Standby for tour

[MissPitstop]

My DH has just arrived at a new posting and been told he is on standby to go to Afghanistan in Oct for 3 months and then again in Feb for 3 months.(Some of his unit are going for both these periods) We have been warned that it will be a short notice thing if they send him (maybe just 1-2 days) I am new to being an army wife so dont really know what this means. Is it a army way of saying "yeah he'll be away for Xmas etc but we don't know when he will be sent"? I have asked DH but he keeps trying to reassure me that he will probably not go and if he does only on one of them but I am sure this is because I have just had a baby and he doesn't want to upset his already tired and hormonal wife!!! But I would rather have an honest view so that I can get used to the idea in plenty of time. Does anyone have any experience of this?

firstly take a deep breath and try not to worry.

my DH was on stand by for iraq for 2 years before they actually sent him - so he might not go anywhere yet.

normally what 'standby' means is they have to keep a bag packed and be ready to go if and when they're called. he might be away for xmas he might well be back it really just depends on the luck of the draw to an extent (at least that's what i've found). I'd be asking where in afgan he's off to and if they're ment to be going to the same place - in a warped way I asked DH those when he was going to iraw (either the oct or april) one was the south one the north - south at the time was 'safer' so he volenteered for that one.

where have you been posted to? do you know many other wives yet? will the majority of his unit be going at the same time? (when DH went there was only a few singles who went so I was a bit alone.

best get off as ds is playin up, but there's loads of us on here to keep you company and we've all been there at one point or another.

congrats on being newly wed and the baby

Hi Pipsqueeke. Thanks for your kind reply.

We have been posted to Dishforth in North Yorkshire. Most of DHs unit are going on the postings, I think they are both to the same area. We were hoping to get DHs parents over for Xmas (they live in abroad) so he was thinking of volunteering for the Feb one but not sure if that would stop him going in Oct as some lads going on both!

I don't know anyone here yet. I have said Hi to a few of our neighbours but they all seem to keep themselves to themselves, or stick to the people they know! I hoping that once DS1+2 are back at school I will be able to go to mother & baby etc and meet a few people.

lol, know that feeling re selves to slef and keeping to your group - althou i'm sure once you're a reg face to be seen everyone will be friendlier - is this your first posting in MQ's?

dishforth is that by thirsk? M&B things are always a good way of meeting new faces - ours are friendly

not sure if he volenteers for one he'd miss the other- that would be a question for his OC/sgt/boss etc. for my DH it did mean he went in the oct nad missed the april one (mainly as april lads went out 2 weeks after my DH got back)

def keep talking to us girls on here thou - I found this place when DH was in iraq and it's been a life saver - you never know some of the girls from here might be posted up by you MN meet ups are always nice as well for new people to meet up with - I find having a few civvy mates helps as well as they're a constant if you like - where we are people are always in and out and don't stick about for too long.

Not my first MQ, we did 6 months in northern Ireland when we first got married (DH had already been there 2.5 years) but I had a nightmare pregnancy and was on bed rest and in and out of hospital most of the time I was there.

Dishforth is near Thirsk, we have come here cos its only 1.5 hours from my folks. At the moment it feels like that might as well be 10.5 hours cos I still feel really isolated.

I am hoping that it's just because its the school holidays and once the kids go back to school things will get easier. Only 3 weeks till thye go back and a least I wont have to cope with "Im bored", "he's being nasty", "Its not fair" etc evry 10mins!?!

dh did this last year he got a week to go to iraq for 3 months from september was home just in time for xmas then 6 weeks leave then straight out to afganistan when back from xmas leave .

That looks like what DH might be doing. He is going away next week on his pre-afghanistan training then its standby for Oct. If he goes he will be away for Xmas, on leave in Jan then back in Feb. Im just glad we now live near my folk and not still in N. Ireland cos I would have been totally on my own then

do you drive? at all - I find getting home helps to get by - esp when DH was away.
really feel for you if he's got to do both tours.

I do drive and I can be at my folks house in just over an hour. I was hoping to settle and make new friends here so that I don't have the urge to always be at home tho. DH is away at the end of this week so my Mum is taking DS1+2 for the weekend to give me a bit of a break. I will just have DS3 so things will be easier.