Gengis - "30 days R&R" ???? I wish
2 years 7 weeks straight, NO R&R, NO anything, really other than sand, humidity, discomfort. Even a request for compassionate return to UK for my Dad's funeral refused because I was "the youngest son" (big brother was in the UK).
Not at all sure how those conditions would go down with today's 19 - 21 year olds. The things which seem to bug the present day military are, no doubt, a matter of irritation and concern but 't'was ever thus - "if you can't take a (bad) joke you shouldn't have joined"