#combatveteran

[theveteranside]

Here is my disclaimer, here's your one chance to run away. Don't get all offended after this. Your risk, not mine. What you are about to read is some truth, from one Operation Iraqi Freedom II veteran, although the end of the series may come as a bit of a surprise.

Do you know how hot it gets in Iraq? One-hundred-and-thirty fucking degrees, at least. One of my battle buddies used to say, "Its hotter than all balls!" No lie, it is for fucks sake. 

I joined the Army AFTER 9/11, real genius move. I went in having a Quartermaster job, 92G. Yes, yes, a goddamn cook. Why? Because pushing back my ship date cost me my slot as 54B, NBC (Nuclear Biological and Chemical). So, I took the next best thing, a big bonus.

Basic Training, check.

AIT, check.

Report to duty station in Wurzburg, Germany, check.

Deploy to Tikrit, Iraq on Mother's day 2004, fucking check.

In-process in Kuwait for two hellish weeks. Hurry up and wait, story of a soldiers life. Check.

Land in Tikrit, check.

Settle in at my living quarters....in a marble palace in Sadaam's hometown? Holy hell...

These palaces that we lived in were unbelievable. Marble. Gold. Crystal. One square mile of luxury, while outside those walls were desolate. Power outages were rolling. Water was dirty. Us? We were all pretty fucking rough, chain-smoking, gutter-mouthed, horny bastards that had each other's back in life, and in death. To this day, I'd trust my battle buddies with my life, because it just doesn't get any more real than that. Even if I haven't seen them or talked to them in years, there still lies that special bond. Blood and guts, no question.

On a daily basis, temperatures rose well above a hundred degrees. We wore our full battle at all times because The Big Red One was held to higher standards. Those higher standards nearly gave us heat stroke on a daily. DRINK MORE WATER! Hydrate fucker! So much fucking water. 

Full Battle Rattle consisted of full DCUs, flak vests weighing in at 20lbs maybe? And that's without add ons. On top of that was usually a camel pack with at least a half gallon of water, give or take. Six magazines of 5.56 rounds in Molly gear also attached to that flack vest. You have your standard M16A2 on a three point sling, eight pounds. On top of our already hard-headed noggin, a Kevlar helmet. Couple pounds. By the end of each day, lovely, thick salt rings in/on/through our DCUs.

On top of that shit, we were peppered with mortars and RPGs every fucking day, more than once, more than twice. Them hajis would drive over the bridge crossing the Tigris River with a dude, or woman.......or teenager......in the back ready to sit up and fire in hopes of blindy taking one of us, or some of us, out with a bang. It got to the point that it happened so much that we stopped ducking and diving. We wished a motherfucker would, cause they'd have hell to pay. When an RPG crosses about a foot in front of your face while scootin down the road, it pisses you off so much so that you turn around, head back to point A, kick a fucking door open, sit in front of a cooler with a cigg hanging out your mouth, and contemplate a whole scenario of blood and guts, not your own either. If only they were close enough....

**Break**

I think about this today. From what I can gather, in all my non-scientific-scientific-next-best-educated-life-experience-guess, is that we were out there for approximately 365± days, living on pure adrenaline, 24/7 in some form or another. So after a while, THAT becomes your body's "normal," then you get shipped back to duty station, asked a couple questions, deemed safe and normal, and then shipped for thirty-day leave and expected to adjust to normal civilian life with your family and kids and shit. The government failed us, oh so badly.

**Break**

Then, one day, they say, "S******! You'll be training on the .50cal, get ready!" I think, "How you figure?" But there I go......

[lordofgrange]

[benlongoria]

10 years ago today I signed my leave form and left the Army. Eight years in. Two years and three months in combat. Countless stories. Time sure goes quick. 🫡 • | | | | #army #army #armylife #usarmy #soldier #veteran #vet #servicemembers #combatveteran #combatvet #combat #iraqwar #cavalry #cavscout #scout #cav #recon #military #militarylife (at Mosul, Iraq) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cos62uTsNnX/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[rlgeerrobbins]

Bigger is better...

My first taste of what I would be doing for the next 20 years of my life. I was in love. I was behind the wheel of the biggest wheeled vehicle on the road.

Friends, So there I was, standing in a motor pool, learning my new job. In case you didn’t know- a motor pool is where the military keeps all the vehicles. On this particular day, we were going to learn how to drive the M915’s. For my civilian friends- 18-wheelers. I still remember the instructor telling us to enjoy because we would never see them again. They were being phased…

[thebikerbookforcharity]

❤️❤️❤️

Escondido, California

@combatvets33.1

#motorcycles #charity #charityevent #fundraiser #cvma #combatveteran #veterans #honorflight #motorcycle #escondido #california

[wolvofficial-music]

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[meteorologistaustenlonek]

#IndependenceDay2023 is next week Tuesday. If you see these signs around your area/neighborhood, please consider another location to set off your fireworks to show your courtesy for your neighbors who are #combatveterans.

[xzacry]

@bosses-stay-flawless 01November #Combatveteran #operationiraqifreedom operationenduringfreedom

It’s not my birthday yet, but today begins the season for me as I have so many Scorpios in my immediate family that are celebrating birthdays this week and over the next 7 days!!!

4 to be exact #gratitude All the people I looked up to the most in my life are all Scorpios.

[strength-kvlt]

Be prepared. Be ready. You’re life depends on it. You have to be more than just strong in the gym.

+

Get a rifle and a pistol. Train with your firearms. Be hard to kill.

+

[smokepit-fairytales]

Another with the deep purple of night. This one’s Combat Camera, my old MOS. Some cultures used to think that if someone took a picture of you, it’d steal your soul. Maybe there’s some irony floating in the Creek side of me about being a photographer for as long as I was. Well, sort of. I was the last Marine to go through the illustrator course before the MOS got merged into printing, then after a brief stint in Psyops I lat moved to video, but of the five times I’ve been overseas, I only ever went to take pictures. Needs of the corps I guess. But anyway, this ones a little bit of a selfie, or at least with the intent of showing the soul, and it’s going out to one of my old Marines. You can check out the high res version of it on my website, and I’m open for commissions if you want me to slap some paint one something for you. Until then, Semper fi. #marines #combatcamera #comcam #photographer #warphotographer #combatphotographer #combatveteran #darkart #selfie #skeleton #skull #souls #soulstealer #creek #muskogee https://www.instagram.com/p/CTNI2Gbr2nu/?utm_medium=tumblr

[syedrubelwafi]

Wounded warriors.. Tag a wounded veteran if you know anyone.. Massive #Respect to them 🌟 Double Tap the picture 🌟 Tag your friends 🌟 Check link in Bio for Veteran tshirt, mug, phone case and many more 🌠🌠🌠🌠 🌟 100% Satisfaction Guarantee Product 🌟 USA🇺🇸 too Worldwide Shipping 🌍 🌟Lowest Price & Best Quality Service 🎖️Respect and Support US Veterans 🇺🇲 🔥Daily Hottest Military Girls Photos Post On Instagram 💥Model:jamie_nicole please inbox or Send a (DM) direct message for removal request Follow 👉 @militarywife007 👈 Follow 👉 @militarywife007 👈 Follow 👉 @militarywife007 👈 Follow 👉 @militarywife007 👈 Follow me ❤️ Follow back Like ➡️ Comment ➡️ Share . . Want To Be Featured? Contact us @militarywife007 . . . . . . . . . . . . . #TheExpendables #SylvesterStallone #militarywife007 #shecandoboth #strongisbeautiful #bodygoals #combatveteran #empower #armygirls #strongwoman #curvesandcombatboots #girlboss #bossbabe #armygirl #armywomen #usaf #usafthunderbirds #girlpower #strongisbeautiful #usairforce #usairforce #veterans #nurse #nurselifestyle #germany#germany #germanygirl🇩🇪 (at USA) https://www.instagram.com/p/CWRMMhDBsd1/?utm_medium=tumblr

[scorpion6knives]

#fixedbladefriday Made a one off dagger for a brother I was in Afghanistan with. AEB-L steel, hollow ground with sculpted titanium handles- anodized blue. #rltw #fixedblade #dagger #custom #handmade #combatveteran #brotherhood #infantry #ranger #suasponte (at United States) https://www.instagram.com/p/CMVsnPCAwOw/?igshid=e7uk2q3tohj3

[lordofgrange]

[rlgeerrobbins]

I got caught...

What's an Article 15? It is a way for the military to punish service members for offenses without court martialing them. My definition? Being grounded.

Friends, I had to take a couple of days to think this blog out. You wouldn’t know because I preplanned most of them, knowing I would have to take a break on some days. Memories are difficult. What memories do I share? How many blanks do I leave in the story? You would never know if I did or not. You weren’t there. But I would know. I also know that history will judge the words I have written…

[thebikerbookforcharity]

❤️❤️❤️

Calabasas, California

@mulhollandhd

#motorcycles #charity #charityevent #fundraiser #cvma #combatveteran #veterans #motorcycle #calabasas #california

[wolvofficial-music]

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https://www.ebay.com/itm/266777571448 https://go.wolvofficial.com/Social-78 #wolvofficial #utah #usmc #veteran #mentalhealth #musicproducer #combatveteran #affiliate #automationtrainee #nevadastatechampionwrestler #grantcardone #10xbaby #suicideawareness #databasemarketer #artificialintelligence #unlv #saltlakecityutah #qualitypeople #fitnessexpert #printondemand #homeownership #healthyliving #trillionaire #lasvegasnevada #homelesstobillionaire #entrepreneurmindset #sevenwholedays