What is it like when you first arrive in Iraq?

Question

I have a friend that was deployed a couple of weeks ago. I'm waiting to hear from him. I'm just curious what it is like when you first arrive. How does it affect you mentally? Is it a shock to your system?

Answer 1

You can read the First 100 Days in Iraq- it's a new soldiers hand book that soldiers are recommended to read before going over.

Answer 2

The first thing you notice is that its hot and dusty, (at leas where I was).

It was not a shock. It was what I expected from my training. You soon learn that the news, while not wrong, only reports half the story. Its amazing what they miss they miss sometimes. After a while, it begins to feel like a prison and you want to go off the FOB just to see something different. I learned Iraq has 3 seasons based on the sand, dried hard sand like concrete, then the wind blows it into a fine dust, then it rains and the dust becomes a slippery sludge. Overall, its mostly boring.

Answer 3

it felt a lot like basic training to me. everything is completely different, you always have a weapon with you, you're always in uniform, the food usually sucks, you only know the people you work with and it's HOT. plus it takes forever to get your crap set up and your accommodations get changed around all the damn time.

it's a total shock, but you get used to it quick because you're totally immersed in this new lifestyle.