Advice on dealing with very first deployment to Iraq?

Question

Firstly thanks to anyone with productive advice. My fiance' is in the National Guard. He is only 18 years old and he did split ops. He just got back from AIT July 31st, 2009. His recrutier was a very vile one, he put my fiance in the Guard and got paid for it which my fiance later informed we was against the rules. Now the heart wrenching part.. My fiance specifially told this recrutier that he wanted College first. Instead the recrutier said that this had been granted and we find out today that on Aug. 21st, 2009 he leaves for a 6month deployment. Any advice please on how we can cope, anything because I am so devastated.

Answer 1

If the recruiter got paid the G-RAP money for your husband's enlistment something IS wrong and he should report it to IG.



If "College First" was not in his contract, he will not get it. If it WAS in his contract, he needs to present a copy of it to his training room at his company.



If he's going to Iraq, think of it this way, it's six months' pay which will help if he wants to do college full time when he gets back. Iraq is not as bad this year as it was in years past - indeed, the Iraq government is starting to severely limit U.S. operations there as they prepare to take full responsibility for their own country. I wish you all the best.

Answer 2

I feel for you. Recruiters giving false information, unfortunately, happens on occasion. I wish they didn't do it, but there are some bad apples out there like any profession. Most do a fine job.



The deployment is going to be tough, but you can make it through. Look at it this way, 6 months is nothing compared to 15 months. That is a back breaker, and to me, unacceptable, but they still do it. In order to make it through this, you must remain optimistic. I suggest making a vow between both of you to be supportive of each other and not fight. Don't get into anything petty and be faithful to him.



One of the hardest aspects of deployment i the lack o information. He won't be able to give you specifics about where he is and what he is doing. He will have to rely on others in his unit for emotional support. Tell him you love him and always be positive when talking to him over there. It will make a huge difference.



Focus on what will happen in the future. You are very young. You have decades ahead of you. Tell him that and also let him know college will be there soon. He will be involved in an important mission at an important time in history. It will give him great pride to have served over there.



Good luck. It will be over before you know it. Try to be constructive in what you do while he is gone to pass the time.

Answer 3

I know the recruiter said one thing and did another. But to be honest with you your fiance did join during a time of war, and with that should come the expectation that if your country needs you, then you will go. I understand him being away for 6 months if going to be hard for both of you, but remain strong for him! Think of the servicemen and women who have done multiple tours, and think about the soldiers that are going to be gone for 12 to 15 months. 6 months will go by quick, just whatever you do don't cheat on him and DO NOT send him a Dear John.

Answer 4

Wait wait wait....Your Boy Friend had a 4.0 GPA and he didn't get any scholarships? Sounds very hard to believe. With a 4.0 he could have easily gotten an ROTC scholarship and gone into the Military as an Officer.



P.S.

It is you guy's fault that you didn't carefully read the contract. Don't ever sign anything you haven't read thoroughly. That's basic common sense.

Answer 5

Are you kidding? You're talking about his recruiter like he's the Grinch!



Recruiters don't get paid by recruit. The get paid the same whether you join or not.



Please enlighten me what was done against the rules. If he did something illegal then most likely it would have been caught at MEPS before your fiance could join.



There is a program in the National Guard that makes you nondeployable for college for up to two years:



http://www.paguard.com/html/college_first.html



However, it must be in your contract and you have to be a sucessful college student. If you are failing your classes then you are no longer nondeployable. Maybe your fiancee didn't give you the whole story and only told you enough to make you feel sorry for him.

Answer 6

ok well that's when you need to report this the best way of doing that is some how report this to the news so it gets alot of attention.. worst comes to worst if he goes iraq it isnt the worst thing we are not fighting in iraq right now we are just watching over them we so dont think the worst this is weird one of my friend left too iraq today and im sure that everthing is going to be ok but you need to report this for real then sue his *** every penny his got

Answer 7

Who is it that supposedly paid this recruiter?

Answer 8

did he not read his contract? anything that is promised would be in the contract...if its not there...its not promised