FLTC Since you lead people and the holidays come toward the middle of your tour it's from experience that is the most difficult time for the deployment. As the new year progresses it gets better. I am sure you are not the only one in your unit with these issues it's gonna be rough for them.
An E1-E7 who gets his dear john after deploying or is being made aware of his better half is not waiting patiently often will be the person with toughest time. Many are tough and will suffer in silence others will act out.
The old doc in me is glad you are taking the approach and letting out the steam though this venue. Kudos.
I had good memories of our commander engaging in a firefight to deliver us a hot meal on Thanksgiving and Christmas night saying screw it and screaming Christmas Carols at the top of our lungs on mounted patrol since the bad guys were snuggled in their beds. It was so cold we sang so we would forget about our feet hurting.
May the bad guys get tricked and your Soldiers get the treats.
"All I want is a weeks pay for a day's work" Steve Martin
