So Uncle Sam didn't even use lube. I politely asked him if I could leave the Army and he said NO! I'm heading back into the fight, in what capacity I don't yet know, but likely I get to go train an Iraqi Army Battalion in Baghdad how to fight like Americans. Thankfully, I apparently need to go to an Army School to learn how to do this, and that school is at Ft. Lee, right by Virginia Beach. So from the end of March until about October, thats where I'll be.

You may have noticed I've been scaling back my game time, and thats cause I kinda knew this was coming. I have started to get back to things like hitting the rifle range, hanging out with our CQB instructors, brushing up on first aid, and working out A LOT. No more soft life for me. Given, the school at Ft. Lee is probably ridiculously easy and I'll have a lot of free time before I deploy, but understandably my focus is going to be getting my mind and body back into fighting shape and not neccessarily on hitting Level 80 when WOTLK comes out.

This is by no means good bye to VS. I will continue to participate, cause I love you guys and I'll need an escape from time to time, but I'm not gonna be quite as active as I might have been.

Be careful Bren!


We'll be here if you ever need a vacation.

Well that sucks. But as Fox said, we're here anytime!

Boooo Bren! Uncle Sam BLOWS.

Yes, please be very careful and keep us informed about what's going on! And then post a picture of your rockhard abs.

Stop Loss is a bitch.

Know that there are people, like me, that do appreciate your service. All politics aside... I support the safety and well being of all US forces.

Well said, Raps.

We love you, Bren. <3

Good Luck, Bren! Stay safe and whip those Iraqis into shape!

But first, kick ass in class!

Please let me restate that I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE TOO SOON.

Y'all can save your 'good-byes' and 'we love yous' for later. I might not even get deployed! *crosses fingers*

Please let me restate that I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE TOO SOON.

Y'all can save your 'good-byes' and 'we love yous' for later. I might not even get deployed! *crosses fingers*

Regardless if you get deployed or not, Thank you for what you do for each and everyone of us as well as for the country!

Your job takes more balls than mine so for that I admire you

And then post a picture of your rockhard abs.

Lux just wants to see your hairway to heaven.

i am hoping that you are not in fact deployed :(

Sorry to hear you're being dicked around, that sucks. Is this "stop-loss" or something else? Stop loss always seemed indefensible to me, but then again, I guess I just don't understand the military mind!

I'm with Euls -- I hope you can continue to serve your country in a way that doesn't involve the risk of getting shot at.

http://www.break.com/index/a_country_girls_tribute1.html

Bren, if you go, I will miss you terribly!! And please do keep in touch so we're not up all night wondering if our soldier boy is ok. :(

Sorry to hear you're being dicked around, that sucks. Is this "stop-loss" or something else? Stop loss always seemed indefensible to me, but then again, I guess I just don't understand the military mind!

I'm with Euls -- I hope you can continue to serve your country in a way that doesn't involve the risk of getting shot at.

Something I guess I don't understand from my perspective is the angst that people in general feel toward the concept of Stop-loss. To me, it absolutely makes sense. If a unit is notified for deployment (about 90 days from when they go) then their roster freezes and no movement out of the unit can take place. That is to ensure that the same men that train together go to fight together and that the chain of command stays intact. If that means that PFC Jones was only 3 months away from getting out of the Army, then thats a shame he'll have to stick around for the deployment- effectively adding 9 months to his time in service- but ALL SOLDIERS know that when they sign up from DAY ONE this is possible. So where's the gripe? The few sad cases where a guy was 2-3 days from getting out when he got stop lossed only to be killed during the deployment are far outweighed, I think, by the benefit of keeping the unit together to fight.

So on that, no I have not been stop-lossed, because I am not in a unit that has been notified for deployment (incidentally I missed the stop-loss for the 173rd by 3 days last year when I moved from there to my job I have now). They merely decided to exercise that little 'or until we let you go' clause in my service obligation. The Army is hurting for people like me right now. I knew that they could do this, and I'm okay with that. Not the best thing that I could have asked for, but now I just have to do plan B.

Well, Bren, that was a very helpful description. I've always been curious, but now I understand it a lot better, thanks!

And then he posted his Hairway to Heaven.

be safe and watch your 6

Actually, (and Bren can confirm this) officers have never had a fixed contract like enlisted men. This stop lose business is new for enlisted personel (maybe the last 5 or 6 years or so).

I've had officers I worked with had their release from active duty delayed a number of times. Of course, remember I have been retired for almost 20 years, and things have changed, but the 'no fixed contract' for officers has been in place for a very long time.

And then he posted his Hairway to Heaven.

I actually only could find this single picture of my 'hairway' and you can hardly even see it. Nevermind the ex-girlfriend. +1 me for use of GameBoy.

This is a rather old picture- before the Army really had a chance to whip me into shape. Also, my belly has adapted to the mass quantities of German beer since I've been here. I'll need a couple of weeks before I get back to where I should be.

Don't we have bewbal.com? This should totally go there, all close-up and hairy.

i like your x-gf's t-shirt

That girl looks JUST like this girl I know...

Whoooo! Hairy man-flesh! Post it on bewbal, Sapph!

That girl looks JUST like this girl I know...

Whoooo! Hairy man-flesh! Post it on bewbal, Sapph!
OK... now I just have to learn how to manage a website. WHO WANTS TO HELP?

Haha...Yeah, I asked The Don what we're putting on Bewbal and he didn't know. So then I was like "Weren't we going to put a picture of everyone's chest there?" He made a face like, "Must. Hide. Camera," and then said again that he didn't know.

I think it's all in your hands, Sapph!