Having served both in Iraq and Afghanistan with the Marine Corps, I’m thrilled and weary of this decision at the same time. I’m happy to see that we are at the point of stability over there where can take our offensive unit out. The reason it’s a bit unsettling is that when i was in Afghanistan, the army insisted that the Marines pull out ending my deployment a month early. The reason being that Marines aggressive nature was causing waves since the Army felt they had control. It didn’t take long for the army to call the marines back in for support.
The reason for this i believe is that these jihad extremist aren’t stupid. They know that the army operates on a less aggressive scale. One good example of this is when i was on a small base in the middle of no where in north east Afghanistan the first week i was there we got mortared. We immediately sent out a react convoy to find those responsible and go get some. It happened only hand full of times more in the 6 months i was there. When we left that base the army replaced us and that following week were mortared the following 4 days. They were testing us and we weren’t having it. The army, from what my buddies that were staying behind to help them learn the area, sent know one out to pursue a possible enemy. They just sit back and hope know body got hurt.
It must be rough keeping the intensity level up for the army considering they have 12-15 month deployments. Marines do 7 months. One major difference though is the Operations Tempo. We are constantly patrolling. Sometimes up to four 3-4 hour patrols a day. Seeing as it got up to 147 degrees, and you have all that gear on, that’s no small task. I hope the Army can hold it down. I have 3 more years of inactive service and can get recalled at any time. As i sit here watching basketball and a Marine Corps ad came on the T.V. it motivates me. If i do get recalled I wont be happy to leave my current situation, but as my loving Drill Instructor Staff Sergeant Hunter always said, two tears and a bucket. Pretty much it is what it is.
