My sister in laws husband is a marine and is getting ready to be deployed In a month, thankfully not to a war zone just onto an air craft carrier for 6 months, and he is the only son of his father. I am just wondering if you may know if it is true with him being the only son that he will not get sent into a war zone. I know anything is possible especially with all that is going on with Iraq right now. I am just wondering what your experience/knowledge on this may be. Thank you so much for your time answering.
Eta I am just mainly asking to help my sister in law through this time. She is really worried. I am as well so I am trying to find out how true this is or not. Everything that I looked at hasn't said other wise.
To answer yes he did join on his own but him and my sister in law were under the impression that he wouldn't get sent Into a war zone since he is an only son of his father. I didn't think so but I was curious.
I won't lead her on at all. But I don't think any spouse wants to see their partner go into a war zone rather they signed on for the life or not. I know I wouldn't want to see anyone that I love go into that. Yes he signed on for the Marines he is also an harrier engineer which is why he is being deployed on the ship he is.
To clear a few things up he doesn't plan on fighting his command at all. That wasn't what this question is about. He actually volunteered for this deployment. And if he is asked to go fight I am sure he will. This is his first deployment so it is all new for them and they are both scared and worried about what is going on. They both just turned 22. All I asked was about the whole truth behind him not being sent to a war zone being last in line in his family. Not about shaming my sister in law and her husband for being worried. And he is being sent on a ship for a minimum of 6 months because it is a harrier mission and he works on the electrical components of the jets. He isn't a pilot or anything. I just asked the question to try and see the best way to support her I can. So thank you to everyone who answered. And I didn't need pointed out he joined on his own and it's all volunteer when I know all this as most of my family is in different branches and I had an uncle die while serving. I just do not know how it all works. So again thank you.
NEVER was it said he would try to get out of anything. Not once. And she is independent but is alone as well. She is on school and works two jobs and has two dogs to take care of. But like i said all I asked about was the last in line. Because I didn't think it was valid anymore. That was all this question was about. And she is close with a couple wives where they are stationed but one wife her husband is getting reassigned to a different group and may be moving soon. But please if you answer just answer the question instead of assuming he is trying to get out of anything or she is trying to get him out of anything he is very committed to the government and I know he will willingly go into combat needed.
My son in law is an only son and is a Corpsman in the Navy. Corpsman (medic) are often attached to Marine units and go where they go. He has been deployed to Iraq 3 times and Afghanistan once. Now he is doing a different job and may be deployed on a ship soon.
I don't know if that rule still exists and he just didn't use it or if they abolished it. Maybe you can do some research on line to find out.
That only applied when there was a draft and even then the soldier could say I want to go into combat anyway.
I'm sorry, but I am a wife, daughter, granddaughter, great-granddaughter, sister, and more of military men...not one of them would EVER expect to not go into a war zone because they were the only son. They all joined VOLUNTARILY to serve their country, which means going to war if needed.
Everyone who has a loved one in a war zone is worried - that means THOUSANDS of people are worried every second of every day. My parents didn't sleep for the 2 years my brother was deployed in Iraq (Army Infantry). My mom didn't sleep the multiple tours my dad did during Dessert Storm. I'm sure my grandmother was very worried for my grandfather while he served in Vietman. It's part of what comes with the territory.
She needs to know that her husband is trained to do what he needs to do and will do his very best to come home safely, it's what he wants too.
I'm also confused if this is his first time on a carrier? Granted most of the men in my life are Navy, which means lots of time on ships, but they routinley go out for longer than 6 months at a time. She really needs to get in to a support group of military spouses/families.
yeah...
I looked into this myself as I have one son in the army (returned from Afghanistan last summer...with a bronze star he will NOT discuss), and 2 sons...younger...both on ROTC scholarships.
Seems it will NOT make a difference. They will potentially NOT be sent with the same 'unit'...but each will take their respective assignments.
SO many 'hot spots' in the world just now...I just take a DEEP breath...and cross my fingers all will work out as it should!
**what else can one do really??**
Best
An exemption exists for those who have had a mother, father, brother or sister who died during wartime. It only exists in a peacetime selective service situation. All exemptions are null and void during wartime. It is debatable whether or not "wartime" includes military actions/combat (such as the Persian Gulf War, Iraq War) that have not been officially declared war. I am not sure but I think the government considers those actions to still be engaged during "peacetime."
Your brother-in-law voluntarily joined the military and as thus can be deployed into a war zone.
Yes he can get deployed to a combat zone. Honestly if he did not want that he should have joined a different branch, everyone knows Marines are the first on the ground, that is their job, the one he volunteered for. Nothing will make you the black sheep in your unit faster then saying that was not what you signed up for, because war is exactly what you sign up for when you join. I understand she is worried, but that just comes with the job. I don't know why people join thinking they can get all the pay and benefits and then find loop holes to get out of doing the actual job.
My husband is an only child and has deployed several times. He, like most people who serve, volunteered to fight for our country--not stay behind and watch from a safe place. Your SIL's husband probably wants to do what is asked of him--even if it is unsafe.
Support your SIL and be proud of her husband--they are making sacrifices for all of us.
P.S. Service members who try to get out of their duty have NO respect from peers, subordinates or superiors.
I think you are referring to something that happened in WWII with a family of five brothers who all went to war and did not return.
But now days if you sign on the line you can be called to go wherever you are sent. You know this going in when you join. Get her involved in a spouses group and a job or a hobby to keep her busy and her mind off of the worry of hubby. This is where a wife becomes an independent thinker and not a clinging vine to husband. Now is the time for her to learn how to be a woman who can stand on her own two feet and do things and manage a household without having to ask for permission.
I have gone through deployments (PCSs one year assignments) for husband to Vietnam and Desert Shield/Storm. It is not easy and you pray every day for their safe return.
As my husband once sent me a Valentine's Day card from Thailand with the saying, "My heart belongs to you but all the rest belongs to the government." It is so true.
Welcome to the world of the military.
the other S.
Retired Military Wife
PS And it is true that trying to get out of an assignment does make for an unpleasant "family" member in the military group/platoon/squadron of fellow members.
Really and truly, I don't mean to be unkind here. But I have to wonder why she thinks that it's okay to reap all the benefits that being in the military affords them, but not want him to have to serve in what the military is REALLY for - to be a part of combat. Everyone knows that if you are in the military, you chance going into a country where there is a possibility of combat.
Your SIL is grasping at straws. Please don't lead her on by trying to interpret some kind of law that you think applies to her husband. I know she's upset, but you won't be helping.
B.,
The Marines, like our other services, is a VOLUNTEER service. When you sign on the dotted line and raise your right hand and pledge an oath to "...support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same..." it means he will go where he is told to go.
You might be confusing things with the movie "Saving Private Ryan"...there are regulations that each service has which will exempt "surviving sons/daughters" from serving in combat zones.
However, you need to understand this completely, the program (military) is voluntary, they must have an immediate family member who has died on active duty, 100 percent service-connected disabled, or in POW status. Simply being the "last in the line" doesn't count.
To answer your question. YES! He can be deployed to a war zone.
I believe that only applied during conscription (aka "draft"), which has not been in effect for over 30 years.
Our son is in the Army reserves. He is our only son. He CAN be deployed should the need arise. He is 21 so he is not married and has no children.
Yes, your SIL's husband can be deployed.
A friend's husband is an only son and did two tours in Iraq after 9/11.
I think that as an only son you can avoid being drafted and/or be grounds for a parent to fight enlistment (I know my aunt almost did that with my nephew but it was really just out of spite).
Since he is enlisted, I think he is just like any other soldier.
I would be curious if you were able to find out the official answer.
I don't think that's true. My uncle is the only son in his family, and he was deployed into a combat zone. He did, thankfully, come home safely.
I vote you call and speak directly with a recruitment officer.
There might be a clause that can be incited if this is a real family fear.
Historically the one and only son exception was allowed, but I don't know how it's applied today.
Sometime back a woman who had I believe at least three sons in one of the world wars, lost all of them in battle. I believe it was after this they established a rule that only one son would be went to a war zone if this was the case.
I had a son in the Navy, who was also on a carrier. Those are amazingly large and less likely than another situation to be dangerous. (Of course tell that to me the poor mother some years back and I made myself a wreck all the time-it was horrible and he did go overseas.) but the carrier was not like a Marine crawling with a gun on the beach and having hand to hand combat.
At any rate about this only son situation, things change all the time so continued prayers will be going out to your family. OH and please, please, encourage her to be involved with other family members through emails and calls. Contact the carrier for more information.
Sole surviving sons may be entitled to a peace time deferment if there is a military death in the immediate family.
http://www.sss.gov/fssurviv.htm
