calling Andelain

[slg47]

Hi Andelain-I recently learned that one of my best friends who is in the guard got called up to go to Iraq. He will be flying helicopters (dustoff)...sorry I don't know how to use all of the military lingo. Anyway, I was wondering if you could give any insight as to the situation in Iraq. I think many of us in the US who don't have friends and family over there assume that things are mostly 'done' over there? Also, I read this CNN article today http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/01/15/iraq.violence/index.html?hpt=Sbin which states that

A 2008 agreement mandates the withdrawal of all U.S. forces by the end of the year.

Obviously I am misunderstanding this, since my friend leaves in October of this year and will be there for an entire year? Anything you have to add would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance and thank you for your service.

 

[Andelain]

Hi Andelain-I recently learned that one of my best friends who is in the guard got called up to go to Iraq. He will be flying helicopters (dustoff)...sorry I don't know how to use all of the military lingo. Anyway, I was wondering if you could give any insight as to the situation in Iraq. I think many of us in the US who don't have friends and family over there assume that things are mostly 'done' over there? Also, I read this CNN article today http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/01/15/iraq.violence/index.html?hpt=Sbin which states that

A 2008 agreement mandates the withdrawal of all U.S. forces by the end of the year.

Obviously I am misunderstanding this, since my friend leaves in October of this year and will be there for an entire year? Anything you have to add would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance and thank you for your service.

Hiya SLG,

First of all I’d like to thank your friend for his service, and pray his tour is a safe one. You know enough lingo to tell me he’ll be in a medevac unit. Those are the guys who come flying out to our rescue after the SHTF and we need to get to a hospital. 99% of the time by the time they get there the fighting’s over, but they might fly into the shizzit once on a while. Not likely in this war, though. I’ll just say how much I appreciate those guys.

As for what you’re asking about, the military acronym is RDD, Responsible Draw Down. Yes, it’s happening, and we’ll be almost gone at the end of the year if it goes as planned. More than likely your friend will come over here for a couple months, then go home. No guarantee though, depending on when the base he would have been assigned to is scheduled to close. The reason he’ll come over, even if only for a couple months is cost. It costs an extra $1000 per month, per soldier if they don’t have their boots on the ground in the US within one year of when they arrived here. That adds up fast. It’s cheaper to put a unit on the ground for just a couple months. It’s also possible that he could be assigned to work with and train the Iraqi army, which would keep him here longer. Not likely, though.

BTW, you’re welcome. Thanks for thinking of us.