not making a decision is still a decision. How much do you want to do for her? You were almost a Dad there. Not being married put her and the child in a legal limbo that would be a huge hassle for them to deal with had you not come back from deployment if you were not married.
You know what your choices are. Talk them over with her and decide. If you are still single when you are deployed, she is not a dependent to the military.
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complete sarcasm :aok
My opinion on that is that all Officers should serve as enlisted before they get their commision so they know what the lowest level Soldiers go through.
A good Officer knows what his troops are doing anyhow. A good Officer also knows he is not there to make friends with his troops but he does have to earn their respect. Just because a person is an Officer does not mean they don't get dirty and do work either.
The academy won't hold an appointment for you. If they extend it they expect you to make a decision and stand by it. Choose. If you choose to pass the up the academy you DO need a psych exam.
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A good Officer knows what his troops are doing anyhow. A good Officer also knows he is not there to make friends with his troops but he does have to earn their respect. Just because a person is an Officer does not mean they don't get dirty and do work either.
The academy won't hold an appointment for you. If they extend it they expect you to make a decision and stand by it. Choose. If you choose to pass the up the academy you DO need a psych exam.
I didn't say im passing it up....that was sarcasm....Wish all Officers did that but...they don't
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You get a choice??!! :O
I never got no stinkin' choice. :P
Good luck with your decision. I was with the first troops into Iraq & A'stan,so I don't think I should advise you here, as I know I am biased.
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You get a choice??!! :O
I never got no stinkin' choice. :P
Good luck with your decision. I was with the first troops into Iraq & A'stan,so I don't think I should advise you here, as I know I am biased.
Wish I could meet this man in person...feel like Id learn alot in a very short time
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What would you guys do in my situation?
Only you can answer that question. Good luck.
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If you're going to marry her anyhow, consider going to a justice of the peace and get a quickie marriage done. Get her enrolled on base, registered as a dependent, etc. Get a living trust through the base legal office.
Have a regular wedding when you get back.
that is exactly what my Daughter and Son-in-law did back in January, Jamie flew out to Hawaii for 10 days, they got married and took care of all the paper work, registering as dependent and military ID stuff all in 3 days time.......
was very quick, is what they wanted ( He wanted ), and she has 8 months to plan the Big "shindig" as eagl put it, for when he returns.....
Best of Luck and wishes for ya MarineUS
TC
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I'm kinda in a similar conflict. About 3 days ago I was contacted by West Point about the application I put in acouple months ago....problem is my deployment is quite soon. Either I go to west point or deploy....
I ain't no girl I'm deploying.
You're going to turn down a west point appointment just to deploy? That has to be the most retarded thing I've ever heard. Seriously. That's like giving up a free steak dinner with your childhood hero because you have a frozen dinner at home that is approaching it's expiration date. We've been at war for over 20 years now, and there will be plenty of things to do in the next 20 years. Don't turn down a service academy spot which will change your entire life, for just one deployment. You'll get plenty of chances to deploy.
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You're going to turn down a west point appointment just to deploy? That has to be the most retarded thing I've ever heard. Seriously.
My thoughts exactly.
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If he's going to phuque up a decision like that let him.
Or do you want him going to WP, possibly graduating and then
holding any kind of position that may have him making choices
and decisions that have life/death effects on others?
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If he's going to phuque up a decision like that let him.
Or do you want him going to WP, possibly graduating and then
holding any kind of position that may have him making choices
and decisions that have life/death effects on others?
One would like to think that youth never make mistakes. This could be an example of one, but then if he gets some good counsel it would turn out right. One would also hope that a good NCO would take that young butter bar and train him up to be a good Officer. The academy can't do it all, the seasoning after the classes are over are more critical to that situation. The bad Officers will not listen to their NCO's advice. Pity the young LT early in his career who never gets the oportunity to serve with a good NCO.
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sarcasm like I already said.....If I can get into West Point Id take it...but Im nopt going to get my hopes up.
My problem with West Point....Im 22...Age cut-off is your 23rd birthday...
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Well...the correspondence you had with them...was it kinda procedural stuff (which they would send one way or the other) or does it indicate something which gives you realistic hope? (Also, do you have any relatives or family friends who went there, who could write a nice letter?)
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If you're going to marry her anyhow, consider going to a justice of the peace and get a quickie marriage done. Get her enrolled on base, registered as a dependent, etc. Get a living trust through the base legal office.
Have a regular wedding when you get back.
This. My cousin married a very cool guy who is in the Navy involved with special warfare in a hurry when he got word of another deployment. He came home safe, we had a nice family service and she/his unborn son were protected in case the worst happened. He's back stateside now for the next few years and so shall we hope for you Marine.
Semper Fi and come home safe.
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It isn't my place to decide such matters, but as you have asked:
Don't go! You're just a kid! Enjoy your youth, do it for all those to whom it was denied (Draftees); marry that pretty girl you love. Trust me, you'll come back a changed man, and you will know what you truly have to lose. You need not die, be maimed or go mad. Don't let those sick "patriotic" ba****** they call officers get in your way!
-Penguin
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It isn't my place to decide such matters, but as you have asked:
Don't go! You're just a kid! Enjoy your youth, do it for all those to whom it was denied (Draftees); marry that pretty girl you love. Trust me, you'll come back a changed man, and you will know what you truly have to lose. You need not die, be maimed or go mad. Don't let those sick "patriotic" ba****** they call officers get in your way!
-Penguin
Wow...
Also, can I see the statistics for amount drafted for Afghanistan and Iraq?
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Well you had good advice posted here for you. It was inevitable that you would get the other end of the spectrum. The real far end.
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Wow...
Also, can I see the statistics for amount drafted for Afghanistan and Iraq?
By draftees I meant those drafted in WWII and Vietnam.
-Penguin
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Marine,
I did a tour there at the same age. Changed my life forever. Completely changed me as a person, you think you grew up fast joining the military. Just wait. No going to tell you either way what to do, its not my place. But something to think about, you do a tour now or later. Either way you are going to change. Ive seen a lot of relationships end not only because of the tour, but because how different we are when we return home. So it may be in the best interest to do one now. That way upon returning your significant other will be able to handle you as a new person. Not trying to sound depressing, a lot of relationships are strengthened by tours. But just another aspect us in the military have to deal with. The choice is truely yours, You probably already knew the answer to your question way ahead of posting it. You just didnt know it yet.
The draft still exists. It just goes by a different name. Individual Augmentation. Basically all service members in the Air Force and Navy has a little blurb in their contracts that states in a time of need a sailor or airmen can be chosen to be sent to the Army to support them. Currently there are a few thousand sailors that are filling this role in Iraq and afghanistan. Biggest difference from keeping it a true draft is it does not effect civilians. Each command is given a number of sailors they need to give to the program every so often and usually the spots are filled by volunteers. Im some cases a sailor is randomly picked to go. In my case I was picked. Trust me, being in the Navy for all of a year and unexpectedly handed orders that said afghanistan was a moment where Im not afraid to say I almost pooped my pants. But in the end it was well worth the experience minus a few life long side effects. Sailors sent to fill these slots are first sent to Army bases and given a condensed version of Army basic, then sent to training for their specific jobs they will be doing overseas. Jobs differ from EOD, Detainee Opertions, PRT Teams, Convoys, etc. Basically almost any job the Army has Sailors are trained to fill in.
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Well you had good advice posted here for you. It was inevitable that you would get the other end of the spectrum. The real far end.
That wasn't the far end... That was probably mainstream, except the little snippy bit about officers. Guess what - a bunch of officers think we "won" in Iraq and Afghanistan several years ago, and we're wasting lives and money there for no good reason.
The far end is occupied by rats like the westboro "church" lunatics, people who go after soldiers instead of the policy makers, and traitors like Hanoi Jane and that Manning kid.
I'm not going to mention my own thoughts on the subject of volunteering to go to Afghanistan. But if someone is going to go then they ought to have their affairs in order because there is a good chance they'll be leaving, at the very least, some blood in the sands and mountains of a country known for for resisting outsiders regardless of the outsider's intentions.
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And don't kid yourself about any progress we're making there or what our objectives really are... We just wasted a bunch of kids collecting firewood while trying to get some bastages who were lofting rockets at a US base, even with fairly restrictive ROE in place. My guess is that the guys launching the rockets used the kids as cover, knowing full well that a log of firewood probably looks like a rocket when viewed from a helicopter. My point is, that's one hell of an unfriendly place and it doesn't seem like it's getting any better. The people we went in there to get are gone, and the longer we stay the more hostile the place will get because no matter how tight the ROE gets, we're still going to occasionally kill a group of innocent people. It's a bad scene no matter how you look at it and no matter what perspective you view our "mission" there from.
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And don't kid yourself about any progress we're making there or what our objectives really are... We just wasted a bunch of kids collecting firewood while trying to get some bastages who were lofting rockets at a US base, even with fairly restrictive ROE in place. My guess is that the guys launching the rockets used the kids as cover, knowing full well that a log of firewood probably looks like a rocket when viewed from a helicopter. My point is, that's one hell of an unfriendly place and it doesn't seem like it's getting any better. The people we went in there to get are gone, and the longer we stay the more hostile the place will get because no matter how tight the ROE gets, we're still going to occasionally kill a group of innocent people. It's a bad scene no matter how you look at it and no matter what perspective you view our "mission" there from.
If you haven't seen it, you should check out episode 5 of Ross Kemp's "Return to Afghanistan" on youtube. I agree with most of what you said, but that video still offers some interesting perspectives on it.
It isn't my place to decide such matters, but as you have asked:
Don't go! You're just a kid! Enjoy your youth, do it for all those to whom it was denied (Draftees); marry that pretty girl you love. Trust me, you'll come back a changed man, and you will know what you truly have to lose. You need not die, be maimed or go mad. Don't let those sick "patriotic" ba****** they call officers get in your way!
I don't agree with the way you said that...but I do agree with your basic point.
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In the end, it's HIS decision to make. For myself, my family hates when I deploy, but the understand that it is the chosen career that we made as a family. Loss of life is expected, accpeted but never liked. It has been an all volunteer military since the mid 70's and there is not a single person who made the same choice I did and the thousands before me did. Those of us in uniform took an oath and we are expected to live up to that no matter what the situation is. If you have not been to either Iraq or Afghanistan, you do not understand nor could you possibly comprehend the notion that it is matter of duty to go there( if that makes any sense)... Westboro Baptist Church are scum bags and it makes me sick to my stomach the trash they spew out, but unfortunately it their freedom of speech which I took an oath to protect ad much like some of the crap that is posted it, I do not have to like it but I have to repsect it. None of us asked for this war but we are going to finish it. Service members do not start wars, thats what politicians do, we are the instruments of peace and war and we are prepared for both. Everyday I walk into my Battalion, I am reminded of why I still keep doing this: the ones who did not make it home.please feel free to quote me and if you like , you can pm me and I will give you my cell number and we can discuss it further and in the language I prefer. TC, out
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I'd say no, if you have any second thoughts you should stay with her. If you go and come back chances are SHE will have changed too.
Thats just my opinion, I'd rather be with a girl I loved then fight a war we can't win.
Theres no easy answer people are dying over there
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She has already said she'll support whichever decision I make, I just wish it wasn't so hard.
What would you guys do in my situation?
Its not so hard. It comes down to why you joined. Did you join for the paycheck or did you join because you believe you will be serving your country that is under attack? In the second case, if you go you will be serving your country and protecting the woman you love. In the first, well, get another job.
So, which one is it?
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Its not so hard. It comes down to why you joined. Did you join for the paycheck or did you join because you believe you will be serving your country that is under attack? In the second case, if you go you will be serving your country and protecting the woman you love. In the first, well, get another job.
So, which one is it?
Very well put...
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my wife will tell you that being a military wife is the toughest job out there but she has stood by my side for all my deployments. Sometimes things are not meant to be.
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As was once said in the Navy: "Sail a desk" It looks great on a resume when you have both served your country and done it while getting valuable job experience (without the nasty part about getting shot to pieces).
I have nothing against soldiers, I just think it's not in the best intrests of survival to join.
-Penguin
PS: However, I make an exception for astronauts; if they need volunteers for space exploration, I'll be the first one in line.
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Its not so hard. It comes down to why you joined. Did you join for the paycheck or did you join because you believe you will be serving your country that is under attack? In the second case, if you go you will be serving your country and protecting the woman you love. In the first, well, get another job.
So, which one is it?
Only a moron joins for the "check". Everyone knows uncle sam pays ya a 100 bucks and takes back 99. ;)
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Only a moron joins for the "check". Everyone knows uncle sam pays ya a 100 bucks and takes back 99. ;)
Not really its a steady paycheck, healthcare, housing, and food......economy for civilians is terrible right now.
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Except that you'll be in there so long that you'll either take a bullet or lose your mind.
-Penguin
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The faster you leave, the faster you return
:salute
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Or don't leave, enjoy your youth, and not worry when you have to come back.
-Penguin
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Except that you'll be in there so long that you'll either take a bullet or lose your mind.
-Penguin
You need to stop posting here.
RTR
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Except that you'll be in there so long that you'll either take a bullet or lose your mind.
-Penguin
How many years of service do you have?
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MarineUS, you should revisit what prompted you to enlist, your answer is there.
You, and only you, can make this decision. I think you already know the answer anyway.
GL :salute
RTR
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You need to stop posting here.
RTR
He makes some good points, but puts them across in precisely the wrong ways, IMO.
And MarineUS: for what (little) it's worth, I don't think the solution to the problems with Afghanistan is a military one. Personally, I'd say that you shouldn't go, but then again I am rather biased against war. Just my 0.02 cents (or is it pence...?)
edit: I often wonder about a person's net impact on the world. Have you thought about what impact you can make on other people's lives if you go and deploy versus not deploying?
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He makes some good points, but puts them across in precisely the wrong ways, IMO.
And MarineUS: for what (little) it's worth, I don't think the solution to the problems with Afghanistan is a military one. Personally, I'd say that you shouldn't go, but then again I am rather biased against war. Just my 0.02 cents (or is it pence...?)
Rubles.
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off topic, Dicho's right..
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None, but what I've heard from local veterans seems to point towards Murphy's law and PTSD taking their toll. I'm convinced that I've been looking in the wrong places though (nursing homes, Veterans Center). Seriously, don't you guys have a rather fanatical cleaning regimen for your weapons? These guys just left 'em in the dirt. I think this may have something to do with it.
:headscratch:
-Penguin
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Я не русский! :P
Sorry, I don't speak Spanish.
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how about we not derail this thread with nonsense
Marine..
I have my own opinion but I'll keep that to myself and I wouldn't think less of you if you took the opposing point of view.
Each man has to look inside of himself and make the decisions in life that allow him to look himself in the mirror in the morning and see someone he respects. Right now you're at a crossroads and the decisions you make can have a wide variety of ramifications. Just decide on what you can live with and be absolutely positively sure you can do it without regrets.
Welcome to being an adult where you're constantly between a rock and a hard place.
Either way.. :salute
At least you're seeking some counsel prior to making a decision. As diverse and opinionated as this place can be I do think 95% of the folks here do have your best interests at heart.
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how about we not derail this thread with nonsense
Marine..
I have my own opinion but I'll keep that to myself and I wouldn't think less of you if you took the opposing point of view.
Each man has to look inside of himself and make the decisions in life that allow him to look himself in the mirror in the morning and see someone he respects. Right now you're at a crossroads and the decisions you make can have a wide variety of ramifications. Just decide on what you can live with and be absolutely positively sure you can do it without regrets.
Welcome to being an adult where you're constantly between a rock and a hard place.
Either way.. :salute
At least you're seeking some counsel prior to making a decision. As diverse and opinionated as this place can be I do think 95% of the folks here do have your best interests at heart.
Yeah. I know these guys like to be tough on ya, but in the end we all watch out for each other. :)
I want to be a Drill Instructor one day and I look and ask "The scary Drill Instructors are the ones who have been to combat" *They are ALL scary but you get the idea :P*
And it's not that I want to "scare" recruits or "kill" them, I LOVE to teach and had considered being a history teacher before I joined. This way it helps me on both. :)
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MarineUS, you should revisit what prompted you to enlist, your answer is there.
You, and only you, can make this decision. I think you already know the answer anyway.
I agree 100%. When it comes to deployment orders, you go when you're ordered to go, pretty simple. When it comes to volunteering to go when you don't have to, the opinions of others shouldn't be the deciding factor even though getting the opinions of people you respect is a good idea. You know how you felt when you signed up, how you felt when you finished basic, and you probably have a good idea what your "mission in life" is, with regards to your military service. That ought to be enough to make your decision. And as RTR said, you probably already know what the answer is, even if it conflicts with your feelings in other areas like with how you feel about your fiance.
My specific suggestion is if you deploy, you really need to have your stuff in order back home, including uncomfortable issues like having the right paperwork for taking care of dependents and for taking care of yourself if you come home unable to care for yourself.
My other comments were focused entirely on the opinion aspects of the various suggestions, specifically Penguin's opinion being considered an extreme one. In my worthless opinion, Penguin's perspective is just a bit off of center and not extreme at all. It seems perfectly reasonable to me that someone who does not think that the war in Afghanistan serves the interests of the US would advise someone else to avoid voluntarily endangering themselves in what they see as a needless war. That isn't extreme, that's common sense. The mirror image of that opinion is the advice to actively volunteer to go to what some people think is a needless war simply because even if it isn't a war for national survival, our nation's leaders have made the call and a patriot will answer that call every single time.
Again in my worthless opinion, those are opinions within the bounds of rational debate. The extremes are populated by people who advocate deploying just for the chance to kill some Muslims (yea those people exist), those who actually attack everyone in the military simply because they are part of an organization engaged in carrying out our national defense policy, and those who commit treason instead of participating in the legal processes to advocate policy change. Those are the extremes and in my opinion despicable positions, and I didn't see any of those opinions in messages here.
One of my Dad's best friends in high school went back to Vietnam 3 times as an airborne FAC and spotter, after serving his time his first deployment. He didn't make it back from his third trip, so I grew up understanding full well the implications of volunteering to return to a hotly debated war. And I have volunteered to participate in several hotly debated military activities in the last couple of years not because they would make me look good in front of my peers, and certainly not because they might help my career, but simply because I felt that participating in the process would be preferable to just complaining about what others are doing about some important issues. So trust me, I also know exactly what volunteering for an unpleasant and controversial mission is like.
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Its not so hard. It comes down to why you joined. Did you join for the paycheck or did you join because you believe you will be serving your country that is under attack? In the second case, if you go you will be serving your country and protecting the woman you love. In the first, well, get another job.
So, which one is it?
I don't think it's quite that simple.
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edit: I often wonder about a person's net impact on the world. Have you thought about what impact you can make on other people's lives if you go and deploy versus not deploying?
I'm currently deployed in a job that will make a difference, depending on how we do our job. There are about 12 instructor pilots building up the new Iraqi AF pilot training program, literally from scratch. If we give themselves something they can use and build on, we could cut our involvement in the defense of Iraq by years, if not decades. If we don't do it right, the result could be the US having to defend Iraq for many more years. We've been here 20 years now, and that gives me a pretty big incentive to get it right. I don't like deploying here any more than anyone else, and I know for a fact that my actions can directly influence future USAF involvement in Iraq.
That doesn't mean my efforts couldn't be made completely irrelevant by any number of political, economic, or military decisions made at levels above me, but if the program isn't squashed outright then at least maybe we gave it a chance to start out on the right foot.
And the flip side of what I could have done if I didn't deploy, are also reasonably important. In addition to ensuring my 1 and 3 yr old kids are properly raised within a complete family, my wife is a doctor and can't work very much when I'm deployed. So whenever she isn't working, that's one fewer doctor saving people's lives back at home. That matters too. I suppose I'm lucky that the impact I'm making, no matter what I do, is reasonably obvious. I don't think it makes the decision or deployment any less stressful though.
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I have nothing against soldiers, I just think it's not in the best intrests of survival to join.
-Penguin
And this is the crux of the matter. Thankfully there are a lot of people who feel that their best interests for survival are best served by ensuring the survival of the society they live in. We know how bad life is in some other nations, and how bad life is in a nation that collapses into chaos. It serves nobody's survival interest to let that sort of thing happen, so it's a good thing that many people are able to look past their own selfish interests and see how they and everyone they care for will benefit from sacrificial service that preserves their society and nation.
That is also the difference between adult and child, the adult recognizing that personal sacrifices and risks are not only acceptable sometimes, but sometimes *should* be voluntarily accepted in order to preserve the greater societal structure that directly supports and benefits not just the individual, but everyone the individual cares about. And that's what military service tends to be all about, when the discussion revolves around volunteering for service.
The issue would, by logical progression, eventually narrow down to the question of if a specific act of volunteering is beneficial to the society or not. And that argument will not be settled because even as a career officer myself, I can see perfectly rational arguments on both sides of the question. In my mind, there are some very good reasons to volunteer to go to Afghanistan, and also some perfectly good reasons to not go. But not one of those arguments revolve around the intellectually childish goal seeking personal safety above all other considerations. That's an objective that most military members discarded fairly early in life.
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I don't think it's quite that simple.
I agree, there are so many things to consider. However, the choice should be to join or not to join. Once someone does join, there should not be any questions about anything.
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I agree, there are so many things to consider. However, the choice should be to join or not to join. Once someone does join, there should not be any questions about anything.
True, I don't understand how Marine had 3 oportunities to go and wasn't already sent...Marines work differently then Army.
Army says a unit is deploying, everyone fit to go is going.
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I would rather have love than war, but without war there may not be a chance for love.
I would say go fight, it's what you signed up for. No point putting it off. But that is easy for me to say. It's your life to decide with.
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True, I don't understand how Marine had 3 oportunities to go and wasn't already sent...Marines work differently then Army.
Army says a unit is deploying, everyone fit to go is going.
There were things holding me back before.
My unit hasn't been deployed recently (time has to be coming up)
When they say a unit is deploying everyone is going as well.
This is a deployment to fill holes that are now open (USMC took a pretty big hit recently in, Afghanistan). It's not a unit thing. They sent a letter throughout the USMC for volunteers. I got on the top of the list, so we'll see what happens.
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There were things holding me back before.
My unit hasn't been deployed recently (time has to be coming up)
When they say a unit is deploying everyone is going as well.
This is a deployment to fill holes that are now open (USMC took a pretty big hit recently in, Afghanistan). It's not a unit thing. They sent a letter throughout the USMC for volunteers. I got on the top of the list, so we'll see what happens.
Ah alright we had the same problem kinda....My brigade has problems filling NCO holes because of last deployment so they asked for volunteers from 1st Brigade.
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That's pretty much how this went.