OK I may ruffle a few feathers here....
My husband has been active duty Navy for almost 20 years....all 20 done in the submarine community. We have done 9 westpacs, 1 norpac, 5eastpacs, 1 trip through the Panama canal, 8 rimpacs, and I don't know how many local ops, ores....and all those other acronyms. There have been years where he was gone 298 days out of 356. So it is safe to say that we have done more than our fair share of separation.
Here is my issue......If I hear from one more Army or Marine wife how easy I have it because my husband only does 6 month deployments...instead of 15 I may lose it.
This is why I may lose it.....up until 5 years ago it was very rare for an active duty Army soldier to do a 15 month deployment....I know some retired Army people who only did a couple 2-4 month deployments in their whole career. My husband has been doing deployment fro 20 years....
Let me tell you how a deployment works....First you return from a 6 month deployment and get a break for ABOUT 30 days.....then you start getting ready for your next 6 month deployment which will be 12 months from your return. Getting ready includes all kinds of certifications, exams, and drills......99% of which will be done at sea....so you go in and out for the 11 months prior to your deployment. Then you are gone for the month before the deployment ...only coming home for a few days before you leave for 6 months...OR as in the case of one boat...a few hours.
Once you are out there you do not get to talk on the phone but once every couple of months or so and email is delayed and a joke. Everything you write gets read by everybody and their brother before it gets to him. Not only that you can go through periods of no communication for 2-3 months.
I really feel for those who have to be separated for the 15 months and I applaud them and their families. I also feel that we all have a job to and none is more important than the others............
BUT please do not tell me how"easy" I have it compared to you.....because I would never mutter those words to you!
2 comments:
Amen! It may only be a six month deployment ... but how much were they gone in the six months before that? There are hardships in every part of the service. They are different ... none are better or worse than the others. There are certain aspects that may be better in one or the other but as a whole, deployments in general are hard on families.
Amen, Jill. Amen. Amen. Amen.
Post a Comment