Demobilized

Since 19 March when I landed in North Carolina, I have been heavily involved with gear return and acclimation. Last night I landed in Alameda and was greeted by Richard at the airport. We had a late night bite to eat at La Pinata, the only late night restaurant here. We picked up a few items at the Safeway for breakfast the next day. It is so funny how things have not really changed much between us: the same one-liners, same habits ( I hate shopping with a basket or cart. I shop like a bachelor who just needs a couple of things, and Richard always calls me on this). I think that this deployment was harder for the person you left behind. They are the ones that need to fill in the gaps, while the deployed one has no time to think outside of the present. Perhaps we are a bit more grey than we were 365 days ago. We decided on oatmeal with raisins for our first breakfast.

Here at the Reserve Center in Alameda, I have been filling out forms and keeping my fingers crossed that my car will start.

It certainly is nice to be back.

The big pack

It has taken me an alarmingly long time to pack. When I pulled my bodybag-sized duffel from beneath my bed, it was sprinkled with rodent droppings. Nice touch. I gave my GEO guy friend Steve my boonie covers for his kids, and my Navy brother Bill received a nifty artifact from my adventures: a 2.5" paper clip that I found on a German base, that had been driven over quite a bit. Bill is convinced it is from a concentration camp, but that's Bill.

Nice ceremony

A noctural promotion to Lieutenant (junior grade), (LTjg), out by the flagpole, a gracious gathering. The Navy was represented well out there, a few cool table pilots, the GEO-guys, and a gracious Colonel who loved calling me Ensign so much, that I thought that he, among all others, should be the one to promote me. And so it was.

Moondust, good riddance

The experience on the Pink Tactical Girl Bike (PTGB) was particulate, thanks to the blasted dust. Then there was the landfill/incinerator rideby (twice). Visibility has been very good, though, despite these factors. The mountains that surround this valley are snow capped. It was warm enough this afternoon to wear a sweatshirt and shorts.

A visit from a familar face

Today I was surprised to see a friendly face from my days in Balad, Iraq. What fun we had discussing our beloved mutual friend, and swapping stories. He even tried calling our friend (with his handy cell phone) multiple times, but he was probably flying. What a morale boost spending time with this fine, decent person.

Nothing came close to the Balad cool table. Along those lines, I received a wonderful email from Jay, the cool table founder. He's jetting here and there, it doesn't look like I will see him in the near future. But I will definitely check on Connecticut Z, I think he is game.

The home schooled asset

This is what I call one of the mail males who is a product of home schooling. This young man turned 21 today. A pretty bright, wise-ass of a kid, really, but smart enough to know he needs to get moving on the life plan. I encouraged him to pursue his interest as a warrant officer in the Army flight program. Now is the time to do it. Once these active duty soldiers and sailors return to their regular units, they will be more prone to the group-think in their respective worlds. Plan now while you are in loner status. It's your life.

We all have our price

I picked up new rank insignia valid for a uniform I will only wear for a few more months, at best. I am such a cheap skate. As I was leaving the Exchange, I saw one of the contractor-cool table pilots there, standing off to the side, then he offered it up like street smack: "You want another pilot joke?" I guiltily slinked in his direction.

Q. How do you know you are on a date with a pilot?
A. In the middle of the date he'll say "Enough about flying, let's talk about me."

30-ish more days

I was talking to my Navy brother Bill, (a LT who, though only a few years older than me, insists on calling me 'young lady'), about my departure from this fair land. My demobilization orders have me arriving to the US in May, however, my replacement arrives in March. I am really hoping I can leave in late March, but it may early April. Hope is dangerous.

The mountains in the distance have been dusted by snow and the rain has stopped. The air is clean. It rained last night and I slept instead of working out. Sometimes sleep is more worthwhile.

I have been reading a C.S. Lewis book called Mere Christianity, which is quite good. 30-ish more days. I hope.

One more pilot joke

Q. What's the difference between God and a pilot?
A. God doesn't think He's a pilot.

Jack, a pilot from Florida told me that this afternoon.

Pilot jokes

Q. What do you call a basement filled with pilots?
A. A whine cellar.

Q. How do you know you have a fighter pilot at your party?
A. He'll tell you.

These are the jokes a pilot at the cool table said I had to know for my future orders with an airwing.

Another PQP session

Last night the PQS-certified LTJG guided me through the Doctrine section. My answers were limited compared to his. It was helpful for him breathe life into this topic. Then I asked the LCDR to sign off on a few questions. Just two more questions on that section to go. Next weekend I should be getting the PQP board guidance from my reserve unit, so I can start studying for the board.

It takes a village...

to write a FITREP (Fitness Report, an officer evaluation). I ran my FITREP by my wisest active duty LCDR here. FITREPs need to stand out for a board somewhere in the future. He is a fan of the opening impact statement, a break (gap) then bulletized attributes that are preceded by that bullet's characteristic in ALL CAPS. The final bulleted point ends with another break and a closing impact statement. Other parties supported the paragraph format in order to maximize the allotted space of 19 lines. The LCDR's point is that the board needs signposts when they get to the point of briefing you to the group, or in the case of splitting hairs on a promotion decision. As always, the FITREP is a distinctly memorable Navy process. You know you are "getting short" when you submit your FITREP.

Happy Birthday to me

When it turned midnight local time at midrats last night, I toasted my birthday with a near beer. 6 more weeks, roughly.

Spc. S

I lunched with a few soldiers today. One was recently blinded in his left eye by a .50 caliber shell from a test fire while patroling the Konar Valley. Not wearing his eye pro(tection) at the time. The doctor's are telling him it is psychological. Who knows.

I have much respect for those who venture outside the wire on a daily basis.

Snow

It finally snowed here. A very wet snow-- the largest snowflakes I have ever seen. It was wonderful. It seemed so bright out when I turned in last night, around 0430 local time, I had a freshly toasted strawberry Pop-Tart wrapped in a napkin to keep my hands warm. I enjoyed the quiet of the snow. Back in the workspace, the fanatics stayed to watch the Super Bowl.

And so it happened that someone I knew in Balad has died. He moved on to Stuttgart and died while working out at the gym. He leaves a wife and son. He was a good man, a friend and a mentor. I remember him as a decent man in an inhospitable environment. Peace to you, sir.

Memories of Fort Jackson, SC

Otha forwarded me this photo from the Ft. Jackson experience. That seems like such a long time ago.

The Big Chewoff

In honor of the Tumor of Tobacco (LT M) leaving, I stepped up in fellowship to have some chaw. Beechnut, imbued with molasses. No, I did not get sick. It was alright. Interesting that my torso started sweating. I think it was my body's way of trying to protect me from doing something stupid. Then there was the mouth tingle. Top was disgusted that my spittle was only a light brown, not dark. I am a mere interloper. I still maintain that it is a disgusting habit.

Under consideration: Mule(s)

I have always liked mules. Did you realize that a mule can live up to 50 years? Incredible. Richard is engaging on the Florida real estate/rental scene with some land for the mule operation. And goats.

My inner Camp Commandant

I washed my hands as all do before entering the line to the dining facility. All the while some soldier was using the f-word with such frequency it gave me pause. As I passed him I mentioned that his language was obnoxious.

Good to the last drop

Today I received my demobilization orders. This is a great sign. I may be able to leave in late April. My relief may arrive in late March or early April. I believe that they are actually going to provide him some training before he gets here. My orders in country take me out early May.

Ever the nerd, I need to communicate this information to my Navy Reserve unit so that we can schedule my PQP board upon my return.

Field trip

I flew to another location recently for a couple of days. The base is currently maintained by the Germans, and the dining facility is run by the Norwegians and staffed by a gourmet Swedish chef. What an experience. It was noteworthy to have portraits of the King and Queen of Norway in the dining room. The two of them probably got together and and strategized that gourmet dining facilities for their army was the way to go. Most of these other troops are not subject to General Order No. 1B, as I am, so there were drinking establishments like beach clubs, tucked away in tents here and there.

BREAK BREAK

A commentator to this blog, my dear friend gloom, has embarked on a different kind of field trip, he has been mobilized to support rescue efforts in Haiti. The Navy Reserve, I see, is cutting 30 day orders to help with the efforts there. Be safe, gloom. Ah, the things you will see. I mentioned to Richard last night that gloom was deployed, and he recounted a story from his Navy days, when the Royal Navy and US Navy were sent to Hong Kong after a tidal wave. Their mission was to clean up the island, because the citizens of Hong Kong would not. He stated that the bodies after a week in the sun, no longer resembled humans.

PQP/PQS brother

A new LTJG here who passed the PQP/PQS board is going to give me the lowdown on the board. He said the board runs from 1 hour to 4 hours. My unit back in CA will also provide me with their guidance on format/material. I am 90% done... Doctrine remains.

PQP Breakfast Club

After a 12 hour shift, the club and I adjourned to the DFAC for a breakfast meeting in order to hear me pontificate on the John Keegan book. It was a success. The next book I will read is the Admiral's Advantage, which looks a bit dryer. After that, there is the module on Doctrine, then I am ready for the PQP board back with my reserve unit in California.

To Jacksonville!

I learned yesterday that the Navy has offered me an indefinite recall, starting with a two year sea tour based in NAS Jacksonville (JAX). I am very pleased by this outcome, as I had requested to go to Florida. There are sweeping changes ahead when I get home to California. My orders, as it stands, commence in July. I will be assigned to a helo squadron. Hot damn!

PQP brothers

LCDR T said he was able to sign me off on one of my PQP chapters after his 12 hour shift. He happened to have expertise over the module in question. I mentioned to him that I am reading two books for the professional development section. LCDR T is quite the history buff, so he wanted to be included in the discussion I was going to have with the history professor LT M (Tumor of Tobacco). Next Monday morning the breakfast club convenes to discuss John Keegan's book.

I am looking into possibly having my PQP board here, which may be difficult to coordinate.