Families & Friends of Combat FF's in Iraq

[captstanm1]

Tracy.....If you look at the top of the threads in this forum you will see a few that say "Sticky" after the subject. That means the WT has placed them at the top and locked them there so they are always visible and will not drop down.

[12TruckIrons]

I am scheduled to leave on 4-11 and Ive already came up with a crude list of what I think Ill need but if ya'll can email me the lists of things your husbands took that will be great. Just send it to truck12irons@yahoo.com Thanks a ton.
Brandon

[amyteala]

Hi!

I just thought I would post and introduce myself. Thank you so much for starting this forum. My name is Amy and my fiancee, Bret, left on Monday (2/14) for Houston. He leaves on Saturday for his journey to Iraq. I have been very supportive of his decision to do this, but I think this is going to be harder than I thought. This week has been a tough one. I think I will feel better once he is over there and settled in. And hopefully it will get easier in time. We are planning a wedding for May 6, 2006, so I am trying to immerse myself in the planning of that to take my mind off things.

I have been reading all the posts about Iraq FF's and the information on this site has been so helpful. Hopefully I can provide information from Bret once he is over there.

Here is my email in case anyone wants to talk:

amy_michelle7@comcast.net

[captstanm1]

welcome Amy.....and hang in there...

[chiefswife]

Amy
Welcome.My husband left on the 14th to iraq.If you need
anything or need to talk email me at
sprinkles@cheyennesmoonwalk.co m

I will drop you an email soon.I love the date you have
for your wedding.It my oldest childs birthday.

Your Friend
Kristy

[BSFFwife]

Hi Amy,
My name is Lori and my husband left Feb 7 and I have been talking to him everyday. He says everything is fine but he is eating way to much.lol Hang in there and you will be fine. Enjoy your wedding plans. How fun!

[kivfd131]

Hello to all the great women who are posting here...

One day I hope to find a great woman like one of you all, I mean I had tough time with my decision to go let alone trying to convince a wife or fiance or even kids. Being single with no children made it easier than most I am sure of that. Also I am 33 and found I am not the oldest, so I feel good to read about these great guys having the support that words can not describe! My hats off to you ladies!

Amazingly majority of my co-workers were negative and had written rather nasty notes for me to read, which I found totally bizarre but quickly realized who my friends really are.

Anyways, Combatwife - since I leave March 7th, why not make a trip to Washington DC and I can show you all around, I would especially look forward to meeting Gary and getting a firsthand perspective from a veteran FF in Iraq! Just an idea but hey like you said ENJOY the time together !!

To all others, again THANK YOU for your support of your guys, I hope one day I will have support from a special someone too.

DJ

EMT_FF_MD@yahoo.com

[captstanm1]

BUMP....Webteam....Sticky please?????

[FF9901]

I am sorry but I am going to have to post these 1 at a time. I have tried twice now to post them all in 1 shot, but my ISP kicks me off before I am done, then Firehouse has me as signed out, so I have to start over.

With that said... Hi Tracy & Kristy. I have the support of my wife & 16 yo son, but the rest of my family has asked me many questions I don't know the answers to. Could you please help me get whatever answers you can? thank you in advance.

I have read all the pages of all the threads dicussing Iraq.

Scott

1.) When does my year start? Is it when I get to Houston, once I am in Iraq, or at some other point in time? Have there been people forced to stay longer than the year period, for any reason? - I know the 2nd part probably is not answerable right now, because the 1st year is coming up in a few months.

[FF9901]

If I am injured (any where from back problems to loss of a limb) am I covered under U.S, workman's comp laws?

[capt904]

Combatwife,

I just found out that the Zimbob that I have recently been stationed with is your husband. He brought up the forums at chow today and I told him I would post a message to you. I left Houston Feb 6 and after my stay at Baghdad I was assigned to Tallil airbase. Your husband was one of the first guys to make me feel at home. He was also one of the ringleaders in my initiation. But it was all in good fun. He is dying to see you on his R&R, so you better keep those phone calls coming. He counts down each day. Today was 5 to go!

To answer some other questions out there, Your time starts when you get on plane to leave Houston, while in Houston you sign your 1 yr contract. At the end of that contract you and the company will have the option to re-sign you. You may want to but they may not want you back. I would highly recommend bringing the bare essentials. I brought the recommended 60 days worth of toiletries and ended up with way too much stuff to carry. You will be issued body/Armor, NBC Gear all of which comes in another bag. You are not charged for the extra bag but it is a pain to move all your stuff around Baghdad International as well as Kuwait International. There are baggage handlers but they want more money than most of us want to tip. Do not bring a ton of civilian close, you will not need them. Bring plenty of underwear and grey shirts. Also check the weather in Baghdad before you depart. Just because it gets hot in summer doesn't mean that it won't get into the 30's at night right now.

At camp victory they have a PX that is almost a med sized walmart.Just bring what you will need. In houston they take you to a walmart and a Army/Navy store. I hope this helps.

[chiefswife]

FF9901
My husbands time started when he was leaving Houston
to go to Iraq.i hope this will help you.As for the second
part I can not answer for you.Good Luck in the process.

[Firechic02]

Hey guys,
My name is Dyan. My boyfriend is leaving on March 7 for Houston. I am one of the few who has supported his decision, unlike his friends. Unlike them I know there is a greater outcome in the end. Any ways I have read the threads (both of them) and was wondering how you guys communicate to your loved ones over in Iraq. I know some of you have said by phone and IM, but how do you IM each other (AOL Instant Messenger or someother program). This would be very helpful that way we can have this set up before he leaves. Thanks so much and I will be probably be posting more and more.

Sincerely,
Dyan

[ltbondwife05]

Hello Tracy!!

My husband, David left February 14 for Houston! It was the hardest thing we have ever done. He was in Houston all week leaving Sat, the 19 on his way to Iraq. I surprised him in Houston on Friday night. I got a ticket Friday afternoon out of Atlanta, arriving in Houston about 10pm.......it was beyond wonderful, hard again to leave, but wonderful. I flew back to Georgia Sat night as they were heading to Amsterdam. I wanted to write because I met your friend Scottie and he introduced me to this new forum. It is a wonderful idea. Thank you for thinking of it. Scottie was very nice and Dave really liked him a lot. There were 30 suppose to ship out and 28 shipped out....I think 2 men had a change of heart, I know this is not for everyone, but I do have the support of my friends and family. David and I have 2 boys, Tucker is 10 and Noah is 5. They are use to David being gone, he has been a firemen their whole life (22 years), but I think the reality will set in in a few weeks for them. I want to be strong for them, but as you know that is so hard at times. I think this communication with others that feel as yourself will help so much. Thanks again and I hope your R&R with your husband is wonderful. Please feel free to e-mail me @ bondfamily@charter.net.

Renee

[FF9901]

That wasn't many questions to begin with! I had to leave before I could get all my questions in, so here I go again!

How do I, or am I permitted to come home in the event of a family emergency? Who decides what is an emergency? What about if it is me? How quick is WSI to reunite me & my family in either situation? Can I go back to finish my year, if I am OK with it?

BTW...Thanks for people already answering one of my questions!

[FF9901]

If I get a disease in Iraq, like malaria, but don't show signs until I get back, who covers it? - This one gets an explaination: A family member read an article where a military person (I think) did just what I said above. The military said he was no longer military, so they would not cover it. His new insurance co. claimed pre-existing condition. He ended up having to get his congressman involved to get the $6000 medical bill paid.

[FF9901]

Capt904 answered part of the next question (thank you!)

Is there an actual contract to sign?(Capt904 says, "Yes".) What happens if I don't work out there? Can I come home early? What are the reprecussions (financial & other)?

[FF9901]

What kind of medical & service related conditions are covered once I return to the US - such as post-traumatic service disorder?

[FF9901]

How is the group insurance for family? PPO, or HMO? What kind of co-pay, etc? Prescriptions? Dental? Vision?

[FF9901]

I read in the FFing in Iraq thread that htere is question of benefits paid for LODD. Has anything been established? I think it was $250K, but then there was talk of more because it was dealing with gov't, or something like that.