Do Soldiers like Deployment?

It is an interesting question to anyone outside the military, especially to families of soldiers. Do soldiers like to get deployed? Why would anyone rather be in a foreign country away from the luxuries of America and from their families?

It was strange to come back from Afghanistan and begin getting used to garrison life again. I found myself wanting to be back in Lagman and doing what I was trained for. Back here in the rear we do a lot of exercise to keep ourselves in shape, we keep up on the maintenance of our vehicles and weapons and we do a lot of jump training. Not me of course.

Now, we don’t use those vehicles over seas and all of the jumps are kinda useless since we wouldn’t jump into Iraq or Afghanistan anyway. Basically we’re doing a whole lot of stuff that doesn’t really help us when we deploy. There’s training on Wednesdays and we go to the range. But we’re not doing our jobs, and getting paid like we’re not doing our jobs.

Deployment offers us the opportunity to do what we expected to do when we joined up. We can also earn a lot more; the government doesn’t take out any taxes when we’re over seas. And of course we can’t spend it as fast over there either. There is also the sitting around. We do a lot of that here. We sit around a lot over seas too but we can read, play games or do other things. When we sit around here, it’s because we’re waiting to be released for the day, despite the fact that we have nothing more to do. It becomes very boring and monotonous. Even to the point where we would rather be deployed than here stateside. It explains why the Army has such a hard time keeping people. It may be a strange thing but many people I talk to would rather be deployed.

God's Video Store

While over in Afghanistan I was doing PT (excersice) in the morning with my squad and Sgt Smith was demonstrating the neck chop on Sgt Wilson who was not expecting it. The look on his face was classic. He gave a shocked glance and a ‘what were you thinking?’ turn of his head. It was a sight I’ll never forget but would love to see and be able to show other people. When I get to Heaven I’m heading right for the video store. The one where I can rent all the times that I want to see again since my brain isn’t as clear as a DVD. What videos will you rent?

Moving On

While surfing the Internet the other evening I put in my Blog title to see what else was out there. I came across another blog by the same name. Interested in finding out what this gentleman had to say I read the first post. It seems that he believes the President lied to us about a number of things. Naturally as I read on I realized that he leaned to the left politically and thinks a certain way. His viewpoint and I'm sure many others are skewed in a particular direction. I wanted so much to tell him and everyone else who think the same way that just because you disagree with how someone else sees the world, it does not mean that they are lying to you. It means they see the world differently. But of course everyone knows that if you say something over and over again it becomes true by nature of repetition.

This really isn’t how we need to work together in this world. I may not have agreed with the last President but I did not believe that he lied about foreign matters in order to get his way. But of course I’m willing to see both sides of the story. Sometimes things go our way and sometimes they don’t, elections being one of them. Once it’s over we need to get back to solving the problems addressed in the campaign. Let’s move on.

I wonder if I should change my blog name...

Summer Evening in October?

North Carolina really isn't that bad now that I've been here a while. Sometimes it's pretty cold in the morning but you don't want it to be too hot when you're running. In the afternoon we get way too hot wearing the uniform and working. However in the evenings, certainly on Saturdays it seems to be near perfect, or as perfect as it can get here in Fayettville. Sometimes I like to imagine myself and the adults with whom I use to hang out all sitting at an outdoor cafe taking it easy and talking about life.
It's a little bit harder to do right now since everyone I know here now is under 22 and more into drinking themselves into a coma. Sometimes you have to make sacrifices. I'm sure I'll be doing those things again when I'm out in a couple of years. Until then, here's to those beautiful summer evenings in October.

Getting It Done

Contrary to popular belief by certain folks that most people in the military joined because they were stupid, we in fact never stop learning. Sure it's not quantum physics or abstract art, but we do learn how to better handle situations and lead. It almost seems like an instantaneous switch when you're put in charge of people. I think most of it comes from the fact that it's now your responsibility to get things done and you don't want to go back to those above you and have to explain why it isn't.
Kind of a trial by fire situation. If you play with fire, you're going to get burned. Usually you get the detail done and with very minor burns. Suffice it to say by the time someone gets out of the Army they'll know how to take charge and get the job done.

Broncos who?

Wow! The Colorado Rockies are joining the Avalanche in showing the Denverites that there is more than one professional sports team in Denver. Okay so maybe I’m just a bandwagon jumper, somebody’s got to do it or there would be a fool driving an empty wagon around town. That would be silly and who wants that. Go Rocks!

In the beginning...

Can't believe I have my own Blog. I guess this means I'm hip and with the times. Now that I've used the terms, 'Hip' and 'With the times', I've showed my age. I don't care. This will be a great way of getting information about what's happening in my life to all of you who care, and I know you do. Stay tuned.