Gates announces longer tours in Iraq - Yahoo! News

I hope this link works, if not basically it's been announced that ARMY soldiers will now not be deploying to Iraq and Afganinstan for 12 months, but now 15 months as of IMMEDIATELY. For most of you this doesn't effect you one way or another, but this does effect my family and so many of our friends. Here where we're stationed we have a brigade about to deploy here shortly heading to Afganinstan, and this is going to be devistating. This does NOT effect any other military groups...it does NOT effect the Marine's who only deploy for 7 months (must be nice), it doesn't effect Navy who well most don't even deploy to Iraq or Afganistan ( a few but it's a very few), and it doesn't effect the Air Force who well honestly does not know what a deployment is at 3-4 month deployments..sorry but for us Army spouses we're just getting into our comfort zone at 3-4 months! Seriously, I'm furious, sad, and just really overwhelmed. I know that this will effect us come our next deployment which we have officially, but unofficially (I know, frustrating and rediculous huh) we know when we're supposed to deploy (I will NOT state this for the fact that it will most likely change dates and where...yes we've been told where too, but again this can and probably WILL change so no point in writing it plus it's a safety issue.

Anyways, please keep our soldiers in your prayers. I know a lot of you say you pray for them, but reality is most of you don't. Again I'm being honest and realistic. I think a lot of people do a lot of lip service, but very few ultimately think twice about the soldiers on a regular basis. There's very few of you who even personally know anyone in any of the services, considering only 4% of ALL American's are in the military, it pretty well limits how many actual Americans KNOW, truly KNOW a military member or family member. Very few of you know one...just because you read my journal doesn't mean you KNOW a military member...ultimately the majority if us are strangers who get a really small glimpe insto each others lives. The only person I've EVER met in person is  Kelly.

 

Anyways, sorry I know this is a tangent, but it hits me hard personally. My heart is sad knowing that my friends will be deployed for 15 months, that my friends will see their spouses and parent deployed for 15 months. 12 months is HARD enough, much less 3 extra freaking months. I have tried really hard to always have a good attitude when Chad's been deployed. A lot of moaning and groaning is NOT going to change things, other than to bring me down. I have my days, but over all I do well. I gave our last deployment over to GOD and I continue to do that. This just really makes me sad. Why does it JUST have to be Army soldiers.

I have friends who are Marine families, but the fact is why is it that the so called "big bad Marines" are not staying 15 months? Shoot why couldn't they have been extended 10 months over their 7 and still they'd have been under the 12 month mark. Why can't the AF get a taste of a decent freaking deployment of 6-7 months? Ugh! Like I said, I'm frustrated, annoyed, and angry.

Now do NOT think I don't support what we're doing. I do. I think those who like to spout off that they support our troops but not the War are talking out their butt. Guess who's FIGHTING the freaking war people...the TROOPS. It's their JOB. If you don't support the war, you don't support the troops..plain and simple. NO ONE likes war, but it's a reality and it is the whole point of having a military. Yeah...can you guess a small pet peave of mine! LOL It really is and it really, really ticks me off when I hear that rediculous phrase.

Ok, so anyways seriously be in prayer for these SOLDIERS and their families...there are so many wives and children at home waiting for their soldiers (oh and husbands). For those who are in the midst of deployments that are being effected to those who are about to deploy and will be effected. Chad and I actually just sat here and named tons of friends who we personally know being or about to be effected by this news. It just sucks.