I left in 2005 to join the army. It was august 5 2005 to what i always dreamed of, but little did i know it would be the biggest nightmare of my life. I made it to November 2005 when i broke my leg, i had to go home and heal, but I'd come back in 30 days. All together it was almost a year in Basic Training when it was suppose to be 14 weeks. I made it out to become a soldier. I spent most of my days wondering what it would be like once I was out, but i had to get my head on straight cause i was Iraq bound. I landed in pitch black of night and wondered where the hell i was, the nesxt morning i saw...Hell. Sand, tents and port o johns thats i saw, for the next 15 months more and more stuff came in. Actual flush toilets (they clogged easy) showers that didn't drain well, but it was better then a bottle of water like we had before. At the end we lost 12 of our Brothers in arms to the enemy. I came home, and got out of the army. I was bound for Phoenix Az, and i thought I'd have it all, a job, my own place, you know everything a 24 year old young man would want, but i was wrong. I sit here typing this a 109 in the morning and wonder where i went wrong, its hell trying to get unemployment, and even harder to get a job. Maybe theres a lesson in this all who know. I figured I'd write this down for all those thinkin of joining and for my own reason, try to figure it all out.

Right now where you're going wrong is blaming the army... You are not the only one having this issue.. Jobs are hard to come by right now and those that have them should be thankful.. I'm thankful every day for my career, experience and knowledge...

Keep trying, never give up.. If you do then you're wrong.. As long as you keep trying, you're doing all you can do and eventually it will come together for you...

You may have to take a job you don't want just to get by until things improve..

Good luck and THANK YOU for serving your time for our country....

Hiya Cowboy!


Times are tough, eh?


How long have you been out?

Ok... after all this time of having to keep life on the 'Order', in the efficiency of the military, you find yourself spat out the other end, and lost... it's rather anti-climatic, isn't it?

And those that haven't served dont REALLY know what it's like.

Not quite a heroes wlcome, huh? that sucks..

And what do you do now?

You are 24.... not 94... and you SURVIVED your own personal HELL...so now you use the same courage that saved your arse whilst under fire, and you use that same courage to change your personal life.

You get to be the officer now....of you.

Study.... get a degree in what you have always wanted to do....OUTSIDE of the military..use your compassionate heart, your natural empathy... think about counselling, the healing sciences.... the arts....science in general.... logistics... wherever your natural interests take you...

Cowboy, you are 24.... not 94...you can do ANYTHING.

i know how it goes. i was in in 94-95. got medically discharged and ended up coming home with no skills and no job lined up, no girl and i had to move back home with my mom. it sucks but you just adapt and overcome. that's what they preached to us in the army and it really is a way to make it through life.
you made it through basic training and worse, you'll make through this too.


. . .

Your experience is normal and common. You are not alone in what you are going through. Much of it is not you; it is the economy and our government that doesn't have the supports in place to help returning Veterans. You didn't do anything wrong.

It would help you to get an evaluation and some counseling/support from a Veteran's Center. It sounds like you might have some symptoms of Depression or PTSD. Good Luck! Best Wishes.

Thank you for sharing your experience with us. I found it interesting, hearing it from someone that was over there.

I became self employed. I had been looking for 4 months.
I couldn't get unemployment, I left my ex with my dog and two suitcases.
Maybe you are good at something?
I've heard that volunteering is a way to network for jobs too.
I wish you luck.

First of all, welcome home and thank you for your service to your country
There are alot of programs out there for vets, check with your local V.A., perhaps you can get into school since the job market is so crappy right now?
What is it that you want to do? What are your goals for your future?
It might not be a bad idea to seek some counseling to help you get through as you adjust to being home and facing these rough times.
My heart goes out to you for the loss of your Brothers

Use the grit you used to endure the Army and the war to build yourself a better life, not a bitter one.
Use that determination that got your though that experience to determine your future.
I thank you for your service in the Army, and those you served with.

I would like to personally say thank you for your service and your sacrifices. It sounds to me like you are a survivor, Cowboy! I know that times are hard right now and you are feeling lost - dig your heels in and find a way to ground yourself in something, anything. Then, as you did during basic training, put one foot in front of the other, reaching each goal you set for yourself and then going on to the next one. You have already survived many, many difficult things - it is just a matter of time until you get your bearings and you will conquer this battle, as well.

I can completely hear you, empathise -- and agree. Yes, it does suck. Unfortunately the economy is not in the best shape.

PLEASE understand... you are not alone, there are people out there that care about you... talk with someone, priest, family, friends, heck even this board. You are not alone! It's hard, I know... but you had the strength to recover from your broken leg, you had the strength to persist through your bad situation, you can make it through this too!...

Keep waking up, keep going through the motions, one foot in front of the other... keep moving forward...

Thank you for your service, thank you for sharing...

((((((((((Wiccan)))))))))

The job market sucks right now. I am looking for a new job and it is not easy. So it is not just the USA Canada is with ya as well.

You did not do anything wrong. You did a great service for your country. Do not ever regret that. That is something that you should hold strong and proud in your heart. It takes, courage, strengthen, determination and love to do what you did. Those same traits will help you in not just your job search but life.

Love ya hun.

First, THANKS for your service to this country & the people in it.

Second, "Grab a root & growl." Advice from the old men I grew up around & I passed on to my son. Be to tough, to let ANYTHING beat you. I have been married, owned a large business & property, huge house on a lake & lots of toys. Have lost or let go of all of that.
I am totally remaking my life, under some of the toughest conditions we have seen in along time. I am 58 & I WON'T QUIT. Going to build a new fortune & new life. HARD......SURE Attitude is 98% of what makes it poss.

My FAVORITE slogan.

"They can kill me, but not EAT me. I am to DAMN TOUGH."

Make that a mantra & believe it.
Read self help books, John Maxwell is FANTASTIC.

NEVER GIVE UP.