5 things you learned about America while being deployed overseas

Tim Kirkpatrick
Jun 3, 2021 2:10 AM PDT
1 minute read
Coast Guard photo

SUMMARY

Being deployed overseas means time away from family, friends and embarking on a life-changing journey that will probably change the way you think forever. You may not see it at first, but the longer you’re away, you’ll start to form you…

Being deployed overseas means time away from family, friends and embarking on a life-changing journey that will probably change the way you think forever.


You may not see it at first, but the longer you're away, you'll start to form your own opinions about the world around you — especially the home you left.

Related: 7 ways to surprise your spouses when they return from deployment

So check out what we learned about America from our time deployed overseas.

1. There's no place like America

After the first few months, your fighting spirit usually tends to die out, then you really do begin to believe those classic words Dorothy from Kansas once spoke. This motivation is usually what gets you through the rest of the deployment.

America and its people are certainly flawed, but we love them anyway.

2. Bigger problems

Stateside you have all types of bills, some family drama and if you're living in the barracks, room inspections.

Now that you're deployed half way around the world, those issues still exist, but you put them on the back burner. Although combat stress can get pretty jarring, many prefer that headache over fighting heavy traffic.

3. Americans are true supporters

Mail call doesn't come around too often, but when it does, it's like Christmas no matter the time of year. Many don't have families back home to support them while they're off fighting the bad guys. So Americans from across the U.S. often come together and pack up goodies and send them off to deployed service members around the world.

4. How good American air smells

Being stationed on a small patrol base, you incinerate all the trash you accumulate in a burn pit not far away from where you eat, sleep and stand post. The smell can be pretty nasty.

Come home after a year-long deployment and smell that good old fashion America breeze.

Also Read: 4 insane things service members can do to stay awake

5. How little stuff we need to survive

As Americans, we buy a lot of crap we don't need but convince ourselves we do. Live for months on an aircraft carrier or on a patrol base and you'll have maybe 10 square feet of personal storage — you'll still get by just fine with a whole lot less stuff.

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