My Motivation Is Starting To Dissolve!

[Mr. Perfect]

As you may or may not know I am in Iraq. Navy... and I am working in a Detention facility for Iraqi criminals and Enemy Prisoners of War... Well, I miss my family...the job is so repetitive... nothing new or interesting... I'm starting to get tired of the people I am working with. I still have 7 months to go. I'm slowly losing my sanity

My wife cries every time we talk on the phone. I get teary-eyed when my 2 year old daughter is hollerin at my wife because she wants the phone to talk to Daddy.... She Gets all in the webcam when its a skype session with my wife!!! (From what I've been told everytime Mommy goes to the computer, she runs to the computer and points at the screen and calls my name out...)



I don't think Imma make it you guys! You guys are sorta the only reason I stay sane, and I actually look forward to getting online everyday after work to get on here.



If you have any words of wisdom or motivation....now would be a great time for those

 

[Nebulous]

How will being in the Navy benefit you? Most people I know who come home from being in the service get regular blue collar jobs like the rest of us that never joined or went to college...

 

[Mr. Perfect]

It has a lot actually... I have my Associates in Information Systems Administration and working on my Bachelors of Computer Science in Information Systems Security. 90% of the Navy's expenses... They've taken care of my family...guaranteed paycheck... I've been to some wonderful places in a short two years, learned so much, met so many great people...



I love the Navy...its this deployment I don't like...granted it is my first Boots on Ground deployment, and will be my last Boots on Ground deployment, then I will return to sea for my normal At Sea deployments.



In this deployment I've been completely taken out of my element and placed in a completely different setting and uniform, and forced to adapt to Army ways...its retarded! I am ready to come home, and return to the Navy job I signed up for!!!!!

 

[Nebulous]

To be honest, while I respect what people in the service are doing for their country... I would rather try to go through college at home myself by getting on financial aid and applying for any possible grants / scholarships and paying for things with my some of my wages from my job and student loans (if I were to go). I couldn't bare to miss out on my kids childhood and put myself in a position of being in a hostile environment where I could get killed, leaving my family with no husband/father.

But thats just me.. Sorry I'm not helping.

 

[Mr. Perfect]

lol...no its actually kinda of motivation...it kinda reminded me why I am doing this...



To my wife and daughter..I'm a Hero!

To my brother...I'm a Hero!

To my mother and uncles who have all retired from the Navy...I'm a Hero!

To children at my nieces school....I'm a Hero!



I know it sounds corny but...I can't let the ones I love down!



I joined the Navy because I wanted to travel the world on the expenses of the Navy, See wonderful places..Do great things....make something of myself...do my part for this country...



Of course I don't like being away from my family, but they understand why I am doing this...they just don't like it, but they support me.



I am paying for college! There is still that 10% that comes out of my pocket...



You helped me a little by reminding me why I am doing this...

 

[Nebulous]

Coolness. Rock on

 

[Princess]

Your wife needs to join a support group. But don't worry about the tears--I cry all the time. Hubby was in the Marines and the National Guard, and even for the weekend drills, I'd get a little teary eyed.



Yes, it's difficult for her what with a little one to care for by herself. But she'll manage--as will you.



If you plan on making the Navy a career (which it's a good one, I must say) you are both going to have to find a way to cope. Not only do you need to call and skype, but try a journal. Daddy was 22 years in the military and, of course, that was before email, and what not. He wrote all kinds of letters to us. (mainly my older brother and sister as they were in the service with him the longest) All sorts of postcards, and nothing important--just stupid stuff that he might share if he were home.

Dear son, If you think broccoli is yucky--some of these people eat bugs. Be good, I love you. Daddy

He wrote all kinds of letters about nothing. I had one tea bag left and had only used it twice. I thought I could get another cup of tea out of it, but some joker threw it away. Gonna pick up some more next time I get near a PX

Of course, there were lots of things that he couldn't share, and I won't say that we didn't miss him or he us. But it did help by making him feel closer.

Lots of pictures will help too.

When my brother was overseas, we used to tell him about everyday stuff we were doing. The basketball team lost to North Hardin High School

Why don't you and your wife exchange journals? Each of you write in a notebook--tell her about the guys, the work, the people, the everything (within reason) and she can tell you about your daughter.....then every 30 days or so, exchange them.



Good luck and thank you for your service.