four or five months? try 2 years without leave. I did that from 2005-2007. And I wasn't even in one of the worst areas of the middle east. They give so much and ask so little in return. I never forgot the times that I traveled in uniform when the pilots made it a point to either say a nice comment or extend a hand in gratitude. Or anyone for that matter. I remember when the Budweiser commercial came out at the super bowl a couple years ago with the military members are walking through the airport and people start clapping gave me chills. I never got that, but it still made me feel proud when a random stranger came up to me and tells me thank you. THAT made it all worth it to me.