The newbie SF troop is at his home base from the sandbox from his eye opening exerience at Camp Bucca. He was tossed out of his bunk by a mortar round blast and earned the Army's Combat Action medal while on convoy duty. I'm sure he will be content with gate duty for a least a couple of days! LOL
Originally posted by OFKev-Mom:He was tossed out of his bunk by a mortar round blast and earned the Army's Combat Action medal while on convoy duty.
I'm guessing it was an "honorary awarding" of the Army Combat Action Badge (not medal). I've heard of lots of non-Army folks getting this award but he can't wear it in the Air Force. Chances are, I'm assuming here, that he'll get the Air Force's Combat Action Medal.
The sad fact is he probably won't get the AFCAM (this is an entirely different debate).
He needs to hang onto (actually he needs to guard it with his life) the paper work for the CAB...even though he won't be able to wear it...and when he separates/retires, be sure its on his DD 214. In 30 or 40 years it might be important if he develops some type of health issues. It will pay off with the Vet Admin in the future...who knows what got scrambled when the bomb went off.
To be honest I don't really know much about the CAB. I will make sure I get the paperwork so he doesn't lose it. I'm sure it will go in some drawer or something never to be seen again. The more he tells me the harder it's going to be when he deploys again. If anything got scrambled it might be hard to tell. This kid once spent 3 hours testing his first bike helmet in the driveway before I realized what he was doing and stopped him!
They do have a physical upon returning from deployment? As his Mom I'm going to have to do my own triage for head trauma just like the old days. He isn't going to like it when I get the pen light out.
Don't sweat it Mom. Bucca isn't all that bad and what sounds harsh or intense to you might not be that big of a deal. Heck maybe his next deployment might be to Qatar and that place is cake and no threat except from the BS police. Glad he's home.
Thanks Cabo! I'm glad he's home too. The most recent tidbit he's shared is that he's lost 15 lbs in 5 months. He really couldn't afford to lose that much.
Yup, Mom's got to listen and let him know how much I care without letting him know this stuff is starting to freak me out. I'm also starting to wonder if he's getting some kind of enjoyment out of seeing if he can freak old Mom out. It's hard to tell at this point.
I'm sure he will deploy again in 6 months. His words; "I'm ready to go". My words; "GROAN"!! He wasn't able to tell me when he was landing where and such. So he says....Secret squirrel that he is! He just texted me when he landed in the US, "hey mom". Then when he got to Atlanta he called me. I haven't seen him yet as he can't come home until the end of the month. He's darn lucky I didn't come down there. It sure would have ruined all the fun he's having this weekend!
Kevs-mom from Deejs mom. My son was there(Bucca) over a year and 1/2 ago and just to let you know he came back the same son they sent over. Which I am so grateful for. The way things are we are very lucky. He was back in the states for over a year before they even got orders to go again. And it was like Cabo said to Qatar and other places not just the sandpit! So don't dwell on the next time just enjoy this time. We were lucky to be at the airport when they landed. Oh boy did I cry! And now his time is almost up. He is not making the AF a career. His four years are up next Sept. I cry when I think of that too. Heck the last four years I could cry whenever. Moms what are we going to do with us? Lots of luck to you and yours and glad he is home safe and sound.
Thanks! He's a happy little camper to be back and seems to be adjusting pretty well. He didn't mean to tell me but I know what he had to do over there and I'm pretty sure he had a little trouble with it.
I just got a call on my cell from him telling me he had to ship out to Qatar in 24 hrs. Talk about pushing maternal panic buttons! Little turd. He let me go on for about 2-3 minutes before he started laughing. He will pay. 5 more years of this at least? It's no wonder we Mom's are teetering a bit on the edge!
I read the comment about deploying to Qatar and my heart missed a beat! As you know as my SF son is still deployed so I am taking notes on your son's experience.
