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Hello! I am not military but am married to a DoD civilian employee that just reported to Bagram air base for a sixth month temp job assignment. Any adive from the experts on how to handle the sepeartion, the loneliness and the worry? I am just looking for general information from anyone that was stationed there recently regarding safety etc.
Bagram AFB is a safe location; your husband should be ok. If anything, it's a pretty boring place. The biggest issue is coordinating times for calls to home; because of the timezones it's always at some weird hour.
On how to handle the loneliness, keep yourself busy. Tackle a project you've been putting off. Also find a support group. Most military installations have a spouse's club, they've all been in your situation and can listen to your concerns.
Bagram is as safe as houses as long as you're not at the gate. It is enormous and contains significant combat power, as well as being in a 'safer' area of Afghanistan. Think of it this way: if the enemy has trouble overruning platoon and company size FOBs, why would they even begin to try with one of our largest bases there?
Short of an accident-which could happen at home-there is roughly nothing that can happen there that would be remotely dangerous.
Bagram is as safe as houses as long as you're not at the gate. It is enormous and contains significant combat power, as well as being in a 'safer' area of Afghanistan. Think of it this way: if the enemy has trouble overruning platoon and company size FOBs, why would they even begin to try with one of our largest bases there?
Short of an accident-which could happen at home-there is roughly nothing that can happen there that would be remotely dangerous.
Sorry, but they still get a lot of mortar attacks. My daughter's bf is there now. No base there is as safe as it is here, stateside. My husband was at one of the so-called "safest" installations his last deployment - they spent quite a bit of time in the bunkers due to mortar attacks.
OP, as far as "safe" locations, Bagram and Kandahar Airfield are where I'd want my loved ones to be at when they go over there. Both daughters are heading to KAF in the next month or so, and, yes, I will worry, as no place is "safe" over there.
Sorry, but they still get a lot of mortar attacks. My daughter's bf is there now. No base there is as safe as it is here, stateside. My husband was at one of the so-called "safest" installations his last deployment - they spent quite a bit of time in the bunkers due to mortar attacks.
OP, as far as "safe" locations, Bagram and Kandahar Airfield are where I'd want my loved ones to be at when they go over there. Both daughters are heading to KAF in the next month or so, and, yes, I will worry, as no place is "safe" over there.
I understand you think it's frequent and you're scared. It *might* be every couple of months at Kandahar. It's certainly less at Bagram as recently as 2009, and the statistical chance of that occasional attack zeroing in on someone in the middle of the base is pretty low. The other FOBs, especially the smaller ones, do get significantly more, but the OP was asking about Bagram, and I reiterate: safe. I'd rather be there than in several American cities.
Generally I just ignored the sirens, as more times than not it was birds setting off the early warning system. I think your daughter's boyfriend might be overexaggerating the danger at Bagram more than a little. Maybe I got a significantly lower rate during my time at both bases (several trips to each adding up to a few months): someone who was also there may want to chime in.
That self-licking ice cream cone? Yeah, he'll be fine. google 'I love Bagram' for some insight on why what we're doing overseas these days ain't exactly the push at Normandy....
EDIT to add: I do not wish to minimize the inherent risk associated in dwelling amongst a dispossessed populace that cares not for our nation building nor will ever get along with their neighbors. I lost a brother-in-arms in Kabul last year. Senseless random shooting from a disgruntled Afghani POS. Not single a Taliban in sight and my friend on a mere 'promotion box-checking' tour to that chithole, like every other support personnel that gets tagged to swell up the flights inbound to that Baskin Robins. Died assisting other wounded, but otherwise died without a chance to fire back. senseless. Now three babies and a young woman do without daddy.
If you're gonna die for no reasons bigger than yourself, at least do like the contractors and make money hand over fist on your way out. I digress. My point is to say when there are more REMF personnel on scene (nothing personal against the OPs spouse, just stating the facts) and the biggest source of gripe is getting Chiefed by some dumbskull AF E-9 about the wear of reflective belts and flip flops before service at the DFAC can be provided, you know you work at Baskin Robins and not the military. Self licking ice cream cone.
Last edited by hindsight2020; 01-21-2012 at 09:09 AM..
Sorry I do not understand the self licking ice cream cone reference. I have a feeling it was not positive! My husband was active duty army for 12 years and was in the first gulf war. He was proud of his active duty and so am I. I am also equally proud of his service as a civilian for the governement.
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My husband was active duty army for 12 years and was in the first gulf war. He was proud of his active duty and so am I. I am also equally proud of his service as a civilian for the governement.
