One life / But we're not the same

[mishka422]

That was VERY restrained Michelle! I'm impressed. I would have been in deep kimchee for giving them my WHOLE opinion on this.

If it's not mandatory, won't cause you to loose points for your duty, and will keep you out of financial problems then tell them where to stick it!!!!

See, that's as restrained as I get when someone messes with a schedule.

[MichelleLT]

LOL. Well it IS mandatory. Sorta. A lot of people got excused because it conflicted with school - that's what happens when you move something from July to August. Amazing how the semester usually starts around mid-August. But my excuse is not nearly as important as school. I've just spent $1020 on plane tickets and $113 to reserve a hotel room.

[mishka422]

THAT SUCKS!

[Reincarnated]

michelle - what a PITA! Or in military-speak, a big SNAFU

Mish - what is going on over with you?! Miss your updates!

[mishka422]

Nothing going on at all. Just moving from day to day and not rocking the boat. That doesn't get me anywhere, but......it keeps me from the emotional upheaval.

[MichelleLT]

Yeah, total PITA. The list that was published July 27 had me listed as not attending. Than on the 30th they want to change that.

So now I'm supposed to be gone August 6-22nd (which makes my boss just oh so happy, not). And Hawaii is supposed to be Aug 18-25 (the wedding is the 20th). I'm sure I can get some kind of credit for the tickets and try and go some other time, but the wedding was the whole point of planning this trip.

I may still be able to go to Hawaii. *fingers crossed* If they let me leave early instead of staying til the 22nd. I should know more today. I talked to my commander Saturday and he's pushing that, but his commander isn't wanting to be flexible. So I'm waiting to change any of that stuff. But there's no way I can get my pool dives done to complete my open water PADI certification in Hawaii now, I needed these next few weekends to finish it, so that's off the list.

[kat727]

I am fuming for you!! I really admire the people that can handle being in the military but I know I could never do it. I have enough issues with my regualr job and kids, no way could I have them throwing monkey wrenches into my life!!

hugs, kat

[MichelleLT]

So Friday he replied to my e-mail with:

"I told the XO you weren’t going and need the orders ASAP. I’ll hit up [BN staff NCO] on Monday to check on the status of the orders. If necessary, I will do memos on unit letterhead with my signature block if BDE is slower than Wednesday.

And yes, it should not have been this hard, but I’ve never seen anything like this. I actually had less problem moving an entire BN back from OCONUS.

Will status you on Monday."

I was confused by the "weren't going" part, so I e-mailed back this: (definitely getting bitchier)

"Aren't going to what? AT? Work?

I agree it should have been easier. And I don't see why this turned into a big deal.

But I also think it's perfectly rotten of them to change their minds 6 days out and expect us to somehow make it work."

He called me in response to reassure me that he is going to get us partials so we can still go to Hawaii.

I feel like we're having two different conversations. A partial is better than having to cancel Hawaii, but why can he not understand I don't want to go at all? Rotten is telling me I have to go to AT on less than a week's notice, not just the fact that it could mess up my plans to attend my buddy's wedding. This is too short a notice to be yanking me away from my real job!

[smith18]

You are stirring some memories in me as to why I did not re-up 28 years ago. I learned some good acronyms from my short 4 years in the military (Coast Guard)...

FUBAR (fcked up beyond all relief)
FIGMO (fck it, got my orders)
FTG (fck the guard)
IDGAF (i dont give a fck)

I still have the occasional nightmare that I am back on my old pre WW2 cutter and pleading desperately to get back to my regular civilian job.

[MichelleLT]

The military does have some good ones...

SNAFU (situation normal: all f'd up)
I learned FUBAR as f'd up beyond all recognition.
POG (Person Other than Grunt)
Staff POG - definitely an insult (especially if said by an infantry grunt)
REMF (rear echelon mother f'er)
GTFO (get the f' out)

As a commissioned officer, I have to actually go through the trouble of resigning instead of just quietly ETSing and disappearing. And with 7 years in, I'm almost halfway to retirement LOL.

Who knows. I do want to change units. The staff in my battalion is mostly incompetent. Very frustrating.