Eric GarciaVerified account

Some perspective for you in these rough times. #CA has been doing shelter in place for 4 weeks and some people are struggling with the anxiety, isolation and danger. When people go out they need masks and take steps to stay safe. The essential workers take the most risk. #Thread

During the Iraq war the average deployment was 7 months. 7 times the shelter in place. While on deployment you are away from everyone you love, no sex, no alcohol, no salons, no streaming videos, no video games, no junk food and so many other things.

When you left base you had body armor, helmet, goggles, gloves, your weapon, ammo, and some had a fire resistant under layer of clothes. The dangers included sniper fire, small arms fire, mines, car bombs, people wearing suicide vests, and so much more.

Countless service members had to witness and do things that you could never dream in your worst nightmares. Almost half of those who deployed did so multiple times some upwards of 5 or more times which is equal to about 3 years of time or 36 times the shelter in place time so far

My 2 deployments happened back to back so I was deployed for about 14 months over a 2 year period. I knew people who did over a 12 month deployment in one go. This does not even compare to those who were POWs, MIA or KIA.