I need personal advice

[Robin]

One of my best friends (JD) was sworn into the US Air Force yesterday. I've known he was going in for about 3 months now. He goes to Basic in July, and due to his chosen job (some sort of pilot thingie) will probably be deployed to Iraq by January 2008.

Now this is what I need advice about: Since I found out he was enlisting, I've had recurring nightmares. In them, I'm watching the news and a special report comes on. A terrible massacre (the form changes from night to night--gas, bomb, nuclear...it gets really bad) has occured. It shows a shot of a pile of bodies--and JD's is on the very top. I wake up in a cold sweat, crying my eyes out. I'm so worried, and I don't know what to do...

I feel it is my duty as a Mod to ask that this not become a debate on the war. I just need advice about the nightmares.

[Asthaloth]

As A pilot he has the lowest chance of death (If I remember the stats correctly).
Besides which, Bush (Or congress, or someone or another )Has pledged to pull out of Iraq at best possible speed.

[luckimiss7]

As A pilot he has the lowest chance of death (If I remember the stats correctly).
Besides which, Bush (Or congress, or someone or another )Has pledged to pull out of Iraq at best possible speed.

Except not everyone in the AF is a pilot, not even close. AF is a lot of the technology stuff, and to be a pilot you have to have 20/20 vision. So not everyone in the AF is gonna be a pilot. I almost joined and my boyfriend is joining. But the AF does have the lowest death rate out of the 4 branches I think.

I personally don't believe in nightmares/dreams predicting the future. I would just tell him that you are praying for his safety while he is over there. If you know how he'll take you telling him about the nightmares, the decide either way to tell him, or tell him that you're worried about him getting hurt and that might help you.

Last edited by luckimiss7 on Mon Apr 23, 2007 1:17 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Asthaloth]

As A pilot he has the lowest chance of death (If I remember the stats correctly).
Besides which, Bush (Or congress, or someone or another )Has pledged to pull out of Iraq at best possible speed.

Except not everyone in the AF is a pilot, not even close. AF is a lot of the technology stuff, and to be a pilot you have to have 20/20 vision. So not everyone in the AF is gonna be a pilot. I almost joined and my boyfriend is joining. But the AF does have the lowest death rate out of the 4 branches I think.

*Points*

(some sort of pilot thingie)

By that I'd say he's a Pilot, No?
Or have I missed something terribly profound?

And if he's not a Pilot, he's likely to be in maintenance, and thus stationed on one of the Aircraft carriers / Out of the country on an Airfield.
When was the last time we lost an aircraft carrier? World War 2?

[luckimiss7]

As A pilot he has the lowest chance of death (If I remember the stats correctly).
Besides which, Bush (Or congress, or someone or another )Has pledged to pull out of Iraq at best possible speed.

Except not everyone in the AF is a pilot, not even close. AF is a lot of the technology stuff, and to be a pilot you have to have 20/20 vision. So not everyone in the AF is gonna be a pilot. I almost joined and my boyfriend is joining. But the AF does have the lowest death rate out of the 4 branches I think.

*Points*

(some sort of pilot thingie)

By that I'd say he's a Pilot, No?
Or have I missed something terribly profound?

And if he's not a Pilot, he's likely to be in maintenance, and thus stationed on one of the Aircraft carriers / Out of the country on an Airfield.
When was the last time we lost an aircraft carrier? World War 2?

whoops sorry I must have miss read that. Air Craft carriers are hard to take down. My dad was on one in Vietnam and he said it would have taken a nucleur bomb to sink it. Some Airmen also drive convoys too.

[Skynetmain]

...
And if he's not a Pilot, he's likely to be in maintenance, and thus stationed on one of the Aircraft carriers / Out of the country on an Airfield.
When was the last time we lost an aircraft carrier? World War 2?

When did the Air Force get aircraft carriers? Those have always been the Navy's domain.

But I agree that an out of country airfield would be pretty safe for non-pilots.

Robin, I know that some of the branches let you choose whether or not you get assigned to Iraq. I think the Air Force was one of them. If that is the case, try to talk your friend into getting stationed out here in Lompoc or at Edwards. We have some pretty cool facilities at Lompoc, and Edwards is one of the bestest Air Force bases outside of the SGC.

[Asthaloth]

...
And if he's not a Pilot, he's likely to be in maintenance, and thus stationed on one of the Aircraft carriers / Out of the country on an Airfield.
When was the last time we lost an aircraft carrier? World War 2?

When did the Air Force get aircraft carriers? Those have always been the Navy's domain.

But I agree that an out of country airfield would be pretty safe for non-pilots.

See, foolishly I assumed that the Airforce would use Aircraft carriers.
Besides, my point stands, he would be on an Airbase either way, well out of Harms way.

[Uncle Xyzzy]

Quoted from my bro-in-law, who's currently on his 3rd tour in Baghdad:

Almost all of the people who die overseas are people who think they don't have have to follow regulations, and do stupid things.

That sounds heartless to the people who have died, but it's very true...

[Mongrel]

Talk to your friend about your worries. Don't do it in a way that sounds like you're trying to manipulate him into feeling guilty about going, just tell him how much you're going to miss him and think about him. It'll be one less regret after he's deployed.
Do research about his new job. Find out all you can. You can then throw knowledge in the face of your fears.
Talk to other people who won't quibble about the veracity of previous statements.

[Sandmaster]

See now I'm going to stick my two sense in an jinx myself.

I'm in the Army and haven't been over "there" at all. I hit 5 years in June and I'm an E-6 for any that care. I've been denied a tour several times. That's another story for another time though...

The nightmares can be real and scary but you shouldn't be too worried. He might get spared and not go at all to Iraq or Afghanistan. I know people who haven't done a single tour in 4 years.

Also Skynetmain generally the unit deploys to Iraq not you get stationed there. Kuwait is the only actual station that I know of where you get PCS orders. Everything else is considered a deployment and you're still considered stationed at your home base. So being stationed in certain areas doesn't guarantee you won't go. If a fighter wing or air mobility squadron has to deploy pretty much the whole unit packs up and heads over there. Sorry if I'm butchering my Air Force terms.

Not to fret though Robin. I wouldn't worry too much. It's definitely normal to worry. Plus since he's in the AF his chances should diminish his chances for convoys let alone I'm sure he won't see and door to door action. That's for the grunts. He should stay safe and I've known lots of guys who have made it back safe with not a scratch. But yeah he might not be going at all so that'd be the best! Plus doesn't the Air Force still do 6 month tours? The Army just got bumped up to 15. Just keep in touch since you say he's one of your bf's. And I can't answer every question but feel free to ask and myself or someone else can chime in. I hope everything makes sense.

And the aircraft carrier gave me a chuckle!

[Asthaloth]

And the aircraft carrier gave me a chuckle!

Not my fault the stupid armed forces cant be consitant.
Navy has aircraft and soldiers, army has naval units, the airforce has ground forces and the special forces are amalgamated into the other three.

Not to mention that we have like 72 MI's, several of which aren't used. >.<

[Paul]

And the aircraft carrier gave me a chuckle!

Not my fault the stupid armed forces cant be consitant.
Navy has aircraft and soldiers, army has naval units, the airforce has ground forces and the special forces are amalgamated into the other three.

Not to mention that we have like 72 MI's, several of which aren't used. >.<

I always though ground force was a gardening TV programme..

[Mongrel]

I always though ground force was a gardening TV programme..

Nah, it's the coffee-making unit.

[Robin]

ROFL that somehow made me feel a bit better. Thanks, guys.

[Dragonfire]

Yeah, pretty much the main thing you can take comfort in is that since he's in the Air Force, he probably won't see ground combat, and he won't be on the front lines (that's usually what the Marines deal with).