Babble

In about 3 months my unit in the Army is deploying to Iraq.  This is my first time to "the big sand box" in my military career.  My wife just gave birth this past September to our beautiful baby girl.  I had orignally left the house after my daughter was 3 weeks old for training and it tore my heart in two to leave her for only 2 and a half weeks.  My unit is scheduled for a 15 month deployment.  Are there any other soldiers out there or someone in similar situations that can give me some good solid advice on how to get through this?  This is breaking my heart piece by piece inside knowing that I will be leaving my preacious little girl behind for so long... please someone give me some advice of how I can do this..

my younger brother is in iraq right now... he got married 3 weeks before he left so his army wife would be attached to his orders, but anyway he brought his laptop that has a camera attached with him and he tries to send her emails with video each week, she sends him the same, he is a mechanic though so he has some down time and isnt really 'in the field'. He also calls my folks almost every week (scares the crap out of mom when he doesnt call though)

My other brother is married to a Brazilian, whose whole family is in Brazil. They have video link as well and have a weekly 'live' chat with my nephew and it keeps them up to date on him really well

 It is a rough road you will walk and my heart goes out to you for leaving your family for such a long period of time, but the key seems to be constant (and as consistant as you can make it) communication is anyway you can do it. Even if it is a three second conversation just to hear your daughter say daddy ya know? Also know that your wife will have others on base giving her love and support while you are away

good luck and stay safe

Babble ran two articles by an army wife about her family life during her husband's deployment:

http://www.babble.com/content/articles/features/personalessays/klein/homefront/

http://www.babble.com/content/articles/features/personalessays/Klein/Return-to-the-home-front/

I think they show how strong a family can be, even with all those unknowns between them. My heart goes out to you. -- Gwynne 

Without denigrating your profession, politics or morals... I have to say, refering to Iraq as "the big sand box" makes me think that you've forgotten that it is in fact someone's home.  Someone way less fortunate that you, who no doubt has a beautiful baby girl too.  It's not a playground.

 That being said, good luck, godspeed, please come home safe.