Update on my niece in Iraq

She spoke to my mil on Friday and said : "Grandma I know i told you I was going to be safe over here but I really don't know. This place is so scary. I don't want to re-enlist anymore"

(Mind you her mom is the one that just had the heartattack)

She will be over in Iraq for 5 more months and then she will come home and then she will go back over for another 6 and then she is out. She doesn't want to re-enlist. She's been in for 8 years. So instead of re-enlisting she has to join the Reserves for 2 years. Lets hope she doesn't have to go back over once shes in the reserves.

I wonder what would happen if she gets pregnant when she comes home before she goes back..

Please keep her in mind.

ETA: SHE IS IN THE NAVY

Message edited 3/18/2008 1:47:41 PM.

Re: Update on my niece in Iraq

Re: Update on my niece in Iraq

Re: Update on my niece in Iraq

My husband said that if she is pregnant, she obviously cannot be deployed. (he's in the army)

I wish the very best for her.

Re: Update on my niece in Iraq

Aw...how sad and scary for her.

Re: Update on my niece in Iraq

Re: Update on my niece in Iraq

Re: Update on my niece in Iraq

I know the Navy has adopted a policy that if you join the Reserves directly after Active Duty you are waived from IAs for 2 years. Not sure if the other services has the same or similar policies but they might.

If she gets pregnant she cannot be delpoyed during her pregnancy. She will get 6 weeks paid leave; the period for sabbatical from IAs varies from service to service. I think Marines are 6 months, the Navy gives a year, Air Force is 4 months, not sure about the Army but I believe she can chose to stay in or request release from active duty. Basically sabbatical just means they can't deploy for that period of time, although I know if she is in an enlisted rate of great demand that can be changed if the service has a need in that area.

Message edited 3/18/2008 1:18:05 PM.

Re: Update on my niece in Iraq

I hope she, and the rest of our soldiers, come home safe!!

Re: Update on my niece in Iraq

Re: Update on my niece in Iraq

Re: Update on my niece in Iraq

Re: Update on my niece in Iraq

God bless her for what she is doing

Re: Update on my niece in Iraq

this is why I'm scared that my nephew is joining the navy. He thinks he'll do a limited time and then he's out.

He goes in June 18.

My heart breaks for your family and her. She must be so scared..I can only imagine how much she wants to come home.

When I talk to my nephew about it and all the stories I hear and how awful it is, he turns it around and poo poos it. He thinks he is going to come out an officer in 3 years.

The recruiters really work on these kids.

Re: Update on my niece in Iraq

I hate that she's there. Her husband was in the Navy as well (thats how they met) and he came out..she stayed in. Shes got a 5 yr old at home who gets mad because shes not there all the time. He should have stayed in and she should be the one out. I hope she doesn't re-enlist. I know she loves her job, but she doesn't love it over there..and until the war is over, she will probably be there a while longer if she does it.

Re: Update on my niece in Iraq

Re: Update on my niece in Iraq

it's so hard. my brother is in the navy and was on the uss eisenhower and he spent 8 months in the persian gulf.

he missed my wedding and it was really hard, but thank god he doesn't have a family yet. that's so much more difficult.

where is she exactly? i'm assuming she's on a carrier or a ship?

hope she stays safe!!

Re: Update on my niece in Iraq

praying for a safe return!!!

Re: Update on my niece in Iraq

Will she have to be in the normal reserves for those 2 years, or IRR (inactive ready reserves)? DH was in the Marine Corps, and when he chose not to reenlist and still had time on his contract, he had to do IRR, which is different than the "one weekend a month, 2 weeks a year" reserves. Joining the active reserves was an option, but not mandatory.

I don't know if this is a different situation since she's Navy, but if it's IRR that she has to do, her chances of being activated and deployed again during that time are very low. Not nonexistant, of course, but low.

Re: Update on my niece in Iraq

What area of the Navy is she in? My brother is in the Navy as well and is on deployment at the moment. Do you know where she is based out of? I will keep her in my prayers with my brother.

Re: Update on my niece in Iraq

Re: Update on my niece in Iraq

Re: Update on my niece in Iraq

.. I know what your going through SIL and her husband are in Iraq too .. I just pray for all of there safe returns!

Re: Update on my niece in Iraq