Another Surge: Taking Your Temperature

I was asked this afternoon for military family reaction to "the idea of a surge in Afghanistan," so the best thing to do is ask you what you think so people can read it for themselves. We have a longstanding rule here at SpouseBUZZ that we don't delve into politics, so without getting into a political conversation, what's your general mood? Are you anxious to hear what the President has to say? What do you think a surge will mean for you and your family? Assuming the reporting is correct and a troop increase will occur soon, are you supportive?

Just trying to take your temperature, and asking for a gut check. Whatever is announced tonight will affect the military community, and your voice is an important one.

Comments

[Gina]

Well, I guess I'll bite first.

My boyfriend is serving in Iraq currently and he isn't due home until August 2010. Obama says he wants to start withdrawing in July 2011--so if all goes according to plan it could mean that my boyfriend doesn't deploy again once he's home.

But we all know how well the military sticks with "plans." Haha. So I'm just going to pray that I will still somehow manage to have him home for quite some time after this one is over.

[Lucy]

Gut check--the idea of staying in Afghanistan is kinda making me sick. I'd have to spend more time than I've got right now to explore *why*.

[Stephanie]

I am glad to hear he is committing the extra troops, it is definitely needed. I just hope 18 months is long enough. Those are some pretty big hurdles for that short amount of time. I realize the cost, I understand the thought process behind a time limit and the need to instill a sense of urgency with the Afghan people, but I have trouble envisioning enough of a change in that short amount of time. I hope I'm wrong.

My husband is also in Iraq, due home roughly the same time as Gina's, but I know him well enough to know that he'll push to go to Afghanistan and don't hold out any hope that he'll not have to deploy.

[Amber]

I feel tired and sad. Can we really keep doing this?

[Jewels]

It was kind of expected by my husband and myself. He is deployed in A'stan now and unfortunately will be again. I don't know how we could expect anything else. Things over there aren't good, and it will be hard to improve the situation in the time frame presented by President Obama.
But we're military spouses. If something knocks us down we get up, dust ourselves off, cry a little bit (or a lot) and move on because we have to.

[SB]

I'm just going to say it...it needs to be done, but I feel like my family has personally paid enough...he's finally in a non-deploying job and I don't want my husband to go, even though he really wants to...

[Amber]

I'm a new Army Wife. My husband is barely completing BCT, so I'm not exactly the voice of experience here.

He was told because of his MOS to expect to deploy within 6 months.

My intellectual side says I know this is what we signed up for, I know this is what he trained for, I know that he wants to do his part. I will be strong, for him and for us.

My emotional side says my intellectual side's full of cr*p. I want my DH.

[Sarah]

Yesterday I had a close acquaintance -- a woman in a crafting group I've been involved with for three years now -- say, "I hope that tonight's announcement doesn't mean that your husband has to go to Afghanistan." I just stared at her blankly before replying, "Um, he's already there. Since July." I don't expect people to follow every detail of my life, but that's one I thought they'd remember!

Mine's due back in March/April, and we're due to PCS around the time his unit would be ready to go back. We could PCS to another unit that's going or maybe one that's not. I have no idea.

I don't hold out any hope for a return of the 1990s. This deployment pace is how it's always been for us in 7.5 years of marriage, and I can't really imagine it any other way. I guess I'll believe it if and when I see it.

[Sarah H. (luvslikepi)]

Personally, I am upset. Now, don't get me wrong I totally know and understand what I was getting myself into when I married the man, but for the last 2 years he's been deployed or stationed overseas where I could not follow for 19 months. He's in a career field that seems to have him gone more often then not and at the same time many of the troops on post where I'm at haven't even been over once. In the past four years, he's been to Iraq and Afghanistan as well as Korea. Give the boys and girls who have been gone repeatedly a break already. It's still fresh and raw for me... if he gets home from Korea after being gone a year and gets orders to Afghanistan I will be upset, but I will continue to stick with him no matter what...no matter how hard it gets but I really would like for him to draw the long straw this time around.

[Michelle]

For us, we're getting ready for a deployment to Iraq...but now we're wondering if this is going to change. I can say that to you guys - I'm worried about it - and I wonder it. But within half a day I've already been asked by "outsiders" about 10 times "so, do you think he'll go to A-stan?" ugh...I wonder why it bugs me when outsiders ask the same questions I'm thinking?? LOL. Usually I do the old army wife "we don't know and he'll go where he's told".

but I for one would really like to know.

[Penny]

I have mixed reactions to it, the civilian side of me (it's still in there) admitted being a bit sad to hear it. Not just for the troops but for the families standing behind them. Sarah H's quote: "Give the boys and girls who have been gone repeatedly a break already." came to mind.

The Army spouse part of me understands that this is part of our lives and hopes that we all have the (emotional) strength and support to get through the next few years.

[barbyk]

Pakistan, Afghanistan,Afghan citizens, Iranions who are dieing because they want change, and mostly, OUR TIRED US TROOPS; please understand that to OBAMA THIS IS ABOUT RATINGS AND WINNING AN ELECTION.
Has he really DEFINED SUCCESS? only his success. has he stopped to make any amountable changes to help our forces? has he told those smiling west point cadets whose education has been paid by the government that they will be the first troops deployed....
JUST ANOTHER SHAME

[SB]

barbyk,
I thought we were trying to keep this from getting too political. I'm sad that you had to go there, and couldn't tell us about YOUR feelings about the surge (as opposed to your feelings about Obama and the job he is doing). The last thing my military family, which endured no less than 9 deployments during Bush's years, is more negative rhetoric in place of words and ACTIONS by our neighbors that show support. Please remember that this sort of excitement is not uplifting, and that's what milfams need to survive...the shame is that you came here and got ugly. We come here to SpouseBuzz to find those with similar experiences and also find hope in the idea that we are not alone...barbyk, you are not alone in your feelings, I'm sure, but this is not the forum.

[Jessie]

I hope that the surge works, but like a lot of others I'm not sure that it can. We are not fighting a typical war, we are fighting religious zealots who believe that dying for Allah will guarantee them heaven. No matter what we believe that is what they believe that is a huge motivator. So, I don't see how the surge will work. But whatever happens I'll be here for GI Joe, no matter where he goes.

[Kelsea]

I am super nervous. My husband is one of those 30,000 troops. All our close friends were deployed a few months ago and now my husband and all of our other friends are leaving! He leaves a week from today. No warning. 24 hours. Thats it. I got lucky to have a friend overseas who does the intake.

[glenn clark]

My son just got back from Iraq in Sept,and he talks about going to Afghanistan his mom and I of course don't want him or any other troops to go there,ask the Soviets how much success they had there that conflict has been going on for hundred's of years we'll never stop it

[Alikat]

I'm sad that it means more deployments in our future... but if it keeps our country even the tiniest bit safer from attack in the future it is worth it! It helps to focus on the Greater Good. :)

[Cherie]

A part of me was relieved to hear that there is some sort of timeline to look forward to. The other part of me, however, was a little disheartened to also know that in setting a prospective timeline for withdrawal the "enemy" is also aware of when our troops will be pulling out. I'm plagued by self-imposed questions of "how will this affect us all when the time for withdrawal does arrive?" "What if the withdrawal isn't successful, for one reason or another?". I have always been and continue to be proud of my husband and his service to our country. We have been fortunate in that in our 5 years of marriage (6 years total relationship length) he has not been sent on deployment. There were many opportunities which we discussed and agreed that he could volunteer for, but they never resulted in his actually leaving past any training/prep. He has a strong desire to deploy and although I am a little disturbed that he willingly wants to go; I do understand that he may feel as though it is his turn to bear the weight of this deployment as many of our friends and his colleagues have already done time and again. So, with that said, I have yet to get word if the unit he is with now will be deployed as part of the surge of 30,000 (they are pushing to be included, hard). I'm certain it won't be easy to deal with, especially with two young boys, but I will support my husband, as I always have, no matter where Uncle Sam sends him. May God continue to bless our country, you all and your families.