[Grandpa Shooter]

My stepson, 19, has decided to join the Army with the intention of going infantry or artillery and will volunnteer for duty overseas. I don't believe the media hype one way or the other.

Will some of you who have been there and done that PM me with what a parent should expect by way of communication from overseas, what a service member is allowed to say, how to read between the lines, etc. I now know how my Mother must have felt when I volunteered in 1969 and was in Vietnam. I want to give his mother some measure of information since his recruiter has told him not to tell her anything.

Please don't get sidetracked and make this a long thread. It will be closed down quickly enough anyway.

[jimbob86]

Write. Write. Write. Then write some more. Mail/e-mail is priceless. I have been out a long while, but normal OpSec won't prevent him from writing about everyday stuff. Even if he can't find time to write, he'll enjoy hearing from the folks "back in the world"....... but you already knew that.

[paintballdude902]

sounds like what i want to do

after high school im doing a semester of college to see how i like it and if i hate it as much as i do high school im enlisting and hpefully going infantry

[wideym]

Hand written letters are very nice for a serviceman to recieve while away, carepackages are even better. Just don't expect many letters from him in return, not because they don't love you or want to write, but because their time is precious and better used for maintainace, eating, sleep, etc.

Phone calls and e-mails seem to be the norm now. Phones are everywhere nowadays and long distance charges are cheaper than ever (unlike your Vietnam experince I bet).

The best thing you could do for him is just support his decision and do not start speeches about Bush, Cheney, pulling out troops, or stuff like that. If he wants to hear that stuff he could just turn on the TV. Just ask how things are going and if he needs anything, you know like any parent would do.

Some of my worst memories about Iraq was talking to family members on the phone and hearing them get on a soapbox about what was wrong with the war and how we were fighting it. Sorry if I trailed off.

[Thin Black Line]

Snail mail of packages and letters are very reliable even in Iraq. Once a
soldier is settled into their FOB, email is easy enough to do. Many places
have phone trailers and will use standard pre-paid cards, but eat up the
minutes faster than listed on the front. A few of the larger cities have
cellphones available, but again you chew up the minutes fast. Satellite
phones can be had for a price, but are quite expensive and are frowned upon
unless authorized. I saw web-camming in some places but it's a major draw
on bandwidth and is often banned completely for that reason. There was
an extremely cheap phone service available at some MWRs that required
pre-payment on a website. It had exceptionally clear voice and if I can
remember what it's called, will PM you.

As far as "reading between the lines" --this is how rumors, panic, and worry
start when people read in too much.

Commanders can shut down any and all communication for everyone on the
FOB without prior notice. They don't have to give a reason. Sometimes
stuff just breaks down. This ranges from the power going out to a humvee
running over a cable once too many times. Don't panic if a soldier misses
his "regular" call home. Kaka happens.

Soldiers should know there's no such thing as secure communication.
However, we're lacking the WWII style posters that show ears on the walls
and warn of the enemy listening to us...

[Top_Gunn]

Packages to Afghanistan, at least to the exciting parts, can take months to arrive, especially in the Winter. E-mail works OK, as does IM, sometimes, but it's erratic. Phones up by the Pakistan border are just now and then. And if he's in a combat zzone, he won't be able to tell you a lot of detail about what he's doing, and sometimes even where he is.

As for "volunteering" for overseas--no such thing, really. If your outfit goes, and everybody's does, you go too.

[NGIB]

My son is in Iraq right now and we try to talk on the phone once a week. We also use email and snail mail. Between us (me, wife, 2 daughters) we try to send care packages every week. It can be an agonizing time and this is the second go round for me as my daughter served in Afghanistan.

Bottom line: support their decision and stay in touch as often as you can by whatever means works.

Goes without saying that I wish him a safe and uneventful tour and a safe return home. Hooah!

[kir_kenix]

I am in Iraq right now. I'm fortunate enough to live on a FOB where I have internet connection in my room. When I'm at "home" here, I am able to e-mail or call home whenever time is available. My family knows that I may be gone for a long period of time, or that communication may not be possible for whatever reason.

Internet connectivity is poor. Phone center eats up alot of your phone card everytime one uses it. His unit over here should have several DSN lines where he can get re-directed from the states for free, or 1 minute per unit on his phone card.

Facilities are pretty decent over here. When I'm here, we live in pretty nice 2 man rooms. We have plenty of free time, and the work that we do isn't ever to strenuous.

As for "reading between the lines"...theres not a lot that he would know that is going to mean much to you. He can tell you that he is safe, comfortable, lonely, whatever...but most of what goes on here is just plain boring. Most of the stuff here that we arn't supposed to talk about, really doesn't mean much to people back home.

Not every base in Iraq is like this one. Some are much better, some worse. I actually have alot of fun over here: meeting new people, seeing the country, seeing how these folks live their life, etc. It's a pretty cool experience. I think it's alot harder on my wife and family then it is me. We try and keep in touch, and I get packages/mail/cards periodically thats nice.

Alot of the stuff they send me I end up giving away or tossing into a community bin however (for whatever reason everyone thinks that we can't find kleenox over here...), but its still nice. Try not sending chocolate stuff during the summer months, our mail (as is most of everyone elses in this country) is stored in metal conex boxes that get very hot. During the winter months stuff like that is fine.

Not sure what else I can tell you...but your son is a true American hero, just as you were for serving in Vietnam. It's not bad over here and I'm not sorry one bit I volunteered to come. If you have anymore questions/concerns, I'd be happy to answer any of them I can.

[sniper69]

My stepson, 19, has decided to join the Army with the intention of going infantry or artillery and will volunnteer for duty overseas. I don't believe the media hype one way or the other.

Did he fill out his dream sheet for bases overseas? This is the only way I can think that he could "volunteer" for duty overseas. As for Iraq, Afghanistan, etc - going there will depend on his unit. If he was going Air Force - it would depend on other factors and which rotation he was in, career field, etc.

as for communications. Their is email and a military version of instant messaging. yahoo, hotmail, and other email programs are usually filtered so a troop usually has to use his/her military email address. Also many bases set up their system so the other instant message programs won't connect. Some bases have video phones - but you have to go to a base stateside to connect/use one. Also (the air force) allowed one 15 minute call home a week (free). Calling cards could be used if there were other phones. There are ways to connect from the states to their location (i.e. if they work in an office), but that can be frowned upon. care packages are very important and something that is enjoyed. a vacuum sealer is very handy if sending cookies or other baked goods as it keeps them fresh and keeps them from turning to crumbs. A dozen cookies in a vacuum bag (in a single layer) is a handy size. I have many recipes that I have used for various types of cookies - and I've found out which ones work good for shipping and which ones didn't. I don't do a 100% vacuum - but rather about 98% (so I don't crush the cookies). When they arrive there they will taste like they just came out of the oven. Beef jerkey, slim jims, gum, hard candy, tobacco, wipes, nuts, etc are popular too. Sometimes they aren't needed as much as the more established places have shopettes. Also if sending a care package - I recommend priority mail. It will get it sent quickly from your house to the military depot/APO and then it is normal pace from there to whichever location. Priority mail took me anywhere from 5-8 days to get to where it was going overseas when I was sending care packages to a family member a few years ago. Longest one ever took was 3 weeks (only one package out of many). Of course a lot depends on location.

Hope this helps, and if you have any other questions let me know, I'll try to help. :)

[JaxNovice]

See if he would like to go to Berkley and enlist there.

[kir_kenix]

He should be able to volunteer. I'm in the guard, so it was easier for me, but I know quite a few people here who volunteered (regular army) and they were placed in activating troupes or companies. I think his commander will probably have a say in it though.

Odds are pretty good that his unit will eventually get called up one way or the other right now. There are alot of units that got called up all at the same time (surge) that are now getting ready to come home. most, not all, will be replaced by another unit when their time here is done.

Only downer about going infantry right now is that alot of these units arn't really doing what their MOS entails. Its not like we are fighting WW1 style trench warfare where most of everyone is on the front line....so alot of "combat" MOS's are stuck doing routine jobs (this isnt a bad thing, but your son might want to keep in mind they he may end up guarding a gate...depends what his units mission is over here). On the other hand, my buddy is a "combat weatherman" or something like that in the Marines and he lived under a bridge for a year and ended up doing some major fighting in one of the hotter cities...so you never know.

[Sans Authoritas]

I still can't understand how someone becomes an "American hero" for joining the military and dying for any "reason" the government cooks up, and for the real reason they send troops to other countries. Those Vietnamese weren't about to invade the U.S. Neither were the North Koreans and Chinese. Iraqis? Ditto.

But then, I suppose Roman soldiers were considered "Roman heroes" for going off to the outposts in Jerusalem. For "protecting" Rome from a few zealots 1,200 miles away that never directly threatened their country.

Sorry, I just can't stomach the nationalistic jingo anymore. I'm not going to jump on the bandwagon of blind praise for anyone who puts on a government-issued costume.

-Sans Authoritas

[wideym]

Sans Authoritas: We do not care if you cannot stomach a young man vollentering to serve his nation in a time of war.

Everyone has heard the arguments about how we got there, but the fact is we are still there and still have a job to do. Yes I also have problems with the title of "hero" being thrown around casually, but this is not a thread for that.

Grandpa Shooter asked for information to assure his stepsons mother, not what do you think about jumping on the bandwagon.

[kir_kenix]

Well, luckily for you Sans Authoritas, you don't have to think of anybody you don't want to as a hero. Remember the only reason you have the right to think that way, is tens-of-thousands of Americans servicemen have freely (well...sometimes they were drafted...but you get the idea) given their lives for this country. Kind of saddens me that you would have to jump on this thread and spout your anti-war/anti-american garbage. If you don't agree with this war (or other wars obviously), thats your right, but you don't need to belittle someone elses notions of patriotism just for kicks.

I know a couple of gentlemen who would give you a black eye if you looked them in the face and told them their sons who died in combat were anything but heroes...but thats besides the point and not very High Road. Hopefully this does not derail this thread, but I really don't like the idea of someone stepping in and saying something rude about someone (or their son for that matter) who is considering defending our great nation.

[Grandpa Shooter]

Thank you for your replies. I have not stated my feelings or position on this so that it does not become a soap box thread.

It sounds as though there is some recognition that parents need to be able to contact their sons and daughters. All of my time in Vietnam was in the field. We never stood down and depended on helicopter resupply. I don't recall getting more than 2-3 letters since regular stuff never got through to us.

Please keep politics out of this so I can learn from the serious responses.

[AirForceShooter]

His recruiter told him not to tell mom anything?
You must be kidding.
Every grunt in the world tells Mom all he can.
It's human nature.

AFS

[Sans Authoritas]

Grandpa Shooter, I'll respect your wishes, as I respect you and your son on a personal level. I'm responding to my detractors via PM.

I'm glad you made it home safely, and I hope the same for your stepson.

-Sans Authoritas

[Officers'Wife]

Hi Gramdpa,

Don't expect many letters from him. It's not neglect on his part just that his time is limited and his chores many.

When David was overseas, he appreciated letters even though we talked via phone, chat and video connection several times a week. I also used sd- cards (he has a PDA) to send him pictures of our daughter as well as printed pictures of Donna. Mainly (I think) the idea is to send a little bit of home and let them know they are still a part of it.

My Dad told me once that only half of him went to Vietnam because the other half stayed in the States with his wife. I follow that thought by letting my husband know that half of me was in Iraq with him.

Please tell your stepson I thank him for his service to our country. And if a first Sgt mutters 'watch this s@#$' under his breath to go the opposite direction he is looking!

Selena

[Officers'Wife]

Hi Sans Authoritas,

I don't agree with what you say, but a lot of good men have died for your right to call them fools for dying for you. At least you are honest about your worth.

Selena

[Harley Quinn]

I went in the Corps at 17, had to talk my parents into it, I am wondering why you would not talk to your Mom:confused: If that is the case something is missing for sure. Hope all goes well.

One of my sons went into the Army and went Artillery, Fort Sill OK is where he trained at, and then ended up in Europe for 4 years. Good duty and enjoyed growing up. He feels it was the best thing he could have done.

To accept the wishes and be a support is important for everyone.

Regards,
HQ

[mekender]

Godspeed to your stepson... oh, and one thing that i have been told by several people... send over lots of batteries and blank CDs... they cant ever get enough of those two items

[jaholder1971]

Sans Authoritas,

We are a nation at War after 12 years of U.N. handwringing in the case of one nation and the other harbors those who killed 3,000 of our own. If you can't understand that then go surf moveon.org or some other site that caters to you.

These men and women are volunteering to do a dirty job with little pay that sometimes is a necessary evil. DEAL WITH IT!

[Nomad101bc]

Dont forget to send Q-tips (great for cleaning M16's and M4's) and baby wipes to clean sand off things. But he will have to go through basic and AIT before they assign him a unit so you have atleast 4 months before he is even over there.

[Sans Authoritas]

Officer's Wife wrote: Hi Sans Authoritas,

I don't agree with what you say, but a lot of good men have died for your right to call them fools for dying for you. At least you are honest about your worth.

Selena

Not in the past 230 years has anyone's death enabled me or anyone else to freely speak our minds. But you, Officer's Wife, you may feel free to tell me which soldiers died to keep me free from "speaking Japanese" or "speaking German." For that matter, tell me which war it was in which men died so I could speak freely, period. Were Nguyen and 4,000,000 of his SKS and B-40 toting comrades going to come over here and start planting toe-poppers and cupcakes after they landed in LCT's on Redondo Beach? I want details, Officer's Wife. Which war?

Secondly, where did I call anyone a fool? Well-intentioned and wrong, lied to and wrong, perhaps. Everyone should certainly consider the difference between "patriotism" and nationalism, yes. But fools? I called no one a fool.

But neither am I going to be a condescending sunshine gnome and tell everyone what a great job they did in "protecting the country." It would be a baldfaced lie.

I don't see how anything I have said indicates anything about my worth, either. Feel free to judge my worth, Officer's Wife, but I think that ultimately, that's up to God. Not you.

I'm terribly sorry, Grandpa Shooter, but this woman publically defamed me, and thus the post merited a public reply.

-Sans Authoritas

[qwert65]

Pearl harbor or was that made up?

[Jdude]

Grandpa Shooter, I'll respect your wishes, as I respect you and your son on a personal level. I'm responding to my detractors via PM.

I'm glad you made it home safely, and I hope the same for your stepson.

Since Sans Authoritatis has taken this to PMs, those who disagree (or agree) with him should do the same. Be civil.

Let's get back on topic.

1 During the summer months, when my shift was over I would be simply exhausted. I would drink excessive water and just lay there. Your young soldier, being in the same situation, will be less likely to call or write during these hot times.

2 No news is good news. If he cannot make contact for a month, don't worry. It happens. Just wait it out, hard as it may be.

3 If you get a power of attorney over anything, do not lose the paper. Replacing it is very hard from the zone.

4 Everyone sends hard candies, baby wipes, exc. Want to be a hero for your boy? Send things like soft chewie candies, beef jerkey, a surprise game boy game, a book in his favourite genre. A funny dvd movie is great. A movie [ahem] is even better.

5 Any packages you send needs to be packaged and taped very well. At some point anything sent either way will make a stop at the post office ran entirely by gorillas intent on jumping on things.

6 His stories are going to be boring. Boring stories are good. Be a good listener, because that matters more than whatever story he has at the moment.

I think that is all. I'll post more if it comes to mind.
Best of luck,
-Jdude

[Cmdr. Gravez0r]

Not in the past 230 years has anyone's death enabled me or anyone else to freely speak our minds. But you, Officer's Wife, you may feel free to tell me which soldiers died to keep me free from "speaking Japanese" or "speaking German." For that matter, tell me which war it was in which men died so I could speak freely, period. Were Nguyen and 4,000,000 of his SKS and B-40 toting comrades going to come over here and start planting toe-poppers and cupcakes after they landed in LCT's on Redondo Beach? I want details, Officer's Wife. Which war?


I don't think this man understands that there's a heck of a lot ore to national security than sitting on your turf and watching the world go by. Politics be danged, remember the domino theory? the USSR? It wasn't just about SE Asia.

EDIT: Didn't see note about PM's. Please ignore.

[Grandpa Shooter]

Thanks to most of you for keeping this High Road. And thank you Sans for your apology. I know it is tempting to state your mind set on matters like these. I find I have to suspend my viewpoint on this in order to give my stepson proper support through these difficult decisions.

Thanks to all of you who have responded here or by PM. I will pass this along to him and his Mother. The next couple of years should prove interesting. By the way, I probably owe my Mother an apology for all the grief I caused her at 19.

Gramps

[AZTOY]

Grandpa Shooter

Forget Iraq at this point..............

The most important think you can do for your stepson is get him in shape!!

Have your stepson start doing push ups, sit ups and running!


SGT B

[Bezoar]

like AZTOY says, get him working on his pre conditioning routine NOW. speed will be learned at basic, just make sure he can do what the manual wants him to do, the way the manual wants him to do.

just have the stepson see if his recruiting will make sure he gets to stay overnight when he does stuff for his MEPS station. SPending nights talking to guys re upping for the 3rd or 4h time will give him more informaiton then any recruiter will.

Just remind the step sons mother that hes not always going to want to get distracted with pleasant thoughts of home.

[Sans Authoritas]

Grandpa shooterAnd thank you Sans for your apology. I know it is tempting to state your mind set on matters like these. I find I have to suspend my viewpoint on this in order to give my stepson proper support through these difficult decisions.

Grandpa shooter, I only apologized for having to post again to defend myself. I still believe and meant everything else I said. But what I said doesn't mean I don't respect you and your stepson on a personal level, and that I hope he comes home safely.

-Sans Authoritas

[kymarkh]

Grandpa Shooter - you shake that young man's hand for me, will ya? You look him straight in the eye and tell him that o'l Sgt. Higgins thanks him for his service. You tell him that he's in for a hell of ride!

Snail mail is still useful even in the electronic times we currently live in. Every once in a while, if I've had a bad day or whatnot, I go out to the garage and open up a box to get a whiff of the past... letters sent to me from friends and family while I served overseas. It keeps me grounded, gives me perspective, and never fails to bring a tear to my eye. My time spent serving this great country as an 11Bravo, especially the year I spent in Korea in the 80's, has helped me to appreciate the way of life we are free to live here in the U.S.

[Harley Quinn]

I believe that SA handled it well, the folks who are into bigotry are the ones that cause the problems.

All have a right to respectable and different opinions, that is why we have the right to protest peacefully, that is set down in the same "Bill of Rights" as the one on firearms and the right to posses them.

Opinions should not be so personal to cause a reaction, who threw the first stone is what occured here. Many feel as SA does but post at a different location, I feel he has the right to his opinion and so do others as long as it is civil and he was civil...:uhoh:

HQ

[NGIB]

Just as a note, my son has had a passion for spicy Slim Jims since he went to Sandland. We always try to send some good muchies and lately have been shipping protein bars as he's spending a ton of time at the gym.

I have yet to receive a written letter from my son and I don't expect I will. I do cherish each phone call and email though. As the phone service eats minutes on the calling cards like no tomorrow, my son has standing orders to call Mom first, his sisters second, and me if there's any minutes left...

[NGIB]

Double tap network today...

[Harley Quinn]

I have yet to receive a written letter from my son and I don't expect I will. I do cherish each phone call and email though.

The e-mail is the best thing going in my opinion, sort of like letters of old but they are the future now, just print it out if you want to have a scrap book for memories 40 years from now, or your grandchildren might like to read um.

:)

[Grandpa Shooter]

In my original post I asked for PM's expressly so that we could avoid the political aspects of this current military action. I don't want this to get into politics so that I can stay focused on helping his Mother accept and deal with him being gone for the first time, and the remote possibility of him not getting home.

She is grateful for the supportive comments and tips on how to communicate with him. Should something go wrong I am afraid I will be the responsible party since I spent so much time talking with him and encouraging him to be responsible and find a direction for his life. His best memories are of the Challenge (military based) program he was in to finish high school. He seems to respect the purpose of the military and is handy with firearms. While he was with us we spent a lot of time talking about US history and the armed engagements and wars this country has been in.

I hope he turns into the fine young man I believe he has the potential to be.
In the meantime, I will try to comfort his mother, with the help of your input.

Gramps

[Ithaca37]

nevermind

[Harley Quinn]

The service has its dangers just like learning to drive and then getting a car. I don't think anyone can take on the responsibility of others unless they are actually caring for them, when sons and daughters leave the nest they are there own person.

I am thinking at times you have given advise and based on your own feelings and direction you took in life, the young man has set his sights on that outcome and looks at you now and hopes he will be there some date and time and not someones problem as so many of the youth have turned into.

Good luck to you GS.

Regards

[Thernlund]

Threadlock (rightfully) imminent.

GS... tell your stepson good luck. Hero, not hero, whatever. Semantics. In any case, I think appropriate terms are brave and honorable.


-T.

[Grandpa Shooter]

Despite what some may think, there are things greater than guns.. Sometimes we need the input of our peers to evaluate our circumstances.

I appreciate this thread being left open long enough to get some feedback from all of you. Thanks to all of you.

Lock when ready.

[X-Rap]

I hope I catch you before lock down. My son entered last may as 19D and every time I speak to him I am more amazed at how he has matured and taken the responsibility of his job on with such enthusiasm.
He is stationed at Ft. Drum and is in 2nd BRCT 1-89 Cav. His brigade is the most deployed in the Army but the latest word he got is that they are considered Global Rapid Reaction Force and presently aren't scheduled for redeployment to Iraq or Afganistan so one never knows if and when they will go to war. He thought that going to the 10 Mtn Div would be a certain deployment to a war zone and it still may be but for now he is just staying prepared and training. His action may come with some South American dictator or in North Africa in some new terrorist hotbed or in an escalation in our current conflicts. I only know that he is phyisicaly and mentaly prepared and has been trained by the best, most honorable military in the history of the world.
Some would disagree but let his mother know that while her son may be in harms way he is doing work that needs to be done and has a greatful country behind him.
And thank you for your service in the Vietnam war sir.

[Ithaca37]

Good luck to you stepson.

[Harley Quinn]

As far as lock down goes, maybe with the new server and more space for all, the topics will be allowed more leeway:uhoh:

It has been pretty rude at times as to what gets locked and what is allowed to go on longer.

I am one who feels this topic is a good one to allow some extra room but as you are saying it will go against some who have tried the same thing, and have been shut down for no other reason than a statement of "not gun related".

Seems to have sort of closed its own door, as I see it. Which might be the "new deal":)

HQ