Progressing

It’s my Wednesday… and I’m exhausted. And being that it’s only a 5-day week for me instead of a 6-day week, you would think that I would be a little less tired, but I’m not.

But it’s been a good week so far, and I’ve gotten a lot accomplished. Including getting a lot of Army/Navy stuff sorted out – which reminds me that I still haven’t updated all of you on that. So, here we go.

As most of you know, back in March I enlisted in the US Navy. Since then, the Navy had changed my contract six times, and I ended up getting NOTHING that I was promised by my recruiting office. I couldn’t have any of the jobs I was interested in. I couldn’t get my student loans repaid. I couldn’t get a ship-out date that made sense. NOTHING. So, at the beginning of July, I asked to be discharged. My recruiter was disappointed, and his Chief was downright pissed, but, I asked anyway, because my career isn’t about them. It’s about me, and what’s best for my future. Taking a job that would make me miserable because that was the best the Needs of the Navy could offer just wasn’t cutting it.

The very same day I asked for my Navy discharge, I was on the phone with an Army recruiter. SFC Conway was awesome with me. And the guys that work out of his office have treated me like a goddess since the day I walked in.

Almost three weeks ago, I had my first meeting in the Army office. Sergeant Ouellette talked to me about both Active Duty and Reserves, and the pros and cons of each. Being an Active Duty guy himself, he was more enthusiastic about that side, but he was thorough on each. He showed me what was available to me with the Army as far as jobs were concerned – and with them, it was literally EVERY SINGLE JOB, sans one. My vision, which medically disqualified me from all but a handful of clerical jobs in the Navy, wasn’t at all an issue with the Army. I could do something other than push paper behind a desk. I could do tactical ops. I could use my training. After that first meeting, I had a lot to think about.

A couple days later, SFC Conway called me at home to see where my head was at regarding all the things I had discussed with Sgt Ouellette. SFC Conway was receptive to my opinions, and what I thought would suit me best. He then referred me to Sergeant Pamphile, the Reserve Recruiter, and I had a meeting the following Monday.

At that meeting, Sgt. Pamphile blew me away. I could have the job I wanted, get my loans repaid, AND qualify for a cash sign-on bonus. And I could leave THIS FALL. I couldn’t have been more pleased.

And the guys…. SCF Conway, Sgt. Ouellette, Sgt. Pamphile… all of them were great. I walked in there and felt like I fit right away. We were laughing and joking within a few minutes of my being there – it was an atmosphere I never really felt in the Navy office.

I could have been signed and had all my paperwork completed at that meeting – but, the Navy still hadn’t discharged me. They were dragging their feet, and giving me the song and dance of the having to play the numbers game to meet quota to please the chain of command.

So, I tried to be patient. I gave it another week. When I heard nothing from my Navy recruiter in that time, I drove into State College, and cornered him in his office. The meeting was… tense. But I made it perfectly clear that my patience with the United States Navy was long passed spent. I pointed out that the Navy couldn’t legally hold me, because I hadn’t left for basic training. I also pointed out that I’m better connected politically speaking than I’ve ever let on, and if I had to go down those avenues for my discharge (which I would do if I had to) it would not work out well for my recruiter or his office.

Today, my Navy recruiter called me. My discharge papers have been filed, and are moving up the chain of command. I should be officially out of the Navy in about 2 days.

Coincidentally, Sgt. Pamphile also called me today. The job I wanted (Military Police -- big surprise, I know) opened up in Chambersburg, which is the closest Military Police Reserve Station to where I live, which will be saving me quite a drive on drill weekends. Also, I’ll be eligible for $20-$30K in Student Loan Repayment, as well as an $8-$14K cash sign-on bonus, depending on when and where I decide to go for basic training. I was all but dancing in my house.

So, things seem to be falling into place. As soon as my discharge is inked, I’ll be drawing up Army Reserve Enlistment papers. Looks like I’ll finally actually get my career off on the right foot.

In other news, there has been lots of adventuring recently. Went on a little historic photo-taking expedition with Suzanne and Melanie over the weekend, which was a good time. We went down to Curtin Village, a furnace village that made iron products in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. Got some decent photos, I think, but I haven’t had the time to take them off the camera and really look at them. Sunday I went down to the Juniata River with a friend, and spent the day swimming, fishing, and catching crawfish. It was a good time. No pictures of that excursion, however. Then today, there was boating at Sayers Dam… Amy got a new 2-person tube to pull behind the boat. It’s a blast! Suzanne and I paired up and took it for a spin today… and we laughed so hard I thought we were gonna pee our pants. It was great.

So, life is moving along like it should. Summer is progressing, and my career seems to be progressing with it. I very much approve.