I have to vent or I am liable to start shooting people.

[ford4x4fun]

Today, my unit redeployed. All the people that I got on a plane with besides my team and a few others went back to the states. My replacements still do not know when they are going to make it over here. This isn't so much of a big deal but if you look at my deployment history I have spent a lot of time deployed. What pisses me off is my unit new that I wasn't going to be leaving at the same time as them and deployed me 3 months early to sit on a base and hold down a bed. Literally I went to the gym the chow hall, and slept for 2 and a half months. That wouldn't be bad except during that time I was suppose to have surgery to fix a problem the two other military doctors caused. My wife and I can't have kids because I have had two hack jobs done on me for two different Hernias. My Unit new I wasn't going to be going home at the same time but denied my request to deploy later and have reconstructive surgery so that I could sit in the bed. Not only that but the doctors they have sent me to didn't listen when my wife and I realized we had a problem. They told me that my 9 year old was not my son and that I should start asking my ex-wife who the real father was. After I paid to go see a true specialist, he recommended a DNA test. My son is mine but you want to talk about a crazy last year. I have missed all of my 9 year olds firsts I haven't been there for anything. My 13 year old stepson has only known me as Dad, and so far since 5 to now I have been there for two birthdays. Now here I sit, while everyone gloats on their Face Book page that they are home, and my wife and I are nowhere near being able to complete our family, because 1 LTC feels that it is his roll to play GOD. I have given the military a lot, and it seams like the more you give the more they take.

[dolinick]

I can't say that I understand what you are going through but my wife is a disabled army veteran. I have two step children and one baby on the way. I guess all I can do is thank you for your service and hope things get better for you and your family.

[bindernut]

Probably thanking you for your and your family's sacrafice isn't exactly what you want to here right now, but a heartfelt thanks all the same. I don't know much about being deployed, but I do know what it's like to hold down a bed for awhile, time is brutal when it's your time and you're not in charge of it. I hope time flies and I hope you're home before you know it. Thanks again and be safe.

[71highboy]

sorry to hear about your situation.i dont know what your future plans are for the military but if i had all of those things going on than i would not re-up when my time was over.

[Ranchero50]

Nice, I'd be pretty upset myself but that's why I declined to re-up when the time came. I got tired of incompetents running my life.

The one good thing about the military is everyone has a commanding officer and you have every right to use your chain of command to resolve issues. I wish you luck, you chain of command will hate you but at a certain point you have to stop being completely submissive...

Jamie

[Fo-Mo-Co]

Now now
remember proper gun control.
Use both hands.

[fireguywtc]

Billy, first I would like to reiterate how much myself and everyone else appreciates the sacrafices you make for our country. More people then you know are truely grateful.

Though I never had any problems like yours, I was in then air force, I can somewhat empathize with you. The Army has had a history of some poor leadership and there are many problems coming to light from it. Most famous is Nov. 5th.

Also, here alone at the hood, there was atleast 21 active duty soldiers that committed suicide. It has taken that many for the top brass to say, "we have some sort of problem here". If there was a single suicide in the Air Force, the whole branch would hear about it. The problems in the Army stem from imo, the quality of life issues, many of which are not being addressed. I feel that your situation is horrible, but not altogether unique.

I wish you all the best and I hope it gets better. My only advice I can give is try to utilize every bit of your chain of comman to to right this major wrong. I think its quite pertinent to remind them that not only is your quality of life is suffering, but many others. It is wearing down on moral and all you want is what is right and fair for everyone. Hopefully with the way the Army has been getting on their commanders, you will be able to get what you deserve.

Disclamer: this is all my opinion. Good luck buddy, you deserve better. Bill

[Mancar1]

I hope all works out for you soon. I know this is different than your situation, but I held down a bed in a fleet hospital in a desert during a war. I thought it was going to drive me nuts. The thought of eventually getting home to my wife and kids is what kept me going. I had more than one close call to not reenlisting. With hindsite I am very glad I stayed in for 24 years active service. It sure the hell is a hard life serving the country. I thank you and pray for everything to come together for you in a positive way. The heading for your post certainly grabbed my attention. I encourage you to talk in person about your issues with someone you have trust in.

[r3vo_3vom]

Sorry to hear how the big green weenie strikes again. As others have said many thanks to you and your family for all the sacrifices you all have made.

[averagef250]

Nice, I'd be pretty upset myself but that's why I declined to re-up when the time came. I got tired of incompetents running my life.

The one good thing about the military is everyone has a commanding officer and you have every right to use your chain of command to resolve issues. I wish you luck, you chain of command will hate you but at a certain point you have to stop being completely submissive...

Jamie

I know where he's coming from here. I had 3 great years in the USN... and one not so great year. Every branch is different as is every command, but military politics and incompetent superiors are universal. I never was a fan of being government property, but having it rubbed in my face was a little hard to swallow for me.

Good luck with whatever you choose to do.

[ford4x4fun]

Thanks for the support and advice everyone. The bad news is, I am already Indef and am over 13 years. I have invested to much time to walk away. When I get out of this one if they don't let me have a minute for my family and career I am going to explode. I am not the same 17 year old kid that joined the military. I don't feel I have anything to prove to anyone, I just want to give my wife what she really wants before we are both to old to enjoy being parents again. I want a chance to be there for one of my kids lives. At this point only the Good Lord knows if we will ever be able to do that. It hurts to watch so many dirt bag parents have kids and give them horrible lives. I don't go down without a fight, the only thing I want now is a chance to get in the ring and fight. This might turn into a tournament though depending on how many battles I will have to fight until I get there. I may not deserve more but my wife deserves more. She hasn't ever asked for anything, just one thing. That is all she ever wanted.

[crazyhorse]

Thank you & your family for protecting us and keeping us safe & free.
I hope & pray everything works out good for you.
13 years is a lot to walk away from.
May God bless you & keep you safe & God bless the U.S.A.

[cdeal28078]

I again I thank you for your service and I also thank your wife as she is in the same boat so to speak. She is suffering right along with you. Plus she is sitting on base trying to hold down the fort while you are away.
I was Air Force and I think we had some great medical services. I was in San Antonio when my son was born so we were at Wilford Hall Medical center which was about the best there was at the time. Don't know about now as that was a long time ago.
My wife came home one day during about the 6th month of pregnancy while I was moving grass and said "we have to go to the hospital to have a baby" scared me to death. She was having severe high blood pressure problems
I have been in situations where I was alone for long periods of time, either driving a straight truck long haul or sitting in a motel working 7-12's for months on end and know that your mind can be your worst enemy. You can imagine the worst of things in situations like that. Find something to do that occupies your mind a bit. I also suggest you follow the chain of command. Nothing pisses them off worse than somebody going outside the chain. Now, if after doing that you cannot get the help you truthfully need then you go to who can really help you but be ready for the repercussions of going outside the chain of command.
Thanks again.
clint

[67 ford f100s rule]

Thanks for the support and advice everyone. The bad news is, I am already Indef and am over 13 years. I have invested to much time to walk away. When I get out of this one if they don't let me have a minute for my family and career I am going to explode. I am not the same 17 year old kid that joined the military. I don't feel I have anything to prove to anyone, I just want to give my wife what she really wants before we are both to old to enjoy being parents again. I want a chance to be there for one of my kids lives. At this point only the Good Lord knows if we will ever be able to do that. It hurts to watch so many dirt bag parents have kids and give them horrible lives. I don't go down without a fight, the only thing I want now is a chance to get in the ring and fight. This might turn into a tournament though depending on how many battles I will have to fight until I get there. I may not deserve more but my wife deserves more. She hasn't ever asked for anything, just one thing. That is all she ever wanted.

Like the others here I want to thank you deeply for the sacrifice you have made for us here in the U.S. What you said up there is one of the most honorable things I have ever seen. I dont know anything about being deployed. It is very noble that you are over in a war zone and you are so devoted to your wife. You must be a darn fine soldier and an even better dad. thanks again for all you do for us. I am praying that you return home to your family soon.

[basketcase0302]

Billy,

By far my vote is stay with it and retire when you can. Just like my Father used to say I now can say...I wish I woulda' stayed in and retired. Like Dustin I was 3 years USN, I did my time and got out DD-214.
And like you part of my decision making process to get out was my "sea time". I was one of only some 20-30 % of the crew that made an entire 7 month Med cruise. Machinist's Mates sea/shore rotation was like 5 to 2 way back then!

Thanks again for your service so that I may sit here as a free man!