Leaving... On a Jet Plane

It's been quiet on the blog, hasn't it?

Yes, I've actually been very busy in the time since the last post. We've packed all of our belongings, sold/thrown away what didn't get packed, left our house, had umpteen signatures authorizing me to leave, shipped more items, and cleared up any loose ends here in Germany.

So, what is involved in leaving the base?

First, some timeline. My orders are stamped 06 November. They told me to be out of town on the 22nd. 16 days, right?

Wrong. I actually received the orders on the 7th. 15 days. Late on the 7th, so... 14 days.

The 22nd is our flying date, so everything needs to be done before that, so... the 21st. 13 days.

Veterans Day was in there. That's a four-day weekend here. 9 days.

There was another weekend. 7 days.

7 days to get it all done.

Wait, one day is spent with them packing up "Unaccompanied Baggage" - that's the critical need stuff you need shipped lickity-split to your destination. Clothes, cribs, computer, TV, etc. Lickity-split for us equals 22 December. Oh, and that leaves 6 days.

There's still the rest of the house... different day to be shipped. 5 days.

Oh, and if you have a vehicle (like I do), it needs to be cleaned and shipped. Cleaning requires it to look better than when it left the dealer. Really. That clean. I didn't have the time, so I paid a guy $200 to do it. Took him TEN hours. Think I got a good deal. Oh, and of course, the shipping base for the vehicle is an hour and a half away, and it takes a few hours to do the paperwork. 4 days.

4 days to clear the base.

4 days to get signatures from: The bank, the PX, the fitness center, the education center, the phone service, the school, the childcare center, the medical clinic, the dental clinic, the child registry, the finance office (twice), the Army Community Service, the housing office, the transportation office, the Installation Access office, the personnel office, the ID card office, TriCare office, the Central Issuing Facility, your arms room, the Career counselor, the Veterinary clinic, the Safety office, the tax office, the Key control office, the Vehicle registry, the travel office (need plane tickets, don't forget!), the post office, the tool room, the motor pool, the operations office, the supply room, the intelligence office, the battalion supply office, the commander, and the battalion personnel office.

4 days.

In Illeshiem, it can take up to FIVE different bases to accomplish all of this. AND there's a prescribed order in some cases (A must be done before B, but neither A nor B will tell you about that until you try to do B without A). Throw in the fact that a small post like this has limited and odd operating hours for some offices, and it becomes a planning challenge. Further add that you don't know what an office may require of you UNTIL you arrive, and it becomes more interesting.

Quite a few didn't think it could be done in 4 days.

Further add one more thing. The PCS-gremlin. The PCS-gremlin is the kind of thing that will crop up when you least need something to go wrong. In our case, it was two of the clan getting sick and one falling (twice) and hurting her collarbone. This also being after I'd already cleared the medical clinic.

4 days was not a lot of time. It was hectic, stressful, and often frustrating. Some offices refused to do business with me until I had special memoranda written by my commander explaining how I was an exception to policy. Then, in a neat twist, the supply room of the unit wouldn't accept the clearance authorized by that memoranda. Back and forth, like a tennis ball, until I finally cleared.

Lots of driving.

It was an impossibly tight schedule. I'm happy it's done and over with.

All the paperwork has been cleared. Our stuff is all gone. Our beloved house is no longer rented by us. The kids have finished their schools.

We're leaving... on a jet plane.

My father and his ex-wife came over to help, and they helped us accomplish a good bit (best darn house-cleaners on the planet!).

So, in a few hours, we'll convoy, in three cars, to Frankfurt. There are seven of us getting on the plane. Plus about 11 or 12 pieces of luggage. And two cats. And a child seat. And a booster seat. And a stroller. Think the only thing I haven't arranged is the sherpa.

We'll soon be back in the United States. As I told a friend, I'll know I'm going home when I approach that big (and beautiful) Delta jet and see the beautiful American flag on her tail.

What am I going to miss?

Lots. I've enjoyed my time here in Germany, and am disappointed it can't be more. I'd originally extended to stay here through 2009. I'd always thought I'd won the Army lottery by being assigned to Europe.

I'm going to miss going on the next deployment with my (former, sigh) unit.

I'm going to miss driving in Germany. It's SO simple and predictable... I've felt perfectly comfortable driving 90 MPH, in traffic, in a blizzard. Could never do that in the States.

I'm going to miss the recent drive I took down the autobahn... 150 MPH. Even if I max the speedlimit in the States, it's still only half that. And it's faster than our helicopters. More? I still got passed.

I'm going to miss the backroads. Every road has a white stake every 50 meters. You could always see the road, and it was comforting at night. And in the day, the scenery was unbeatable.

I'm goint to miss the small towns and villages. Six houses might make a village here, and they're darn proud of their little hamlets. Very quaint.

I'm going to miss living in a town that celebrates it's 1000th anniversary.

I'm going to miss driving in other countries... Hmm, this weekend, I think I'll go to _________. Told you, won the lottery...

I'm going to miss my kids learning another language the easy way.

I'm going to miss a good German dinner.

I'm going to miss seeing the odd sights, like a turkey being taken for a ride in a wheelbarrow (not at Thanksgiving, which they don't have here anyway). It for all the world looked like Farmer Hans was taking his turkey for a pleasure ride.

I'm going to miss the stars. The nights here are so pure. No light pollution. Much like when I was in Afghanistan. So many stars. Beautiful. Breathtaking.

I'm going to miss German windows. Very innovative and WHY we don't have them is a mystery to me.

I'm going to miss my (former) unit. I can't say enough about my (former) unit. From the top down, it's been a fantastic group. For so many reasons, and not all dealing with how they helped me and my family. In many ways, they became another family. I will miss them.

I won't miss the way the Army functions... easy come, easy go. You arrive at a unit, and Poof!, instantly you're a part of it. Dive in. And when you leave... a signature, a stamp, shake your hand, and you walk out the door... and you're gone. Someone fills your place, and another unit fills the void. But it doesn't... I hated walking out that door. But the Army goes rolling along.

I'm not going to miss the absolute asses that Americans make out of themselves here. We forget that we're in their country. And often times, those loudly complaining about immigrants in the States not learning English, or American customs, are the very ones complaining that the local German storekeeper doesn't speak English. We may have come here by force, but now we're guests in their home... and many smell like bad fish.

I'm not going to miss the crazy hours of my small post. Always trying to remember what was open when... it's Monday, what's open today?

I'm not going to miss relying on the AAFES monopoly. Readers of the blog know how I feel about it, so I won't re-hash... but, overseas, it truly IS a company town.

I'm not going to miss the occasional frustration of outpost living... It's quite a transition when you come from the land of anything you want anytime, anywhere you want it. Life's different here. Often, in a good way. Not always.

I'm not going to miss the frustration I felt when I couldn't read a sign nor order my food properly. I made my effort to learn German (and was getting it when a slight detour in Afghanistan came along), but... while I was feeling competent, I just wasn't high-speed yet.

I'm not going to miss that inevitable tractor going 25 KPH on a windy, twisty, unpassable German road...



It's been quite an experience, both for myself and for my family. Good and bad all around. Putting aside the elephant in the room (cancer, sssshhhh) for a moment... I can only hope that my children will retain some memories of their experiences here. I know my wife has had an opportunity that she'd not have had otherwise... From Germany, we've toured around... Paris for New Years, the castles of France, Luxembourg, Belgium, Schloss Neuschwanstein, and Malta, just for starters. And I, too, have had a memory or two. I never, EVER, believed that one day I'd be driving my Ford through the streets of East Berlin, for example.

It's hard to believe it's all coming to an end. The suddeness with which one can change chapters in life is drastic, no? A few weeks ago, we were keeping house out in Bavaria, with German neighbors, and now, I sit here, hours away from a flight, my family asleep in the quiet of our last Deutsch nacht.

I don't want to leave. Not the experience, not the unit, none of it.

I can't wait to get back to the United States. I miss her. I miss all that we take for granted, back home.

I miss home. I look forward to our making a new home, this time in Virginia, and seeing where life takes us this time.

So, as this chapter closes, we turn the page...

(Want to come along?)

Hail and Farewell

My unit threw Ellicia and I a "Hail and Farewell" tonight. We were stunned. See, I'm just a junior enlisted, and usually us low ranking folks come and go quietly.

Certainly not a party.

Not one attended by the 1SG, my CO, and my battalion Commander (45 minute drive) with his wife.

And so many friends.

Was surprised.

And then, they gave me this:

That's an intentional spelling of "Unyielding", too. An inside joke, if you will. One of the things I always did was proof anything coming out of our office, so... to show that they'd miss me, they spelled it wrong. Nice touch.

I'm so amazed and humbled to have received this. I'll treasure it... for a long, long time.

It's an "Official" Move

How do you know the move is official?

When you get your orders? No, those can always be changed...

It's when you sell all your TVs and your freezer. You know you're leaving soon then!

Out of My Daughter's Mouth

Our little daughter approached my wife today, and after looking at her, proclaimed:

"You have one big boobie, one no boobie, and I have two little boobies."

(And then she lifted her shirt and showed her exactly what she meant.)

(She's also proudly announcing that today she didn't pee herself.)

I am making notes of this if for no other reason than to make sure I have material whenever she decides to bring a boy(friend) over for dinner or such.

On the Way!

We have orders!

I was given my orders at about 1550 today. While too late to get much done today, I am now on my way out of here.

It's going to be tight, as we fly on 22 November. Given that there are some holidays, here's the time frame...

08 November - Pickup clearing papers (nothing can happen without clearing papers). Also, try to juggle a medical appointment, a meeting, scheduling our household goods shipment.

09 November - Continue clearing, particulars decided by 08 November results.

10 November - Veterans Day. Nothing happens.
11 November - Saturday. (Party!)
12 November - Sunday. Guessing we'll move soon, so make sure we're ready for our house to be packed.
13 November - Training Holiday... most offices will be closed.
14 November - Vet appointment; continue clearing.
15 November - Truck scheduled for cleaning. Deep, deep detail cleaning for shipping, so nothing else will be accomplished today.
16 November - Pick up Dad and friend from the airport. They're coming over to help escort us back to the States.
17 November - Ship truck.
18 November - Saturday. M turns FOUR!
19 November - Sunday. It's getting close. Should be in a hotel by now.
20 November - Last bit of clearing.
21 November - Final out.
22 November - Say goodbye to Germany.

It's an intense and busy schedule, but we can do it... we're on the way now... no turning back.

Just became a lot more real... :)

(Technical note: Somewhere in there, our lines to the outside world will be cut. There will be a last post, and then... for a few days at least, "A Storm in Afghanistan" will go quiet as we relocate Storm Central to our temporary headquarters in the States. Please, continue stopping by, and any comments/e-mails will be answered as soon as our commo guys get some tin cans and string together.)

Vote.

Angels Amongst Us

I want to take a moment to honor the Angels who are amongst us. They come from many walks of life, and of diverse beliefs (religious, political, what-have-you), and yet they have come together for the common cause of supporting troops.

These Angels support the troops in different ways, whether it be through care packages, supportive letters, and e-mails. Some make craft objects, cookies, blankets, and other adornments. Some spend immense amounts of their own money to buy whatever they perceive their troops need. And let's not discuss postage.

They devote hours of their time to people they've never met, and may never meet.

One of the largest organizations of such people is called Soldiers' Angels.

Which leads me to this. One of my Angels recently felt moved to have a very special tattoo, her first, done. It is the Soldiers' Angels logo. She said she did it to remind herself of a time in her life when she felt she tangibly "did something". She knew she'd been able to help people (and I assure you, she has).

She allowed me to share this picture on one condition. I had to include a poem that she feels speaks to why she became an Angel and what keeps her motivated. I personally feel that the Angels amongst us deserve so much recognition, as they are what the military would call a "Force Multiplier". They keep Soldiers' spirits up and provide support in many ways, most tangible, but quite a few intangible. So, for all those of you who wonder about Angels... they are amongst us.

"I am only one; but still I am one.
I cannot do everything,
but I still can do something.
I will not refuse to do
the something I can do."
-Helen Keller

Fun at YouTube

Some videos I've been looking at (h/t to Blackfive for some of these)...



Why You Should Vote Republican


What A Democrat Ad in 1941 Would Look Like


An Education About the War On Terror


We Didn't Start the Fire

You Need to Know What's Out There

Andi over at Andi's World brings to light some of the types of comments that people don't usually see or hear.

In her post here, she lists two of the comments that were posted to a newspaper's website after they published a story about Gold Star Mothers going to Iraq.

(Note: Gold Star Mothers are mothers of Servicemembers who've died in wartime.)

I'll also note that should you go directly to the newspapers' site (link provided in Andi's post), you'll read even more of the comments. Warning, it'll make you sick to your stomach.

The Orders My Friend... Are Blowin' In The Wind

On Thursday, my Commander showed me the letter he'd written to respond to one (of the three) of the Congressional Inquiries I'd initiated. In it, he explained that while there had been delays, they expected to have the process completed in approximately two weeks, as it still had a few more layers to go before the Compassionate Reassignment request was formally approved.

Just before noon on Friday, my Commander called me and told me the request had been approved, and the orders would be ready for me to pick up. So, after making sure Ellicia was ok and squared away (she was still recovering from her chemo), and dashed off to the local PSB (Personnel Services Battalion).

When I arrived, I was told that the orders weren't complete, but I did get some information. I was given a Reference number to show the process was real, and a report date to FT. Eustis of 10 December. I've also noticed that my DEROS (Date Expected to Return from Overseas Service) has been changed to 22 November (yes, check the calendar, that date.)

So, come Monday, I should be able to pick up my orders and then, the odyssey will begin in earnest.

We're coming home...

Enough With the Late Games!

I am blessed again that AFN will be carrying the South Carolina vs. Arkansas game. I am sad, though, that again it's a late game. So, another all-nighter...

But, that said...

GO COCKS!

Who's On First?

This showed up in my e-mail and tickled my funny bone.


Ladies and Gentlemen, the President of the United States......




George: Condi! Nice to see you. What's happening?

Condi: Sir, I have the report here about the new leader of China.

George: Great. Lay it on me.

Condi: Hu is the new leader of China.

George: That's what I want to know.

Condi: That's what I'm telling you.

George: That's what I'm asking you. Who is the new leader of China?

Condi: Yes.

George: I mean the fellow's name.

Condi: Hu.

George: The guy in China.

Condi: Hu.

George: The new leader of China.

Condi: Hu.

George: The main man in China!

Condi: Hu is leading China.

George: Now whaddya' asking me for?

Condi: I'm telling you, Hu is leading China.

George: Well, I'm asking you. Who is leading China?

Condi: That's the man's name.

George: That's who's name?

Condi: Yes.

George: Will you, or will you not, tell me the name of the new leader of China?

Condi: Yes, sir.

George: Yassir? Yassir Arafat is in China? I thought he's dead in the Middle East.

Condi: That's correct.

George: Then who is in China?

Condi: Yes, sir.

George: Yassir is in China?

Condi: No, sir.

George: Then who is?

Condi: Yes, sir.

George: Yassir?

Condi: No, sir.

George: Look Condi. I need to know the name of the new leader of China. Get me the Secretary General of the U.N. on the phone.

Condi: Kofi?

George: No, thanks.

Condi: You want Kofi?

George: No.

Condi: You don't want Kofi.

George: No. But now that you mention it, I could use a glass of milk. And then get me the U.N.

Condi: Yes, sir.

George: Not Yassir! The guy at the U.N.

Condi: Kofi?

George: Milk! Will you please make the call?

Condi: And call who?

George: Who is the guy at the U.N?

Condi: Hu is the guy in China

George: Will you stay out of China?!

Condi: Yes, sir.

George: And stay out of the Middle East! Just get me the guy at the U.N.

Condi: Kofi.

George: All right! With cream and two sugars.

Paperwork Watch

Days since submitted: 32 (though there is some dispute on that)
Days until last German medical appointment: 7

Upcoming concerns? Veterans' Day is a 4-Day weekend, so 2 workdays are lost... Getting pressed into the Thanksgiving timeframe (costs increase, plus once you hit Turkey Day, it's harder and harder to accomplish things as people keep take vacations)

Command IS helping in a good way... they're letting me process "Clearing" paperwork without the orders. This will speed up the process when the paperwork hits.

The watch continues.

The Sergeant Major Comments

Over on SGT Hook, this is an excellent read about how his Soldiers demonstrate the fallacy of Mr. Kerry's thinking.

And for those who think it was just a "botched joke"... 1) It's hard to make a comment like that if it runs contrary to your base thoughts. 2) Been on the liberal blogs and forums? Some very interesting comments supporting Mr. Kerry's "blown joke".

Army Strong; Kerry Smart

Scott Ott at ScrappleFace has produced a nice tribute video.

More on Kerry

Came across this in my e-mail...

Mr. Kerry has come out and said that of course he wasn't insulting the troops, it was a joke, and everyone should have known that.

So, just to be clear, if you're stupid, you join the military. And if you didn't know he was joking about that, then you're stupid.

Something to think about next time you see someone who still has a 2004 Kerry sticker or when you're trying to make your decision on whom to vote for this year.