Buck some advice from a wise head here now. I've been in your position a few time's over the year's. Fuck with 17 year's military service I should have been !.
Your probably thinking to yourself, Jeeze W........ what does baby ..... look like, feel like etc.. will I be able to relate to my loved one's back home when I return etc. These are thoughts all service men will harbour in your/our position, just keep those letter's home going, no matter what little bit of shit they may contain. It all helps to keep a sence of reality with home. I have tried to detach myself from family and friends when I've been away but it does'nt work, keep them in your thoughts, lets them be there last thing at night and drop the military build up shit. Keep in touch through your thoughts, open yourself with them.
It's OK to be the tough assed bastard during the day, but last thing before you nod off is your time to be by yourself with your own thoughts, don't distance yourself from them.
All above all else, when your surrounded by negative thoughts and wankers cribbing and crying over shit there's a world here who says "THANKS BB". And there's a big soft Irish fucker here with plenty of Arab experience who wishes he had your back.
GOD SPEED.
Bouncer