Thursday, February 18, 2010

Dear Army

Dear Army,

I wanted to take a few minutes to thank you for taking care of my husband the last almost-5 weeks that he has been away from home. He has had the privilege of spending time in the lovely and scenic Fort Benning, GA.

Since he left home he has had:
  • No heat
  • No hot water
  • No internet
  • Nothing to do
He arrived at Benning to spend two weeks doing paperwork and having the usual in-processing-related appointments. He has remained for three extra weeks to do ... absolutely nothing. He is so mind-numbingly bored that there is a good chance he's losing brain cells. He spends all day, every day, watching movies and tv shows that his friend burned onto a hard drive for him to take with him. He watches said movies and tv shows on his computer in his barracks room. His computer that cannot connect to the internet.

I certainly would much rather have him spending 5 weeks doing absolutely nothing away from home, than spending 5 weeks doing nothing right here with me. So thanks for that.

Thanks for making sure his day of staring at the computer is broken up by useless formations every 3ish hours. And thanks for sending pretty much every other guy off to where they're supposed to be ... except for my husband. He loves slipping through the cracks...he loves it so much that he's been forced to contact his old commander, and his old first sergeant (who is currently in Korea) for help in speeding up his orders.

Thank you for letting him sit for so long that Redstone Arsenal, his next destination, had to call Benning to inquire as to where in the hell he is.

Thank you for treating him worse on American soil than he will be treated once he actually deploys. Thank you for making him so crazy that all he does is wish for the day he gets on that plane to Kuwait.

In conclusion ... thank you. Thank you for your fine treatment of our country's soldiers. I know that I am personally thankful that I don't have to spend any time worrying about him as long as he's on American soil.

14 comments:

jenn said...

STUPID ARMY. :(

d.a.r. said...

Ugh seriously. Z gets treated like dirt all the freaking time. 4 weeks sleeping in an airplane hanger with no heat during an ice storm during this last TDY? Check. Dinner consisting of ONE fish stick at the yummy DFAC? Check.

And they wonder why the retention rate sucks...true the deployments are awful, but do they have to treat them like shit when they are in garrison, too???

Poor Matt :(

Brittany Ann said...

UGHGUGHGHGUGH! I would be so mad! "Hurry up and wait," takes a whole new meaning with the stupid bureacratic military these days! I'm so sorry for him!

Megan said...

I'm so sorry. That's just frustrating. Early last week we lost good family friend in Afghanistan and it has taken them a week and a half to get his body back to the U.S. We will finally celebrate his life on Saturday. Thank you and Matt so much for the sacrifices you guys have made. I pray for you two every day.

Becky said...

UGH!!!

Lisa said...

Hopefully Matt is thinking positive thoughts. Knowing Matt, I am positive he is. ;)

AEOT said...

Shaina, I cannot believe how this is going for Matt. Uggg..... Tell him the blogosphere is thinking about him. Sorry for both of you!!

GUAMtastic said...

So frustrating! So sorry!!!

Now... about sushi--you could TOTALLY do it!!!! Seriously, it was not hard. This website has a couple of good little demos:

http://makemysushi.com/index.php/How-to-make-sushi/classic-roll.html

Click on the animated pictures and it will walk you right through it. Can't wait to hear how it turns out!!!! DO IT!!

Unknown said...

oh my that's horrible! I can't imagin how frustrated you both are! how long is he going to be gone once he gets to kuwait? My hubs is there right now! I hope he gets his orders soon.

Lucky in Love said...

I'm so sorry both you and Matt are having to go through this!! How frustrating!

Thinking of you...

Susannah said...

That stinks! I am so sorry that you are both having to deal with this-they should know better!

Crazy Shenanigans-JMO said...

That's horrible. I hope they aren't going to extend his deployment on the account of their mistakes.

Jackie said...

ugh that is horrible!!!!!

Lucy Marie said...

Dear Army, You suck my balls. Love, Shaina's Canadian Friend.