Pagemaster,
Thanks for your reply. The idea of returning to Iraq is scary, but not the reason why I don't want to go.
I've been over there already, the other guys that weren't selected have not.
I've spent the last 7 years of my life overseas, and was told I had to return to the US.
I was selected over two guys who are junior (E-5s) to me with half as much sea duty as I have.
The billet calls for an E-5 they chose me (an E-6).
When they called us into the XO's office to announce the decision, nobody would look me in the eye, even when they told me that they had chosen me. (Who's the coward there?)
Finally, I'm mostly worried for my wife. As some here know, she is a Japanese native. She's still taking ESL classes, only just got a drivers license last month and has only lived outside Japan for 9 months.
If I have to leave for a year (possibly more) it's going to be very difficult for her. She only just learned how to pump gas!
This is supposed to be my time to pursue college, spend time with my family and relax a bit between ships. When it's my time to go back to sea, I won't complain. That is what the Navy is about.
There's over 7,000 sailors that have been called up for this Individual Augmentee duty. While the Navy's been told to slash our numbers and the Army has been boosting their ranks for the past 6 years, we sailors have been called to perform in jobs that we've not been trained for and have never been my services' responsibility.
In all, I'm frustrated, angry and worried about my family.
Remember, please support the troops, even if you don't support the war.