If you have fought in iraq or are, what are some situations you’ve been in, in Iraq? What is day to day life like? Are you glad you went? I’m joining the USMC soon… just curious. Oh, and just out of curiosity if you are currently in the military who would you like to be the next president(why)? Thanks…. I completely support our troops. semper fi
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Really hot with a lot of Saudi Arabian insurgents hunting for U.S. soldiers and Iraqi civilians who do not want us there.
My brother is over there- it’s 111 degrees in the day, only cools to 78 at night. Some sleep in dirt floor tents. They all take care of each other.
Hot, stressful, hot, stressful, yeah… hot and stressful…
IEDs are the primary weapon of insurgents… ANYONE can be a citizen one minute, and the grim reaper the next… you’re constantly looking over your back… and due to advancements in medicine, more and more soldiers are coming back alive – but in bad shape…
Semper Fi…
put on a couple of winter coats with about 40-60 lbs. of gear and walk around in 100 plus degree weather. you’ll get at least half the experience of being on patrol in august.
addition – like the guy below me says – one minute a group of people wave at you then the next, one of them sets off an ied, you just never know what to expect. if there are no crowds or groups when there normally are some, be wary. sometimes a group will form at a distance just to watch as they know that you’re about to get hit. very occasionally, one might warn you but it wasn’t the norm with us.
I have never fought in Iraq or been there. I do have family that has. But being a sensible person, I would imagine it would be like walking across the desert in130 degree heat, carring a 50 pound boulder, did I mention there were land mines and desert natives shooting at me.
Another day at the beach.
My family member did say when he bathed he had to wash about 6 inches of sand our of every orifice.
Nick, I commend you for wanting to join the Marines, I was a Marine in Vietnam, another time and another conflict and I never regret joining and volunteering to go. That said brace yourself, your fist week in boot camp you will wonder if you made the right decision.
War is nothing like the movies and the first time a friend or just a person you know is killed and you have to look at the body and your thanking god it wasn’t you that’s when you will understand what real fear is. You will still do your job but being scared will become part of your life and you will never be the same person again.
I’m not trying to change your mind but I was 17 and naive but grew up real fast and felt like a man twice my age at 20 and I think any one who has been in a war type situation will agree with me, it not like the movies. Good luck.
zogby poll: 72% of US soldiers in iraq believe they should have been withdrawn in 06.
It’s hot, of course you know that, but not as hot as I thought it would be. I guess cuz I’m from Phoenix, it’s not that hot to me, it’s only gotten to 125 here, I was expecting 145-150. It feels that high with all the gear though! Anyway, it all depends where you go, as far as what its like. For example, I’m in sham city right now, and I say that because it’s pretty chill up here compared to other places. Not to say it’s not dangerous, we’ve lost 12 guys (R.I.P), we’ve had mortars hit the FOB, but I know it’s a lot worse in Baghdad. The worst situation I was in was an IED detonated about 100 meters away from my truck which sounds far but when you come here you’ll see IED’s at any range are f**ing loud!!!!! But as far as living conditions, right now I live in a building, in a room, by myself, with AC, internet, cable, the works. Other people live in what they call chu’s, pretty much a big connex, which is a big metal box, kind of like a trailer box you know? That’s converted into a living area. They put a door, a window, an ac unit, run some cables into it and call it home. We have the nicest dfac in Iraq, a full PX, it’s not too bad up here. I know there’s guys worse off though like I said depending on where you are that still live in tents, eat MRE’s, and get mail once a week. You being a marine, I don’t know how it will be since I’m not at a base with marines, best of luck though. Y’all are only out here I think 6 months at a time. I been here 10 months and counting, not goin home anytime soon lol!!! I’m glad to have served my country, I did sign up 2 months after the war kicked off to come here, so I guess I can’t complain. And the president question, I’m goin for Obama. I like his views, he really is about changing the way the white house does business, and I think it’s time for change. Best of luck!