go army?

JazmenFlowers · #1 10-23-2006, 02:24 PM

my sweet 22 yr old brother has decided to join the army. he signed his papers Friday and ships out on November 9. won't be home for Thanksgiving or Christmas for 2 years. I am so beyond upset I can't explain. I've cried until I don't think I can cry anymore. I don't know why he has decided to do this, but he's so sure it's the right thing to do. I realized there's no talking him out of it, so I just told him I hated the idea of it, but that I'd support him as best I could. please keep him in your thoughts.

skcin · #2 10-23-2006, 02:42 PM

Carrie just went through this too. I can't even imagine how he's feeling, or how you're feeling. I guess it's just something he feels he has to do.

Nixxxed · #3 10-23-2006, 02:42 PM

I'm sorry. I know how you feel. My dear friend Kevin is currently in Iraq. And that's after he's already served for 14 months in Afghanistan.

He served in the Army just out of high school under the college tuition program (GI Bill?). But then was threatened with a stop/loss order in 2002. So, he reenlisted voluntarily so he could choose which program to enter. He chose the linguistics program -- we all know how badly they're needed -- but, you guessed it, they denied him entry after reenlistment and shipped him off to the desert.

So, he served in Afghanistan, came home, and decided to enter some kind of officer training program since he still has X number of years left to serve. But, since said training doesn't begin until early next year, they decided he had time to go to Iraq too. He's currently somewhere in the Sunni Triangle.

Luckily he has email access, so I get frequent updates, and he seems to be in good spirits. But he has always been a happy soul. I hope he's able to retain that quality after all this...

Warm thoughts for you and your family, especially your brother.

sara1998 · #4 10-23-2006, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JazmenFlowers

my sweet 22 yr old brother has decided to join the army. he signed his papers Friday and ships out on November 9. won't be home for Thanksgiving or Christmas for 2 years. I am so beyond upset I can't explain. I've cried until I don't think I can cry anymore. I don't know why he has decided to do this, but he's so sure it's the right thing to do. I realized there's no talking him out of it, so I just told him I hated the idea of it, but that I'd support him as best I could. please keep him in your thoughts.

I'll be praying for your brother, your family, and you. Please keep us updated as you can on how he gets along over there.

DrummerDeanna · #5 10-23-2006, 02:46 PM

Oh man...first Carrie now Jazz

I also have a friend whose brother randomly joined - he just got from tour duty in Iraq (he came back injured but alive and now he's doing really well).

I can't even imagine what you all in this situation are going through. I'm really sorry - I'll keep your brother in my prayers

mikeschmike · #6 10-23-2006, 02:47 PM

I had a real close friend up and join completely out of the blue about three years ago. The subject was never brought up, and all of a sudden he was in basic training. Very strange, but he apparently needed to do it for himself.

Your brother is in my thoughts. I hope all of our men and women stay safe through this terrible mess.

carrie721 · #7 10-23-2006, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JazmenFlowers

my sweet 22 yr old brother has decided to join the army. he signed his papers Friday and ships out on November 9. won't be home for Thanksgiving or Christmas for 2 years. I am so beyond upset I can't explain. I've cried until I don't think I can cry anymore. I don't know why he has decided to do this, but he's so sure it's the right thing to do. I realized there's no talking him out of it, so I just told him I hated the idea of it, but that I'd support him as best I could. please keep him in your thoughts.

oh jazz, i'm sorry. my brother is 19 and only 3 months away from being elegible for deployment. it's so hard; after he left, i cried for 2 weeks. i think it's especially heart-wrenching when it's your younger brother, because of course you still see him as little kid in a way. when does he leave for basic? seriously, if you need to talk or anything, PM me.

JazmenFlowers · #8 10-23-2006, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carrie721

oh jazz, i'm sorry. my brother is 19 and only 3 months away from being elegible for deployment. it's so hard; after he left, i cried for 2 weeks. i think it's especially heart-wrenching when it's your younger brother, because of course you still see him as little kid in a way. when does he leave for basic? seriously, if you need to talk or anything, PM me.

it's heartbreaking. he leaves Nov. 9 for basic training in Georgia for I can't remember how long before he receives his orders. I'm a mess.

thanks for the offer, I may take you up on it.

carrie721 · #9 10-23-2006, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JazmenFlowers

it's heartbreaking. he leaves Nov. 9 for basic training in Georgia for I can't remember how long before he receives his orders. I'm a mess.

thanks for the offer, I may take you up on it.

i bet you are, hon. it'll get easier, i promise. until then, let yourself be sad. it's a hard thing to see a close family member join the military, especially right now. and just think - georgia isn't far from you, so on his free weekends you won't have far to travel to visit him.

The Tower · #10 10-23-2006, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JazmenFlowers

my sweet 22 yr old brother has decided to join the army. he signed his papers Friday and ships out on November 9. won't be home for Thanksgiving or Christmas for 2 years. I am so beyond upset I can't explain. I've cried until I don't think I can cry anymore. I don't know why he has decided to do this, but he's so sure it's the right thing to do. I realized there's no talking him out of it, so I just told him I hated the idea of it, but that I'd support him as best I could. please keep him in your thoughts.

Oh, Jizzy, that is terrible. I'm really, really sorry. I can't even begin to imagine how you are feeling right now.

TruckerMike · #11 10-24-2006, 01:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JazmenFlowers

it's heartbreaking. he leaves Nov. 9 for basic training in Georgia for I can't remember how long before he receives his orders. I'm a mess.

thanks for the offer, I may take you up on it.

I know I am the new guy here but I want to tell you as a Vet, the service your brother has entered is very much appreciated. I spent 12 years active duty in the Army. Now I am in my 10th year in the National Guard. What your brother is doing is comendable and something to be proud of. I have been to Iraq in both Desert Storm and various duties during Enduring Freedom. I know things can be scary at times not knowing but hold to faith that he will be ok. My thoughts and prayers go to your family as they do for every young man and woman deployed so far from home.
Trucker Mike

tommer · #12 10-24-2006, 03:22 AM

i spent the worst 3 years of my life in the sevice of the israeli navy. i wouldn't recommend any military service, for any army, under any circumstances, unless it's a matter of life or death or poverty at a stage of homelessness or hunger.
in addition, one should also do some soul searching whether he/she's about to serve purposes and ideologies that they honestly believe in.

eclipse · #13 10-24-2006, 05:37 AM

Jazz
Regardless of whether you should feel sad, or proud or like an only child....
My heart is with both you, for your sadness and you brother , for his bravery.
I can relate to both what TruckerMike and Tommer have said.. ( I can always see both sides of the story) Stevie and I are like that

Your brother has his own reasons and like you said...The cards are cut. He didn't ask for your opinion when he thought about enlisting, he is only telling you now that the deal is done. That tells me that he wants your support, the time or chance of talking him out of it has passed.
Just be his brother.
Love him, be proud of him and respect his wishes, hard as that may be right now- I know you can do it.
You are a strong little bitch! Yes, you are!
hugs,
~~eclipse~~
Honestly, I will keep you both in my wishes~~

CelticGypsy · #14 10-24-2006, 06:46 AM

Jazzy,

My heart goes out to you because this is a big step. Your brother feels he is doing what needs to be done at this time of his life. Your brother is doing a great service for his country. No matter how long he serves or what his future job will be - he will learn valuable lifetime experiences and meet many interesting people. I served for three years many years ago and it was the best time of my life. Don't worry about your brother. Many people don't go to war zones but are needed here in the States to do their jobs. The men and women who teach basic and advanced training in our military are the best in the world.

I have two children that decided to enlist with two different branches of our military several years ago. One is out now, married and expecting a baby and the other one is in the process of getting out due to a medical condition with his knees.

They both loved serving with our military but feel that life outside the military has more to offer them at this time of their lives. Our military members don't make great salaries and I hope our country can change that very soon. I served three years in the military many years ago and I loved it. I loved travelling and that is what drew me into signing up and taking the oath. Many people enlist for a short time and get out once they figured out that the military life is not for them. Some will re-up after first enlistment and many enjoy the various opportunities to travel around the world and alot of servicemembers do not even see a war zone. There are tons of jobs here in the USA that they do and are needed to do. Not everyone in the military is sent to Iraq or some other conflict zone.

When my kids enlisted I was worried as any mother would be even though I knew what the military is all about. God has other things for them to do in this lifetime and serving in the military for long-term is not it. My husband served for over 18 years and I was very proud to be a military wife and moved our family all over the States and Europe. It was a wonderful experience. Many of our troops do serve proudly and enjoy what they are doing each day.

Your brother will do a great job and learn so much and have many opportunities to travel and see the world and learn so much about himself and about his fellow man. Yes, it is hard work but he will be so proud of all that he has accomplished. My prayers go out to your brother and family and I know he will make his family and friends proud of him. Be sure to go to his basic training and advanced training graduations and write to him and call him once he is out of training since they don't get many opportunities to call home during their training. He needs that support from his loved ones while he is in training. Letters from home will help him alot. Take care

God Bless our troops!!!!

JazmenFlowers · #15 10-24-2006, 08:55 AM

thank you all so very much. it means the world to me to hear others' stories. I'll keep you all up to date.