So recently I returned from Bagram AB, Afghanistan, and I'm so happy to be home. I'm ready to start going to college again, maybe CLEP out a few courses here and there, because I know I have a lot of time on my hands, right? No...Before we even left the frozen tundra that was Afghanistan, we were told by our higher ups that we would be deploying again, within the year, to another undisclosed location. After our stand down period, we will once again start our workups to go back out. Is there no light at the end of the tunnel? There is, but all it is, is a turn left sign, and after that, is another sign. Turn left, and so on. Military deployment cycles are now more like a NASCAR race...Speed up, slow down, turn left, speed up, slow down, turn left...You drive all day long, but all you do is end up back where you started, with no set finish in sight. Being in a Naval Expeditionary squadron, you see the same things every time you deploy, but I can only imagine what it is like for the Army and Marines, where wherever they go, someone is shooting at them. Not to mention they have their 12, 15, and up to 18 month deployments. Luckily for myself and my shipmates, we only have to do up to 7 months at a time. This shit is just starting to get really old, and it is starting to wear on everyone...

PEACE,
AME1