My husband, despite having spent the last year away from his family, is slated to go to Iraq in March.

This sucks.  I mean, it blows.  He's been back 9 weeks, and already there are plans for him to have to leave for another 6 months.

If anyone ever doubted that the military is undermanned, I ask them to consider my scenario.  This is not an isolated incident, in fact, it's really quite common.  Men and women in the armed forces are overstretched...there aren't enough people to do the job.  We have activated Reserve and Guard units, but still people are getting stretched almost to breaking point.  It's ridiculous. My husband has been gone at least once a year for at least 5 months out of that year every year he's been in the service (that's 12 years now)

Here's something else that's ridiculous: there are people in my husband's squadron who have never deployed.  Ever.  In their entire military career, these folks have never stepped up to the plate and fulfilled their obligation.  They have always found excuses.....their wife couldn't cope with the kids alone, they had family, medical or financial issues...there was always something.  In the meantime, people like my husband and his friends are getting sent in his place.  My thoughts about that?  If you cannot do your duty, or you do not want to do your duty, get the fuck out of the service.  Don't make someone else do your job for you.  Don't leave a mess and then expect someone else to clean it up.  You knew when you joined that if this country went to war, you would have to go fight.  You raised your right hand and swore an oath to defend America, and by finding reasons to not go you are not only letting yourself down, you're letting your country down. 

It might seem like I'm bitching about my husband having to go away again, and in a way, I am. I'm not bitching about him doing his duty and defending his country.  I knew what this was going to be like before we got married...I took an vow to support him, no matter what, and I intend to do that.  I'm bitching about lame ass losers not wanting to do their part and other people having to pick up their slack more than anything.  I'm bitching about people thinking that the military has it good, too good.  I'm bitching about people saying that we don't need to expand the armed forces, that we have enough people, that we don't need any more personnel. 

I don't see that from where I'm standing.