it's horrible whats happening in iraq to soldiers my self being one i understand the stress put on families but Iraq is not the only war going on i just got back from afghanistan the stress is there also and the fighting isn't just in the south it's all over people live bleed cry and die in that country and all the media covers is Iraq this and Iraq that if it is not a war in afghanistan ask the 17 buddies in my infantry battallion who didn't come back newsflash we are still there fighting OEF is not a peacekeeping mission the way people want to think of it

This thread has few responses, because it is not so easy to know how to respond.

My wife and I have a son in Iraq. For us (and I think for him), one big morale boost was Gen. Petraeus Message to the Troops this past March 15, where he asked them to embrace "the warrior-builder-diplomat spirit".

We think that Gen. Petraeus' message had *two* purposes. The first purpose was to set a strategy for victory. Because everybody now understands that victory in Iraq will *not* come from military strength alone, but will some instead from war-fighting, nation-building, and peace-making in equal measure.

The second purpose of Gen. Petraeus' message, we think, was to build the morale of the soldiers. Because when you think about it, there could be no higher and fulfilling calling, and no more wonderful opportunity for building a personal life and a family life, than to be a young person trained and skilled in the combined arts of war-fighting, nation-building, and peace-making.

This is not "shock and awe" warfare. It is not fighting "on the cheap." It is not going to war "with the army we have."

It is much better than any of the above. It is a noble strategy and it is a winning strategy. It is a historic opportunity for our soldiers to achieve at a threefold level that is higher than ever before in American history.

We think, that Gen. Petraeus and our brave soldiers should be given all resources that they need, to accomplish all three missions.

This past January I spent some time with some fellow Army Brats. Our fathers were in WWII. My Father & Mother were married for less then a year when he left for the Army & went into the Combat Engineers. He was then gone for almost 3 years. Spent time in England, landed at Omaha Beach, went through the Battle of the Buldge then into Germany. Like my Father my friends dads went through the European Theater of WWII. Once the war was over they came home, decided to stay in the Army and continue their lives where they left off.
The bottom line is we have figured out what really needs to be done for the returning guys from Irag & Afghanistan. The military needs to bring back the Troop Ships. Pulling the troops off the line and having them home within the week gives them no time to decompress. Let them have some time with their buddies. They can talk to each other, play some poker & just have time to wind down.

I've been married 18 years as of last month. My marriage weathered 2 tours in Korea, 6 months in Honduras, 8 months in Somalia, a 10-month tour in Bosnia, Desert Storm, OIF-1, and a tour as a contractor after retirement. It was harder coming back from OIF-1 than it was on any of the other deployments. Period.

I have been married three times (twice to the same person..yeah, my bad!!). In all three marriages, the mentality had been to do what it took to make it work. Family values are a lot to me, to include faithfulness. That makes it that much sweeter when the reunion takes place. Unfortunately, in the case of both exes, that was not true. The long distance and the time away got to be too much. I have two years to go until the end of this enlistment. I have put off having any kind of relationship until I get out then. I have seen a lot in my current duty station, and have tried my darndest to help take care of the wounded. I will value my time in the Army forever, and treasure the lessons I have learned about myself. But I have to start thinking of my family (namely, my son). I have to keep that responsibility in the upmost, because for a while, I had lost focus on him and had the military as my complete focus. In that, I almost lost him. Hats off to those who make it beyond....

Come on people - male & female - this is war - and war is not really supposed to be fun. There are pressures & stress with normal everyday life, right?! We have to be strong & unified to beat this enemy!! Pray to the Almighty for strength & courage to face life! LET'S ROLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Of three combat deployments, I lost three families. However; I chose that way of life and I alone accept the responsibility of the loss of family life, not the Army or the women I married. The pressure is far too great in actual experience for the family than we like to think they have, and the battle is on upon our return home.

Bottom line, if you want a family life, stay away from the military as you most certainly will deploy someplace. Only a special type person is able to withstand the riggers of the deployments, not all are cut out for this lifestyle. IMHO

My husband is currently in Iraq and this is his second deployment there in the past two years. For me, I think it is most difficult when he is gone. I feel as though we have to put our life and dreams on hold for a cause that I'm not quite sure I understand. I think a lot of military families are being forgotten in a way, especially financially. The government decided to take away the $1000./mo pay due to the deployments being back-to-back almost. The goverment needs to pay the military personnel in Iraq more, far more. My husbands life is worth far more than the crappy basic pay. I think most garbage men make more. Higher compensation pay would also help with the stress, I could actually afford a babysitter so that I could get out every now and then. As for now...my kids and I are in this together.

I'm grateful that my husband and I have a strong marriage, otherwise I don't know how we would fare. Strong marriages still have an adjustment period that is pretty rough.

I think a great many things, but I think it is the worst when my husband is gone and I have every knowledge that there is no guarantee that he will come back. That is what is worst, the thought that he may not come back, coupled with the thought that I will have to raise three children alone....it is hard even for a year.

I have too many thoughts for this one...i better wrap it up now.

Morning Dale . . .well what can anybody say? Our parents went through it, the guys who came back from Korea and VietNam went through it as did the guys from Gulf I. There are enough pressures, stresses and strains in "normal" family life, without the added pressures that the military puts on just by the nature of the beast. Alot comes down to the individuals involved I think and whether or not they want to make it work, and have the patience and understanding to make it work. Nobody said it would be easy, no marriage is ever easy. Bringing up a family under normal circumstances isn't easy. Add to it the stress of the military life, and anybody can see why marriages break down. The "normal figure" for the UK is one in three break down. Don't know what it is for the States. And has anybody done any figures for the military? Be interesting to see if the ratio is any higher.

quote:

Originally posted by 13651178:
I have to keep that responsibility in the upmost, because for a while, I had lost focus on him and had the military as my complete focus. In that, I almost lost him. Hats off to those who make it beyond....

That's the part not too many people (both the deployed, and the non-deployed) understand. While deployed, the focus has to be at least 99% on the military mission just to make it through the deployment. You can think about the family at night when you're asleep, but if you're worried, fighting, or missing them so badly that emotions start to surface, you become combat innefective and endanger your life, and the lives of those around you. Coming back, after being so amped up for a year, or 15 months now, was/is a ******.

Wives are NOT ALWAYS faithful to us grunts. THEY think that the grass is greener at the other side. As a former Battlefield Commander, I was deeply saddenned by results that I had to be a part of, including suicides.. Including my OWN personal experience. There are a lot of sharks that will prey on lonely women, while our butts are in the Danger Zone. My opinion? These women were NOT worth our EFFORTS. We were doing our job. Those SOBS will not like that to happen to THEIR wives, or girlfriends, or daughters. I feel they are worse than the ragheads and rattlers. " Sleep With the Enemy" It really makes me mad to see those things. Women can be so gullible. My ex is now sorry she did the crap she pulled up...And I just do not care that now she finds she has HIV. From a young stud. Have a nice trip to the hell you are entitled to.

quote:

Originally posted by TPCAT:
Morning Dale . . .well what can anybody say? Our parents went through it, the guys who came back from Korea and VietNam went through it as did the guys from Gulf I. There are enough pressures, stresses and strains in "normal" family life, without the added pressures that the military puts on just by the nature of the beast. Alot comes down to the individuals involved I think and whether or not they want to make it work, and have the patience and understanding to make it work. Nobody said it would be easy, no marriage is ever easy. Bringing up a family under normal circumstances isn't easy. Add to it the stress of the military life, and anybody can see why marriages break down. The "normal figure" for the UK is one in three break down. Don't know what it is for the States. And has anybody done any figures for the military? Be interesting to see if the ratio is any higher.

The Pentagon has done several studies and shows that a peacetime Army divorce rate is the same as a civilian divorce rate, and the GWOT divorce rate is only slightly higher. I call B.S. on the GWOT divorce rate as my unscientific poll shows that about 80% of my married friends are now free to do whatever they like again...

dear our world jews leaders and elders
is george mahamadans here beging and calling our world jews leaders that i can not stopping loving messenger that god allah send them becouse of our coumiterd and our terro life and i george mahamadans i can not stopping loving prophet issa jesus and his family and his peoples please brothers and sisters i am in travil tour to israel the place prophet issa jesus the son of mary was born but on the way going i surownderd on the road befor i rich niger all my transportition fenish so i need you help in prayers please remember me in prayers becouse i am in niamey the capital town of niger looking for transportition to continue my prayers travil at israel please our world jews leaders help me in prayers that may god allah give me mony to continuer my jony to israel i lake to go and pray at israel beging and asking forgivenness from god allah hope god will make so for me and any male /female who no lake blacks people and always sakking blacks in his / her country is a satan and god allah no love them becouse they no love blacks

Thats life in the Military. Get use to it. LIKE IT OR NOT.

quote:

Originally posted by mahamadouabdoulahi:
dear our world jews leaders and elders
is george mahamadans here beging and calling our world jews leaders that i can not stopping loving messenger that god allah send them becouse of our coumiterd and our terro life and i george mahamadans i can not stopping loving prophet issa jesus and his family and his peoples please brothers and sisters i am in travil tour to israel the place prophet issa jesus the son of mary was born but on the way going i surownderd on the road befor i rich niger all my transportition fenish so i need you help in prayers please remember me in prayers becouse i am in niamey the capital town of niger looking for transportition to continue my prayers travil at israel please our world jews leaders help me in prayers that may god allah give me mony to continuer my jony to israel i lake to go and pray at israel beging and asking forgivenness from god allah hope god will make so for me and any male /female who no lake blacks people and always sakking blacks in his / her country is a satan and god allah no love them becouse they no love blacks

I have no IDEA what you just said

quote:

Originally posted by Torpedogang:
This past January I spent some time with some fellow Army Brats. Our fathers were in WWII. My Father & Mother were married for less then a year when he left for the Army & went into the Combat Engineers. He was then gone for almost 3 years. Spent time in England, landed at Omaha Beach, went through the Battle of the Buldge then into Germany. Like my Father my friends dads went through the European Theater of WWII. Once the war was over they came home, decided to stay in the Army and continue their lives where they left off.
The bottom line is we have figured out what really needs to be done for the returning guys from Irag & Afghanistan. The military needs to bring back the Troop Ships. Pulling the troops off the line and having them home within the week gives them no time to decompress. Let them have some time with their buddies. They can talk to each other, play some poker & just have time to wind down.

We have quite a bit of down time when we're getting ready to leave, but we're still in theater...I think you may be onto something with the whole boat ride back thingie....

quote:

Originally posted by mahamadouabdoulahi:
dear our world jews leaders and elders
is george mahamadans here beging and calling our world jews leaders that i can not stopping loving messenger that god allah send them becouse of our coumiterd and our terro life and i george mahamadans i can not stopping loving prophet issa jesus and his family and his peoples please brothers and sisters i am in travil tour to israel the place prophet issa jesus the son of mary was born but on the way going i surownderd on the road befor i rich niger all my transportition fenish so i need you help in prayers please remember me in prayers becouse i am in niamey the capital town of niger looking for transportition to continue my prayers travil at israel please our world jews leaders help me in prayers that may god allah give me mony to continuer my jony to israel i lake to go and pray at israel beging and asking forgivenness from god allah hope god will make so for me and any male /female who no lake blacks people and always sakking blacks in his / her country is a satan and god allah no love them becouse they no love blacks

Wow, what did you say?
It's like acid in text.

Will this be read or not,

First thing I have noticed is.. the "Senior Officers" Cooments and actions are so different.
Also, I think the problems (or opnions) which people are having are shocking.. I too was over there and I decided to call the military quits. I knew when it was time to get out, but some don't. I now live in Europe and read and listen to all the foreign press...Why? I gives a different look on the Irag situation. Yes, In the US Everyone needs to realize

ALOT

Yes, people volunteered for the military, and knew about Iraq, AG.. and Iran..
BUT
Yes, everyone expects to have support (mentally, physically, finicailly).. Which is not there.
Clearly the Government / Military does not want to say it has a problem.

There are alot of problems in the states.. socially and the military reflects it today.. two ways of life.... Upper and lower classes just like everything..

James

Please guys let's think about it. My husband was a submariner for many years. Yes, it was difficult and I saw many marriages break up. I think the key to all of this is remembering why you married this person in the first place and not having affairs. Yes, this was during the cold war and things were very stressful with all of the spying, wire tapings and the threat of nuclear war at every turn. Mom's/Dad's staying behind have to be very committed to their children and keep the family together, IT IS YOUR JOB. I understand the difficulties these returning family members are having, guess what we never viewed divorce as an options.

Hello, fellow grunts and friends. Now that I have stopped crying for my fallen comrades, I will share happy moments. My Grandaughter, who is 7, called me to cheer me up. I absolutely adore her !! :Angel/ Her front teeth are now showing up./ She is an "A" student at her school. She wrote her version about "Grandpappy" (Me..that touched me!!, and how proud she was that I was in the military, And I cried again). The article on how things are hard on families really hit me hard. It is true. I remember sitting on my CUCV, while waiting for my MRE's to warm up. Dudes, we were in the deep crap at that time. Creature commforts were NOT available.