question about Iraq

JollyRogers · #1 04-10-2007, 03:22 PM

I am a retired vet, US Navy, so I have no real idea what it is like in Iraq... I did my part in the Gulf over 4 deployments... but never something in country.

Well my son joined back in September and he is transferring to Germany in July and his Company/Battalion is currently deployed to Iraq. He tells me that his Sargeant and others who have been over there said it was no big deal, I used to feel the same about me and my deloyments, but now as a parent and all I see on news etc, I have a different gut feeling about my kid going over there.

Could one of you guystell me what its really like... patrols etc, what sort of duty rotation you pull anything to give me an idea of day-to-day routine? If you can't because of OPSEC I will understand completely.

Thanks go out to allour servicemen and women. Stay strong and know we support you!!!

jimbo228 · #2 04-10-2007, 04:41 PM

I have two torus in Iraq, I was in a US Infantry Company in 2003, and I served as an Iraqi Army advisor in 2005. The reports int he media tend to focus on the sensational event of the day. So sitting here in the US, we get the perception that Iraq is one non-stop explosion after another. I found most of my days were pretty uneventful, the news media does make it out to be a lot worse than it is. I think your son will be in good hands. The key thing to tell him is that it is a very dynamic situation. Things change tour to tour. The important thing is he is going with people who have seen what this is about. Good Luck to him and God Bless.

Jim

SoldierMedic · #3 04-10-2007, 08:12 PM

Like Jimbo said, most days, we sit here doing nothing. go out on a patrol and nothing happens. But in my area, about once a week we'll actually get hit hard on the post. maybe 3 times a month do we run into IED's and believe it or not, MOST of the time, even if they do go off, they miss. Now don't get me wrong, people get hurt, people die, so it happens, but for one person, it's usually pretty uneventful. Now that we are this far in though, usually, patrols will go out and come back in. there isn't sleeping in the field. Also, communications with home is pretty good. We blackout for so long after an attack where we cant contact home, use internet, etc. but when it's lifted, you can call home pretty easy, actually really easy, and like, with internet, I use it A LOT. It all depends on what his job is though. It really isn't that big of a deal MOST of the time. Best thing to do is put your faith in god, because no matter where you are, here or home, when its your time to go, it's your time.

AtkRWC · #4 04-10-2007, 10:22 PM

I echo what SoldierMedic said above. Got back a few months ago. Living conditions are not really bad at all. AC in most living areas and chow is not too bad, except the lines. Mortar attacks suck but usually very inaccurate.

JollyRogers · #5 04-10-2007, 10:42 PM

Thanks guys for your replies and I got PM'd by another forum member that recently came home. Guess what, my son is on the phone right now with Momma. Just got his MOS ... 94E. Not real sure what he will do but I know its comms stuff. On the bright side I let him ride the Dyna while home on leave back in December (weather was nicer then now!) and I am thinking of handing it down to him. He is talking bout all the money he is gonna save up while overseas and getting him a new car and all too.

On another note he had a siezure today after they took blood... that explains a lot (nother story) and now they are checking him out. He is/was a volunteer fireman here local and has numerous dealings with fire/rescue working some bad scenes and some bad fires (he made me so proud of him doing this service to his community)and has never had an issue, but he would pass out at the sight of his own blood growing up. They drew blood 2day and he went into a siezure shortly after... apparently his blood pressure dropped and something about his vein(s) collapsing... hmm... that would explain him passing out at the sight of his own blood.

SoldierMedic · #6 04-10-2007, 10:47 PM

Some people's bodies react different to things. His body may not like being stabbed with needles and it's very possible they hit a nerve underneath the vein that sent signals to he brain causing him to shut down for a moment. They'll prolly do a cat scan and everything and as long as everything comes back ok he should be fine. Be proud of him dad. It takes guts to join the services these days (or an immense amount of boredom as is my case :-P). good luck to you and your son.

Danester · #7 04-11-2007, 07:43 PM

I often wondered about that myself too...being AF retired and all...all this because of our company that's hiring withposition openings for 200K per year over there..I'm not really considering it for myself, but.......makes me wonder