OK...well I just wanted to say first off- thank you girls for always replying to my posts about FH and him being away and missing him. You girls are just soo supportive...more supportive than my friends!!
But this past weekend Fh and I have been talking. He told me that he WANTS to go to Iraq. And he has the chance to go. He said he wants to go because this is what he joined the Marine Corps for and he wants to be able to say he helped people and fought for his country. Well at first I was fine with this because he would be able to come home in probably August- a month before our wedding. Well on Thursday his commanding officer told him he would have to extend his time in the Marine Corps until Nov. if he wants to go to Iraq!!!!!!! Well his unit leaves for Iraq in March and comes back at the end of Oct. So he would be able to come home most likely Nov 1st 2008 or the first weekend in Nov.
Now that means we have to reschedule our wedding if he goes- most likely to Thanksgiving weekend. Because both my sisters go away to school so I cant ask them to come home the weekend before thanksgiving for a wedding and then again for thanksgiving you know. Plus we really dont want a winter wedding so right before christmas MIGHT be out= definitely not definite though as of yet. But we wont be able to go on our honeymoon until after christmas because of school which also stinks!!
But what do you girls think I should do? FH told me to tell him NO if I really dont want this. But I find it hard to tell him no in this situation. I am not hte one going to Iraq and I also dont want to hold him back from doing something he wants to do so badly...
ughh i really hate the Marine Corps sometimes!!!! sorry this is soooo long!!
bemyyoko
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Posted by cbcf
Sorry I know I am always venting about this- but it seems as if you girls are the only ones I can talk to about this- my other friends dont seem to want to hear about it or hear me ask them for help or advice 'forlorn:
1st- THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT!!! I appreciate everyone's comments and Kerri please dont feel you would get **** for what you said!! I completely understand your view. And I know you arent saying FH is selfish or anything. But I also dont want to be selfish either. I dont want FH to regret not going to Iraq. But I dont want him or I regreting changing our wedding. I know it is only a date and we can push it back. We have talked about it already. And I will be calling our vendors today and tomorrow to ask about open dates. But I wanted to see what all you ladies would do. And kerri Chris (my FH) even said what yuo said- he understands it isnt just him anymore and he has to think about me and that is why this is so hard on him. And i feel bad I am making it hard on him because I told him I kinda dont want him to go mostly for safety reason whether there was a wedding or not I would be worried. But I also dont want to hold him back. And he keeps saying but you have to help me decide because you will be my wife...ughh this is soo hard!!!
2nd- Matilde I understand what you are saying as well. Yes war changes people and sometimes not always for the better. And FH and I have talked about that as well. And it worries us but sometimes it seems this is the last of our problems since he has alot of friends who came back from going to Iraq 2 or 3 times and do not have all of the symptoms others soldiers have= but it is all relevent. AND I KNOW ABOUT REGRET!! That is one thing we are worried about we both dont want to regret anything. And I even told him it kinda is a lose lose situation. If he goes I'll be sad but if he doesnt I will feel like I held him back just because of a wedding.
this *****!!!
No one wants to say this... and I don't want to say it either. So I won't... but i'm sure you know what it is that i'm thinking. I'm not trying to scare you. But that worry is a very real and valid emotion. I have days that I cannot function b/c one of my good friends is involved with the war, and the worry just makes me sick. And he's just a friend... I can't imagine what it would be like to worry about my fiance. I cry when FH is out driving in a really bad thunderstorm!
I've been in a similar situation though. One that I shouldn't post here. I will send you an FM.
You shouldn't feel selfish for wanting to keep him out of harms way. It's not like you're sitting here going 'BUT I WANT MY WEDDING!! WAAAHHH!!!' you are concerned about his safety and his life.
AMGBride2008
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I'm so sorry you're going thru all of this.
If it were me, I would have NO problem telling FH not to go if I didn't fully support his desire. The war doesn't stop once you come home... you live with that experience forever and it changes a person. I wouldn't be willing to take that risk.
I think that you two need to have many conversations before YOU BOTH make the final decision. Put the wedding aside... that is the LEAST of the factors right now.
Good luck Catie! Be proud of your man no matter what he does in the end... he's already serving his country no matter where he is.
cbcf
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Posted by bemyyoko
Posted by ant n tilde
first of all for you
i think you are a wonderful person for supporting him in his decision - i know that it is hard. . . but regret is something that can tear a relationship apart later down the road.
now to the wedding, i dont think you should have a problem pushing the date back BUT please know that the marines CAN keep him past his date. . .it has happened in the past and it will happen again. Also, you have to think about his mindset when he returns from war. Is he going to be able to be in front of all those people just three weeks after returning to 'civilian life'?
Can you talk to marines who have come back already? I think that you should really consider these factors in choosing your new date
we are all here for you!
Those are excellent points. One of my best friends came home from the war zone and was a wreck for months. I mean, he was 'okay' but didn't do well in crowds and things like that. PTSD is a lot more common than I think people realize with this war. Most of us are so far removed from it... War changes people. Not in a bad way, but it does. I personally believe that anyone who tells you otherwise is full of it. I would discuss that with him as well. Also, the same friend mentioned above was kept almost a year longer than his date. Once they are in the war zone, all bets are off as to when they come home.
yeah i understand that as well...i mean i def do haha i see it in some of his friends especially his last boss...but then i dont see it in others..it is def relevant to certain...but like you said WAR DOES CHANGE PPL!!! And whoever says otherwise is wrong and ignorant IMO. But yes that is another thing I mentioned to FH about what happens if his unit says oh well we have to stay for another month= well having a nov wedding wouldnt work then haha so i dont know.
i talked to my mom and my Nana about this- My Nana wanted to know someones phone # so she could call and tell them FH isnt going haha so was so cute. She said dont they care he is getting married in sept why cant they send him home before that...it doesnt work that way though haha.
but yeah my mom was mad at me that i wasnt more upset about this- but i guess for the last 3 1/2 years i have been immune to it by now..yeah the MArines suck sometimes but what can you do i love my FH more than anything and that is why i deal with this all...
Future Mulligan
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im so sorry that you even have to think about this catie
to be totally honest, if it was me, i would tell him not to go.....i had a best friend who i dated off and on (besides FH, he is the only other person that I ever loved) and he went to Iraq and fought in the war. He saw and did a lot of horrible things - he was there a few months after the war started and he stayed there for quite some time - he also volunteered himself to go fight - he had the same mentality as your FH = 'this is what I joined the Marines for'.......well needless to say, he came back a changed person and I will leave it at that.
you dont want that to happen to your FH - and you want him to COME HOME......your FH made a commitment to you, a promise to marry you and i am sure you plan on having a family with him - I think his life with you shoud be more important than him being a hero. he isn't a single guy with nothing to lose. i know its soooo selfish of me to say, but if it was me i would tell FH that I did not want him to go.....god forbid something happened to him i would never be able to forgive myself.....when my friend was in the war it was HORRIBLE, the night the war started I was sick to my stomach and I couldn't eat for weeks - everyday I'd watch the news and pray that I didn't hear his name....when the war first started it was crazy and it was really hard.....I dont know how Iraq is now, but I do know that it still is a dangerous place.....my heart hurts for you guys, i know its going to be a hard decision......but i think he should come home for the wedding
cbcf
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Posted by bemyyoko
Posted by cbcf
Sorry I know I am always venting about this- but it seems as if you girls are the only ones I can talk to about this- my other friends dont seem to want to hear about it or hear me ask them for help or advice 'forlorn:
1st- THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT!!! I appreciate everyone's comments and Kerri please dont feel you would get **** for what you said!! I completely understand your view. And I know you arent saying FH is selfish or anything. But I also dont want to be selfish either. I dont want FH to regret not going to Iraq. But I dont want him or I regreting changing our wedding. I know it is only a date and we can push it back. We have talked about it already. And I will be calling our vendors today and tomorrow to ask about open dates. But I wanted to see what all you ladies would do. And kerri Chris (my FH) even said what yuo said- he understands it isnt just him anymore and he has to think about me and that is why this is so hard on him. And i feel bad I am making it hard on him because I told him I kinda dont want him to go mostly for safety reason whether there was a wedding or not I would be worried. But I also dont want to hold him back. And he keeps saying but you have to help me decide because you will be my wife...ughh this is soo hard!!!
2nd- Matilde I understand what you are saying as well. Yes war changes people and sometimes not always for the better. And FH and I have talked about that as well. And it worries us but sometimes it seems this is the last of our problems since he has alot of friends who came back from going to Iraq 2 or 3 times and do not have all of the symptoms others soldiers have= but it is all relevent. AND I KNOW ABOUT REGRET!! That is one thing we are worried about we both dont want to regret anything. And I even told him it kinda is a lose lose situation. If he goes I'll be sad but if he doesnt I will feel like I held him back just because of a wedding.
this *****!!!
No one wants to say this... and I don't want to say it either. So I won't... but i'm sure you know what it is that i'm thinking. I'm not trying to scare you. But that worry is a very real and valid emotion. I have days that I cannot function b/c one of my good friends is involved with the war, and the worry just makes me sick. And he's just a friend... I can't imagine what it would be like to worry about my fiance. I cry when FH is out driving in a really bad thunderstorm!
I've been in a similar situation though. One that I shouldn't post here. I will send you an FM.
You shouldn't feel selfish for wanting to keep him out of harms way. It's not like you're sitting here going 'BUT I WANT MY WEDDING!! WAAAHHH!!!' you are concerned about his safety and his life.
I definitely know what you wanted to say but didnt. And I flat out told FH I will never ever firgive myself for telling him to go to Iraq and dont worry about me if he didnt come home....And I would never want to face his family again. They knnow his decisions weight alot on what him and I talk about so i am also thnking of them in this situation. i dont want them to think i said i dont care if he goes to Iraq. his mother would prob not talk to me until he comes home safely if he does go...
sometimes i wish fh was a normal guy and not in the military. but like you girls all said i support him but he has to support me as well and we def need to talk more about this but i feel like we are saying the same thing over and over again. but now talking to you all i feel i have more of the guts to tell fh NO because i know others would do it as well and not call it selfish!!!
JM4EVA
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I agree with all the other girls, you need to open and honestly talk to him about how you feel. This is a decision that the two of you will have to make together. Sorry that you have you to go through this...it must be hard. I think you need some of theses . Good Luck.
LuvMyAlfonse
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Oh Catie.
I don't know what to say either. I have no idea what I would do in your situation. I would beg him not to go actually. But that's me.
Would you consider getting married before a judge or priest before he goes? Then have a reception when you can? I don't know what I'm talking about. I'm sorry I'm not more help.
Good luck sweetie.
nmagel
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Posted by cbcf
Posted by bemyyoko
Posted by ant n tilde
first of all for you
i think you are a wonderful person for supporting him in his decision - i know that it is hard. . . but regret is something that can tear a relationship apart later down the road.
now to the wedding, i dont think you should have a problem pushing the date back BUT please know that the marines CAN keep him past his date. . .it has happened in the past and it will happen again. Also, you have to think about his mindset when he returns from war. Is he going to be able to be in front of all those people just three weeks after returning to 'civilian life'?
Can you talk to marines who have come back already? I think that you should really consider these factors in choosing your new date
we are all here for you!
Those are excellent points. One of my best friends came home from the war zone and was a wreck for months. I mean, he was 'okay' but didn't do well in crowds and things like that. PTSD is a lot more common than I think people realize with this war. Most of us are so far removed from it... War changes people. Not in a bad way, but it does. I personally believe that anyone who tells you otherwise is full of it. I would discuss that with him as well. Also, the same friend mentioned above was kept almost a year longer than his date. Once they are in the war zone, all bets are off as to when they come home.
yeah i understand that as well...i mean i def do haha i see it in some of his friends especially his last boss...but then i dont see it in others..it is def relevant to certain...but like you said WAR DOES CHANGE PPL!!! And whoever says otherwise is wrong and ignorant IMO. But yes that is another thing I mentioned to FH about what happens if his unit says oh well we have to stay for another month= well having a nov wedding wouldnt work then haha so i dont know.
i talked to my mom and my Nana about this- My Nana wanted to know someones phone # so she could call and tell them FH isnt going haha so was so cute. She said dont they care he is getting married in sept why cant they send him home before that...it doesnt work that way though haha.
but yeah my mom was mad at me that i wasnt more upset about this- but i guess for the last 3 1/2 years i have been immune to it by now..yeah the MArines suck sometimes but what can you do i love my FH more than anything and that is why i deal with this all...
Catie, This is SUCH a tough choice!! If it were my choice, I would tell him not to go. He is very brave to be in the military in the first place. He doesn't have to prove his bravery by going into a war zone. I would be sick w/ worry, and want him not to go. Does he want a military career, or once his tour is over is he leaving the Marines?
rkl1130
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I am so sorry you are going through this.
As a Marine Corp wife, I know how difficult it can be.
Like others have said, you do owe it to not only yourself but to him to tell him how you feel about his decision to want to go. Has he been before? A marriage is about compromise, and he needs to really take into consideration how you feel about it as well before making the choice to definitely go. His desire to go is admirable and I absolutely commend him on it, but has he thought about the ramifications of his actions and how that can affect you?
Also, the Marine Corp is notorious for telling people they will be back by a certain date and push that date back more than once (it happened to us on both deployments), so there will not be any definitely guarantees that he will be home by the date they say he will be. Will postponing hurt you a lot financially?
Is the Marine Corp his career? Personally, I think it's a bit selfish to make this deicision without your input because this adversely affects YOU. I know you would support him in whatever decision he makes, but his decisions should be made based on whats best for you both.
If you need to talk, FM me.
cbcf
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Posted by rkl1130
I am so sorry you are going through this.
As a Marine Corp wife, I know how difficult it can be.
Like others have said, you do owe it to not only yourself but to him to tell him how you feel about his decision to want to go. Has he been before? A marriage is about compromise, and he needs to really take into consideration how you feel about it as well before making the choice to definitely go. His desire to go is admirable and I absolutely commend him on it, but has he thought about the ramifications of his actions and how that can affect you?
Also, the Marine Corp is notorious for telling people they will be back by a certain date and push that date back more than once (it happened to us on both deployments), so there will not be any definitely guarantees that he will be home by the date they say he will be. Will postponing hurt you a lot financially?
Is the Marine Corp his career? Personally, I think it's a bit selfish to make this deicision without your input because this adversely affects YOU. I know you would support him in whatever decision he makes, but his decisions should be made based on whats best for you both.
If you need to talk, FM me.
thank you for your advice!!! i greatly appreciate especially since you have been through this before. now yes we have talked about this...and FH told me flat out that if I say NO i dont want you to go he wont he doesnt want to just think about himself he wants to know what i feel and everything. we have talked about this all weekend and it just makes me sick to think i have to make a decision with him on this. i dont want to regret anything. yeah he doesnt want to make this decisionwithout me...but i just dont know what to do
and yes i even mentioned how upsetting it would be if they kept him there longer because i know they do that believe me haha
but he also doesnt want to make a career out of it well he wants to re-enlist as a reservist not active duty.
Future Mulligan
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i forgot to add that your FH is brave for joining the military - and he doesnt need to prove himself.....i would NEVER have the guts to join!!
the person i was talking about earlier was a reservist and he was deployed to Iraq and fought in the war - so you aren't even safe doing reserves.....so your FH is def a BRAVE guy for joining and wanting to continue after his time is up! i just wanted to say how brave your FH is!
LeeLee111
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Wow thats rough, I think a Thanksgiving wedding would be nice though. It shouldnt be that cold by then either.
alymikewedding08
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Posted by bemyyoko
I might get **** for this but i don't care.
I understand why you would find it hard to tell him No. However... you two can't really make big important decisions like this without discussing and agreeing on the terms.
It is not fair for him to decide he's going, which means changing all your plans you had. Sure, a wedding can be rescheduled... but it's not just a party that he's putting off by going. He's putting your marriage on hold.
Also, I can understand his POV for wanting to go to Iraq. I really can... but there are so many wives, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, and children and on and on who would do anything to have their loved ones HOME. While his reasons for wanting to go are admirable... I also think they are a little selfish. He has a family here, a soon to be wife here, who he needs to think about.
The fact that he told you to tell him NO if you want to, means a lot. I do not think your FH is a selfish person, so please, don't think i'm talking badly of him or the troops who choose to go over. I'm not.
I just want you to realize that your feelings of negativitiy are valid. If you do not want him to go, I think you owe it to yourself, and the future of your relationship to at least voice that to him. I'd hate for him to go, and you resent him for it, or hold it against him without realizing it.
This is a tough situation, and none of us can tell you what to do. Just know, that whatever decision you make, you should make together, and we'll all be here to support you no matter what it is.
I agree completely.. and mostly because I wouldn't want my FH to be in a dangerous situation *of course I realize your FH joined and knew what he was getting into.. and even WANTS to go to Iraq* but I still wouldn't be able to sleep at night.. and I would have to pretty much beg him not to go. I hope everything works out for you.. and your FH and we are totally here for you!
rkl1130
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Posted by cbcf
thank you for your advice!!! i greatly appreciate especially since you have been through this before. now yes we have talked about this...and FH told me flat out that if I say NO i dont want you to go he wont he doesnt want to just think about himself he wants to know what i feel and everything. we have talked about this all weekend and it just makes me sick to think i have to make a decision with him on this. i dont want to regret anything. yeah he doesnt want to make this decisionwithout me...but i just dont know what to do
and yes i even mentioned how upsetting it would be if they kept him there longer because i know they do that believe me haha
but he also doesnt want to make a career out of it well he wants to re-enlist as a reservist not active duty.
DH is currently a reservist, but should've just gone active duty since he's spent more than half of his contract (a 6-year contract) away anyway!
He one time mentioned going back there (and he's been there twice!), and I said 'No.' I, like you, am supportive of his decisions but there came a point where I had to put my foot down and it wasn't for me but for DH. I think that they don't always think about themselves when making these decisions because the Marine Corp mentality is not like that--it's about the Corp. You worry about him and he knows that, and don't feel bad for telling him that you don't want him to go--you are looking out for him and his safety.
He can CHOOSE not to go--others didn't have that choice and HAD to go. His sense of duty to his country is strong, but he also has a sense of duty to you and his family. As my DH once said--'I've gone twice. I did what I had to do and a Marine and did whatever I was told. I have done my duty to my country and did it without question (he was ordered to go to Iraq twice). I have done my job.'
Your FH shouldn't feel like he HAS to go in order to serve his country and be a good Marine.
You yourself are really brave and tough.
SugaBeans
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Aww Catie, im sorry to hear that. I cant believe he wants to go. I feel i would want to support him and his decision but this is one that I wouldnt be able to handle. I really dont have advice, im sorry. My only concern is that they can extend the length of his stay. they may say he will be back in nov. but that can be extended right? good luck.
Fausha
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OMG you are in a tough situation! I do agree with bemyyoko and what she said. However, you need to tell him exactly how you feel and put everything on the table. I wish you the best and I hope everything works out!
blu6385
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i am sorry you are going thru this .. i have not read everyones responds but i am sure they are all good ... first i give you and anyone else who has a FH thats away in the army/marines whatever credit i dont know how you girls do it ... but honestly if it was me i would tell him to stay home ... if he doesnt have to go then why should he ... just means more time away from you in a more dangerous way ... best of lcuk to you and whenatever you decide to do
cbcf
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Posted by Future Mulligan
i forgot to add that your FH is brave for joining the military - and he doesnt need to prove himself.....i would NEVER have the guts to join!!
the person i was talking about earlier was a reservist and he was deployed to Iraq and fought in the war - so you aren't even safe doing reserves.....so your FH is def a BRAVE guy for joining and wanting to continue after his time is up! i just wanted to say how brave your FH is!
thanks Nicole!!!
i think that is another thing FH is thinking about. that he joined the Marines to go...and if he doesnt go he did nothing...you know. he doesnt want to be considered a Hero but he wants people to not look down on him because he didnt go to Iraq in his 4 yrs active duty. I think alot of it has to do with the monitor (he is the guy who helps them with reenlisting and stuff) and he told FH he should re-evaluate himself as a Marine because FH told him he didnt want to re-enlist as active duty and that he wasnt going to Iraq if I didnt want him to. I WAS LIKE WHAT!!?? But that is the Marine Corps mentality. And once a life time Marine they dont understand the reasoning of getting out of the MArine Corps and not wanting to go to Iraq! Ughh sometimes I wish I could just tell him we dont need a wedding (which we dont but we both ahve always dreamt about having our dream wedding).
anneandchris
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Catie I am so sorry to hear that you and FH have been put in this situation to make such a life changing decision.
I have read the other responses and I don't think there is more that I can add that will make this decision any easier on the two of you. I do know how his family felt when he enlisted and I am sure they are not making this any easier on him in any aspect or on you for that matter.
I can't imagine how much this is weighing on the two of you right now, but as everyone is saying talk to him about it but in the end you might have to let him make this decision. I give you credit for being so far away from him on an everyday basis and talking about this over the phone in two different times zones must make it a thousand times harder.
If you need anything I am here.
Future Mulligan
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Posted by cbcf
Posted by Future Mulligan
i forgot to add that your FH is brave for joining the military - and he doesnt need to prove himself.....i would NEVER have the guts to join!!
the person i was talking about earlier was a reservist and he was deployed to Iraq and fought in the war - so you aren't even safe doing reserves.....so your FH is def a BRAVE guy for joining and wanting to continue after his time is up! i just wanted to say how brave your FH is!
thanks Nicole!!!
i think that is another thing FH is thinking about. that he joined the Marines to go...and if he doesnt go he did nothing...you know. he doesnt want to be considered a Hero but he wants people to not look down on him because he didnt go to Iraq in his 4 yrs active duty. I think alot of it has to do with the monitor (he is the guy who helps them with reenlisting and stuff) and he told FH he should re-evaluate himself as a Marine because FH told him he didnt want to re-enlist as active duty and that he wasnt going to Iraq if I didnt want him to. I WAS LIKE WHAT!!?? But that is the Marine Corps mentality. And once a life time Marine they dont understand the reasoning of getting out of the MArine Corps and not wanting to go to Iraq! Ughh sometimes I wish I could just tell him we dont need a wedding (which we dont but we both ahve always dreamt about having our dream wedding).
obviously this is here-say, b/c i was not in Iraq, or in any war, or a marine - but my friend that was there told me that they taught him never to leave anyone behind blah blah blah - but he told me that once he was in combat everything he learned went out the window and they ordered him to leave other soldiers behind no matter what - now imagine them ordering you to leave your friend(s) behind - to him that was very upsetting....i just got reminded of that story, and started going off on a tanget, but what i was actually going to say was that my cousin is an active duty marine and my friend (aka old flame ) was a marine so i've heard all that stuff before - about being a Marine for life, and re-enlisting and all that BS......i mean i understand those people are just doing their jobs thats what they get paid to do - to convince you to sign up/re-enlist - and the country does need soldiers.....BUT i feel like the marines can be very brainwashing/demeaning - like they totally know how to break you down.....which isnt right either....but you know all this already! but the military isnt a horrible thing either - and a lot of people can do very well for themselves.....but i dont think that your FH should feel guilty in any way or feel like he owes it to them - because I am sure that is how they can make him feel....and he should try not to let that effect him (easier said than done of course) or you - don't let his job make you feel bad about the things that you want in your life either (like this wedding)......it sounds like you are a good support system for him and i am sure no matter what the two of you decide everything will work out.