Well, I got some good news the other day. I will only be in Iraq for only about 6 months vice 13. I feel like a slacker, but when it comes down to it, HQ Marine Corps calls the shots, and in this case - they want me to move summer of 09. It turns out that I have two things going on in my case that makes it so I have to move: I've been at Camp Lejeune since December of 03 (in 5 different units), and I have been in the operating forces (vice supporting like recruiting or HQMC in Quantico) for 9 1/2 years. Normally officers would have normally had 1 or 2 non-fleet Marine Force tours by where I am in my carrer. So anyway, the command here tried to stabilize me for the deployment so I would go for the whole time, but that failed.
Where I'll be going next summer, I'm not sure, but I will have to move as soon as I get back. Hopefully that won't add too much stress to the re-connection process. That's usually more stressful than one would think.