7 replies to this topic

[swabs]

My Fiancee went into the army just over 2 weeks ago and is carrying out his training, he is an english teacher so is just doing the 6 months service. He has been placed in Hakkari, which i know is the worst place in turkey to be posted for army. He will have to be in the mountains fighting by the sounds of it.

I have now gone back to england to spend the 6 months visiting family and working until he will finish and i will return from army. For the first few days he was unable to contact me, then he started calling me for 5 minutes every other day as calling england drains your phone card straight away (i expect everyone who has tried has found that). When i was speaking to him he sounded the worst he ever has and just kept telling me that he needed me there and cant sleep as is used to falling asleep on my chest.

Now i havent heard from him for 5 days so am awaiting a call, it is so hard as he has no phone so no way of contact although i expected this to happen.

In june he will have only up to a week break and will have to travel home and then to Hakkari to start his service for 5 months. This means that i highly likely will be unable to visit him as he will only have a few days free before being sent off.

I just wanted to know what people really know about Hakkari and if any of you know anyone who has been stationed there. Im really scared that he has a high chance of being shot but then people tell me its winter so the terrorist groups will be too cold and not want to go out and fight. Also do you know if there are any ways for communication as both me and his family are going to be very worried about him and his mother couldnt stop crying.

Thanks for any info that you have

Kirsty x

[Abi]

I would say try not to worry too much, I know it's easy to say but as he will only be in the army for 6 months he may not see any action at all. Lets hope that they base him in an office at the base. We have another member "libbyxoakdogan" who's man has just been drafted into the army and is based at Erzurum.

I know Libby flew over to Turkey a couple of days ago and is meeting up with him. I'm sure when she gets back she will post and let us know how it all went and as you are both in the same position that you will be able to support each other.

As far as communicating with him goes he will be the only one who will probably be able to tell you. Hopefully there will be a phone he can use to keep in touch. It's going to be a hard 6 months but 2 weeks have gone by already, just try and keep yourself busy as it will give you less time to think.

[swabs]

Thanks abi! yes he called me about half an hour after this post, he said that in Hakkari he wont get any time off at all in the week so they have internet and tv's to use there so that should be good! although i feel so sorry for him along with all the turkish men who go into army as they get so ill in the first parts of the training.

Yes i did speak to libby before she went over, she is really nice and i know a few people who live near me in turkey aswell who went through it i just never knew anyone who went to Hakkari and seeing how many soldiers get killed there it really does scare me!

Thank you for your advice, i am lucky that i am working so it helps me get through the time, i think i was just because it was 5 days that i didnt hear from him i started to get ants in my pants so to speak x

[Abi]

Excellent news, glad he called, 5 days is a long time when you are waiting to hear from someone close to you. Knowing that he will have access to the internet will make it less of a worry for you,

I can understand you being scared but I expect he is as well, probably more so. Hard as it is you will have to put on a brave face for him so he so he won't be worried about you being worried, if you know what I mean.

If you haven't done so already get a calendar and start marking off the days

[Ahududu]

Hi Kirsty,
I'm sure it's going to be horrible for him to adjust in the first few weeks. From what my OH has told me about the conditions, it's pretty horrible!!
Not enough sleep, 300 men in a room, cold, physically demanding, eat your food in 1 minute flat or someone else will have it!! etc etc.
But he'll get through it like they all do. He's used to falling asleep on your chest....he's surrounded by smelly feet and snoring!!....he'll adjust.
My OH had a relatively 'easy' time as he was at the officers' mess, but he still had to do his guard duty at 3am, still had to manage how the officers treated him, and the other soldiers, etc etc.
But, it is the army, not a holiday camp!!!!
It will be a challenge for him, it will toughen him up, and as they say, he'll come out a man for having endured it.
He'll be proud of himself for getting through it, but he'll never forget the showers, and the smells!!!
All the best xx

[swabs]

Haha thanks for the info sue, yes im sure he will be proud of himself and as you said they all struggle with wherever they go. I am making sure i sound ok on the phone to him altho trying to make sure the balance between sounding ok and sounding absolutely fine is hard (as i dont want him to think i dont care when actually i do)

I do feel lucky as i feel sorry for all the people whos gone into the army for 15 months leaving there wives, families or girlfriends behind.

Thank you for your comments, i think it was just all the worry of the place because of the dangers there and then not speaking to him, im glad i did come back to england for the time aswell because if i was in turkey i think i wuld have struggled alot more.

My heart goes out to all the people who are going through the same thing and i hope that as many soldiers are returned well x

[scusi]

swabs dont worry that much. its a pretty hard time for hima nd for you as well.but im so sure both of you will manage that.as i told you ive got a friend, her fiance was 15 month in hakkari. if you want you can talk to her ?! i know its hard... and i'm suffering with you, because as soon as my boyfriend has to go to army too.. wherever he will go..

[swabs]

Thanks i hope that your boyfriend gets placed somewhere that there are hardly any risk! My request would be working in a town as jandarma hahaha xx