What do when we finish the book/our army contract?!

Hi to all,

I have watched the movie and have now read the book.  Both were well done and give the rightful credit to our boys on the frontline!  What really caught my attention was the whole idea of men aren't missing the war when they come home, but they miss living in a world where there are set rules and standards where love for your brothers is all that matters.  When they come home they can go by in civilian live with a daze and do no really have to worry about anything like they did in country.  I have recently ETS'ed from the Army in 2010 and was over in Afghanistan in 2007-2008(as 11bravo) but nowhere Restrepo.  However I was on a smaller fob/outpost east of Kandahar about 5 clicks out from the Paki border.  Fortunately we didn't have it nearly as rough down there as they did up in Restrepo but I think I can speak for most of the guys when I say we saw our fair share of war.  Some good memories and some terrible ones I would love to forget.  I was 20 years old when I was over there and lost a buddy of mine during my time there.  It still haunts me everyday I wake up and everynight I go to bed.  It wasn't the getting shot at, or seeing dead bodies that upsets me, but just the fact that we cannot pick and choose who lives and I know for whatever reason it was meant to be, but I just seem to not let it go.  When I came home I was 21 years old and could no relate to anybody in my age group and quite frankly hated them for no real logical reasons.  I thought about all my buddies who were fighting for their lives and then coming home to noncombat MOS soliders and dealing with their BS and dealing with stupid civilians!  Hopefully this book and movie can open their eyes to realize what the infantry does on the frontline.  This book really hit home with me and spoke to me on many levels.  It brought me to a place where hated to be, wanted to be, and maybe needed to be.  I don't want to ever forget those days and I am so greatful for all I have now in my life.  My main quetion is what do we do when we hand up the uniform?  How do we deal with life post war?  I know in the book the one man couldn't decide whether to reenlist or not...and dealing with morons telling him to get arrested now or later.  All my friends are deploying later this year and I will no be joining them...I am ok with it but have a hard time wondering where to go from here....Where do we all go and what should we walk away feeling?!

Mike