04ctd

a lot of young guys are looking at deployments.


but a lot of us ole guys have done been there and done that. a few times


how BAD was it, really, looking back?

cmac

i might not quailfy as on of the ole guys but i have done two one year deployments. one to Iraq and one to Afghanistan. dont get me wrong now... it sucked but it wasnt a vietnam or korean war tour. i got one of the "better" FOBs on my deployments. iraq was better than afghanistan.

PistolWhipt

Did the WESTPAC thing a couple times along with plenty of other < 6 monthers .... and took a voluntary unaccompanied tour for two years.

Was it bad ??? yeah, in spots .... but ya do what ya gotta do and get home again.

Don't believe I would care for these back-to-back year long desert deployments that I hear some of these guys taking.

Cheers,
PISTOL

STate

One 6 month UDP to Okinawa.
One 5 month Deployment to Iraq.

Looking back I wish I had taken advantage of my "vacation" to Japan. Beautiful country!

Looking back on Iraq...mixed feelings I guess. Thank the Lord everyday I came back unharmed.

04ctd

i think that is what i regret about my trips to Europe.

just never seemed to get out and see stuff.

we did go somewhere cool in greece though, but i cant remember the name of it. so not sure how important tourism was in my mind

soulezoo

Only a couple of the deployments were really 6 months... actually like 175 days because different things happen in the AF if you hit 181 days and they don't like that. But man, I'd have to sit with the calculator a while to figgur' 'em all out... how about just flying the mission in support?

From Honduras, Panama, El Salvador, Bolivia, Haiti, Bosnia, Sarajevo, 1st gulf war, 2 to Diego Garcia (and into Afghanistan) and 1 to UAE, (plus PSAB in Saudi Arabia and Al Udied, Qatar and iraq) I did Southern Watch every year it was in effect and once for Northern Watch out of Turkey... I was at the Khobar Towers in Dharan a month before they were bombed and I lost a friend in that one... a mission into communist Poland to rescue Delta Force...I played a bit part in the bringing home of Jessica Lynch from Iraq, through Kuwait, Ramstein to Andrews if anyone remembers that story. Have some pics somewhere. I think I purposely hid them though.

I never did Korea or Vietnam and visited that form of hell, but I think I've done my fair share.

bansh-eman

My first deployment was about 8 months, my second ws about 7 months, and my last was 1 year. I came home around the 9 month mark because I am getting out and saved my leave days to use for terminal leave.

HMX-1

12 month in Okinawa from '92 til '93.

I've been in Iraq as a contractor for 23 months now, with the exception of 7 weeks home in the past 2 years. It pays the bills and since "life happened" and I couldn't use my GI Bill like I wanted, I'll take some time off once I'm done and get some classes in while I decompress.

I've thought about going to the Stan, but Lipstick 6 might have other thoughts about that.


Kris

PistolWhipt

[QUOTE=04ctd;2637994]i think that is what i regret about my trips to Europe.

just never seemed to get out and see stuff./QUOTE]


I thought I was the only one who didn't take full advantage .... can we get a do over ??

cheers,
PISTOL

butchera

2 year in GITMO
2 MED cruises - 1 six months the other just over 7
2 years in Panama

Some of it was fun, some of it wasn't. Never did get to see all the thing I would of liked.

Shovelhead

Where have YOU been hiding?.........

Been awhile.

ramlovingvet

5 Westpacs 3 Rim Pacs and a whole lot of other steaming.

Wolfcsm

As a soldier:
'73 to '76 Erlangen, Germany
'81 to '91 Budingun and Frankfurt, Germany
Dec '90 to Apr '91 Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq
May '95 to Sep '95 Guantanamo Bay


As a DA Civillian:
July '03 to Nov '03 Kuwait, Balad Iraq
Nov '04 to Apr '05 Tikrit, Iraq
May '06 to Sep '06 Tall Afar, Balad, Iraq
Jun '07 to Nov '07 Al Taquaddum, Iraq
Jan 09 to Jul '09 FOB Hammer, Iraq

All good. Fishing was great at Guantanamo!

Hal

Irish4

Finishing up my second 1 yr tour in Iraq. It sucks being away from my wife and kids. However, I have been really luck with getting some great jobs that have allowed me to do some unique things. So, looking back it was a good experience. Living conditions are pretty good and I would think way better than during Desert Storm or 03-04 of this war.

ktpauley

One year 76 to 77 Public Works diego Garcia.
2 7 month deployments 80 to 82 to McMurdo Station, Antarctica.
1 9 month deployment 82 to 83 to Christchurch, New Zealand.

Keith