Brother's being shipped off to basic training today.

[MomToTwoBoys]

I imagine he's already on his way to Missouri.

I'm concerned but at the same time, I am extremely proud of him. He's making some drastic changes to his life and they're good ones. He'll be there for about six months and once he's done, he'll be in the Military Police. He signed up for the Army National Guard and he'll be receiving a $30k signing bonus and the rank of E-4 when he's done with school (which is due to his college credits), so he'll be making some steady income and getting great training for when he goes back to civilian life.

I'm concerned because the unit that he's projected to go to when he's done will be shipped to Afghanistan in 2011. He signed a paper stating that he was unable to be deployed for at least two years, so I'm hoping that things change between now and then.

He did this as a steady job, not necessarily because of his patriotism. That's why I went into the Marine Corps back in 1997. He never seemed to be a patriotic kind of guy. At any rate, I hope he's made the right choice for not only himself but the rest of the family.

I've never ever had to deal with a family member being deployed, only friends. How do people deal with it?

[fernykins]

Well its one of the hardest things to deal with be it a mother(like me) or sister,aunt uncle. You worry everyday and you do a lot lf praying. I had 2 kids during Dessart Storm and one during this time. 2 sons and a daughter. I still have one in the military and due home in 2 days.....
The worry never goes away.
Fern

[Contrary Housewife]

You worry and you pray, and you trust his training and his buddies to see him through it.