SO incredibly angry....

[venusfire503 54]

I am RAVING MAD right now. My brother served in Afghanistan for a year. The second half of it, he was near what they call "poo pond" (basically a cess pool), which was really bad in the summer, especially when the wind blew. Poor guy - I ordered an industrial strength deodorizing pack for him.

Anyway, he was supposed to leave Dec. 7, then they said the 8th. He ended up getting flown to Kuwait on the 10th, and was told he would fly out to the States on the 12th. Once he got to Kuwait, they told him there was no flight on the 12th, and not a seat available until sometime in January. He basically threw a fit, and they found him a seat on a flight the next day. So, we were all happy and excited to hear he was in Maine on the 11th - far from his home, but at least in the country. Well, they flew him to Texas, and he sat there for about a week. Then they flew him to Georgia, and he's been there since. Tomorrow is Christmas Eve, and he's stuck there - 9 hours from home. He's not allowed to just leave. It's some kind of BS about getting his orders extended, and the people who can do it not being available.

He'd really like to get home, for so many reasons. I can't imagine being stuck in limbo for weeks, especially away from my family, and especially right before the holidays. ESPECIALLY after serving overseas in a war for a year!

venusfire

[thongd4me 69]

Would have been easier to mail himself back via APO.

Hope you see him soon.

"There's a right way, a wrong way & the army way."

-my dad

[venusfire503 54]

Would have been easier to mail himself back via APO.

Hope you see him soon.

"There's a right way, a wrong way & the army way."

-my dad

Thank you so much for this post - it gave me a little chuckle. I sent the link to my brother - I hope it helps him deal a little more with the stress.

I hope he makes it back to his family soon (they live far from me, though).

venusfire

[NickD 203]

One phrase I remember well from the military was, "for the convenience of the government". Dealing with the USCIS reminded me of that as well.

[Darnell 8,478]

where-ever he is now, what ever command he is 'stuck at' -

there's a first sargeant - who's primary job is to fix problems.

Is he talking to the first sargeant about this?

[Danno 1,228]

Seems we had a whole local unit stuck in this same situation, a huge number of people donated every thing from chartered buses to drivers and money to make sure they were home for Christmas, should be rolling into town under Police escort today I think.

[zqt3344 21]

Just Be Thankful he is coming home in one piece alive, things could be worse, it will work out.

I am RAVING MAD right now. My brother served in Afghanistan for a year. The second half of it, he was near what they call "poo pond" (basically a cess pool), which was really bad in the summer, especially when the wind blew. Poor guy - I ordered an industrial strength deodorizing pack for him.

Anyway, he was supposed to leave Dec. 7, then they said the 8th. He ended up getting flown to Kuwait on the 10th, and was told he would fly out to the States on the 12th. Once he got to Kuwait, they told him there was no flight on the 12th, and not a seat available until sometime in January. He basically threw a fit, and they found him a seat on a flight the next day. So, we were all happy and excited to hear he was in Maine on the 11th - far from his home, but at least in the country. Well, they flew him to Texas, and he sat there for about a week. Then they flew him to Georgia, and he's been there since. Tomorrow is Christmas Eve, and he's stuck there - 9 hours from home. He's not allowed to just leave. It's some kind of BS about getting his orders extended, and the people who can do it not being available.

He'd really like to get home, for so many reasons. I can't imagine being stuck in limbo for weeks, especially away from my family, and especially right before the holidays. ESPECIALLY after serving overseas in a war for a year!

venusfire

[alienlovechild 75]

Anyway, he was supposed to leave Dec. 7, then they said the 8th. He ended up getting flown to Kuwait on the 10th, and was told he would fly out to the States on the 12th. Once he got to Kuwait, they told him there was no flight on the 12th, and not a seat available until sometime in January. He basically threw a fit, and they found him a seat on a flight the next day. So, we were all happy and excited to hear he was in Maine on the 11th - far from his home, but at least in the country. Well, they flew him to Texas, and he sat there for about a week. Then they flew him to Georgia, and he's been there since. Tomorrow is Christmas Eve, and he's stuck there - 9 hours from home. He's not allowed to just leave.

I assume it's a MAC flight and never took one myself. The only thing I don't understand are why he can't take off on he his own to reach his destination if that was on his leave form. It would have been far simpler for him to buy a ticket in Maine.

[Y's_habibitk 2]

Aw, Im sorry Venus. That is really sh1tty. I hope he can get it straightened out at least before christmas day.

[Marilyn. 340]

So you're accusing the soldier of being a leech for not buying his own plane ticket to go home? You don't know all the facts, so don't presume to. The OP didn't say in the post whether or not he was even allowed to leave.

actually the OP did.. in the first post the OP said he wasn't allowed to leave..

......

I hope he gets to come home in time for Christmas

[Jasman0717 9]

It sucks but that is the military for you, hurry up and wait. I spent 1461 days in the Corps and think I was always waiting for something or another. They sent me to Millington Tenn. for six weeks from San Diego where my school was and then sent me back for the training.

Military intelligence is a wonderful oxymoron.

[christeen 966]

That sucks... But be thankful that he is back in the USA in one piece... That initself is a wonderful christmas present.... As an idea, Can you take Christmas to him??? Not sure how big of a family gathering you have or how feasible the logistics are, but perhaps you can drive down to him for the holidays?? Just an idea??

[Nessa 23]

THAT SUCKS

[one...two...tree 2,762]

For any regulars here who want to see ZQT permanently banned...please speak up here:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...t&p=3584255

[BluesTraveler 0]

I am RAVING MAD right now. My brother served in Afghanistan for a year. The second half of it, he was near what they call "poo pond" (basically a cess pool), which was really bad in the summer, especially when the wind blew. Poor guy - I ordered an industrial strength deodorizing pack for him.

He'd really like to get home, for so many reasons. I can't imagine being stuck in limbo for weeks, especially away from my family, and especially right before the holidays. ESPECIALLY after serving overseas in a war for a year!

venusfire

Be thankful for what you have. Your brother is back in one piece. Many other families out there can't say the same thing. Obviously we don't know the particulars of the situation. However if he can talk to his 1st Sergeant or the Duty Officer to get permission to hop on a bus and promises to be back in 3 or 4 days, that might be the best option. It can't hurt to ask.

It sucks when the person over in the admin office is on leave and there's no one there to back him/her up.