Army Under Stress[Really good story!!]
(http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080410/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_iraq_signs_of_s...)
"The marathon has become an enduring relay and our soldiers continue to run--and at the double time," Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Richard Cody said, "Does the exhaust the body and mind of those in the race, and those who are ever present on the sidelines, cheering their every step? Yes. Has it broken the will of the soldier? No."
Official: Bush Plans, 15 to 12
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080409/pl_afp/usiraqmilitarybush_080409233...
"They have pushed for a return to 12-month rotations as soon as possible to ease the strain on the ground forces, which have borne the brunt of five years of war.
Army studies have found a growing incidence of mental health problems among troops with repeated combat deployments."
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There have been a lot of talk about this issue lately--shortening the time that US Soldiers are deployed. The change in the length of the deployments changed right before DJ & his unit took off to Afghanistan. There has also been a lot of talk about how the amount of resources (troops included) being used in Iraq are taking away from the U.S' other causes, like Afghanistan (from the BUSH story).
So the solution you ask?
Shorten those 15 month deployments (initiated when "The Surge" was initiated), back down to the original 12 month deployment. Now, I don't know about you, but our soldiers were still stressed out when the amount of time they had to spend without their families, NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, fast food, TV, and movie theaters!!
My brother-in-law, as an Air Force Reservist, was deployed to Iraq for four months. (In no way do I try to degrade his time and his service, but four months compared to 12 months? Four months compared to 15??) The Army Reservist I met, she was deployed once for 12, and another for 15. The two Marine Reservists told me their deployments were for nine months.
Every man is different. Every man reacts to life differently... so I can't say that DJ will be more effected by 15 months than Ruben was in four, because they are VERY different. But I know that, for DJ, for the soldiers of this unit, for their families, a year is a LONG time to be apart. A year of a child's life changes immensely. A year at war is a long, long, year.
My solution?
No deployments maybe!? Haha... but seriously, what world am I living in, right??
There is not much I can offer up as advice for spouses and families because deployments, no matter how long or short... are STRESSFUL. So, what can the Army do for me? Not sure, but I'll take what I can get though.
DJ is due for another deployment, and rumors point to Iraq for next time. I told him I was coming with him. I am going to try y hardest to get one of those civilian jobs... at the PX, Burger King... Ed Center, anything I can get, because I want to be in the same country as him. I counted, and we are currently 7687 miles away. (By the way, did you know that the deepest part of the ocean is about 6 miles deep!? That's it!?!?) All I want is some sort of proximity. A double digit number maybe!?
My gosh. This sucks.
The worst part of being an Army Wife--11 months down, 4 to go.
