Once again, my brother is deploying. He is a Technical Sergeant (TSgt) in the US Air Force and seems to be on a schedule of 3-6 months deployed and 12 months home. That’s not as bad as some service members, but it still sucks.
He’s going to Djibouti this time. Last time, it was Afghanistan.
At first, I didn’t worry about him deploying. He is an electronic warfare troop, so he’s not usually near heavy shooting. Bases get shelled with erratic mortar fire and, sometimes, rpg attacks, but it’s ineffectual to hear him describe it. I don’t know. I never deployed.
Now I worry about him because, when I talk to him, I get the sense that he wants to be where the shooting is. I truly hope he grows out of that before he gets hurt. I’m beginning to wonder if chuckles has any sense.
He loves what he does and it’s clear that he has fun when he is deployed. He comes back with all kinds of stories about long hours, stealing vehicles from Army folk and working deals with the supply clerks but he has already been to war a few times. I’d like it better if he was sick and tired of it.
I’m proud of him, and he is a hell of an NCO. I’d just feel better if he was one hell of a stateside NCO. At least this time it’s Djibouti and there is a body of water between him and the fighting. Unless Ethiopia is attacking Eritrea again.