Stepson going Army!

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.

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

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.

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...

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.

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!

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.

Grandpa Shooter said:

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.

Click to expand...

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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 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

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

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!

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.

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

Click to expand...

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

Pearl harbor or was that made up?