We have been seperated for pretty much all last year. Dh got stuck in Okinawa for 6 months was home maybe a week and a half, shipped to Iraq as soon as he checked in, came home had 2 weeks leave went back to work just to be in the field for a month. We went on leave for 2 weeks. He checked in from leave and was told 1 day before he left that he was going to this school that he is at now. So in a whole year he was home for maybe 5 1/2 weeks. Now we were just told today that when he gets back from this school in the end of Feb that he will be out in the field for 6 weeks straight. If we are lucky he will be home one day a week for a few hours. Should be regular schedule for 2 weeks and then back to the field for 6 weeks straight. This is to be continuous until he departs for Iraq again in early August. I have been so patient and trying to be the good military wife. He goes through these spurts where he wants to get out and I am the one that keeps telling him he needs to re-up and that things will be o.k. He loves his job and I try really hard to be supportive and not to let him see how much we are hurting. Oh God, How are we going to make it through another year of this? I don't know how much more of this I can take. I love my dh, I love my country and I know I should just be happy that my dh is alive but damn it, it dosn't even feel like I have a dh. He says a soon as he gets back from Iraq that he will be putting in for a change of station, somewhere that will allow us to be a family again. I don't care where we go just so long as we are togeather. To those of you that are lucky enough to have your spouses come home to you every night, Please love them and cherish every moment you have togeather as a family.

By Colette on Sunday, February 1, 2004 - 05:00 pm:

I have no experience with military life, but it sounds awfully hard on the whole family. I hope you are able to spend more time together soon.

By Amy~moderator on Monday, February 2, 2004 - 03:10 am:

Kristie, wow...I seriously sympathize with you. Hopefully, this is just a rare experience you all will go through in the military. I have heard of some horror stories here in the Army about families being separated for long periods of time with very little together time in between. But, I must say, yours takes the cake! I honestly think that once this is all over, you want experience this type of separation so often again. Let's hope anyway! Do you have friends/family around?
You'll be in my thoughts.

By Amy~moderator on Monday, February 2, 2004 - 03:11 am:

correction...you WONT experience this type...
sorry

By Marg on Monday, February 2, 2004 - 07:01 am:

((((Kristie))))

I've been thinking about you.

Your husband is doing a wonderful thing, I know it is hard to think about but he is protecting our county.

I was even going to start a new debate board topic with why are we at war. Just think if we didn't go, how many more terroristic acts might have happened in this country.

Anyway, when dh first when in he was flown over to Italy after basic training. He was over there a full 14 months. We thought he'd never come home and were told normal rotation was 6 months. This is why we never knew when we were getting married, lol!

Being in the military is like an emotional roller coaster (at least to me). He loved it though, he said in the civilian world nothing compares. (Most) people are friendly, you have a steady job/income, etc. The only drawback is war and where you are stationed.

He would have stayed in but his rotation was Norfolk/Gaeta, Italy.

I have no advice I'm just here for support!

By Colette on Wednesday, February 4, 2004 - 11:56 am:

How are you doing today Kristie?

By Boxzgrl on Wednesday, February 4, 2004 - 02:40 pm:

Hey Kristie, just read the post.Terrible... told you he'd hate ****(his unit) and even more, his company. I wish I were going to be around here more so I could help occupy your mind like we did for each other before they came home. I'll visit as soon as I can before I leave (Friday, yikes!). I better get my butt moving. Maybe him reconsidering his next enlistment may be a good thing?? Who knows? I've realized that my DHs enlistment was the wrong choice (you know why) but we cant turn back now, all we can do is get through the next 4 years and come out even stronger. If im ever up this way i'll visit and the same goes for you if your near pendleton. I'll miss you!!!! (Sob, sob) Oh well..... now im mumbling. Ill see you soon!

By Insaneusmcwife on Wednesday, February 4, 2004 - 04:02 pm:

I'm doing better today, thank you for asking Colette. I guess we just have to take it one day at a time. Dh said he is going to try to take a week of leave when he comes back from this school before going back to work. He is not sure if he is going to be able to but atleast he is going to try. He also said that he is going to look into taking a B billet at SOI as soon as he gets back from Iraq. Did ya hear that Melissa? We might be headed for Pendleton. I work tomorrow and friday from 9-11 and I have to go to base legal tomorrow at 1 but other than thatI should be home.

By Colette on Sunday, February 8, 2004 - 09:16 am:

It would be nice if he could get a week off. What is a B billet at SOI?

By Insaneusmcwife on Sunday, February 8, 2004 - 12:36 pm:

A B billet is a special assignment outside of his MOS (Military Occupation Specialty). This shows that he is diverse and can do more than just his assigned job. Kind of a cross training if you will. I have been told it will look better for promotion. At SOI (School of Infantry) he would be an instructor for the guys that just got out of Boot Camp. SOI is kind of like a 2nd level Boot Camp for the Infantry men.

By Annie2 on Sunday, February 8, 2004 - 07:50 pm:

I went through the same thing when dh was a Marine. For the first three years of our marriage, with one child, he was gone 26 months of the 36. Not all at one time, but accumalative.
It was tough but we made it through. Hang in there.
Military life is not for everyone, hardly at all. The pay stinks, too. I'm sure your dh loves it though, as my dh did. A person would have to love it to put up with all of the stuff they do, see and experience, etc.
On the other side you are left at home. I remember when my dh proposed to me, he said "marry me and we'll see the world"...well he saw the world, I saw North Carolina and FL for the most part and the small island of Okinawa.
Dh saw Spain, Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Europe, Korea, Thailand, Russia, Germany, Norway......
This isn't giving you any advice but know that I understand how you feel. (((HUGS)))

By Insaneusmcwife on Sunday, February 8, 2004 - 10:51 pm:

I want to thank you all for listening. It really does help. Normally it doesn't bother me but lately it has been extremely above and beyond what we are used too and we are only about half way through it. Its not just all military either, we have a mess of a family to deal with too! I am usually the first one to defend the USMC to the new wives and to tell them that it will get better, sometimes I just need to be able to whine too. I do love the corps, probably as much as my dh or I don't think I would be able to live like we do.