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I served two active-duty tours in Iraq. "The War Room" (article, Oct. 27) hits a new low in deployment woes.

There are those in the military today who have it much easier than others, due to the nature of their military occupational specialty. This will always lead to the playful name-calling, like "pog" or "fobbit." Green Berets will make fun of Rangers, who, in turn, will poke fun at infantry, who will then dish it out to any non "ground pounding" combat team — such as aviation combat crews, who then tease those who never leave the base because the jobs they perform require them to stay on base (whether they are cooks, supply clerks, or have some type of desk job, etc.).

Usually this would be the end of the "my job is harder than your job" banter, but now there is a new bottom rung on the totem pole of military jobs: the drone Air Force crews. The idea that their job is so difficult and so stressful is absurd, as they are getting paid for what amounts to playing a video game, and then they get to go home at the end of the day. Not to mention that they are not even in harm’s way.

One should be so lucky to be able to see his family every day knowing that he won’t be killed today by the enemy — and also the family knowing that their loved one will be coming home. So Air Force drone crews, please quit your crying, because there are thousands of soldiers, Marines, sailors and even other airmen who put their lives on the line every single day for their families and the country they love who would trade places with you in a heartbeat.

Andrew JenkinsChico, Calif.

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