Asymmetric Military

Ok. This isn't about packing your toothpaste and stuff. I might do a packing list later, but, pretty much, whatever you need, you'll have. I'm talking about something much more important and like many important things, people refuse to talk about it. Ladies and gentlemen, when you're in theater, act honorably towards your spouse or loved one. Picture this: your wife is at home telling the kids how much you love them; what a tough time you're having; how brave and selfless you are and what are you doing? You're going over to the supply clerk's CHU every night. A dirty little secret is that it happens often; don't panic-not everyone-but enough to make the decent amongst you wretch. Now imagine you do the right thing and suffer loneliness and your wife is doing all of the things I mentioned before and you come home in one piece. Isn't that beautiful? Let's shoot for the ideal, guys.

And ladies, your attractiveness rating will automatically go up 2 points during deployment; especially in the Middle East where soldiers don't have any contact with the female population. The equation goes: 7+X=Y where X is the country of deployment. Iraq=2. if you have somebody at home, please do the right thing. If you don't, you still want to do the right thing as deployment romance ends up poorly most of the time. People will often feel differently when they get back home and X is gone.

Another factor is that not only your spouse but many Americans love us for volunteering for this stuff. What are they to think if they knew what you were up to? Don't expect any care packages.

Of my unit, there were a few divorces, a few romances with breakups, and a lot of pain and shame; all because people didn't use good judgement.

Semper Fi- (calm down, Marines, Fi to your wife). sheesh.