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just a quick test post from my psp. keyboard stinks.

Early 09

Hello all. Hope everyone had a good holiday season. Just a quick update on my ever changing military status. I officially transferred to the Minnesota National Guard in September of 08. No, we're not moving there; the unit I transferred to is going on a deployment in early 09 and I wanted to be a part of it. Why would I volunteer to go to war? There are a bunch of reasons I'm doing this ranging from career experience, to tax free money, to just something I want to do as a life experience. Basically I don't want to be one of those people who goes through life saying "I wish I did whatever when I had the chance."

Anyway while I'm gone, I hope to keep this blog going. I should have regular access to the internet, so stay tuned. I should start posting stuff from in country around early May.

Feel free to send email to both my military and gmail address.

Dan

update

Well, been back from OBC for a few months. I wish I could say that things are going well with the Reserves, but I hate it more each time I come back from drill.

Aside from the fact that we don't do anything at drill, I keep seeing how the Army Reserves does not take care of their Soldiers. This drill for example, we couldn't sign out because the person responsible left, and the sign out sheets were nowhere to be found. No sign out = no pay.

I got registered for a class, but my unit couldn't tell me whether I had a seat in the class, was on the waiting list, or anything. No status. I inquired several times, and after a week and half, was told that I didn't have a seat, and probably couldn't get one, but I could go on the wait list if I was able to leave with two days notice. Mind you this is a 2 month long class. I have a full time job and family. Leave with 2 days notice. Right.

There are many more examples of ineptness (nice word huh?) within our unit, but it's not worth going into. I just hope karma visits the people responsible.

I have actually begun to think about getting out. On one hand I look at all the time I've put in to get this far, but on the other hand, it hasn't gotten me anywhere. Maybe the time would be better spent with my family camping, or making biodiesel, or pretty much anything else.

I'm definitely disappointed in the Army Reserves. I never had these problems with the National Guard.

Oh well, thanks for listening...just had to vent.

Home

Finally. I made it home Wednesday afternoon, although I could do without the ridiculously cold weather. All in all, it was a good experience, I learned a lot, and made some good friends.

Thanks to everyone for keeping in touch and the words of encouragement. Monday it's back to the grind. I can't wait...

Last week

Well, it looks like I'll make it. Friday (tomorrow) is the last day of our last full week. On Tuesday we graduate and I can return to civilian life.

This has been a good experience for me overall and I made some good friends and contacts. That said, I won't miss active duty too much. I'm actually looking forward to getting back to my job, although that will probably change after about a week.

Merry Christmas

I just want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. I managed to get home for a few days, so am very happy to be able to hang out with the family. Once I go back, I only have a couple more weeks until I'm totally done. Then back to the civilian life, until I get called to go overseas. It will happen, it's just a matter of when. I am not looking forward to it, but I think it's something that must be done.

I still get some people asking why I did it (re-enlisted) and why don't I just let the younger kids join the Army and fight. I just don't understand that logic. Why should they have to do that, and not me. We all live in this country. Besides, most 18 year olds don't have the experience or knowledge that is required in leadership positions. I'm not saying everyone should join, but it's what I wanted to do, it's something I feel strongly about, and I'm glad I did it.

Sorry for the rant. My father in law got me going on this Christmas Eve.

Ready for Christmas

Not much has been going on here at Fort Jackson. Don't get me wrong, we've been really busy. We were out in the field for a few days teaching privates how to use the HR systems. It's really sad to see how undisciplined the young soldiers are these days. Although all of the sergeants went back to the barracks at night because it was too cold, so all the privates kind of went crazy.

Last week, we had another long week with our simulation exercise. With that over, most of our class is over, and we're just filling up the time with a couple classes and a lot of other useless crap. It just seems like they're giving us classes on the same things we've had classes on weeks ago.

Everyone is ready to go home for Christmas, and it's starting to show. It doesn't help that all of the other officer basic courses in the Army are already out, and we're not. At least we're almost done when we come back from Christmas.

Merry Christmas all!