Marching to the sound of the guns
"Quite recently he was telling us he would like to return should there be a second tour."
posted by Babbling Brooks at 11:17 a.m.
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
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4 Comments:
Around Jul or Aug 2007, I was talking to a group of about 30 to 40 soldiers who had just left Afghanistan a few days earlier and were on their way home. I asked several of them if there were any one among them that wanted to return to Afghanistan again. They all looked at each other. A Bison driver told me that although they had mostly looked forward to going there before going the first time, that she knew of no one who ever wanted to go back again. Then I talked to one nurse who said that she had already gone twice and wanted to go back again but that is it. I think that those who want to go back are rather the exception than the norm.
I think that those who want to go back are rather the exception than the norm.
Perhaps. I guess I know more who would volunteer for another tour than you do.
But even if true, your observation only makes Gunner Dion that much more exceptional.
taxpayer, I know both times I left KAF I did not want to go back, notice how I said both times. When your leaving your right, then the old soldiering itch hits after you have been home, the good moments out weigh the bad and your willing to ruck up and head for the air bus again.
My husband, (who was on the roto previous to this one) said he would go back in a heart-beat. He volunteered for the tour and said he would volunteer again if (or when) the opportunity presents itself-(and his tour was spent outside the wire).
I don't think you can judge the outlook of an entire group of thousands, by the opinions of a few, especially when you speak to them just as they are arriving safely on Canadian soil.
*Case in point---I had someone come up to me a few weeks ago (at work)and tell me that they were speaking to a few soldiers once, and that those soldiers said they had joined to get a "free education", therefore this person has concluded that all soldiers join for a "free education", and are therefore being taken advantage of, implying that they were stupid to realise that if they join the military they may be asked to fight for their country... etc.
*That being said, in my opinion, it matters not if someone does not wish to go back, what matters is that they went in the first place.
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