Still Learning about the Military

I have a friend I made thru N4M.com, her husband was in Great Lakes, IL with my son while they were training for their chosen Special Ops jobs.  Her husband has been in the Navy for around 10 years and had worked very hard to be recommended to the training in Great Lakes.  He went to San Diego with his class and while he worked very hard at completing this very difficult training, he chose to not complete the training at this time. 

Over the past months I have watched, listened, and learned how difficult it is on the guys who thought they had what it takes to make it in this elite program.  The hurt, pain, and disappointment they feel in themselves is overwhelming to witness.  It is a private struggle they go thru to realize what caused them to quit, learning about themselves, and then having to decide what they want to do next. 

For those who have joined the Navy with the intent of only going into Special Ops it is a quick and painful lesson on how the Navy works.  They are given a list of jobs that are open that they are qualified for and must chose quickly, sometimes too quick given their state of mind.  Those who have been in the Navy and have a stronger idea of what they do and don’t want to do and they are aware of other options, one being being “loaned” out to another branch of the military while still being in the Navy.

So, back to my friends husband (also referred to as my “internet” son), he after much thought and processes of trying other options has decided to go IA (Individual Agumentee), which means he will be “loaned” to the Army in the Infantry.  His particular assignment is to work with the SeaBee’s supporting the SEALs.  We don’t know where exactly he will be going, just that it will be to an active area of the world and his deployment will be for 1 year.

I never knew that branches of the military shared their sailors, soldiers, or airmen.  Does anyone else have any experience with this that I can pass along to a concerned wife?