An email discussion

From Classmate L, whose husband is stationed in Iraq, with the group that TB will be joining (and I don't recall the military terms used for various groups, and I really don't care. It's a bunch of military people):

This is the answer that I got from Husband:

"They are called "Fisters" for fire support. They are the eyes of the artillery, look at the target and let the brains, the fire direction center, know where it is. However, it ain't that easy for them, they are usually attached to either the armor or infantry and move where they move, do what they do and when they need a FA (field artillery) firemission call up the request."

So to translate. They will be wandering around looking for targets. When they see something that needs to be taken out, they will radio that in to the fire direction center who will then radio the coordinates to the cannons to fire at this target. Now, with that said, I would not worry too much about him doing this anytime soon in a combat situation. There is little to no artillery in Iraq right now. All of the artillery units from here at *** are doing either transportation missions or support (desk jobs). Hope this helps and doesn't make you too upset. Let me know if you need anything else (even just someone to listen). I do a great deal of complaining about the Army myself so I will understand.
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My reply to my Excellent friend:

Marvelous. Just what I've always wanted him to grow up to be. A wandering fister.

Thanks - I have such mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, TB is pretty much a (pardon the term) fuck up and has exhausted the possibilities for mooching off people and sleeping on their sofas. I don't know why he thinks this is a better idea than school. But he's over the age of consent, so what can I do? Not a thing. TB has no interest in actually working for a living, and I can't understand how he sees this as not being work or difficult. I hope that he gets some sense knocked into him in basic, but at the same time, I'm afraid that he'll get enough sense knocked into him that he makes it through basic and then actually winds up in Iraq. See? I told you I was conflicted. I want him to succeed in basic, because I hope that it will make him a better person and give him what he needs and is obviously lacking. Then again, success in basic leads to active duty, which I am not happy about. Good god. No wonder TB is messed up. Look at me - I'm a wreck! :-)

Thanks a bunch for the info - here's hoping for a desk job, or at least a job driving a school bus or something (ha!)

See you in class tonite!
Peacemonger Mom
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I'm less than thrilled about this.