Well, my husband is officially getting deployed again in March.  To where, I am not at liberty to say - but the list got published yesterday and he's a squad leader and a fire team leader (Security Forces are the closest thing to infantry the Air Force has.  When cops deploy, they mainly work Air Base Ground defence and flightline security - the fire teams work both).

I'm slightly pissed.  For a number of reasons.  Firstly, because he just got back from a year away, and here they are sending him off for another 6-9 months.  Secondly, because I KNOW there are people in his squadrom who haven't deployed anywhere for years.  They convieniently manage to be on profile for something, or have their spouse pregnant, or come up with some other creative way to get out of deploying.  D could get out of this deployment if he really wanted to.  I was going to try and have surgery before he left - he could use that as an excuse to not go.  As it is, my husband is a REAL cop, one who does his duty when called upon - hence he won't play that particular card, but will do what's asked of him (again).  I too will place the good of the nation before my own desires and needs and will put off the surgery until after he returns.  I don't like it, but I will do it.  To do anything else would be the height of selfishness.

To all those who find reasons to not deploy time after time I say:  walk the walk, or get out.  Every time you find a reason to NOT do your duty, someone else has to pick up your slack.  Thanks to your malingering, my children are going to be without their father again.  Out of a 2 year period, he will have spent approximately 6 months at home.  Think about that when you hug your children at the end of the day.  Think about that when you sit down for Sunday lunch together, and when you tuck them in at night.  Think about the effect your reluctance to do what your country asks of you has on everyone else.  Are YOU going to be there to pick up the pieces for me and mine?  Are YOU going to come mow my yard because I'm physically incapable?  Are YOU going to come and play football with my boys?  I'm going to suppose that you will not, because after all, you have a family of your own.....just like us. 

My husband, after he had told me the news this morning, told me with tears in his voice that he wouldn't blame me at all if I didn't want to be married to him anymore.  To him, I say:  I'm in this for life.  I always have been.  Just like you don't play at being a cop, I'm not playing at being your wife.  Deployments or not, I love you, and I cannot imagine my life without you.  6 months apart is nothing when you consider that we have a lifetime left together. You go and do your duty, and I'll stay and do mine......and I'll always be here for you, no matter what.  I love you.....ad infinitum.