Currently, I find myself consumed by the thought of going on leave. I've been plugging away for some time now; however, as I go past the normal ship deployment length, I find it harder to focus. I think that the Marines do it right with 7 month deployments. I am not an expert on force structure, but for the life of me, I can't figure out why the Army has gone to the 15 month standard. It is just an insanely long time.
Additionally, people give me mixed reviews on the whole two week leave program. Some claim that it is just a tease, and others are adamant that it is a good thing. I haven't had the R&R experience yet; however, I am already of the opinion that it is going to be a great thing. I am very excited to get back to the states and do normal things. Strangely, I miss taking Murph out and taking out the trash. Obviously, I miss Colleen, friends, and family quite a bit more. Deployments with dependents take on a whole new life. When you are single, it really doesn't matter, and all you do is make money. Your biggest concern is figuring out what toy you'll buy when you get back.
I do have a little precedence w/ long deployments. I had about 4 weeks between deployments on GET and JLH. It just seems so much different when you are engaged in life on a ship. Believe it or not, being on the ground is quite mundane. Life out on the high seas always affords a change of scenery, b/c you're moving around quite a bit. On a ship, you always have a port call in the relatively near future - even if it is only to get fuel. Most of the time, it is a few days long and gives you the opportunity to go out and enjoy the local atmosphere. On the ground it is just work 24/7. Sure, life can get a little more exciting with bullets whizzing by, but the reality is that the gun-fighting days of the Iraq war are slowly coming to an end - thank goodness. Add to this that it is ridiculously hot, and the after-dark hours are the most pleasant - you have one heck of a mess.
I say all this to show that despite the temptation to totally go to the green side of the house I am very pleased to be part of the Navy side of the house. Yep, you read that correctly, I said something nice about the Navy. Now how's that for a change of pace?
I'm still working on my observations from the first half of this jaunt. I'll get those posted prior to getting out of country. Get excited about it!
3 comments:
I am like a little kid....so excited about seeing you. A green deployment is so foreign for me; I am more comfortable with you on a ship. Isn't a warm shower and clean plates on a ship so superior to the green side?
BTW.........Byron gets a ZERO for his performance last night against the DBacks!!!
You should have seen that coming. Byron is cursed; he's a bad luck charm.
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