Soon, Bragg won’t be so empty

[unhappycamper]

Soon, Bragg won’t be so empty
The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Oct 4, 2007 13:10:45 EDT

FORT BRAGG, N.C. — Work schedules are going up. Vacation time is being scheduled. Briefings about everything from household finances to rekindling relationships are planned.

After 15 months in Iraq, thousands of paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne are coming home.

“It’s overnight. Literally, overnight,” said Lt. Col. Robert Campbell, who is in charge of helping the soldiers move back into life at home from daily duty at war. “Poof, you’re back at Fort Bragg and you’re back at home and it’s life as normal. But it’s not that easy.”

It was an empty summer at Fort Bragg, the sprawling North Carolina Army base that’s home to the 82nd Airborne. For the first time since the Gulf War in the early 1990s, all of the storied division’s combat brigades were deployed overseas, three to Iraq and one in Afghanistan.

The first to start arriving back at the base will be more than 3,200 soldiers from the 82nd’s 3rd Brigade, who are expected to arrive at neighboring Pope Air Force Base between Oct. 19 and Nov. 2. More than 100 paratroopers already have returned to prepare for their colleagues’ arrival.

That team of soldiers has held nine meetings with spouses and families, teaching them how to recognize signs that could indicate a soldier is having trouble adjusting to life at home, as well as the resources available to help from the Army’s chaplain corps and at Womack Army Medical Center.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/10/ap_82nd_071004/

[PetrusMonsFormicarum]

1. Welcome home boys and girls

Please stand down, relax, spend some quality time with your family, and accept our thanks for your valiant service.

Then, when you feel the boredom creeping in, pull on your casual camos and head out for the nearest peace rally. I guarantee that people everywhere will want to give you the megaphone, as there is no better voice to call your fellow soldiers home.

[NYVet]

2. they can't go to a peace rally in uniform.

Current DOD regs forbid personnel from participating in a political rally while wearing their uniform.

And yes, a rally to bring the troops home now IS a political rally.