[SthrnZeta]

He's at Ft. Gordon now for his Capt Career Course and wants to stay because his family is only 3 hours away in Canton, GA. but he didn't get into the 53 course. He was at Ft. Hood before which was a long way away from family and was in Iraq for a year and only got back just about a year ago. He's very angry to have to deploy again and wants to get out and go Guard when he does (his contract is up about the time he gets home from this deployment). I just don't want him to leave at all - we will only have been dating about 6 months when he moves to Campbell and he's supposed to deploy sometime in February which would put us at 8 months. We've decided to stay together while he's gone but I'm worried the relationship won't last and this is a guy I can see myself marrying - and he has said the same thing. When he comes back it'll be like starting over! At the same time though, I feel like I need more of a commitment before he leaves so I feel more secure in the relationship - not necessarily getting married, but engaged maybe...? My parents feel the same way, my dad even said he'd like to see us married before he leaves for a lot of reasons (not just the benefits) but I don't think that's an altogether great idea. Of course, my parents grew up in a different time (they're both in their 60's) so it's hard to relate sometimes...