[SENTINEL]

Sorry guys I SEVERELY disagree.

You are thinking that all the troops use this stuff, but it's not true.

Some of the slacker Army and Air Force units are all that had access to this type of crap during GWI, and yes it DID affect the morale of the the front line Army and Marine grunts, not to mention the ship borne sailors when they heard about it.

I remember going one time 53 days without a shower during Desert Storm, and that same day being passed an old newspaper that had some overweight soldier whining about only old mvies being shown at the base theater.

It's a freaking war zone, not an amusement park for the most politically connected units.

[MSF BU]

I had forgotten about the no shower period but yes, that did last from before New Year until late March or early April, as I recall. I felt fortunate though that I did not have to face the tough, motivated and well armed troops that my uncles and father did decades earlier.

[Always A Marine]

Well said, SENTINEL! I had to read through 22 posts until I found a position that mirrored my own. As a former USMC infantry officer, I agree that too many such "trappings of home" can actually demoralize the front-line combat units -- because they don't get to enjoy them.

These semi-permanent "Little Americas" are only enjoyed on a daily basis by headquarters and support elements, and serve to further detach the "rear" from the real war that others fight on a daily basis. Such extreme disparities in daily conditions is the reason that infantrymen often refer to many of their softer brethren as REMFs (Rear Echelon M- F-s). It is not a term of respect or endearment.

My suggestion: Get serious, win, and get the hell out.