Man, don't try and change over just to "see action". I'm in the middle east right now, and it's not all that grand, nor is it as bad as the news makes it out to be. Yes, I'm in the Army, but my little brother is in the Navy. Guess where he is right now.......Afghanistan. He'll be there for the next 11-17 months. So being that you're in the Navy doesn't proclude you from going. You just have to be in te right place to go. I understand where you are coming from though, because I too volunteered to be here. It just doesn't seem right to keep sending the same people over and over when there are so many that haven't gone, and actually want to. But if you are wanting to change over for more reasons tahn just that, give me a holler.

 

^^^
I agree. I joined mainly to travel the world on the governments expense. I've only traveled inside the States and in less then three weeks I will be in a Third World Country that doesn't really like us. Also, I vulentered to go to give the current men/women a break and chance to see there family. My brother was prior Army and served a year and 1/2 straight and the only reason he came back is because his four years was done. Yes they can recall him back but thats why I'm going so they can give him more of a break. My brother tells me that War is not all the cracked up to be. At first all I wanted to do is go over there and shoot my gun but know its more than that. So, I agree with everyone and IF you switch make sure theres more than one reason too. Infact, talk to your CO and ask him/her if there are any depolyments you can jump on. I know with me that I could have gone by myself a couple of times but I would like to go my first with a bunch of guys I know then maybe go myself. As my mom always tells me, You need multiple reason then you need multiple supports for those reasons.

Just us, this war will last a very very long time. So you will have a very very big chance in going.

 

While I respect that you want to go, I think you are going for all the wrong reasons. Go because you want to help the Iraqies, go because you want to help this country, go because you have buddies over there you want to back up... don't go just because you want the "respect" from serving over there. Wrong reason man.. Being a Hero is not something you set out to be, it is something that happens from being in the right place at the right time and being able to do the right thing.

If you want to see action, why not talk to your commanding officer about going to one of the places were Navel personell are on the ground and seeing action. Maybe even transfer to a ship serving in the Gulf. There is a lot you can do without a drastic change in your surroundings and how things work.

After all, if you think you get no respect now, how do you think they are going to treat an ex-squid over in the desert?

 

Thanks everyone for the replies.

Today was a sad day. Marines were standing in the parking lot for the bus. I was in my winter blues uniform and shaking each of the Marines' hand who had no family there. I left the ones that were having family moments alone. 4 of them were smoking quietly with their heads down. One Marine was crying in front of his wife/girlfriend. Yep, it was a cold cloudy day and they were about to head to Iraq, and into combat. What made me mad is that I was the only Sailor saying farwell and "stay safe". Most of these people are 18,19, 20 years old; some are in college.

 

lol if youre 23-25 over here and in the lower enlisted ranks you get called old lol

 

Now you see K-R... that is what a hero is. You do not have to run into a burning building or take a bullet for a buddy.. all you need do is make a difference in somebody's life. By going above and beyond the call of duty, you may have given those guys something nice to think about instead of how aweful it is in iraq

 

This coming from a 21B, combat engineer. For every combat arms guy there are 7 people behind him to get him to the battle field. Everyone in the service is essential. As much as I like to mess with my sister-in-law who was navy, EVERYONE in the service makes our nation safer. We need the army, navy, air force equally strong (hope there are no air force guys here, they don't believe that. lol) I say your a Hero for having the balls to sign your name to the bottom of that contract then raise your right hand. We had navy guys on our base when I was in Iraq so they have a presence over there just nothing to do with water, haha. I wouldn't call it heroics to PUT yourself in the line of fire.. Id call it a little dumb, IMO. If your called to iraq then go and do your job. If not do your part to make the navy stronger. No one can touch American soil and the main reason for that is you can sail here, you would get your ass stomped, you sure as hell can't fly here, and if you somehow made it, whatever is left of you. The Army/Marines/National Guard/etc will take care of that. Don't let the fact that you have not been shot at take away from the fact you are, in some way, protecting this country. drillsergeant.gif

yep I was there. GLAD to be home and don't want to go back, at all.

 

ONce again, thanks for the post. ^^^ That's af reakin' awesome picture.

 

Wytch, you Engineers are idiots.

LOL

12B dude. 12B.

LOL They were always some of my favorite guys to hang around.

 

Here was my job in iraq.



But i still did stuff like this.





But it was stuff like this that made it all worth it.