Here's an email from a friends kid who is in Iraq. I received it 2 days ago.
Hi Everybody,
> Sorry for the mass e-mail, but this is just to good
> not to tell. For starters, I am outta here in less than 5 days. The
light
> at the end of the tunnel did in fact turn out to be freight train, and it
> hurts, but it will all be a funny story in a month or two. I work in one
of
> the palaces now, and it is pretty cool, both literally and figuratively.
It
> feels alot like a movie set, and is made about as well. I have a feeling
> this place will fall apart with the next stiff wind that comes through.
> Looks pretty, as long as you don't look real close. Ok, now the really
cool
> part. The center of the place is a three story tall hall, all marble and
> shine, and I work on one side of it. The other day, I sitting at my desk,
> working dilligetly <cough>, when I hear something odd. Now, mind you, I
am
> in Iraq, and while strange things happen everyday, I never expected to
hear
> bagpipes. Yes, bagpipes, played by authentic Scotsmen. 8 pipers and 3
> drummers played for about 15 minutes and then marched out. Another
positive
> aspect of coalition operations, at least for me. The coolest/oddest part
> was the closing song. I had never heard the Marine Corps anthem on
bagpipes
> before. Most likely never will again, but it was neat. I should have
some
> photos to show off, provided I remember to snag them from a buddy of mine
> who owns a digital camera.
> This should be my last big e-mail from Iraq. That statement
alone
> brightens my day. The last 4 months have been alot of hard work and a lot
> of fun. Part of me wants to stay, but I haev beaten that irrational
portion
> of my brain into submission with thoughts of Subway and driving all over
> Texas. I can say for sure that things are better here now than when I got
> here, and I am very glad I have been here. I hope all of you are well.
> Thank you for everything.
>
> Dave
He arrived in Iraq a few weeks after the major fighting ended, IIRC.
Another perspective is from my son. He's making the army a career. 28, married 1 newborn child when he deployed to Kuwait before it started, E5 Army. I spoken extensively to him since he got back but I do have letters and emails that he senet while over there.
Initially, he was gungho to go, charging around making sure everything worked, etc. He was with a commo CO. His attitude seemed, IMO, up beat until they moved into the palace by the airport after the major fighting was over.
His biggest complaint was inept leadership from the senior NCOs with the exception of the 1st SGT. (there was a large proportion of aged NCOs in his company) His second biggest was lack of combat training. They traveled from the airport palace to downtown bagdhad for duty. He said they were shot at on every trip, but were issued only 1 30rd magazine per day when they were on duty. Prior to deployment they had only used their weapons for yearly qualification in Germany. By the end of his tour he was ready to get out. After several months at home and then PCSing to the States his attitude turned around again. Now he's the same guy he was before he left, with one exception.
He's now E6. The unit he's in now is overrun with E6s and more than their share of E7s. He tells me that most of them are over 40 and are ready to retire. And his complaining about the inept leadership is driving ME crazy.
That's all about to change as they are prepping for a change of command for a new CO. The NCOs should be cycling within the next year or so.
Granted, this is only one person's opinion but he's been hard core since he graduated ABN school. First unit was Bragg. He's always wanted to make it his career so I don't think he's just complaining to complain. Maybe getting stuck in leg units all the time has jaded his view cause he really likes to jump, I really don't know.
I know this isn't an answer or an opinion but it's how it is in a commo BN. At least these ones.