A Change of Plans

Nothing in the military is a certainty, you learn that from day one. Semper gumby; always flexible. That is more true than ever today as I tell you that I won't be coming home when planned.

A passing soldier stops to ask a question:

"What's the big news on base?" queries the soldier.

"We just found out that we are being extended. . ." is the response.

"Now everything makes sense. Everyone looks like they are going to cry."

As a result of the call up for more troops in Iraq, the 1/34 Brigade Combat Team is being extended in Iraq for an unannounced amount of time. We are in our 16th month of this deployment and it looks as though it may just turn out to be a two year tour. Nothing is set yet but we have heard rumors about a July return date now instead of the planned March exodus.

All around base you can feel the misery that the soldiers are feeling. Laughter, sadness, and anger surrounds the conversations and mood when you greet someone. Plans shattered, most soldiers are frantically trying to talk to their loved ones that are thousands of miles away. They have to try and console their families and themselves at the same time, a quite difficult task.

Many will be missing weddings, school graduations, birthdays, anniversaries, and vacation plans. We all knew that we were going to be making sacrifices on this deployment but we never expected a two year deployment time, easily one of the longest deployments for any unit yet.

With my chin up I sit here and ponder the implications of an extended stay. You just can't make this stuff up.

Nick