Above the Rest

So the transition to the new Unit is done.  I am no longer a part of the Mighty Shoremasters...it was bittersweet.  I went into the week with a crappy attitude and wasn't really looking forward to the change.  I was having to leave my very first unit.  I had gone through so much in the past year and I was comfortable, not happy just comfortable and I thought that was enough to get me through the weeks.  I couldn't have been more wrong. 

We went in for formation Tuesday morning to draw our weapon that we had been assigned and shot during out time at 241st.  We were going to be able to transfer to the unit with our weapon and in hindsight this is a really great idea, we have gone to the range and qualified on theses weapon, they are set to our individual standards and keeping them just makes sense (this rarely happens in the military!!)

  We drew our weapons and formed up again.  Role was called for one last time by our "old" 1st Sgt and then our "new" 1 Sgt took over the formation.  He again called role (cause in the 30 seconds it took to take over the formation someone could have simply vanished into thin air...see what I mean about common sense?) we were then marched from 241st company area across the quad and to our "new company". 

 Once we were at the new company we handed in our weapons and our pro mask (gas masks for those of you who are wondering) and we began the 2 full days of paperwork that it would take to process us into the new unit.  After this was all said and done we were broken down further into our new platoons and some of us got to find out what our new jobs would be!!  I am happy with where I landed.  I am in 1st Platoon (BACKBONES) and am still going to be able to train and continue to learn my job!!  I am also still with a few of the close friends I came to have at 241st! 

I was really dreading the platoon break downs because I wasn't sure if I would be able to stay with the few guys who I have come to know and trust.  I couldn't really bear the idea of me having to start from square 1 with the male situation that has come to plague my life since joining the Army. Being a happily married woman has left me with a huge target on my back, but this a topic for another blog!!

Once all the improssessing was done, and the integration process started we found ourselves at Thursday!!  Sgt's time training!!  This is time that is set aside every week for us to work on our basic soldiering skills.  We go "back to our soldiering roots" so to speak.  This was something that I had really wondered about...what would it be like?  Would it be a bore and total waste of our time, like I found most Thursday's to be in 241st? 

The answer to that question is....NOT AT ALL!!  I LOVED MY FIRST THURSDAY WITH MY NEW UNIT!!  I think that if this is a reflection of how the training and time is going to be, then I have finally found a place that I can happy most days.

While I am being a 100% realistic about this new chapter, I am going to maintain a positive attitude, I am going to go with the flow and take the punches as they are thrown...I am going to make the best of it and take all that is offered to me, for once I feel the saying "not setting us up for failure" is finally true!!

I am truly happy being "ABOVE THE REST".

My thoughts on Snyder v. Pheps (You know the protesters that plague our fallen furnerals)

I had a invite in my inox on facebook, I really wasn't in a hurry to open it up and read it so it sat there for a few days, this weekend I finally sat down and took  the time to read the messages and invites that I had waiting for me....and wow, this has sparked something in me!!  Let me explain!!

"The U.S. Supreme Court hears Snyder vs Phelps on October 6, 2010, at 10a.m. E.T, and this father of a fallen Marine needs all the prayerful support and encouragement we can offer...r him. Mr. Snyder lost his son, a Marine who fell while serving in Iraq in 2006. His son's funeral was the target of an intrusive, disruptive, hateful WBC (Westboro Baptist Church) led by Fred Phelps. The protesters held signs, stating "God Loves Dead American Soldiers" and "God Hates You". As if that weren't enough, the WBC then took random facts about Mr. Snyder, his fallen son Matthew, and his ex-wife and posted a vile and malicious "Epic" slandering the family."

Wow, its about time that this makes it to the Supreme Court level.  As a former paralegal and aspiring lawyer I understand the legal system better than most.  I understand our basic rights as Americans and am generally okay with it.

Now as a American, Soldier, wife and mother this case outrages me!!!  It outrages me because how can we let this group continue to cause pain and heartache to suffering families!!!  Families that have too paid the ultimate price.  So often we speak of the soldier laying down his life and paying the ultimate sacrifice, but the family too has also paid.  They will never hear their love one's voice again, feel the embrace of a hug, share a laugh, or even the luxury of a fight!!  All of these things we take for granted but you ask anyone who has lost a loved one and they are going to mention all the above and more!!

This group has every right to protest, its in their basic amendment rights but....have they ever once stopped to look at the other side of the coin?  The fact that some where in their family tree a member of their family served in the military?  That it is because of the military that they have the right to protest.  I mean they could live in a country that doesn't even afford women the right to leave home much less the right to protest!!

The restraint that we are forced to have when we see these blatant lies on signs....god hates soldiers, god is happy you are dead...I mean come on now, do I go to a funeral of your loved one to yell hate and lies, nope that is right I am overseas away from my friends and family doing what god and country ask of me.  I put life as I know it on hold so that you can continue to disrespect those who don't deserve it!!

And as far as Fred Phelps goes...what kind of leader sends his "minions" out to do his work...oh wait a spineless coward that's right...history has shown a few of those, Hitler, Saddam, Bid Laden, Mussolini...you get the picture.  He doesn't ever show up to a protest, yet he preaches all of this trash.  Why yes, I would like to follow you to the promise land, wait, will it really be you leading?  Or will you be hiding in a cave or hole somewhere?

So this week when the Supreme Court hears and rules on this case this week, I hope that they will make precedent and case law out of this case.  Show the family the respect and honor that they deserve!!  Put a final stop to this endless crap that plagues the most sorrowful moments in our nation, the lost of a true hero who has paid the ultimate price so you can believe the crap and lies you preach.....

Why yes Sgt. I would LOVE to spend the week cleaning my M16....

One of the true joys of being in the Army is the whole "HURRY UP AND WAIT" and this is true day in and day out. 

I am in a Unit that is going to be disbanding in the new year, so with that being said there is a lot of things that must happen at many levels almost all of them don't involve me!!  But a few do and when they do well its the next coming of the almighty (whom ever you believe in).  So this week should be no different, but with a little twist because after all we are the Mighty Shoremasters!!

So I mentioned before, with the Unit disbanding we are having to do things such as make sure the millions of papers that they keep on us is up to date, we haven't moved, changed phone numbers or even identities, those who are in or have loved ones in can understand this.  So I have put down my name rank and social so many times that its all auto pilot now, then we got to bring in EVERY SINGLE PIECE OF GEAR ever issued to us for a layout (we literally laid it all out on the ground, yep pretty deep stuff there!) again this was all to check that little square on a piece of paper, god bless America and the trees we cut down!!

So while our Sgt's are off doing important stuff (see square comment above) we are left with time on our hands, what better way to fill than to clean weapons!!!  WAHOO AND EUREKA!! I love cleaning weapons, nothing like mindless conversations, smell of engine cleaner and the endless sea of white pipe cleaners and q tips to pass a week by!!  If you ask me, this sounds like paradise!!  Okay enough of the sarcasm....so we set about the task of cleaning our weapons. 

Now, not to take away from the importance of this, weapons cleaning is very important for a soldier.  We need to have a clean weapon so that when the time comes for us to fire it, the weapon will be working at its full potential because having a misfire or even a jam is never a good thing and can be very stressful. I am even going to break out into my old SPORTS. 

• SLAP THE MAGAZINE
• PULL THE CHARGING HANDLE
• OBSERVE THE OBJECTION PORT
• RELEASE THE ACTION
• TAP THE FORWARD ASSIST.

(Yep I took it old school there, we are talking BCT!!)  But anyhow, we don't want anything but smooth firing when need to use the weapon.  So like I said, I don't mind cleaning my weapon!! 

Well we have been cleaning our weapons for 3 days now, I have gotten the ole girl about as clean as I can get her, lets be real here, she isn't going to be spotless unless a) J comes to work and cleans her {this isn't happening} or b) she is dipped in acid and all the dirt is eaten away!!  Lucy is as clean as she is going to be and patiently waiting till I get to either see her again tomorrow for a nice rub down, or pull her and take her with me to our new Unit!!

So I say YES SGT...LET ME CLEAN MY M16!!

Smellin like a boy isn't part of the deal!!

Ugh what a day.....we are back to hard core training.....which means early morning, long days and late nights...it also means hours in the sun.  Gone are my days of sitting in a nice air conditioned office or heated (depending on the time of year) wearing cute clothes to work, and shoes that I don't mind hurting my feet.  I traded it all in for the ACU's and combat boots....oh and the dog tags!

While today would have normally been a beautiful crisp fall day, working and being in the sun wearing a hard hat made it just well hot....and working around the vehicles only added to heat.  After awhile, I don't care who you are, your body spray is going to wear off, the girls are going to start to sweat and the sports bra yep its gonna be gross....oh lets not forget the hair matted to our head and the hairspray melting off and running into our eyes!!  I am telling you being a female in the Army is twice as hard!

I have come to realize that its the little things that keep me connected to the the pretty side of me....my chicken poop lip gloss (not made with real poop, but the best all natural stuff out there and made back home in Kansas...maybe if I had enough readers I could give a tube or two away!!) wearing the pretty engagement ring from the hubs, and smelly hand sanitizer, its not much but as much as I can do.

I love being in the Army and am so proud to serve most days, but on the days I come home smelling like the hubs and body aching....it takes me back to the days when I took mani pedis, pretty hair, heals, and office for granted.....

God Bless the USA, but would it be too much for  a stronger perfume?

Why only remember on holidays?

Tomorrow is 9/11 and today I found myself telling the hubs that we needed to stop by the store and get some more American flags to put in the yard for tomorrow.  I thought nothing more of this and went about the day.  As I am sitting here blogging tonight, I glance up and notice the American flags that waving in the breeze, they were put up today because we have a Unit coming home.  They are there in honor of the selfless service they have given these past 15 months.  And the thought hit me then, why am I only going to put flags out on holidays?  Why am I only going to make the effort to stop remember and thank those who served before me then; remember those whose life was taken in the blink of an eye that fateful morning?  Can I not find a moment or two in my day to remember these people year round?  Am I really that self absorb?  The answer plain and simple with no lies is yes....yes I am.

I would like to think that I am more patriotic than the average person.  My dad served in the Air Force for 20 + years, I have grandfathers, uncles and a brother who have served, my husband served in the Army and did 3 tours of combat and finally, I myself have joined the ranks.  But despite all of this I am your typical, think of them on the holidays or when I am reminded too.

Recently my family and I went to Washington DC, I got to go to Arlington and visit the Tomb of the Unknown Solider.  This was in EVERY way shape and form a eye opener for me.  To see the thousands of tombstones, to know that these individuals are buried here for a reason and to simply be there, it is so much larger than we are.  The stories that those men and women took with them to the grave are enough to fill the Library of Congress 10 folds.  But they were all hero's in someones eye.  We happen to be walking to the Tomb when Rivalee started to play, immediately without thinking I stopped faced where the flag would be and stood at attention.  My family of course stopped and faced the same way.  We stood there quietly and waited for the music to stop.  As we are standing there, me at attention and them with their hands over their heart, we had people walk up on us and stop as well, they had no idea what was going on, but one of them said I don't know why we are doing this but I think that they are in the military so we should.  Anyhow, the point of my story is that I believe that everyone wants to thank and remember those who have fallen and given their lives for us, some of us just don't know how or even understand it.  I was moved beyond words.  We also got to witness the changing of guard in front of the tomb.  What an amazing thing.  The honor and respect that is given to the fallen.....

I want to make a better effort in remembering those who served before me, the friends of my husband that fought side by side with him, that gave the ultimate sacrifice so that I could have another day with him, so that we could have the family we have. 

I am going to have a flag in my garden year round and I am going to take a moment each day to remember.  And most of all to say thank you, to those that had the courage that so many of us lack!! 

This blog is dedicated to all those who served before me, but more specifically to those men that gave their lives from Diamond Brigade...we love you and you are not forgotten.

I was thinking that I was employed by the Army....

I was thinking that I was employed by the Army, but after the summer I have had I can't help but to wonder if that is true or just a rumor....man basic training felt so real!! I can honestly say that the entire summer I worked 3 weeks....that was it!!  But I have endure some of the most painful times of my life....a foot surgery, infection that followed, waiting for the deep wound to heal, learning to walk all over, getting fitted for permanent inserts and finally dealing with the massive amount of scar tissue that is still there making simple tasks such as a museum visit pure torture at times....that was just the foot....I also had a particle hysterectomy  we won't begin to go into the healing process there, all I am going to say is child birth was a walk in the park compared to this!!  So I have officially been down for the count!!

I am due to come off my final convalescent leave on Saturday and sign back into the Unit.  When I go back I will have my deploy able status back and will be hopefully operating at close to a 100%.    I am excited to get back into the swing of things, to go back to working full time and working out like I had come to love!  But at the same time I am going to miss my one on one time with Moo and all the time we have got to spend as a family.  I truly love being a mom and wife....but I have always been one to want more...how can I raise my daughter to go after all her hopes and dreams if I myself was not willing to do the same?  I want to be her role model and hero, to both my kids!!

So now I am once again facing that all too familiar feeling of wanting to work, train and deploy but at the same time wanting and needing to be the everything to Mr. Man, Moo and Handsome....someone lied when they said you could have it all....so not true!!  But this is the life I lead and I would not have it any other way....

What are the struggles you face in everyday life?  What tears at your heart strings but still you press forward? 

All good things must be.....continued!!

After an amazing week with my older sis...N...she has decided that she must sadly return to her life....I will miss her, but I have made a vow that we shall not go 6 years or a wedding in between visits....details of our adventures to follow!!