Jake must leave our happy home in late March for some god forsaken army base in some god forsaken part of the country for three months in preparation for the deployment to Afghanistan.
And the army makes absolutely sure these guys — who have volunteered to serve their country, lets remember — are made to feel like prisoners in lock-down before they say goodbye to their careers, families and lives for a year and a half.
Here’s a snippet of an email Jake received from the army:
“During our mobilization training there is absolutely no drinking
allowed. Very limited opportunity to leave the installation and very
limited free time.”
“Very limited free time.” Translation: June and I probably won’t be able to come and say goodbye before he ships out. I wonder if this means he’ll also get his very own box to sleep in and a pocketful of gruel for his dinner. And no booze! Yegads. Sounds like Fort Leavenworth to me.
All original content © 2012 by Jessie Knadler
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
My husband had to do that too. Training was ok but mostly worthless if I recall. He got his box to live in when he got over there. Well wishes for you all during the upcoming months (and any months really).
Heather: Did he get his gruel too?
Lol, I’m not sure about gruel but he did mention that the rice sometimes smelled like it had been boiled in sewage water.
Jake will make it work.
He’ll survive that part of this, we all do.
I spent 80 days (my first time at sea) in the I.O., watching the Russians watching US, while we all watched the Shah and the Ayatollah dance around deciding who’d run the country of Iran. (1979)
My older son is under way now, same ocean, different war. (or is it?) They just spent 106 days underway, no ports. This is his third deployment over there.
My younger son was a Marine. He did a tour over there. Same deal before leaving, train, train, train. His house was minutes from the barracks at Pendleton and he sometimes didn’t get to go home. It just comes with the territory.
BTW, for those not in the know, U.S. Navy ships are DRY. And while under way you work, every day, and absolutely no drinking, no possibility of leaving the “installation” (unless you can really swim!) and very limited free time, if any at all.
I thank your husband for his time, and his courage. And yours as well. (they also serve, who stand and wait) His time away from home, as is my son’s, was mine, was my father’s (and some of yours) and my grandfathers (and some of yours) is the price we pay to have something as simple as the internet freely accessible.
Discowhale: Sounds like you and yours know the drill literally. And I thank YOU and your sons for THEIR service to the country.