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2011-08-06 Home Front: WoT
Army shortens combat tours to nine months
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Posted by tu3031 2011-08-06 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11127 views ]  Top

#1 My older son just got his Honorable Discharge after 5 yrs (straight out of High School). So many of you have offered kind thoughts and prayers - I just want to say thank you. Keith's out. Next stop - Tahoe vacation with family, and College when he moves back home this month

Thanks, everyone :-)
Posted by Frank G 2011-08-06 00:05||   2011-08-06 00:05|| Front Page Top

#2 Frank, I'd like to wish Keith a hearty Welcome Home and good luck with his studies.

The Marines always made more sense with their 7 month tours, especially since the Army gave each soldier a 2 week trip home after 6 months. In that case, might as well rotate the whole unit back stateside.
Posted by Eohippus Phater7165 2011-08-06 00:28||   2011-08-06 00:28|| Front Page Top

#3 If y'all in southwest Kansas or TX/OK panhandle, I'd like to getchya a beer.
Posted by swksvolFF 2011-08-06 00:36||   2011-08-06 00:36|| Front Page Top

#4 Training.
Posted by swksvolFF 2011-08-06 00:37||   2011-08-06 00:37|| Front Page Top

#5 My older son just got his Honorable Discharge after 5 yrs

That's wonderful news.

But damn it seems like yesterday....
Posted by S 2011-08-06 01:22||   2011-08-06 01:22|| Front Page Top

#6 Congrats, Frank.
Posted by g(r)omgoru 2011-08-06 01:28||   2011-08-06 01:28|| Front Page Top

#7 Thanks to your son, Frank.
Posted by Nimble Spemble 2011-08-06 07:55||   2011-08-06 07:55|| Front Page Top

#8 Congrats and Thanks to your family. We are at FT Bragg this weekend to see our son off for his third tour.
Posted by Top Mac 2011-08-06 08:47||   2011-08-06 08:47|| Front Page Top

#9 Well that's the best news I've heard this morning.
I'm glad he's home, Frank. I really am.
Posted by tu3031 2011-08-06 09:08||   2011-08-06 09:08|| Front Page Top

#10 Those five years blew by, for me at least.
Posted by badanov 2011-08-06 09:14|| http://www.freefirezone.org  2011-08-06 09:14|| Front Page Top

#11 yeah, Chris. It seems like yesterday we were at Ft. Sill for his graduation from Basic
Posted by Frank G 2011-08-06 09:54||   2011-08-06 09:54|| Front Page Top

#12 Well done, Frank.
Posted by Matt 2011-08-06 10:12||   2011-08-06 10:12|| Front Page Top

#13 Any idea of a major yet? College strategy is a new art, but a wise one to study right now.

About the only guaranteed employment job right now is nursing, and it is an expensive major to teach, so colleges are trying to cut back on their nursing programs.

Job placements six months after graduation are the critical statistic for any major, and schools do not want to release that information.

To save money, taking lower division courses at a community college, after insuring that those course are transferable, is a winner. Thousands of dollars saved, as well as avoiding giant classes designed solely to wash out students. In many universities, freshman attrition approaches 50%.

If at all possible, living off campus, ideally at home, is a huge money (and sanity) saver, since on campus housing is typically nasty, noisy, brutish and small. And he would likely have to share a room with a @#%&*! civilian kid, and their problems. Nothing quite like a part time babysitting job to make life harder.

If he can, leave the car at home, because lots of universities make big money off exorbitant parking decals and parking garages. That can run $500/semester. So with under a 5 mile commute, a bicycle is the way to go, weather permitting.

College credit cards are, of course, a scam.

Last, but not least, I assume he is enrolled in USAA. It is by far the best and least expensive insurance, credit card and investment system around.
Posted by Anonymoose 2011-08-06 10:34||   2011-08-06 10:34|| Front Page Top

#14 I'll pile on with my thanks to Keith, a hearty congrats to both Keith and Frank, and best wishes for the young man as he takes his next steps.

Time sure does fly.
Posted by Steve White 2011-08-06 10:50||   2011-08-06 10:50|| Front Page Top

#15 Son of Frank:

Thank you for your service!
Posted by Besoeker 2011-08-06 11:02||   2011-08-06 11:02|| Front Page Top

#16 he's unsure of career path, so it'll be living at home, saving money and getting his gen ed classes at the local Community college til he decides. Thanks again, and best wishes to Top Mac's son and everyone else serving!
Posted by Frank G 2011-08-06 11:21||   2011-08-06 11:21|| Front Page Top

#17 Thank you, Frank. Thanks to your son and best wishes to him for a bright future.
Posted by Abu Uluque 2011-08-06 12:49||   2011-08-06 12:49|| Front Page Top

#18 I can imagine your delight! Thanks to him for serving, and to you, for raising him!
Posted by Bobby 2011-08-06 13:32||   2011-08-06 13:32|| Front Page Top

#19 Five years? that long ago? Glad he's home and you have some time together again. Thanks for his service.
Posted by Sherry 2011-08-06 14:09||   2011-08-06 14:09|| Front Page Top

#20 Best luck and wishes Top Mac.
Posted by swksvolFF 2011-08-06 14:23||   2011-08-06 14:23|| Front Page Top

#21 Time does indeed fly. A hearty well done and thanks to Keith G. For putting himself between us and the bad guys, and much satisfaction from whatever his future career turns out to be. If I might suggest a few intro business/management courses -- the knowledge will be useful whatever he decides to do.

Top Mac, our thanks to your son for stepping forward three times. Would that there were more offspring like yours and Frank's!
Posted by trailing wife 2011-08-06 17:37||   2011-08-06 17:37|| Front Page Top

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