Sgt Lori

CPL Squared Away

2008-07-26T09:51:00.002-05:00

My Team is growing. The X-Men, as we are known as, are growing. We have close to 20 people on our team now. MSG Ranger is now 1SG Ranger. He formed Recruiting Office Teams of which my office is one. So now I am a "Station Commander" or as it is called in the Guard; Recruiting Office Team Leader (ROTL). I said "Does that make me a ROTtwieler??" 1SG was amused for a second. Then he said "No that makes you a Team Leader." Roger, 1SG.

I hired a Recruiting Assistant or ADOS (Active Duty Operational Support). CPL Squared Away is 24, a MP for the Guard and works at a local hospital as a EMT. CPL Squared Away is one of the most squared away soldiers I know. CPL's uniform is always inspection ready. CPL Squared Away is always on time (if you are not 15 minutes early; you're late). CPL has a permit to carry a concealed firearm. CPL does. When I issue instructions, the appropriate questions are asked for clairification and then instructions are carried out. I never have to worry or wonder. I called and offered her the job. She said yes. I plan on making CPL into SGT Squared Away as soon as possible.

We had a wayward recruit that was AWOL for the last drill. AWOL in the Guard is not as serious as in Active Duty. Please, no howling or knashing of teeth. It's the truth. In my active duty days, if I had not shown up for work for four days (the equivalent of one drill) I would have been put in the Brig. I would have gotten a Captain's Mast (Article 15) and had reduction in rank and had money taken from my pay. In the Guard we contact them by phone and that is considered good enough. Not for me.

So, the wayward recruit was contacted after I left him a voice mail. We arranged to go meet with the recruit. I sent SGT Rural Recruiter and CPL Squared Away. I instructed CPL she was to wear her MP brassard and cuffs. They met with the wayward recruit who was sufficiently convinced that we mean business. If we have to find him again it will be with a local Sherriff in attendance. I don't think we have to persue that avenue.

The Smell of Salty Air

2008-07-26T07:46:00.012-05:00

A few days ago I needed to access Military.com to help an applicant locate his old Army records. I noticed the "Buddy Finder" icon. Hmmm. I wonder if I can find some of my old Navy buds?! I clicked it and typed in a few names. Each time a few names came up with rank and home of record state. I clicked on one in particular, my Chief from Ground Electronics at NAS Moffett Field, California. It showed he had retired as an E-7. I Googled his name. There was a name and number from his home state. I hesitated but reached for my cell phone and dialed the number. Voice mail and I didn't recognize the voice.... but I left a message and forgot about it.

The next morning I got ready and went to work. It was drizzling and I remembered I had lent the keys to the Armory to one of my recruiters the day before. I was locked out. And it was drizzling. How does that go? Imagine a Drill Instructors rumbling voice saying "IT DOESN'T RAIN IN THE ARMY!!! IT RAINS *ON* THE ARMY!!" Indeed. I flipped open my Gov't. cell and dialed my team mate CPL Squared Away. "Got keys?" "Oh, I'll be right there Sergeant!" So I stood in the drizzling rain contemplating my day ahead when my cell rings, I don't recognize the number and answer "This is Sergeant Fields..." The voice on the other end says "Hello Sergeant Fields. This is Chief Salt."

Sometimes you can be in one place but are instantly transported to another place and time. This was one of those times. I felt like I was a kid in the Navy again. I felt nervous like I shouldn't have called my Chief on the phone the night before. He was on the other end, what was I going to say? I felt like saying "Uh, sorry Chief, I didn't mean to disturb you. Uh, I'm an idiot. Please excuse me and I'll let you go..." Then I remembered that GEEZ 15 years had gone by. He's a civilian now; I am a Staff Sergeant about to make Sergeant First Class (equal with a Chief). I relaxed and said in my biggest (unintentional) Southern Drawl "HAAAEEY! How *are* yew??" Imagine the syllables all drawn out. I instantly felt like an idiot again. He chuckled.

We reminisced for quite some time. He did retire, but now worked for the State. We talked about old friends "Have you heard from Margie and George?" (Nope). Chief is building a cabin on his acreage and lives alone with his blood hound. I told him about the kids and about the Payson, organic farming and my recruiting. We talked while I waited in the drizzle that felt almost like sea spray. I felt odd and sad. So much time had passed. I was a kid way back then. I had made a lot of mistakes but had also accomplished a lot. Had that much time really passed? I felt like I did the time I went back to visit my old elementary school in California. I attended Buena Vista Elementary in Oceanside. It was so SMALL and I remembered it so huge. I felt like a stranger interrupting in a dream. Dispelling the illusion with the truth.

I talked about deploying. He had spent sometime in the Sand. So we were switching gears, talking about the future, goals, plans... this felt better. We discussed recruiting and the different missions of the Navy versus the Army. Soon CPL Squared Away arrived as we ended our conversation with promises to keep in touch. Whew, I breathed a sigh. Deep breath... yeah, I do believe I could smell a tinge of salt in the air! It smelled great. ;-)

More on Deploying

2007-12-07T20:49:00.000-05:00

Energy is high as everyone considers the upcoming deployment. Lots of kids at the schools wanting to know if they have time to join, train and then go. For Seniors...yes. For Juniors, no. Very reassuring.

On a bad note... I ran out of gas today. I was in my POV and had the kids with me. I was rushing o an appointment and thought..."I am not THAT low on gas." Well, I was. So I glided the car over to the side of the road. Told the kids to stay put and walked the half mile to the gas station. In Uniform. NOT A SINGLE CAR SLOWED OR STOPPED!! Not a single one. Now mind this is in a rural area so a woman walking from a car with emergency blinkers on down the road to the gas station is OBVIOUSLY not on a nature hike. I bought a gas can and paid for gas at the station. CLEARLY needing gas. Even the lady at the counter put two and two together and said "Ohhhh, did you run out of gas, hun?" Ayuh. NO ONE offered to drive me. NO ONE even said "You need help??" The store was full of men with trucks and cars parked outside. THREE even pulled out of the parking lot and passed me as I WALKED down the road!!! By the time I got to my car I was steaming.

On a good note. While I was walking, one of my recruits called my phone. I had left it in the car with the kids. My son answered it and told him what had happened. This kid says "Where are y'all? Does she need help?" I called him back and said "Can you believe that I walked a half a mile and back and NO ONE stopped to help??" He said "In uniform?? What kinda sh*t is that?? excuse me SSG Fields." I agreed.

I have thought more about deploying. If I do.... I need to reclass. I have considered going 88M. I love to drive. My hearing would not be any sort of impairment. Good idea?

We're going to Afghanistan

2007-12-06T08:13:00.000-05:00

It's official. The Georgia Army National Guard is scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan May of 2009 to train Afghani troops. News releases were sent out, and the television, radio and newspapers are all announcing the pending deployment.

Several things need to be said:
1st: It means nothing. The dates, places and mission could change at any time.
2nd: Since it is an official news release/announcement it is extremely vague and gives no true details.
3rd: The timetable is set for 18 months from now. A lot could happen between now and then.

I have had several calls from recruits. Some hoping we will leave sooner, some wanting to know if it affects them. Oddly, no parents have voiced concerns. Yet.

We had our monthly team meeting at my armory yesterday. MSG Ranger went over several things with the X-Men. We are number one on Task Force Spartan. We are 6th in the State but after next week should jump to #2 or #3 slot. We have a contender for Rookie of the year and Chief's 54 Rural on our team. We went over some new software programs available to us. We went over some new recruiting programs such as "Active First". A prospect can opt to go Regular Army for 2, 3 or 4 years then do 4, 3, 2 years Guard and get $40K, $50K or $60K in bonus money. Sweet.

Then MSG pushed aside his paperwork and said, "Let's talk about the deployment. No Bullshit, who wants to go when the 108th goes?" Some hands shot up. Mine stayed in place in my lap. He continued, "There is a right way to go about this and a wrong way to go about this. You need to have the f*ckin b*lls to tell me to my face. You hire your replacement and train them BEFORE you go. " Hooah. He began to talk about how he understood the desire to go. "You hear the sabers rattle, you want to go do what soldiers do!" Hooah. He talked a little about his deployments. 3 time combat veteran. SFC Infantry spoke up about the mission. "Training troops, what does that mean? It means going on raids with them, it means training them in the field, in the classroom, all sorts of places." He was on a similar mission in Iraq. He had a squad of eight E-7's training Iraqi troops.

The MSG Ranger said, "I get it, I get why you want to do this. For those of you who have been...you ain't going. For those of you who haven't, I'll support you going. Some of you need to go. Go get your badges, medals and ribbons...." I slowly raised my hand.
Me: "It's not about that...."
MSG: "Yes it is."
Me: "It's more than that. It's why we enlisted, why we serve, we can't sit back and watch from the sidelines. I don't care about ribbons!....."
MSG Ranger (The look of shock and worry on his face betrayed some of his emotions): "I get that too. I want to go. I've been asked to go. YOU ain’t going. You have babies. You're mama. What about the Payson? You don't need to go. You ain't going."
Then he spoke about a friend of his. He said his friend had once said that he had a calling on his life to be a soldier and if he didn't obey that call he was disobeying God. Tears began to slowly slip down my face as I listened. I knew my calling. I am called to be a recruiter. I silently wiped away my tears hoping no one else noticed. MSG Ranger's voice softened as he looked specifically at me but I don't remember much of what he was saying. I was tuning him out as my emotions raged against my logic.

How can I stay back while "my guys" are over there? I am not bragging but I am a damn good electronics tech. I can fix damn near anything! I can work on radios, radar, anything electronic. I can help!

Then logic kicks in. I am deaf in one ear. While that was not a critical shortcoming in the Navy..... It *is* in the Army. I cannot tell the direction of sound. As commo for the Navy, I was not required to be an operator of the equipment. In the Army, I am. There is no way for me to talk into a radio headset and listen to commands at the same time. I got one good ear and if it is in use....I can't hear anything else.

Last night I was watching "We were Soldiers" with Mel Gibson and (blissful sigh) Sam Elliot. The kids were asleep, my husband was in the living room reading a sci-fi book and watching a farming program. I wanted some time to myself so I sat watching the movie alone in my bedroom. There is a scene where the commo guy is calling in coordinates to HQ. The planes are bombing the enemy according to these coordinates. He gets a set of coordinates wrong. The plane bombs the guys in his troop. LTC Moore reassures him to continue… he does. What else can he do?

Mistakes happen, shit happens. But if I know going in that I am more prone to making that kind of mistake?? Could I live with that? No. So I am no good for commo. I need to reclassify in another MOS. I have a lot of thinking to do. Yes, I have a calling. But... I have a lot of prayin' to do.

Happy Thanksgiving

2007-11-22T23:01:00.000-05:00

Happy Thanks Giving. No, that's not a typo. Today is the day to GIVE THANKS! Today is the day our nation sets aside time to thank our God for His goodness and mercy.

“It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord…” (Psalm 92:1)

"Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfies the longing soul, And fills the hungry soul with goodness." Psalm 107:8-9

"Praise the LORD! Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD? Who can declare all His praise?" Psalm 106:1-2

"I will praise God's name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving." Psalm 69:30

Today I am thankful that through all the experiences in my life (both good and bad) the Lord is faithful and shows me mercy and lovingkindness. I could give a HUGE laundry list of things He has given/done for me. I am truly blessed! God is good.

Get Elfed

2007-11-17T16:22:00.000-05:00

This is absolutely hilarious. MUCH funnier with someone you know. But check out me and the Payson getting elfed!

Honor Your Hero

2007-11-13T19:26:00.001-05:00

This website is hosting a contest. Here is a quote from the site:

Do you know a Veteran of Iraq or Afghanistan who deserves to be recognized?
Nominate him or her for VA Mortgage Center.com's 2007 American Hero Award. Just fill out the form below and in 300 words or less tell us why your hero deserves to be honored.
10 Finalists will be selected and the winner will be chosen by an online vote. All finalists will receive $500, and the winner will receive a grand prize of $5,000. All nominations must be submitted by December 14, 2007.

So if you know a deserving Vet, by all means nominate them!

Happy Veteran's Day

2007-11-11T07:33:00.000-05:00

This weekend make it a point to shake a Veteran's hand. Most of the older ones went through pure hell while serving you. In church today they will mention the Vets and ask them to stand. Give them a resounding ovation.

Hell, jump up and shake their hands.

Here is an email tribute I recieved. I like it.

It is the VETERAN , not the preacher,

who has given us freedom of religion.

It is the VETERAN , not the reporter,

who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the VETERAN , not the poet,

who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the VETERAN , not the campus organizer,

who has given us freedom to assemble.

It is the VETERAN, not the lawyer,

who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is the VETERAN , not the politician,

Who has given us the right to vote.

It is the VETERA N ,who salutes the Flag,

It is the soldier,

Who salutes the flag,

Who serves beneath the flag,

And whose coffin is draped by the flag,

Who allows the protestor to burn the flag."

ETERNAL REST GRANT THEM O LORD,

AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UPON THEM.

VETERANS KNOW THAT THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE

HAS NO EXPIRATION DATE.

College Kids

2007-11-10T17:41:00.000-05:00

Right now I have three college kids I am working. They take a little extra effort. They are grown men...but still testing the waters of "Big Decisions". They want to make their decisions on their own...but they still want their parent's input. I think that is wise.

Two of them go to the same school. They know each other and their buddy is one of my recruits. One of them has been pushing to get things rolling. I got a call from "Dad" on Thursday. Dad was worried that son was making a rash decision. I explained how the program works...he stays in school, contracts with ROTC in his junior year and graduates an officer. Dad is happy.

The other one has told me repeatedly that he has discussed this with his dad, the retired Colonel. He has been dragging his feet somewhat. When I talk to him he seems intent on convincing me, and yet I feel he is also trying convince himself. So I put on the brakes. He called me this morning and said his dad wants to talk to me. I told him that was perfectly fine and as a matter of fact I had already talked to his friend's dad. He breathed an audible sigh of relief! LOL He told me to expect a call on Monday, and I said that was fine...anytime.

I never went through that phase of life. I left home at 19 and never looked back. I made some major mistakes, but I always owned my mistakes and learned from them. I was a twit for quite some time, but I finally grew up. I like to make quick decisions and then stick to them. I understand not everyone is that way.

So this next week I should be taking four people to MEPS. We shall see.

Say a prayer

2007-11-09T22:01:00.000-05:00

I don't like to gripe on my blog. I am generally a positive person and like to focus on the good. But I'd like to ask y'all to say a prayer for my team. Things are very stressful right now. Some have quit, and quite a few more are looking for other positions. One has volunteered to go to Iraq. Not that it is a bad thing...but I think it is an escape. Maybe I am wrong, but it seems that way...

Anyway, our team cohesiveness has taken a hit. I'd appreciate it if you would remember Team 10 X-men in your prayers. I'd like to see us pull together again.

Veteran's Day

2007-11-09T21:54:00.000-05:00

I attended a Veteran's Day event at a local elementary school today. Those kids are so SWEET!! It was great. The guys from the unit and I went class to class to talk to the kids. It was so much fun watching their eyes get big as saucers as the "Army guys" came in. And of course I was the first "Army lady" they had ever seen. I got lots of questions.

The thing that had me laughing was when the little girls noticed that I wore boots too!! LOL.

The second grade class had a Veteran's Day tribute in the cafeteria. It was wonderful. Brought a tear to my eyes.

We left the school and the guys were feeling well appreciated. It was great.

He's Baaaaacck!

2007-11-09T07:28:00.000-05:00

SGT Hook, one of my favorite milbloggers is back to posting! Check it out!

Permission?

2007-11-07T20:24:00.000-05:00

I was approached by email to participate in a survey for some research on Milbloggers. I am told that according to an update to its OPSEC (Operations Security) rules on April 19, 2007, the U.S. Army now requires all of its working personnel to obtain approval before posting any material to their personal military blogs (milblogs). Hmmmm.

So in other words...I should ask for permission to post? Am I supposed to submit each post for approval? Hmmmm.

To whom?

While I can certainly understand the need for operational security...and I adhere to it. I don't think my personal ruminations posted to the internet need to be submitted for editing. Do you?

Veteran's Day ~ Green Again

2007-11-06T19:01:00.000-05:00

In honor of Veteran's Day here is my annual posting of "Green Again":

July 14, 2005

Green... again

(Originally posted at Red State Rant)

At Lance’s request, I’m proud to announce on Red State Rant that after an extended effort, I’ve finally been accepted back into Uncle Sam’s Big Green Gun Club. A little background:
My efforts began on September 11, 2001, when the news about the terrorist attacks in New York City came over the radio. I immediately drove to the recruiter’s office to inquire about reenlistment options. My advance was rebuked, however, due to an ankle injury that I’d sustained two months previous, one which eventually landed me on the surgeon’s slab six months later. Running, and therefore staying in shape, was a painful proposition for nearly a year thereafter. Then my wife and I decided to start our family, a decision that I in no way second-guess, but one which further altered my plans.

As I watched the kick-off of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom from the sidelines, I couldn’t stand the fact that Marines were out there doing what Marines do, and here I was, a man of eligible age, riding the bench. The final straw came on the day that my brother, a career Marine until a back injury put him out of active duty after 15 years, emailed me a photo of himself being sworn back into the Corps as a reservist. That was simply more than I could stand.

I got off my ass, got back in shape, and got on the phone with the prior service recruiter. Skipping all the sordid details of a paperwork nightmare, a little more than a year later, on July 10, 2005, I stood before a Captain with the 4th FSSG, raised my right hand, and took the oath of enlistment for the second time in my life, sworn-in as a 35 year-old Corporal of Marines (reserve) as my wife and son looked on.

I’d been off of active duty for almost 10 years, but as we walked out of the HQ building at the Navy/Marine Corps Reserve Center and passed a Colonel, the salute that I snapped felt just as natural as it ever had, and the uniform I wore felt like an old friend. I straightened my back, poked out my chest just a little, and stepped more smartly. God, it felt great to be green again!
I give the reader all of that to answer a question many people have asked, including the worshipful Red State Rant blogmaster and my life-long friend, Lance: Why? After all, I’ve already served my country, “paid my dues,” or “done my time,” as some say.

To that, I have this to say: Serving my country is not a 4 year contract. It is a life-long commitment. Nor is it a “due” to be paid like some cheap membership fee. It is a deeply personal obligation. And it is certainly not “time” that has to be “done” like some felony prison sentence. It is nothing short of an honor that I hold in the highest regard, an honor that I must prove worthy of, an honor that must be earned every single day.

Many people have shaken their heads in disbelief, sometimes I think in disdain, when they learned of my plans. I’m a family man now, after all. Why would I volunteer, when there is a very real possibility of a combat deployment? Don’t I care about my family?

Without question, my family is the single most important part of my life on earth. But just exactly what sort of husband and father do I want for my family? What kind of man do I want my wife to devote her life to? When my children are grown, what is the picture of their father going to look like in their minds? I’ll tell you: I want my beloved wife, to whom I am utterly devoted, to go through her days without a shadow of a doubt that the man she married is a man of honor and commitment, a man that knows there are things in life worth giving one’s own life for, if necessary. I want her, as she looks out upon all of the world’s deception, falseness, infidelity, and evil, to know that her husband is on the right side of things.

I want my children to have a father that they can unwaveringly look up to as an example. I want them to grow up, not with an attitude of entitlement, but with a sense of duty, obligation, and reward. I want to teach them that we don’t always say, “Let the other guy do it.” Instead, I want them to learn that there are times that we must ask, “If not me, then who?” I want to be the best father I can be, and I can think of no better lessons to teach them than the value of honor, integrity, dedication, perseverance, and selflessness. I can offer no better example for my family than to strive to live those values every day in my own personal life.

All of that is a way of life for United States Marines. (And any Military...my edit)

In addition to all of that, throw in any applicable clichés regarding patriotism, fighting for our country, etc. They’re all no less true for me than anyone else who has said them, but they have become overused to the point that they have begun to lose effect. I will add one: Revenge. I make no apology for wanting to kill the bastards that want to kill us.

I harbor no illusions about saving the world, being a hero, or altering the course of events. It’s simply that at no time in my life have I been more proud and satisfied with what I was doing than while serving as an active duty Marine. My decision to leave the Corps, if I had it to do over, likely would have been different. I want to at least partially amend that decision while I am still young enough (barely) to do so. I love being around fellow Marines, doing what Marines do: training, fighting, working, sweating, cussing, bitching, adapting, improvising, overcoming, accomplishing the mission, and taking care of each other.

Lastly, these are historic times for our country and for my Marine Corps. For me, it's decision time- sit on the sidelines and merely be an observer, or step up and be a participant.

I’m stepping up.

Semper Fidelis

Witches Brew

2007-11-03T18:02:00.000-05:00

Oh, I have been so remiss! I haven't posted here in forever. I am sorry. I will pay penance by posting everyday for a week.

Alright, so I get back from BNCOC and promptly find my ASVAB failures and put them to studying. Only one is serious and passes the ASVAB at the MET site test (during the day, paper ASVAB instead of computerized). I took him for his physical and he swore in a week ago. Hooah. Gotta love hard work.

I also got a promotion of sorts after getting back from BNCOC. I am now a Squad Leader or Big Toe. I DO NOT understand the "Big Toe" concept. I am told I need to watch some movie and I will understand. All I know is I think of a big ole hairy male toe. yuck. I'll have to rent the movie and maybe I might have a clue? I don't know. I can't even remember the name of the movie. So with the "promotion" I now have a new partner. SFC Hooah Infantry is no longer my partner. SGT Pagent is.

SGT Pagent is a former beauty queen. Yes. That is true! SGT Pagent joined the Army after winning her title, did 4 years and got out. She had a long break in service (not as long as mine) and got into the National Guard. She is a sweet lady and very VERY meticulous. She loves details, lists and paperwork. I don't so we should be a good team. She is already making GREAT headway in her schools.

So, new promotion, new partner... what other surprises does life hold for me? Hmmmm. This past week or so we got the flu. I mean the hurling from hell flu. Quickly followed by the diarhea damnation. Then just as I think we are all about over it....its Halloween Night. Now what mother in her right mind takes sick kids trick-or-treating?? This mother. I just could NOT deny my kids at least a little Halloween fun, so I bundled them up, costumed, bleary eyed, pumped full of meds and begged candy off unsuspecting strangers. Only for 30 minutes and then back home. Now we all have chest colds. Heavy sigh.

Normally, as soon as I suspect any illness I make everyone drink colloidal silver. CS (colloidal silver) is a water laden with silver molecules. Hard to explain but bottom line, silver kills bad bacteria and viruses. Many people think it is quackery. I don't. Silver is antiseptic, has proven antibacterial properties and is antimicrobial. It is used in burn centers to cover the exposed tissue. So anyway I make it myself using a CS generator called a Silver Puppy. That is my witches brew.

For whatever reason... I forgot about the CS when we were all hurling our guts out and crying for mercy. I making a fresh batch of witches brew now. A little late...but......

BNCOC

2007-09-20T17:02:00.000-05:00

I am short on time as I am attending Basic Non Commissioned Officer Course (BNCOC, pronounce bee-knock). More leadership training. I am learning quite a bit.

I sent two people to MEPS yesterday but they both failed the ASVAB. Hmmm. bad luck with me being gone.

I sit next to SGT Gonzo. He is Puerto Rican descent raised in New Jersey/New York. Really nice guy. He is regular Army so I have been picking his brain. I have a funny story about sneezing, wicthes brew and voodoo. I'll tell it later. BTW he also has a Zoolander look.

Party Time

2007-08-30T19:52:00.000-05:00

The Annual Recruiting and Retention Battallion Banquet was held with great fanfare in Buckhead Georgia last weekend. We got all gussied up and walked around like peacocks. Myself included.

My team is Team 10 or the X-men. Get it? 10 and the Latin numeral 10 or X? MSG Ranger has worked hard all year for our little team to have a lot of motivation and work as a team. We each have character names. I am Rogue. And, yes, I am a bad ass. LOL. I was tasked with providing the centerpeices for our banquet tables. I have a recruiting assistant assigned to me and she mentioned getting an ice sculpture. Have you priced those recently?? Pricey. However I *did* find someone who sculpts table top or centerpeice ice sculptures at a reasonable price. I ordered four "X"'s.

I also found this 6 foot tall cardboard standee on Ebay!! It stood proudly in the corner near our tables. We only had three tables at the banquet so one of the ice sculptures went on the MAJ and SGM table. Hilarious.

We racked up on prizes. Three people got the over 30 award. One got Rural Chief's 54. One got the most high school enlistments award. Our RSP was boarded as the top RSP in the state. We won the three streamers for our ship rate, attendance and training pipe line loss. AND our NCOIC was boarded as number one in the state!!!! Whoo Hoo!

I got a little tipsee and took HELL about it later. One of the Station Commandos said it was like "watching your preacher have a beer". Yeah right.

Ever Feel Like A Fool?

2007-08-21T20:19:00.000-05:00

Without going into too much detail...boy I feel like an idiot. Today I figured out I was being used by someone. Someone I trusted. Feels like a sucker punch to the gut.

Brutal Summer, Brutal Heat, Brutal Recruiting...

2007-08-16T15:07:00.000-05:00

It has been a loooong hot summer. Recruiting has been down all across the state. No one wants to even think about going to Basic during a heat wave. I don't blame 'em. But that doesn't stop the Recruiting Train. MSG Ranger got "the *ss" and we have had ours chewed. I have been working on losing a little weight so losing 5 pounds of flesh wasn't as painful as it could be.

My partner is SFC Hooah Infantry. I didn't pick him as a partner. He was given to me or rather I was given to him. I don't know who got the short end of the stick! As far as the Army or National Guard goes...he is the perfect soldier. He is very tall, slim with piercing green weathered eyes. He has steel grey hair cropped very close. He doesn't have a heart. I can't decide if he ever did or if he had it surgically removed. You can't tell if he is looking directly at you because his eyes are screwed up. He says it is because of "too many things going boom too close to my head". I don't know if he is joking or not. He is missing a finger on his left hand and I am afraid to ask about it. He doesn't talk much but when he does it is all Infantry. He talks about growing up knowing that all he ever wanted to do was Infantry.

So. Here am I "Miss Navy" paired with Hooah Infantry. The scars from having my tentacles removed are still fading. I do my job very well but I am not as Gung Ho as he is. I wear my uniform with pride but I am not accessing lines of fire (or whatever) when we go somewhere. I am very good at accessing peoples needs while he is busy accessing their motives. I am busy trying to find a way to enlist them while he is busy finding reasons they shouldn't. Heavy Sigh.

The first time we went to a school lunchroom is burned indelibly into my memory. I stood smiling and nodding at the kids walking by while he stood with folded arms glaring at them. Finally a brave soul stopped by the table and I began to converse with him. I asked him about his plans for the future and he shrugged his shoulders. WRONG!! Wrong thing to do in front of SFC Infantry. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DON'T KNOW? WHAT'S IT GONNA BE? Hmmmm? WHAT YOU GONNA DO? HUH? TELL ME, I WANT TO KNOW!" My eyes about bugged out of my head! My head snapped around and I stared at him with my mouth hanging open incredulously. I finally turned to see the kid RUNNING from the table! I ran after him and shoved my card into his hand saying "We aren't all like that!!".

I returned to the table and hissed under my breath "What in the living hell are you doing???" Hooah says "I KNEW what *I* wanted to do when I was that age. If they don't know what they want, I have no use for them!" He glared down at me over crossed arms and a chest full of badges. Lord help me! Brutal Recruiting! The kid never called me.

Fast forward 8 months and he has mellowed somewhat. He comes in handy when I have a problem child. He gets them where they need to be in a hurry. He *is* mentoring me to be a little tougher. He stands with hands on hips instead of crossed. He still doesn't smile, but he is more patient with the kids.

And.....

And we work well together. I force him to lighten up and not be so intense and he makes me work on my military bearing. We have been working our schools and bearing lots of fruit. Hmmm. Maybe MSG Ranger knew what he was doing.

The Year From Hell or...

2007-07-26T18:14:00.000-05:00

The end of my first recruiting year. Well, I fell short of my goal to put 48 people in the National Guard this year. I figured there had to be at LEAST 50 people who wanted to join the Guard out of my county this year. There were, but I only put 32 of them in my box (computer).

I did not make Chief's Rural 54 (best recruiter in a rural area of the 54 states and territories). I missed it by a few recruits. Yes, I was bummed for a minute. It would have been a nice "Attaboy" not to mention you get a cool ring and I really love jewelry. ;-)

On the bright side, I put 32 people into the National Guard this year!! I helped two people make their mission. I helped people change their lives. I got to ride in a Black Hawk. I helped a poor kid get an $80K full ride scholarship. I put 4 people in the National Guard on September 11th (very nice feeling) and put 6 people in the Guard in 8 days. I made Staff Sergeant.

All in all it has been a very good year. Goal for next year? Put 50 people into the National Guard.

The Handshake

2007-07-10T20:52:00.000-05:00

I got a call that a fellow was interested in enlisting. He lived quite a distance away from the armory so we agreed to meet at the library of a city halfway between the two distances.

I got to the library and he and his dad were sitting in the foyer. We sat a talked for a while. I did my little recruiting diagram I do when talking to a prospect. It is a simple line diagram but it outlines how the National Guard is different than the reserves and active duty. It gives people a visual which really helps. I write all my notes on there as I go through my little sales pitch. Then I hand them the paper so later they have something to refer back to.

Anyway, this kid was already sold so we moved quickly to signing papers, answering questions and setting up a MEPS day. I was trying to keep our conversation down since we were in the library foyer!! A young man approached us and I thought "oh no, we are too loud and he is going to ask us to leave, how embarassing!". I stood up as he reached us and he asked "Is this young man getting ready to enlist?" I answered that he was. He turned to my applicant and shot out his hand for a handshake. "I just want to say what an honorable thing it is that you are doing. Thank you!" he said to my much surprised applicant. I grinned from ear to ear and said "Thank YOU!". He went back to work in the library (note to self ask him what he is doing for the next 20 years) and I went back to work. I told my young applicant to get used to that sort of thing.

My applicant scored a 70 on the ASVAB tonight, and will physical tomorrow. Hooah!

End of the Year Reflections

2007-07-10T20:27:00.000-05:00

I see light at the end of the tunnel! And I believe it is daylight and not the headlight of an oncoming train. My poor kids look at me when I come in the door and say "who are you?"

OK, I am nearing the end of our recruiting year. I have a lot of leads, very few of them are qualified but hey I am SUPER RECRUITER I will find a way to put these people in boots! Right? Wrong.

I am pretty good at what I do. I am a technician by civilian trade. I love to fix things. I always have. When I was a kid I was taking things apart trying to figure out how they worked. I also would try and fix broken things and occassionally I would! Like the time I found the loose wire in the iron in the trash. My mom was thrilled.

OK, so I look at my applicants like that. What's broke? How do we fix it? The goal is getting them trough MEPS and into the Guard. But is it?

I worked really hard getting a few people in and most of them turned out to be a bad bet.
I had the fellow that dropped out of Marine Corps Boot Camp 10 years ago. This time he shipped to Army Basic and didn't make it through the first week before he was being sent home.
Another really really wanted to serve. That is until his parents bought him a brand new truck and threatened to cut off the money for college and take away the truck if he shipped. Nice.

So upon reflection I think I am going to focus on QUALITY and not quantity this year. Don't get me wrong, there about 30 others I am very proud I helped to enlist and serve. However I am going to be just a little more picky.

More to come....I promise!

2007-06-29T18:52:00.000-05:00

I am very busy right now with end of the recruiting year stuff. I will post soon. My kids miss me quite a bit so when I am home I am not on the computer.

"It's easier for girls"

2007-06-10T19:47:00.000-05:00

I recently recieved a comment on "Oh my foot". Seems a male recruiter thinks that because I am a female, recruiting is easier for me. First I want to say I think he is wrong about the girl thing. I am old enough to be these guy's MOM. I went through basic many many years ago and I went through NAVY boot camp. I can't say "Hey I did it so can you." I can say "Basic *is* hard! If it was easy everyone would do it. You'll cuss me the first two weeks. Then it will actually get fun. You will do things you never thought you could. You graduate with a sense of pride and accomplishment nothing else can give you."

Second; NO ONE is going to enlist because they are challenged to or dared to as in "Hey, I did it! why can't you?" No one is going to join because they feel punked out. Period. Did you enlist on a dare? OK, now I will say a good looking female is going to draw more guys to the lunchroom table. Yeah, she can be used as bait. But that doesn't mean the fish are going to bite. I am not a "good looking young thang" so I ain't bait.

Third: Females make up roughly 20% of my Recruiting Command. Roughly 20% the top 10% of recruiting is females, 80% males. We are just as good or bad as our male recruiters.

Fourth: The very reason I think the Army is not doing as well in recruiting as it could is the example you gave me. Assigning a soldier who has no business recruiting to a recruiting command! You don't like it and are not good at it. The Army thinks "Just Do it". Well that's like telling a Supply Clerk "Here's your weapon, here's some school; go be a Ranger!" Not everyone can be a Ranger!!

Lastly, I know you weren't knocking me...but you *were* knocking females and I R one! I work HARD. Leave? I haven't taken leave either. I got home last night at 2300. I am leaving to go to work at 0630. I work HARD. I have made my mission, and two other people's mission AND am going up for an award. You think I did that sitting on my assets?? Think again.

Staff Sergeant Lori

2007-05-30T06:55:00.000-05:00

Well today I get pinned for SSG! I am so excited. My husband and children will be there. They may not think it is such a big deal....but *I* do!! :-)

Making E-6 has been a loooong time coming. I left the Navy in 1991 as an E-5. After a 15 year break in service I joined the National Guard as an E-5. I became a recruiter and had to wait a year to go up for E-6. I submitted my packet and at 1000 this morning I will officially be SSG Lori!

The Hammer

2007-04-16T20:29:00.000-05:00

I have a new nickname. Major Magneto called MSG Ranger and said "D*mn, we need to call her the Hammer!" I chuckled. My nickname in the Navy was Sledge Hammer or Hammer for short.

8 Days continued

2007-04-13T19:38:00.000-05:00

Now 6 recruits in 8 days I did not accomplish by my self. My immediate supervisor was a great help. My MSG assigned a PFC to help me. The MEPS Liasons helped me tremendously!!!

Yes, I am going to breathe for a minute! I am taking daughter to the toy store tomorrow followed by a day of shopping. Sunday I am spending with son. Darling Husband and I will be taking four days of leave to spend alone without kids or recruits. ;-)

8 days

2007-04-13T14:55:00.000-05:00

Whew. OK, the last 8 days have been a whirlwind. Let me back up to when I got back from WLC.

I loved WLC, so much so I really comtemplated applying for DS Drill Sergeant or Drill Instructor) school and voltuneering to be a DI at Fort Jackson. I had it on good authority they were looking for DS's. I was *really* contemplating it so much I asked my husband about it. He promptly said "Not a good idea". WHY??!! "Um, you think you don't have a life *now*???" Well, yeah there's that.... but but but I sputtered.

So I spent about a week and a half lamenting my lot in life. Then I suddenly realized with a start that there was only one more week in March and I had not put anyone in boots! YIKES!! Nightmares ensue. I act all weird to prospects scaring them off. I roll the big zero, a doughnut, NO ENLISTMENTS for the month of March.

MSG Ranger assures me that all is not lost and that I can redeem myself and my good name. All this with no shouting, no yelling, no pressure. Well maybe a little pressure. Like daily phones calls "Well Ranger Fields?? whatcha got?" LOL. No pressure there. ;-)

So I line up 7 applicants. They all slowly either fade away or disqualify themselves. Don't ask.

Meanwhile two of my "teammates" are busy trying to poach my county. OK, so TECHNICALLY a recruiter can only "poach" from a high school. But I work my county. If you want my county, fine. I'll trade. Oh you don't *want* to trade? Then stay the hell out of my county. Comprende? I come by the Colombian cartell attitude honestly.

Finally I sit down and say to myself, "Ok, lets pull your head out of your arse and figure this out." I talk to everyone. I ask my family to pray. I go to all my schools and talk to anyone who will look at me. I give out goodies to everyone (I call it recruiting candy. No one can refuse it) I call counselors, I call colleges, I call trade schools. I call over 120 leads in my box. I call old leads, old prospects, old applicants.

That was 10 days ago.

Today I got a call from my CSM. I put in 6 recruits in 8 days.

more to come

Junior High Humor

2007-04-06T14:43:00.000-05:00

I saw Blades Of Glory today. My son turned 12 and my sister and I took him to the restaurant of his choice (Dead Lobster) and the Movie of his choice. OF COURSE he chose a movie targeting a young male audience. However I love Will Farrell, and Farrell at least makes movies that have enough humor to make even a mom laugh. IT WAS HILARIOUS. Yeah there were quite a few juvenile moments but over all it was a hoot. The Iron Lotus was so funny.

Missions

2007-03-28T20:52:00.000-05:00

Here is a pic of me snapped while I was teaching during RSP:

Notice the guy to the far right? SLEEPING! LOL. I love to teach these kids but not everyone likes my style. Also notice my hair style? VERY Navy. Since WLC I wear it more Army. It helps that it is growing out and getting long enough to pull it all back. I actually like this pic. I wasn't posing, they caught me in a candid moment.

Well I finally did it. I rolled a doughnut this month. That means I put ZERO people into the National Guard this month. Yeah I was at school at the beginning of the month but... I have been having nightmares about it. My boss keeps telling me to chill. I have four going down Wednesday next week. 3 of them have taken their ASVAB, 2 have taken their physicals and one is a prior service so they are all pretty much "shoe-ins". I am lining up 4 more for the following week. Then I will be done with my mission.

So...done with my mission...what does that mean? Does that mean I can "take it easy". Um, no. It means I can get my office partner 110% of his mission (9 more enlistments) THEN I can work on "Rookie of the Year". I'll will be working like a dog.

Last night my hubbie and I got into a fuss. A big row. At one point I shouted that I wasn't good at "ordering people around" (insinuating that he is) and he shot back with a "THEN YOU'LL NEVER MAKE E-7!!!!!!!!!" Very insulting. We finally stopped and made up. It still stuck in my craw but I kept my mouth shut. So today my NCOIC SFC Ranger (soon to be MSG Ranger) mentions that since he has broken his arm things around his home have been tense. I realised that was the problem in my home! Not his broken arm but my broken foot! Oh yeah, I had my foot X-rayed and I have been walking around on a fracture for a month. So I mention that we had a fuss and what my husband said. SFC Ranger gets all indignant and says "Oh hell yes you're gonna make E-7!" I get all indignant back and reply "That's what *I* told him!" He huffed and humphed and looked disturbed.

Lately I have had to make a temporary portable office. I still have my office in Rome, but have been working more closely with the recruiter in Calhoun. He has a desk and SFC Ranger has a desk. But I have to make do. So I turned the classroom you see in the pic above into my office. Its' been working out great. I have a huge space, brightly lit and plenty of room to interveiw prospects.

I got back from lunch and sat down to work at my laptop. I notice an E-7 velcro insignia on the keyboard. I smiled. I took it and put it in my left pocket (over my heart) where there is also the coin the CSM gave me. Two minutes later SFC Ranger shouts from his desk "SGT FIELDS! YOU FIND SOMETHING ON YOUR COMPUTER??" I chuckled, got up and walked to his desk "Yes Sergeant. Thanks, Sergeant." I showed him I was keeping it with my coin. He nodded his head in approval.

Does the story end there?? OHHHH NOOOO. I get home. LOL. I casually talk about my day and then casually remove the insignia from my pocket, keeping it hidden in my hand and casually relay the conversation of the day. I slap down the insignia and a slow grin spreads across my husband's face. LOL.

Playing catch-up

2007-03-23T17:50:00.000-05:00

Lets see....Went and saw "The 300" at the theatre about a week ago. FANTASTIC movie. Best movie I have ever seen? No. Will it win Oscars? Probably not. Worth going and forking over big bucks for tickets and way too much money for drinks and munchies? ABSOLUTELY. I would go see it again, and plan on buying the video. Hubbie can't wait for the X-Box game they will probably make!! LOL. Loved the Spartan version of Hooah. Loved all the six packs. Yelled with glee when the Queen stabs the Jerk.

Legs are still sore. I really pushed myself too hard and probably injured my foot and leg. Oh well. I am having my husband adjust my foot and that helps but I fear I did some real damage. I need to buy new tennis shoes and start running shorter distances ESPECIALLY since my PT test is coming up shortly (May).

I got all my schtuff in for my promotion packet. I should know in a coupla weeks if I made E-6. My NCOIC said "As soon as you are on the list I'm promotin' ya. Got it?" Got it! So... I need to go buy some E-6 insignia for my uniforms. Is that bad luck??

Recruiting for me has slowed down. Helping the new guy and going away for two weeks took some air out of my sails. I have three lined up for next week. I took two down this week and one was a QNE (qualified/not enlisting) for the GMS (Georgia Military Scholarship) and the other didn't pass his ASVAB. The QNE will enlist once he finds out he has been awarded the scholarship. We should know something Monday. The other one will retake his ASVAB next month and should do better.

I have a lot in my hopper but none that are really ready. I am spending a lot of my time at my schools which is paying off, but many of them can't enlist until June. They will be 17 and a Junior.

Went to a loan officer today. Sigh. We want to build a home. I am not sure I am up to this pressure. And they say recruiting is tough?? Try agreeing with your spouse on how you want to build a house.

My NCOIC will be pinned for E-8 next Wednesday!! I am so excited and so proud for him. He really deserves it. He is *such* a great guy. OK, he is an ASS at times....but overall he really is a great guy. I don't always understand his methods but I do understand his reasons.

Well all that Military Bearing from WLC is wearing off. So I bought some propaganda, uhem, I mean, reference books on leadership. One I am reading comes highly recommended. The Three Meter Zone, by JD Pendry CSM USA. I have just started it and it seems to read like some of the textbooks we were issued at WLC. The reveiws promise that it goes beyond that so we shall see. I also bought Small Unit Leadership by Col Dandridge Malone, USA Ret. Who names their child Dandridge??

Well it's official. I am old. I never thought I would see the day I would say that but here it is. I am getting "older" and I am pretty active ESPECIALLY for my age. I am amazed at how out of shape some people let themselves get... however I was told that I am too old to go to Iraq. One of the sergeants in my unit said "You don't understand SGT Fields! You're too old. You wouldn't last a minute!" I begged to differ but he stopped me in my tracks and said " You don't get it. I don't care how good a shape your in. Iraq is a whole different ball of wax. If you are over 40 you're too old." Hmmm.

Oh my foot...

2007-03-20T19:33:00.000-05:00

and my leg. Geez. While I was at WLC I did something to my right foot. I lived with it and it seemed to get better. However the day before yesterday I went on a pretty vigorous run (4 miles up a mountain) and today... well it hurts. Bad. And because my right foot was hurting I compensated with my left leg so my left calf and shin are KILLING me!!

I got my husband to adjust me and my foot. It helped for a little bit yesterday but today??... wow. I have some pain killers left over from having a kidney stone and I took half a pill. Yeah, that's how bad it hurts.

Women of the IDF

2007-03-13T21:06:00.000-05:00

I did a Google search on women serving in the military and ran across this link for a photo essay on women in the Israeli Defense Force. It is a powerful photo essay. The pictures are stunning. Even though I am an old lady compared to these girls I felt myself relating to them so much.

Go take a look. Let me know what you think.

I found myself thinking of a nation whose very existence is threatened every second by a system of terrorists whose sole purpose and reason for being is to eliminate the Israelis. Right now, the ONLY thing standing in the way of terrorism is the Americans. Even our friends (Great Britain for one) are abandoning the mission. For whatever reason; I think our mission is damn important. Those girls in the pictures remind me of that. I may buy a print to keep in my office.

WLC

2007-03-04T08:48:00.000-05:00

Well, I am back from the Warrior's Leaders Course. WHOO HOOO!!! Shake and Bake baby!

I had a blast. Yes it was tough. Yes, it was intense. But I had a BLAST!

Here is a snapshot of the days:

0500 first call (AKA wake-up and not really too terribly early)
0545 accountability formation (make sure we are all there and armed with M-16's)
0600 breakfast at the DFac (Dining Facility)
0700 formation (billets or barracks rooms better be up to snuff cause they will be inspected while we are out)
0700 load up into Duece and a Halfs (big trucks for carrying troops) wearing full battle rattle (LBV, Kevlar, M-16) ride out to the field to commence troop movement training.
1100 chow in the field (it was the same meal for lunch everyday)
1200 continue troop movement training.
1600 formation; load Dueces, travel out of the field
1630 unload Dueces.
1645 Formation
1700 supper chow
1745 Formation
1800 fall into classrooms for instruction
2030 Details (Cleaning of common areas; mopping, buffing, polishing etc)
2130 Lock down. Weapons locked within our barracks lockers and the locker locked. No one can leave their room after weapons are secured.
2145 Barracks details (do it now cause you won't have time in the morning)
2300 lights out

It was actually pretty smooth. We were kept very busy and it is a good thing too. We had about 2 hours of free time the night before graduation and some people got stupid.

My class was GREAT. We had a good mix of people and everything went pretty smoothly. I'll write more soon.

Moving?

2007-03-04T08:40:00.000-05:00

Well, maybe not. I have tried to access the Mil-blog site and it is unaccessable. hmmm. So I guess I am staying here for a while.

Moving

2007-02-11T22:34:00.000-05:00

I am moving my blog to a Mil-Blog friendly host:
http://sgtlori.mil-blog.com/
come on over and visit a spell!

The Smell of Dirt

2007-02-05T15:28:00.000-05:00

Dirt has an odor. It is a distinct odor differing from anything else. Funny how I have never noticed this until recently. I guess that is because until recently I haven't had an intimate relationship with dirt or soil.

We had RSP this weekend. We played Paintball utilizing Ranger Tactics from their handbook. We practiced and then engaged the recruits against the Opfor. F U N!!! It was muddy, dirty, blistering cold (19 degrees). At what temperature does mud freeze?? Obviously a lower temp than water. At least clay filled mud is freeze resistant. Who knows?

After the fun, we cleaned up the area, the weapons and loaded everyone on a bus headed for the Armory.

And here is some more fun. Not recommended for children to veiw or hear but hilarious just the same. It is a spoof on a Navy recruiting video.

MEPS

2007-01-29T20:52:00.000-05:00

ok, I have been to MEPS numerous times...but I am DREADING having to go again this week. I am in a slump. Yeah I am ahead of mission and I have more in my pipeline but.... I just don't have the motivation to face the village idiots at MEPS.

Four Year Olds

2007-01-28T09:20:00.000-05:00

I was going to title this post "Little Girls" but the post is about my daughter's four year birthday party and she had two of her four year old boy cousins in attendance.

First let me say there is NOTHING cuter on this planet than a four year old. Period. They are absolutely adorable. Some people have said there is no such thing as an ugly baby but I have seen some pretty ugly babies. But four year olds are precious. They have an easy smile and winning ways. They can be easily bribed out of a sour mood. They find everything interesting.

Since I have a four year old daughter I *had* to have a Disney Princesses Party theme. Purple and Pink ruled the house. I bought little purple and pink crowns for the feminine partiers. However one of the boys donned a crown and smiled proudly as we snapped a picture of the quartet of princesses. The older boys rolled with laughter.

My daughter waited patiently for us to finish singing Happy Birthday. She tried to blow out the candles but when she blows she extends her bottom lip out and winds up blowing her bangs out of the way. After the third attempt mommy helped her out! LOL.

She began opening her presents and everyone wanted to help her. Especially her cousin Graham. He started ripping packages apart until his mom grabbed him. Hilarious. The big moment was when she opened the Wedding Barbie to oooh's and aaaahhh's from the pre-school crowd. Then she opened the Wedding Ken to a stunned silence. She whispered "The Handsome Prince!" with a little voice filled with awe and wonder and the crowd responded with a long drawnout ahhhhh. It was absolutely precious.

Big Fish

2007-01-24T20:57:00.000-05:00

I had an appointment with a kid and his mom tonight. I got a call from him about a week ago requesting an appointment. He is on one of my best school's wrestling team. He also plays football and baseball. He scored well on the ACT and has a 3.8 GPA. He is a Big Fish. He has a limited amount of free time and so do I so this was the soonest we could meet!

I had misunderstood where we were to meet, coupled with running late on account of traffic, so we met in the parking lot of the local IGA (Independant Grocer's Association) grocery store - don't ask why it is named IGA, I don't know.

So we are standing in the parking lot and I am having him fill out and sign all the paperwork on the back of my G-ride (GOV or Government Owned Vehicle) and answering Mom's questions. Two of his friends walk up while we are talking, looking curiously at me and him. He ignores them and concentrates on the matter at hand. He is a good looking kid that is clean cut. He looks me in the eye when we speak and he has an easy smile.

And he has plans for his future.

I am helping him win an $80,000.00 scholarship to the North Georgia College and State University. He will be non-deployable while attending and graduate an officer. He will have a choice of serving with the Guard or going Regular Army. He wants Army. Mom is so excited for him and so am I.

It was very refreshing talking to him. He is such a great kid and a neat person. He will be on the floor at MEPS February 1st.

So there I am last night working late in my office talking to my boss on the phone when I get a beep of an incoming call. Since NO ONE (I am told) outranks my boss I let it go to voicemail. I check my messages and it is a SFC Sharky that called me. I delete the message after jotting down the number and return his call. "Army Recruiting, this is SFC Sharky speaking; how may I help you sir or ma'am?" hmmmmm. VERY Interesting!

"Hi! This is SGT Fields returning your call??" SFC Sharky remarks on my voicemail message. I have a recording of the Mission Impossible theme song playing in the backgorund while I whisper in a heavy voice 'you are about to experience the most challenging job of your life! This is SGT Fields, the recruiter for Floyd county Army National Guard, leave a message at the tone...' "Heh, heh, I'd like to steal that message if I could get away with it!" he remarks. He'd like to steal more than my message.

He continues: I'd ask how you are doing except I know you are doing very well...
I respond: Yeah (laughing) I am doing very well.
Shark: Yeah, we get a *lot* of people coming in our office looking for SGT Fields!
me: And I am SURE you direct them inside and tell them that I will be there shortly but in the meantime, sit down and let's talk...
Shark: OH NO! I would never do that (heavy sarcasm and emphasis; mine).
me: hmmmm. I'll bet!
Shark: Well, I do use your name to help motivate my Army Reserve Recruiter. You're kicking our butts out there. Whenever he starts to relax I just mention that SGT Fields is out there recruiting. And you're just an E-5 right?
Me: Not for long. chuckle chuckle.
Shark: Chuckle chuckle, yeah not for long. Well the reason I called was that there is a Boy Scout Unit in Rome and they meet at your Armory....
me: Yep, they sure do.
Shark: Well we heard that one of them is about to make Eagle Scout. You know that is quite an accomplishment.
Me: Oh yes, I know! (note: find out who this kid is, and kick self for not knowing)
Shark: Well, we have a plaque and a certificate that we like to give them...
Me thinking :::I am sure you do:::
Shark continues: and if you don't mind we'd like to come and present it to him at the ceremony.
Me: Oh, gee,.... hmmm..... Well since it *is* here at the Armory, we are doing something very special for him (writing a note to call marketing and get a plaque made pronto) and will be doing a presentation so I don't think it would be necessary for y'all to go to all that trouble.
Shark: so you have it covered?
me (ooozing sweetness) oh yes, Sergeant, I have it covered.
Shark: (sounding thwarted) well that's about all. I just wanted to make sure he would get the recognition for such an accomplishment...
me: Oh I know what an accomplishment Eagle Scout is, not many achieve that level.
Shark: ok, well, you need to stop by sometime and say hello. I'd like to meet the person who is keeping me awake at night... (heh heh)
Me: (laughing in response) oh surely I am not keeping you awake at night!
Shark: well there is just you in Floyd County right?
Me: yep. Just me.
He continues to make small talk and nice nice but I can't wait to get him off the phone. He will die when he learns I landed the Big Fish.

Send Hook to Washington

2007-01-21T20:49:00.000-05:00

Boy do I wish we could send Hook to Washington! Maybe one day he will run for office. My favorite Blogger Sgt Hook is in a contest and the prize is cash money. He will use the money for a trip to attend the Milbloggers conference. Go read about it and vote for Hook!

Ramblings

2007-01-21T20:06:00.000-05:00

Well, I just finished up working a RSP weekend. It was fun but exhausting. I have been helping my partner in his schools and with his appointments alot. Pretty much I have been ignoring mine. I won't be doing that anymore.

My NCOIC just got back from a two week school and he looks happy to see us. My CSGM gave me a challenge coin. For the significance of a challenge coin go here. I was surprised.

I leave to attend WLC or Warrior Leadership Course in South Carolina Feb 17th. Sigh. I am NOT looking forward to this. Quote This course is hard hitting and intensive ... Unquote. I am just so tired lately, I just don't feel up to hard hitting and intensive.

I haven't had time to train on my weapon lately. I haven't had time to spend with my husband or kids. He yelled at me the other day and I know he has a valid point. However it is hard to convince my chain of command that my loyalty should be with my family first. ESPECIALLY since most of my time has recently (the last month) been devoted exclusively to helping my recruiting partner. However that is going to change.

The gloves are off, I am officially going to be an ass. My first answer to everything is going to be "No" or "I can't".

SPLAT!!!!

2007-01-07T19:19:00.000-05:00

We recieved three paintball guns, three goggles, three filled CO2 tanks and a thousand paintballs from Santa for Christmas. We each dressed warmly (very well padded) and headed out for our acreage to "play". We took turns playing one on one since our youngest was with us.

We had a lot of fun. I learned two things. Gloves are not just for looks. I got hit in the hand and shouted a cuss word. My son was heard chuckling off in the distant woods. The second thing is I need to wear a few pairs of sweat pants not just one. My husband shot me in the leg and WOW did it hurt. I decided to go "sniper" and lowered myself to the ground and waited till he took off to hide behind a different tree for a better angle. I shot rapid fire straight for his legs! Tee Hee. I hit him twice but he didn't utter a peep.

Later when we were gleefully surveying our "battle wounds" I spotted the two splats of paint on my husband's pants. I said "You ain't fooling anyone big boy, THOSE HURT." He shrugged.

Still later at home I showed the big bruise on my leg and made hubbie show his! GEEZ I got him good! LOL, he had a whelp about as big as a small plum. My son was in awe. Hilarious.

P.S. on my sniper training. Joe Ranger wants me to continue my training. He says I have a lot more to learn (um, yeah!) and he wants me to get proficient. Not to mention he wants to train me on the Glock handgun.

Merry Christmas!

2006-12-23T22:22:00.000-05:00

Have a great Christmas. Remember those less fortunate, remember our Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen serving far away from their loved ones.

Weapons Qual

2006-12-22T15:07:00.000-05:00

As she pulls into the parking lot of the shooting range she notices that everyone else on her team has already arrived. The knot in her stomach tightens a little more. She whispers to herself "calm down" as she wipes the sweat off her palms using her ACU pants.

Once inside the range she jokes and cuts-up with everyone as she is casually eyeing the FATS set-up. Four stations are set up with weapons and sand bags. There is a screen at the far end of room with what looks like a projected rifle range. She takes a deep breath and exhales. SFC Ranger, her 1SGT says "Don't worry Ranger F, you'll be fine. We're gonna assign you a coach..."

She waits patiently while four others begin their qualification on the range. "Ready on the left, ready on the right..." She hears chuckles and whispers as the old warriors evaluate those on the range. They call out to each shooter "Hinde, you're too high! Windom, you’re shooting high left!" They finish the course and get up off the floor.

SFC Ranger says "SGT F, you need to pick a coach. Now everyone, listen up. She's gonna pick ONE coach, that person will help her and la-di-da-dee every-damn-body will leave her alone except for that person. Understood?" Several Hooahs echo throughout the room. SFC CIB (Combat Infantry Badge or bad ass warrior) steps forward and says "I can help you if you want.... I have *some* experience training for combat" he adds with heavy sarcasm. SFC CIB was part of an eight man team that trained the Iraqi's as Infantry while he was in Iraq the second time. She nervously says "Ok, if you don't mind."

SFC CIB runs through the four essentials of holding the weapon, breathing, sight alignment, and trigger pull. She listens intently as he goes through all the things her personal trainer said would be said. Joe Ranger had only met with her twice the previous week, and he warned her that she would get all sorts of misguided advice but he wanted her to remember only what he would teach her. She listened but inside was getting more nervous.

Weapons qualification is important for several reasons. First and foremost the Army and National Guard have a policy of "Every Soldier an Infantryman" or every soldier should be prepared to fight, period. There is no such thing as a support person who is not capable of picking up a weapon and fighting. It is a good and valuable policy. You NEVER know when you will be confronted with a situation that calls for defending yourself or a buddy.

Weapons qual is important for advancement. A passing qual of Marksman is worth 25 points, a Sharpshooter is worth 50 points and Expert is worth 75 points. It can mean the difference between making rank or not.

Finally, weapons qual can be important for status in a unit. If you are a poor shot or don't know your way around a weapon you can take a lot of ribbing and in some cases lose the respect of your peers. In her case, she had taken a lot of ribbing. Everyone pretty much dismissed her as "Gavy" and although the jokes tended to be good natured she could sense an undercurrent of disrespect. She knew this was her chance to shine and she wanted to do just that.

Finally her name is called and she approaches the range. Butterflies begin in her stomach as she lays down, picks up the weapon and aims. SFC CIB positions himself to observe and coach if necessary. She pulls the weapon close and holds it the way she was instructed by Joe Ranger. She hears someone whisper "Holy Shit! She's settin'up like a damn sniper!" Her coach says "Is that comfortable for you??" She nods as she glances at him with eyes as big as saucers. The call is shouted to lie prone, load the magazine, set weapon to semi-auto (safety off) and zero our weapons. She sights and squeezes the trigger three times in a row. She hears several swear under their breaths saying "Da-yum", "Look at that", "Shit!". The call goes out to zero again. She squeezes off three more shots and is feeling more comfortable. SFC Ranger shouts "JESUS H CHRIST!" Someone else says "SHIT, she ought to be a gottdam sniper!" The screen flashes the shots taken to zero the weapons of those currently on the range. Hers shows a tight circle of shots one on top of each other right dead center of the target. She glances at SFC CIB and whispers "Is that good?" He keeps a straight face as he says "uh, yeah, you want to have a tight cluster. That’s real good." She smiles sweetly to herself.

The call goes out to ready for the course. The first part is with the weapon supported. She makes sure she has the weapon held the way she was taught, heels down and toes pointed out, elbows wide for a good platform, left hand pulling the weapon into her right shoulder, finger lightly on the trigger, face pressed into the stock with her nose touching the charging handle. With both eyes open she watches for the first target. One by one she aims and shoots, the closer bigger targets are harder because they are only on screen for a moment. She hits every single 300 meter target as she hears the swearing in the background. She misses a 50 meter target on the right and cusses. 20 shots later and they stop. The scores rise and she sees she got 18 out of 20. Low whistles and murmuring in the background. She glances at SFC CIB, who is still staring at the screen with his mouth open. She says "I missed one I didn't realize. Which one was it?" He says "Um, it was the 50 meter on the lower left. I don't think you even saw it."

Now she has to shoot the M-16 without sandbags or "unsupported". She panics slightly since she has not practiced unsupported very much. SFC CIB tells her to pull the weapon and her elbows in even closer. She has about 2 seconds to move her elbows in and aim. The call goes out to load the magazine, set the weapon to semi and prepare to shoot.

The weapon is heavy and seems wobbly. She aims and shoots high. She cusses to herself again. She makes sure her sight alignment is the same as before she squeezes off at the targets rising in front of her on the screen. They disappear one by one. She misses another close target. DAMN! She calms herself remembering that panic won't help. She concentrates on her breathing. Slow down girl and concentrate. A pair of targets pops up and she aims for the smaller one first and misses the larger one. Calm down, calm down, she says to herself. She takes her last shot.

SFC Ranger jumps up and shouts "THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT! FUCKIN’ SHARPSHOOTER!!! FIRST TIME AT THE FUCKIN’ RANGE!! AWESOME, RANGER F!!, FUCKIN' AWESOME!" SFC CIB slowly rises with a grin on his face and says "Good Job, you're one shot from making expert". She slowly raises, looks around the room at the faces that are staring at her. Nods are directed her way and several put out a fist for her to tap. She has been accepted into the "boys club" and can hold her head high. She beat out all but three of the shooters.

She leaves the building floating on cloud nine planning to come back with the 108th to re-qualify and pick up Expert. :-)

Oh my aching body!!!

2006-12-20T17:22:00.000-05:00

Well we *only* shot for 2 and a half hours.... but last night I sat in my Homedics Shiatzu Massage chair for 45 minutes while it worked my low back.

Joe Ranger covered shooting without a sandbag (HARD) and shooting with a sandbag (Easier but felt like the M-16 was propped too high). He ran me through a "course" by putting up all the different size targets and calling them out at random. I did ok. I'll pass.

My right shoulder aches. I have a bruise on my jaw where I wasn't gripping the rifle correctly and when I shot it jerked and hit me. My low back hurts from balancing my weight and holding the rifle up. My knees and elbows are raw. But I am hooked. I loved it.

He stepped on my ankle to get me to drop my feet down and get off my toes. I shot 120 rounds in all.

By the end of my lesson I was beat and ready to go home. I smelled. I smelled of dirt (yes dirt has a smell) and gun powder. I was FILTHY!! But I loved it.

My elbows hurt.

2006-12-18T16:02:00.000-05:00

So, I arrive at the range with my paper targets. I forgot to buy ammo but no worries, he has plenty. I'll repay him with replacement ammo tomorrow. Joe Ranger looks like an average Joe. He wears a ballcap, a white t-shirt with a plaid shirt (not buttoned) over it and blue jeans. He chews, spits and smiles as we talk. He seems like a really nice guy.

We get down to brass tacks pretty soon. He asks me questions, I make calls to get some answers. I need to learn how to shoot lying prone with no sandbags to prop the weapon on.

I learned about how to load it, hold it, sight it and fire it. I did pretty good. Then I had to get in the dirt. I did better. I continued to practice and I did better. He showed me what it means if I fire right or down or up or left. My breathing is off, I am pulling too hard on the trigger, I am not using my elbows correctly to platform. I finally am able to cluster my shots but they are still too low. That means I have to work on my breathing.

After an hour and a half we quit. My elbows are raw, my shoulder hurts, my arms are stiff!! I am having concerns about being able to do this!! He laughed and said I would be fine. He said with more work he could really help me do much better. So I will be back tomorrow at 0800 and we will practice for about 3 hours.

I Hit Gold.

2006-12-15T18:33:00.000-05:00

I get a call late last night from a guy that lives near here. He went to school with my husband's brother. He says "I'm Joe. I heard you need someone to teach you how to shoot an M-16 or AR (whatever)..." Um, yeah. "Well" he said in a voice very similar to Robert Duvall, "I joined the Army right out of high school. I was Infantry and then became a Ranger. I was also a Sniper and taught Sniper School for the Army. But,...I had a bum knee and didn't want to spend the rest of my career stuck behind a desk so I got out. I own a range out here and heard you needed to learn how to shoot."

Well!! Almost slobbering all over myself I blurt out "YES! I am prior service Navy! I shot a pistol in Boot but it misfired (towards my foot) and they took it away from me. I shot a 22 once about 15 years ago...so I am desparate! I need to qualify at the range to make E-6! We go to the range in ONE WEEK. Can you help me?"

He chuckled and said "Sure." He began to ask me a lot of questions and I wrote them down. I made phone calls to find out what he needed to know. I called him back and he began to question me about the range (electronic and he is familiar with it) what weapon (M-16) and did I just want to make marksman or passing. I hesitated and then I said "Well, Joe, the fellas like to joke with me about being "Gavy" and they know I can't shoot. I would love to go in there, act stupid and then blow them all away..." He howled with laughter and then said "ok, we can do that." He outlined the plan of action. We will meet three times this next week. He said that should do it. He has an M-16 and said he would tighten the tension on the trigger. It is set to 3 pounds of pressure now. I am assuming that makes it a "hair trigger" or doesn't take any pressure to pull it.

So to set the "trap" I called the top two Sergeants in my team, SFC Ranger and SFC CIB and said in a very worried tone... "You know I can't shoot...I don't know a thing about weapons... what if I don't qualify??? Should I wear my glasses?" Hee Hee!!

I meet with Joe Ranger on Monday at 0900. I'll keep you posted.

Calling All Shooters

2006-12-13T20:20:00.000-05:00

OK, here is the situation: I have NEVER qualified on a weapon. I have never handled a firearm except for a pistol in Navy Boot Camp in 1983.

I am now expected to qualify on a AR-15 (I think) December 22. ONE WEEK AWAY.

There is a crazy loonie (ex-Ranger) that lives about 5 miles from us. He has a rifle range and (I hear) all kinds of weapons. I have been calling around tonight to see if anyone has his number (he is unlisted). I hunted down a friend who is an ex-Marine sniper. He started asking me all sorts of questions I had no clue about.

My husband is a hunter and can show me how to shoot a deer and that's about it. YIKES!! What else do I need to know??

I called my partner F2 and he said we may be qualifying on an electronic range. Huh?? He said I could check a weapon out from the armory to practice with. OK, so what do I check out? What do I do?

Yes I am d*mn well going to play the helpless female!!! Cause that's how I feel right about now. Help!

It's That Time of Year Again

2006-12-09T18:41:00.000-05:00

This is probably my favorite site Christmas Eve. NORAD tracks Santa each year. We love to watch the Radar and see how close Santa is before we need to go to sleep. There are games, history and even a countdown clock till Christmas. You can have music play in the background performed by the Air Force Academy band and the Canadian Naval band. Cool!

Snow or Lack Thereof

2006-12-09T10:11:00.000-05:00

I live in Northwest Georgia. It used to snow here. It doesn't anymore. The reason why is a completely different topic that I am not willing to fathom!

I grew up all over the place. I was born in Virginia (it snowed) and lived in New York state as a teenager (boy did it snow!) and Germany ( more snow). I also lived in Southern California, El Paso, Texas and Miami, Florida. We had snow in the mountains of Southern Cal and snow in El Paso. It even snowed once in Miami! The longest I ever lived in one place was Georgia. We got a light dusting every year. Occassionally a big snow but you always got a least one snow to let you know it was winter time. So I grew up used to seeing snow at least once a year.

My first duty station in the Navy as a student was in Chicago. I have never experienced cold and snow like I did in Chicago. No offense to Northerners (Yankees) but I now know why y'all don't have that Southern Hospitality. After one winter there I was mean as a snake.

While I was stationed in Hawaii I really missed cold winters. Going to the beach on Christmas morning is about as depressing as things get. San Fransisco lived up to the Mark Twain saying "The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Fransisco.". The winters were mild and rainy, the summers were cool.

I came back to Georgia around 15 years ago. About 10 years ago I began to notice that our snows were getting lighter. About 7 years ago they disappeared altogether. Each year I hear the old-timers say "Maybe it will snow this year.... We ought to have a really cold winter this year..... We are due a cold winter..." But each year we get some blistering cold but no snow. And even when it gets really cold (like today; 16 degrees) it doesn't stay cold enough to kill off bugs.

I MISS SNOW!! Snow in the South is vastly different than snow up North. When there is a forcast of a CHANCE of snow everyone goes nuts. People run out to the grocery store and buy out the milk and bread. There are traffic jams from all the stay-at-homes out on the road and the worker bees trying to get home early. The grocery stores are PACKED and the milk and bread are gone from the shelves in record time. Why bread and milk and not beer and chips?? I don't know.

The next thing that happens is we all watch the news. We look for the school closings which begin the afternoon before the forcasted snow. It starts from the top of Georgia first. Usually Blue Ridge and Elijay are first with Cherokee county next. Then businesses start announcing their closings followed by banks, colleges and government offices! No lie! It is like we roll up the streets.

Once it does snow we send the kids outside and snap pictures of snow angels, small snowmen and snow covered trees and winter wonderland. We make hot chocolate, ice milk and snow cones. No sight of sandwiches so the bread goes unused! :-) We build a fire in the woodburning stove, huddle around with fleece blankets, bundle up to go outside with giddy childlike excitement. It is like a Holiday!

I miss that. Yes, I can drive to the snow and experience the cold, the beauty and grandure. But it isn't the same.

Showing Off the Island

2006-12-07T20:55:00.000-05:00

I get a call yesterday that MEPS screwed up and didn't get finger prints to do a FBI background check on one of my enlistments. "When can you take PVT S down to MEPS?" Tomorrow.

I tell PVT S to meet me at the armory at 9. Traffic in Atlanta should be sufficiently cleared up to make a quick (one hour) trip to MEPS. "We'll also get your ID card while we are down there." I sweeten the pot for my young recruit.

After the MEPS debacle (I won't go into it. Suffice it to say I believe that you have to check your brain at the door when you arrive for work at MEPS) we leave and head for Fort MacPherson.

Many many moons ago when I was in the best damn Navy in the World I was stationed at Pearl Harbor Hawaii. Hawaii is a series of increasingly beautiful islands in the Pacific Ocean. The weather is PERFECT year round. The people are wonderful and I made many good friends there.

However Island Fever set in about a year after I arrived there. The islanders had a popular bumper sticker that read "Just Another Shitty Day in Paradise." The idea being that when you live in paradise you get accustomed to it and pretty soon each day is just the same as the other. Your senses become deadened to the beauty and grandure. Until that is you get to show off the island.

Inevitably I would have someone come visit me (yeah right) and I would get to show off Hawaii to a new pair of eyes. I would take them to the little known places off the beaten track. I would take them to see the veiw from the top of the island overlooking the North Shore. Breathtaking. Or the little surfboard shop by Kaneohe. The great food at a REAL Luau. I would fall in love with the Island all over again. I would see Hawaii through their eyes.

Well today I got to "show off the island". I drove PVT S around Fort Mac. I showed him the parade grounds and the officer housing. After we got his ID card we went to the uniform shop or the "Military Clothing Sales". I bought a book about General Patton, some National Guard stickers for my son and PVT S purchased an ACU patterned wallet. I then gave him the Grand Pooba tour of the base. Fort MacPherson was built in 1885 and some of the buildings look it! LOL. FORSCOM is there so it is an important base.

PVT S was full of questions. He will be part of a LRS (rhymes with purse) unit out of Fort Gillem nearby. He is so excited. He is also nervous about Basic Training, AIT and his Airborne school. He will be fine.

It was nice to get a fresh vision. He ships out in February. I told him he better write me at least one postcard. He chuckled and said sure. If he is like most of my recruits, I will get a phone call from Basic saying "Sgt F, its' just like you said it would be...".

It felt good showing off the Army. I fell in love with it all over again.

Thank you....

2006-12-05T19:11:00.000-05:00

I drove to Alabama today to do an interveiw. The kid that wants to join is 19, graduated High School last May, working a factory job and wanting "somp'en differnt." So we met at the local Huddle House. The food was awful. I wasn't cooked nearly enough. I sat and sipped my coffee as he took the practice ASVAB on my laptop.

I noticed an older pair of women walking up to the restaurant. They weren't wearing the latest fashions, in fact the were dressed very dowdy. They didn't sport savvy coifed hair. In fact one needed to comb her hair! LOL. They were clearly poor. They walked in, looked around and took a seat in a booth at the far side of the restaurant. My kid asked a question and took my attention off of the old women for a moment.

The friendly waitress warmed my coffee and I continued to sip and contemplate. I looked at the kid in front of me. Poor, barely educated and wanting more. Instinctively he knows the Military can open those doors for him. What promise awaits him! Training, education, experience and intangibles that you can't put a finger on like self confidence, discipline, team work, and challenge. In a short 6 months he will be transformed from a kid into a soldier.

Suddenly I spot one of the poor women approaching me. She stops short of the table not wanting to interrupt. I look at her with a questioning expression that asks "Can I help you?". She blurts out. "Kin I jest say 'Thank you'?" I jump to my feet and grasp her extended hand. I gratefully thank her for the thought. I sit back down but she stands for a second before leaning down and giving me a very firm embrace. She backs away slightly and with tears in her eyes she continued "I jest want you to know thet someone appreciates all you do. All of you. So...Thank you." She turned and hurried away to her booth before I could say much more.

My kid, who had stopped taking the test, sat with a stunned expression on his face. His eyes followed her back to her seat and then back to me. I smiled, he smiled and went back to his test with renewed vigor.

I sat sipping my coffee warmed by more than the hot beverage.

The Draft part 2

2006-12-03T14:20:00.000-05:00

The idea of a draft has become a hot topic in my locale. Many people feel it would be "fair". It seems the general public feels the Army is full of malcontents forcibly sent to Iraq and Afghanistan. Hmmm.

Not withstanding the few soldiers that lament(whine)"I didn't sign up for this! I signed up for college money!" most soldiers raised their right hand and enlisted with their eyes wide open to the fact that we are at WAR.

I am a recruiter. I make my applicants well aware of what exactly is expected of them. Before they are ever sitting in front of me they have weighed the risks and know what they are signing up for. We R da Military. A majority of them are interested in benefits but bottom line?? They want a chance to learn discipline and serve their country. Hooah.

I would be for a draft under only one circumstance. If we had a draft similar to Israel's draft. EVERY ONE serves. Period the end. Every person from age 18 to 20 is in the service. Everyone. Each young adult would be given the opportunity to serve in one form or another. If you are severely handicapped you could do public service. THAT is "fair".

That won't be the draft we get. We'll get a draft with loopholes for those who are creative (or rich) enough to take advantage of them. Frankly an all volunteer Army is doing a great job. Why mess with a good thing?? If it ain't broke don't fix it.

The Draft

2006-11-30T20:19:00.000-05:00

Here's my 2 cents for what it is worth... the Draft is NOT a good idea.

I know why some numbnuts want to institute the Draft. They think that we would have a better cross section of society. The idea is that the military is filled with people who have no other choices and are forced to join the service or die. Either that or they are so pathetically stupid to know better. A Draft would ensure we have a military that is represented by all sectors of the popluace, rich, poor, smart, etc.

I have had my FILL of degrading comments about the military.

I do not think the Draft is a good idea. A draft works when everyone feels compelled to serve. Someone who is conscripted or forced into defending our nation is a far cry from the person with strong personal courage who wants to support and defend our nation.

As to comments made by our esteemed representatives concerning people who soldier because they have no other career options; I'd like to point out several people I know personally who chose to soldier over very lucrative career choices.

1. My brother-in-law. Graduated from Emory Medical school and served 3 years in the Navy. He loved it and would have continued but his wife asked him to become a civilian.

2. My father. Actually my step-father. He knew since he was in middle school he wanted to go to West Point and be a career Army officer. So he got a newspaper route and saved his money and put himself through a private high school. He knew that to get accepted to West Point, he needed an education that stood out from the crowd. He attended the only private high school on his island and got accepted to West Point. He served 26 years and retired as a full Colonel. He did not want to retire but my mom said "enough already". He is a financial wizard and could have made more money as a CPA, but devoted his life to the Army.

3. One of my first sweethearts. Pete was an Air Force brat. He played football in high school and college. He graduated and became a psychologist. He was very successful but felt something was lacking. He went on to become an officer in the Air Force.

4. One of my first commanders. He served in the Navy for one enlistment. He got out and became a California Highway Patrol or Chip. He served there for 6 years and missed serving his country. He went back and became an officer. He was a great leader.

I could go on and on. So many people who want nothing more than to give back. What a shame that there are so many narrow minded politicians that want nothing more than to take, they can't imagine anyone wanting anything else.

Veterans Day

2006-11-15T20:33:00.000-05:00

I had a very nice Veterans Day. I spent time with my family. I went back to work on Monday. SGT F and I spent the day running down applicants and holding interveiws. At lunch we stopped at a Waffle House off the Bremen exit of I20. We came in and the waitress was very nice. I ordered breakfast and drank coffee as SGT F and I role played as recruiter and prospect. The coffee was good and the steak, eggs and grits was even better.

A few people wandered in and nodded a hello at us. A couple walked to the jukebox and slipped a few dollars in. As the selection played I drank my coffee. Lee Greenwood's "Proud to be an American" always chokes me up if I begin to think about it so I concentrated on my food. Silence as the new selection begins. Toby Keith's familiar voice singing "American Soldier" floated through the restaurant. SGT F grew quiet. I remarked that it was such a great song and I cried through the whole video the first time I saw it. I reflected on the words that mean so much to me

I'm just trying to be a father
Raise a daughter and a son
Be a lover to their mother
Everything to everyone
Up and at 'em, bright and early
I'm all business in my suit
Yeah, I'm dressed up for success
From my head down to my boots

This may sound really strange.... I love my uniform. I feel a sense of pride as I lace up my boots. I make sure I am squared away and present a good image to the public. I don't want to give anyone a reason to look down on the Military. I feel that in a very small way I am representing those who are serving in combat.

The song continues...

I don't do it for the money
There's bills that I can't pay...

Ain't that the truth I chuckled to myslef.

I don't do it for the glory
I just do it anyway
Providing for our future's
my responsibility
Yeah I'm real good under pressure
Being all that I can be

There is quite a bit of pressure being a recruiter. I can see the condescending looks from school counselors. I notice the tone that says they think the Military is the last resort for most people. They don't understand WANTING to serve your country.

And I can't call in sick on Mondays
when the weekends been too strong
I just work straight through the holidays
And sometimes all night long.

And my family pays the price too. Grace plays "recruiter" now. She stands in front of our desk with her Barbie phone saying "You need to be National Guard!" She plays with her Barbies and the Mama Barbie "Has to go to work. Don't cry! I be back soon."

You can bet that I stand ready
when the wolf growls at the door
Hey, I'm solid, hey I'm steady,
hey, I'm true down to the core

Countless faces of soldiers cross my mind as I think of those serving in combat right now.

And I will always do my duty
no matter what the price
I've counted up the cost,
I know the sacrifice
Oh, and I don't want to die for you
but if dyin's asked of me
I'll bear that cross with honor
'cause freedom don't come free

Amen

I'm an American soldier,
an American beside my brothers
and my sisters
I will proudly take a stand

Tears start down my face

When Liberty's in jeopardy,
I will always do what's right
I'm out here on the front line
Sleep in peace tonight
American soldier, I'm an American soldier

Sgt F shares about waiting to be reunited with his family after 12 months in Iraq. He is in a barracks and sees the video to this song. He gets choked up just sharing about it. "I remember thinking of my daughter and what it would be like to hold her again...." He shakes his head and stares out the window.

As the song ends we get up pay our bill and leave. We hear several shout "Thank you!" after us. Thank you, Lord, for those who appreciate what it means to serve. Thank you, Lord, for allowing me to serve.

Cool clock

2006-11-11T15:10:00.001-05:00

This clock is just too cool.

What happens TDY...

2006-11-10T17:47:00.000-05:00

Stays TDY. Or so I have heard. I have also heard that TDY stands for Temporary Divorce for You. Hmmm. Apparently quite a few people take that seriously. I won't throw ayone under the bus but I have to say...wow. The first night I was there I went down to the hotel lounge/restaurant, ordered a glass of wine, read my book while I waited for my to-go order to be filled. I got hit on by three different soldiers.

The second night I had dinner with another soldier and his wife and the girl that works in marketing. The CSM joined us and had a drink. We all left to go to a popular night spot and had a few drinks then returned to the hotel. I went to my room ALONE and before midnight. The NEXT day, the very next day my NCOIC SFC Ranger calls me, asks me how the conference is going, asks me if I am behaving "Like you aren't going out getting drunk with the CSM, right???" HUH?

I said "Weeeellllll, now that you mention it...." and I told him the real story. He chuckled and I was astonished. Dang news travels fast! I cornered him when I got back to find out about who was gossiping. He laughed and said he was just checking up on me. He said he knows I behaved.

I was awarded a Ka-Bar knife with my name engraved on it! Very nice. My husband was jealous.

I'll post more later but I am very tired.

Jon Carry is still a dum-ass

2006-11-04T17:49:00.000-05:00

In on 'er of Jon Carry, meny of us MilBlogers (like hear, hear and hear) haf enstaled the Jon Carry add-onn spel cheker. Neet Huh?

Stupid is as Stupid DOES

2006-11-03T17:58:00.000-05:00

I am still upset about Mr. John Kerry's comment. The thought has briefly crossed my mind to make a "I Luv Jon Carry" button. I have heard some people say that a big deal is being made about his comment, a proverbial mountain out of a molehill. Maybe.

His comment showed me what he thinks of the military men and women. We chose the Military because we had no better choice. His comment reminded me of comments made by a school counselor. I had gone on an appointment and found out my prospect couldn't read after he scored a TWO on the EST (practice ASVAB on recruiter's laptops). I tried to be encouraging and helpful but left the home depressed.

A few weeks roll by and I get a phone call from the counselor at his high school. Seems she got wind of his interest and wanted to be of "halp".

The counselor tried in a round about way to find out if I knew the kid was illiterate. I let her know up front I figured it out.

She then proceeds to say that if the Army can use him "Since he is Special Ed...and on an IEP....if he needed to have a diploma, well..." I could tell this was painful for her to admit, but I let her continue without relieving her agony.
I said "Well.....?"
Counselor "Well, I mean we have a lot of pull when it comes to his education."
Me "Oh yes, I understand...you need to provide him with whatever tools he needs to succeed."
Counselor "Well yes, there’s that, but also we write the requirements for his graduation."
Me "Meaning...?"
Counselor "Well, if he needs to have a diploma to get in the Army, we can give him one."
Me (steam rolling out of ears) "Well, ma'am...no disrespect, yes you are right..he *does* need a diploma to get into the Army or the National Guard or any military service..."
Counselor (gleefully happy) "Well we can give Aaron a diploma!"
Me "Yes Ma'am, again no disrespect intended, however maybe 60 years ago, or rather *maybe* a hundred years ago a man could get into the Military by signing a "X" next to his name on a piece of paper. But today? With all due respect, your school has failed Aaron. He is completely and utterly illiterate and a piece of paper with the word Diploma on it won't be enough."

I went on at great length about how great our military is and the kinds of weapons and equipment they use. I knew I had lost her though. Her comments continued to be degrading and unrelentingly condescending.

I am angry and sad. This is what the general liberal public thinks of me and other soldiers. We are unfortunate pukes who couldn't or wouldn't make the right education choices and are left no other choice for our future.

It would take only one generation of young men and women to NOT choose the Military for a career and we would be over run by all our enemies. I hope Kerry remembers that before he lies down to sleep at night. If, by his STUPID statement we lose a lot of our best and brightest, then he is the most ignorant of them all.

John Kerry can Kiss my uneducated Ass!

2006-11-02T19:31:00.000-05:00

Day late but D*mn! However this pic is absloutely HILARIOUS!!

I tell you what, every soldier-sailor-marine-airman I have ever met may not have had a lot of letters behind their names but they were a sight smarter than that jackass.

whoo hoo

2006-11-02T17:16:00.000-05:00

I passed my PT test. I managed to do the most push-ups I ever have. I ran with 2 minutes to spare ( which is really GOOD for me) and did ok on sit-ups. The Sergeant Major, the Major and the BN Colonel were there to do PT with us. The Colonel did 120 push-ups in 2 minutes!!!! I kid you not. He mentioned that I probably could have done more sit-ups but I was wearing 10 pounds of bling on my hands. LOL. I like jewelry and wear my wedding band/engagement ring on one hand and a 2 carat pave diamond ring on the other. It is totally within regs, but....

Mission Accomplished

2006-10-30T18:43:00.000-05:00

F Squared remains a team. My conference starts this Sunday, I am pushing to have three enlistments by Saturday night. I will post more from Nashville.

Air Show

2006-10-23T19:16:00.000-05:00

I was tasked with doing a set-up for the local air show. I work with another sergeant whose last name also starts with an "F" so my boss calls us "F-squared". So F-squared got two hummers, a tent, a table with lots of brochures and goodies. We also swung getting a .50 caliber to mount on top of the "real" hummer (minus the bolt). I took some shots of us and the boss (SFC Ranger) manning the tent. I also HAD to have some shots of me behind the .50 cal Ma Deuce! LOL.

This is the set-up and a pic of SFC Ranger (on the left) and half of "F-squared" on the right. The "Orange Crush" painted hummer is in the background.

Meltdown

2006-10-16T16:54:00.000-05:00

Well I came very near a meltdown on Saturday evening.

I have not had a weekend (both days) off in I don't know how long.

I had last Sunday off, but after going to church (it felt like a chore) it felt like my day was gone.

I have been working some really long hours. I love my job but.....

So I came home after spending all day with my unit and the house was a wreck. Plus I was trying to replace a light bulb in the bathroom. I was working hard on pulling off the glass light cover but the bulb was wedged in there and not budging. I had a George Bailey moment. Remember the movie "It's a Wonderful Life" with Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey? Remember when he comes home; the kids are loud, one is banging on the piano, one is crying, his wife is reminding (nagging) him about something, he heads upstairs and the knob on the bannister comes off in his hand. He wants to sling it across the room but he doesn't.

Well, I was there. I began to shout about how much I hated my house, there is no room for anything, the house is SO old (built in 1847), no closet space no room for anything. I was mad because I felt like everything was pulling at me from all sides.

I calmed down, my husband gave me a backrub, my kids loved on me and I got over it.

Sunday I went back to the unit, missed church and came home "early" at 1430. I took a nap and then helped my husband set up bunkbeds in the kid's room. He also helped me organize some things. He also gave me a lecture.

Yes, I am a very good recruiter but have been doing a poor job managing my time.

I still won't have a weekend off until the second weekend in November, but I WILL be taking time off for me. I will slow down and not try to put in 10 people every month. 4 is my limit.

OK, another reason why I was having a meltdown.... I had 7 or 8 people lined up for MEPS. It dwindled down to 4, then to 2. So I took my 2 down. They both passed the ASVAB, passed the physical and the guy announced he had to call mommy, I mean his wife. He called mommy and she threw a fit. He then announces he is NOT going to swear in.

I was in shock. I had worked this guy FOR WEEKS. I had waited for college transcripts and documents, made appointments and interveiws galore.

I was speechless.

We rode home with him falling all over himself in embarassment. I told him it was fine, I understood.

I call my boss later that evening who says "Don't sweat it. He'll call you in a few days saying he can enlist. You'll see. All is not lost..."

I began to think about the people I have been interveiwing for the last two weeks for this MEPS date. I took 3 down to test for the ASVAB at the MET site; a paper ASVAB and taken in the morning with only a few people. Same test, easier atmosphere or conditions. 3 in; 1 out. The other two scored in the mid teens. Sigh. I had my doubts hence the MET site testing.

I had a Med Read (a person with a condition that requires an Army MD to look at the files and ok them to come to MEPS) that never made it to the Med Read list. I found out he was cleared to come to MEPS when I got down there and asked. "Oh, yeah.... he can come down..."

I had a guy who is trying to gain custody of his daughter back. We show up at his house to pick him up to go and he announces he will piss hot, as in won't pass the drug screen. "What?" I say with absolute incredulty. He says "I smoke pot sometimes." What is sometimes? "Like, um, maybe every other day...." How much each day? "Um three or four joints..." Heavy sigh on my part. "So, in other words... you are a pot head." It was not framed as a question. No response. I clairify that he is in a custody battle for his daugther. I say with the utmost clarity.."Listen to me very carefully. YOU ARE LETTING POT STEAL YOUR DAUGHTER. Right?" Silence. "YOU are LETTING **DOPE** STEAL your precious **DAUGHTER**!" ... 'yes ma'am'
I said ok and left.

Then to top it all off, I have the guy who got kicked out of his house (is living with his girlfriend and her family) working at a dead-end job, call and threaten me. Yep. Threaten me. He says his new family does not like the idea of him enlisting with the National Guard. They think he should hold out for the Air Force (the same guy I gave the number of the AF recruiter) and if "you force me to go to MEPS I may just have to say something to disqualify myself". Force him??

This may not sound like much of a threat...but the way he said it was like he would say something to make ME look bad. As in I had done something illegal. I am very above board with my applicants. In fact I record ALL of my interveiws. He knows this. Because he could CLEARLY see my little recorder on the table as we went through his pre-screening process. However who needs the chain of command doing an investigation?? Who needs the stress? I wanted to throttle him. I was amazed at his audacity.

Bare in mind this kid has called me repeatedly over the last 3 months, had his dad call the MAJOR at his unit to find out why SGT Lori has not put him in the Guard!!!!!! Seriously! I told the Major "This kid does not know what he wants to do. He keeps talking about the Air Force." So when little jerk calls and laments he has been thrown out of his house would I PLEASE talk to him...I say yes. Like an idiot. After he threatens me he throws me a bone "If things don't go good with my girlfriend and we break up; I am all for this and I'll call you." Yeah, right, you do that.

So after the episode at MEPS with Mama's Boy I had grown a few more grey hairs. I got up the next morning, went to work at my unit helping them since they just got back from deployment to Iraq and were having a Change of Command. I was proud to help and it was a priveledge to be there. Then about mid-morning I get a call. Mama's boy NOW has permission to join. He is all excited and can't wait to get down to MEPS to swear in.

I call my boss who says "Told you so."

New Army tagline

2006-10-09T16:51:00.000-05:00

The "Army of One" ad campaign is no more. Thankfully. I never liked it anyway. It implied that you can be your own person....and you can, but the implication in my mind was of selfishness instead of selflessness, of individual focus instead of team focus. whatever...I didn't like it.

So recently when the Army decided to change its' Ad campaign I was happy! And I anxiously awaited its' new Ads. Well its HERE!! You can go veiw it, download it, send it to your friends. Let me know what you think.

How did I get an advance copy?? I didn't look for it. They found me. Kinda scary. I recieved an email addressed "Note to Miltary Blogger". Hmmm.

How do I serve....Let me Count the Ways...

2006-10-05T18:32:00.000-05:00

Today I attended the Recruiting Batallion's Change of Command. It was long, hot, humid, sweltering, long and only 3 people passed out from standing at attention in the heat. Locked knees will always be your downfall, literally. Part of the ceremony was issuing awards. I recieved the Army Achievement Medal. :-) and that's all I am going to say about that (said in my best Forrest Gump Voice).

Later I met with an executive of a local company that specializes in recording customer service personnel. I need to back track a little. The Georgia National Guard has a pilot program that I was selected (along with 14 others from my graduating class) to participate in. We received some intense one on one training with the top recruiters from our state. We were to record all of our interveiws and briefings with leads/applicants. Then the top recruiters were tasked with listening and correcting. My leader also happened to be Recruiter of the Year last year. So I got some really good training.

I also happened to be the ONLY rookie recruiter that was actually recording all of her interviews etc. I also happened to run into some interesting situations (brain surgery guy) right off the bat MUCH to the amusement of my chain of command. OH YES, did I mention this little recording divice was also being listened to by my Chain?? Can we say Big Brother? In fact I have a section of my Recruiting Bible I made called "Big Brother" that has my notes on the recording training etc. Normally a rookie has a 30% success rate at MEPS. I have a 100% success rate and the other rookies have an average of 70% success rate. Very nice.

Well two short months after I recieved the recorder I lost it. Yep. Could not find it anywhere. They shipped me a new one which never arrived at my home. Then they \shipped one to my office which did not work. I was in the process of trying to troubleshoot it with their techie guy when I got a call from the exec saying he got a call from MUCH higher up that "SGT Fields needs to get a recorder TODAY." YIKES!! He says he saw stars. Literally.

SO after the ceremony I met with the exec. He is a really nice man. We got to talking and I pulled out my newly acquired medal, smiled and thanked him for all the good training. He was VERY happy for me, but also for what the training was doing to help the rookies. He actually gave me a sideways hug!

Then he got somber and shared with me a little of his history.

As a young man he wanted to serve in the Navy. He had all the qualifications and passed the ASVAB with flying colors. However when it got to the physical he failed the eyesight test and was told he had some rather obscure problems with his eyes. After numerous attempts at waivers he gave up hope. He said he always felt sad that he was not able to serve his country through the Military service.

He mention that the new Commander of the Recruiting Batallion thanked him for his service and said "Your technology is helping Recruiters put people in boots and that is helping the War on Terrorism. Thank You." He relayed to me how much that meant to him. I was grinning from ear to ear. Yeah it does feel good to be a part of serving your country in whatever way possible.

It got me thinking about all the ways each of us DOES serve. Even in small ways. It is pretty amazing.

The Best and the Brightest

2006-10-01T08:33:00.000-05:00

I run across some great kids in my job. I know I write quite a bit about the ones that break my heart but there are many others who are America's best and brightest.

The first one that comes to mind is a girl who is currently in JROTC at a very poor school in a very poor county. Her parents are divorced and have joint custody. So she shuffles between two homes all the time. She doesn't let her circumstances get the best of her. She has worked hard in high school and has a 3.8 grade point average. She has only taken the practice SAT but scored over 1300 on it!! She is determined to serve her country. She approached me to ask about the National Guard and a college in the state (North Georgia Military College) and how she could get the $80K scholarship.

In the following weeks as I began to work with her I realized she had a burning desire to fly and be in the Air Force but thought she was disqualified due to poor eyesight. Yesterday I was attending a local college fair for high schoolers and met an Air Force Officer who just so happens to be the liason for the Air Force Academy!! I picked his brain and asked if this girl could possibly attend the academy or be a pilot. He said she still had a shot and sounded competitive. I got his card and called her father. He was overjoyed. I said "Now if she *is* disqualified from the Air Force I would LOVE to have her!! SO please keep my number!" We both chuckled. A few minutes later I got a call from her thrilled mother. I think they both could not believe I would do that. My husband couldn't either.

I would NOT sleep at night knowing I put this girl in the National Guard when her heart was set on the Air Force. More than that... if she *is* disqualified from the AF, fine.. but at least she KNOWS FOR SURE! And I will feel better knowing I did all I could to help her.

I met another kid recently. He is a tall good looking average American teen. He came up to our table at the college fair and said he had always wanted to be a soldier. He said "I have just always felt this way. I want to serve my country. I want to join the Army, but you can take me now right?" Yep. "My parents are all for it. My dad thinks it is wonderful..." What about mom? "Well, she knows it is what I want to do and the best thing for me, but you know...she worries...." Yeah, I know. "But she is behind me 100%". He has good grades, has never been in trouble, comes from a good family. He is a very impressive kid.

Then there is my "spook". When I was in the Navy we called the people who worked in Crypto "Spooks". They were usually extremely intelligent people who spent their spare time coding and decoding things. Then they went to work and coded and decoded intelligence. One guy I knew could break into any cypherlock!! He said "it's easy!" and would procede to practice on every cypherlock he saw.

Well, I met a future spook one day. He has a very slight frame and thick glasses. He sits quietly and just observes. He has been trying to get into the service for years but has a heart condition. The guy is crazy smart. You know, like Albert Einstein, gets lost in his own backyard but decyphers the secrets of the universe. This kid scored a 96 on the ASVAB. Seriously. What does he want to do for the National Guard??? Spook. His second and thrid choices are MI (Military Intelligence) and Psychological operations. He thinks it would be "cool".

So he is currently chasing down his medical records and I will send it down for a medical review at MEPS. I meet a variety of people who are smart, bright, motivated and dedicated to serving their country. They rarely ask about the bonus or what's in it for them. They want to know how they can serve and where. It is inspiring.

I never intended....

2006-09-26T16:47:00.000-05:00

I never intended to offend with my post about how National Guard recruiters are different than Active Duty recruiters...... and I want to set the record straight. MY recruiter for the Navy NEVER lied to me. At all. He told me I was going open contract and I would not have a job assigned to me and I could take my time picking out a job in the Navy. What he did NOT mention was that I would be chipping paint, swabbing decks and cleaning heads for two years while I "looked around" at the different jobs.

I have heard the "horror" stories from people about how their recruiter lied, fooled and bamboozled them into enlisting. Being on both sides of the table I can tell you the truth lies somewhere in the middle. Sometimes (as in my case) people only hear what they want to hear. I had no clue what the Navy had to offer. I was offered Sea Bee (driving a bulldozer for the Construction Battalion) and Hull Tech (welder). I looked sideways at the recruiter and walked out of the office. A few months later the Senior Chief recruiter called me and asked if I had any ideas of what I wanted to do. I had NO clue. Instead of doing research I wanted them to hold my hand and do the work for me. So he sold me on open contract. I don't blame him. I was a dope smoking ninny that had no clue.

I arrived at Boot Camp and discovered my mistake through a series of "Sea Lawyers" who went into great detail of the fate that awaited me if I stuck with open contract. While in Boot I was able to sit down with a Detailer (career counselor) and renegotiate my contract for Electronics Tech. I was extremely "lucky" as they had one last slot for a female. Whew.

Now I have heard tales of recruiters that told the guys that they would have their own apartment on a ship and that the bigger Carriers had pools and even McD's. No lie. So I KNOW recruiters *do* lie.

I have run into my share of people who really don't want the truth. Or rather they have a preconcieved notion of what the National Guard and Army is like and no amount of reasoning on my part is going to convince them differently. Take for instance the Joe that walked into my office yesterday. He left basic because of a crazy wife he was worried about. Then he went AWOL when his Tennessee unit told him to go home and wait for his paperwork. He thought they meant Georgia as in "home". Now he sits in my office telling ALLLLLL about basic, AIT and the Army. He is the expert. He is now divorced from said crazy woman and wants to get back into the Guard. Nothing I say is sinking in.

Then I have the kids whose grandfather was in the Army. They know all about it. I try and tell them how it will be but they know it all already so I shut up.

I can say "The National Guard offers 100% tuition assistance UP TO $4,500.00 a year" and they totally miss the "up to" part. I talk about the GI bill kicker available to people WHO SCORE A 51 OR BETTER on the ASVAB, but they miss the score 51 or better part. I really try and make sure people are clear but the truth is...people have selective hearing.

I am also finding that I can believe about half of what applicants tell me.

Now, today I got to take a couple of rides in the Black HAwk. WOW. I got to sit in a crew seat and put on a headset so I could listen in on the conversation on the radio. TOO COOL. It was a BLAST. OK, OK, I know I am a rookie and most of the Army readers have shot out of the windows of a Black Hawk, fast roped out of a Black Hawk and other really cool high speed stuff but for an old chica, this was way cool. No pics yet. Soon to come.

I'm Baaaacccckkkk!

2006-09-25T20:06:00.000-05:00

LOL, I need to just realize that I can't give up blogging. First I figured out that I need to keep DSL. I can't connect to a secure line using satellite internet so I have to keep DSL if I EVER want to use my ARNG computer at home. Like the time I was up to 0300 putting in applicant packets and "replicating" and "projecting". I would NOT liked to have been at the office until 0300! Hooah! So DSL at home is here to stay and that means I WILL be blogging from time to time.

This job just keeps getting better and better. I have met several people over the last few days that really want to serve their country. Two have medical issues and I am fighting to get them in if I can. Two are prior service and got out (like me) when they were much younger. Now they fully appreciate their time in the service and want to continue onto retirement. It will take some time to get one of them in...but I am going to give it my best shot. The other will not take much work and he is very excited. I am too.

I have been doing some work with a local high school. Lots of the ROTC kids are interested. They are a great crew of kids. It is refreshing to meet kids that are squared away and know what they want out of life.

My boss is very happy. We have the best team in the State. Our recruits are happy, making their ship dates (going to basic on time etc) and returning to make good soldiers in their units. It is not like Active Duty recruiting.

First, I had to apply and get selected for this job. I had to appear before a board, give a presentation selling myself and be selected for my position. I worked for 8 months trying to get on a board. I REALLY wanted to recruit.

Second and more importantly, I know what my mission is for the year. I knew in July that I had a mission of 26 for the year. Approximately 2 a month. So when I recruit 4 a month I am way ahead and I know it. My numbers are added up for the year. The pressure is off and I recruit people because I want to, not because I have to. The Active Duty recruiters never know what their next month's mission is. They might get a mission of 1 this month and a mission of 5 next month. Their numbers don't add up for their annual mission so they are ALWAYS under the gun. I feel for them.

Finally, we don't enlist someone and never see them again. They come back. If I lie or try and pull the wool over someone's eyes, they are going to come back. Back to their school, back to their community and back to their friends. If they come back talking about what a liar I am; my career is over. We are ALWAYS counselled to be very honest with out applicants. When I was an applicant I double checked everything my National Guard recruiter told me. I made sure he was telling me the truth. He explained to me the logic about being a local recruiter and it rang true. Now I am living it. I have to look my new recruits in the eye when they come back from basic and AIT. I really really want the reputation of being honest.

I get to ride in a Black Hawk Helicopter tomorrow!! Whoo Hoo! I am being rewarded for being top dog on my team. I have NEVER ridden in a helicopter. If I live to tell about it I will blog tomorrow! :-)

Sad, but true

2006-09-24T15:17:00.000-05:00

I have been very busy as promised. I am able to slide in a quick post. This is my first day off in three weeks. Don't feel sorry for me, I am loving it. I really enjoy meeting people and traveling so this job is right up my alley. I know I can't continue working these kinds of hours but I am hoping to have my mission made by December 1st putting me (and my team) well ahead of the pack and able to relax and enjoy my family. I still drive the kids to school and take my daughter to ballet lessons. So I am working hard to keep balance in my life.

I wanted to post because of a kid I met yesterday. He called 1800-go-guard. His lead was sent to my boss who passed it on to me. I called and talked to him briefly. He seemed like a nice polite kid as I asked him questions about his age, etc. I got lost on the way to the appointment and called again. He answered the phone and I told him I was running late but would be there soon.

I arrived at a very poor section of a very poor town. There were Georgia Bulldog banners and flags displayed all around the yard and the mailbox was painted with Georgia Bulldog colors. I had to smile as I realized I was interrupting the game Georgia was playing that afternoon against the Colorado Buffalos. My husband was tivoing the game at home to watch later. I noticed a very young looking kid in the yard with a Bulldogs ball cap on. I got out of the vehicle and introduced myself to him. He was my prospect. He was a quiet person and led me into the modest but clean home.

I started by asking him questions but mom soon began answering for him. She mentioned being concerned that he would be ineligible due to being in special education. I replied that as long as he can pass the ASVAB test it would not be a problem. So I got out my computer and gave him the practice ASVAB test while I chatted with mom and dad.

He took the test with great difficulty. I learned that he had a reading disability. He has the same reading disability my son has. But he had a teacher who took a special interest in him and was helping him. Mr. Canada. The mom went on and on about how much Mr. Canada was helping her son, even changing teaching grades as her son grew up. I did not think this was odd. This has happened to my son. His reading teacher was his reading teacher for 3 grades, 3rd through 5th grade. She is a distant cousin and her son is in Joshua's grade, so it was natural for her to follow her son through elementary school. But I got a funny feeling about Mr. Canada.

I began to feel like I was being too suspicious as the mother went on and on about how much he was helping her son. He was getting all A's and B's and doing so well. He was a junior in high school and would graduate next year.My prospect finished the test. He scored a 2. Heavy sigh.I pointed to his math score and said "Well you did pretty good in Math, but we need to bring up that reading score" and closed my laptop.

I told him he needed to study, read and take some practice ASVAB's through his library. I encouraged his parents that when he brought up his score I would be happy to work with him. I feel like paying Mr. Canada a visit.

I am waaaay ahead of my "mission". I am getting a lot of attaboys, medals, trips, etc. I don't look at these kids as a number. THEY are my MISSION. So I don't "need" to enlist this kid. I would have LOVED to have seen a 35 and helped him be a diesel mechanic which is his life's desire. Damn. I would have loved to put him in an Armory close to home, given him a marketable skill and seen him soar....he may just yet.

Most of the prospects I meet are bored children with NO clue about life or what is going to hit them when they leave home. They are looking for "something", they want to make a difference in their world, they want to make something of themselves and I am sorry if it offends some but I BELIEVE in the Military. I believe that a disciplined life is the high road, I believe a life lived in the pursuit of making a difference and helping others IS a higher calling. Some are able to discipline themselves. Some need Boot Camp to kick start them, Hooah.

I am praying this kid can work hard and try and make at least a 16 or 17 on the ASVAB, then I will wait until the Army says they are open for category 5 enlistments and squeeze him in.

"I got the Blues..."

2006-09-15T17:06:00.000-05:00

me in my dress blues with my handsome husband:

Good News and Bad news

2006-09-06T19:52:00.000-05:00

The good news first. I will probably put in 10 recruits this month. I am taking 5 down to MEPS on Monday, have 2 Prior Service guys enlisting in two weeks and have 12 or more good prospects for the rest of this month.

The bad news is... I am going to have to quit posting on the blog. I have very little time to get online at home much less post. Also my husband and I have decided we can do without a landline (phone line) and DSL at home. It will save us $120 a month and over $1200 a year. That is $1200 that can be applied to debt. Since my computer at work WILL NOT access blogspot, I will be able to post once in a blue moon from my husband's office or my MIL's computer. Trust me, I am not going to make special trips to blog. I just can't. So this is a farewell letter. I won't close down the blog because the original intent was to have a chronicle my kids could read of my National Guard years.

The worst news is what happened yesterday. My dear darling beautiful daughter had a really bad accident. She was riding a little toddler scooter, the kind you sit on and scoot around with your legs. It has four wheels and she would coast down a small incline to land safely on my MIL's back lawn. Knowing how 3 year olds are, I would follow her to make sure she stayed on the path and didn't hit a bump and get knocked off. When I left for work I was a hair's breath close to telling Grandma "Don't let her ride the scooter." But I decided she probably would be ok.

I was at work and got a call from my husband telling me to stay at work because they would be coming to meet me. "Grace has a cut." I was confused and thought; so?? WHy would that mean they would come meet me? Then I hear his brother in the background saying "No, tell her to come here..." and the sound of grandma shouting (praying) "Oh Jesus, Oh Jesus!" I am still confused and ask what the hell is going on. My very calm husband says "You need to come to mother's. We will wait on you."

I race to my car and make the 30 minute trip in 15 minutes. I see Grace with a huge bandage covering her left eye, blood everywhere and my brother-in-law (MD) saying "The surgeon is going to meet us at the clinic to let us know what we need to do." My husband drives as I sit in the back seat with Grace. He explains that the surgeon will decide if we need to head to Atlanta (to Scottish Rite Children's Hospital) and see a more highly qualified surgeon than he.

I learn that Grace was happily riding her scooter while Grandma sat and watched her. Her little scooter veered right and she went down a steep incline landing in a page wire & barbed wire fence.

We arrive at the clinic, he examines Grace breifly and says "I can take care of this, head to the Regional Hospital." We pile back into vehicles and head for the local regional hospital. We are escorted through a back entrance, bypassing the emergency room and all that chaos, to the pediatric center where my baby is prepped for surgery.

Let me tell you, I am a tough old solider, but seeing that little tiny baby girl sitting up on a gurney clutching her barbie doll to her chest and looking so incredibly lost and scared.... Well, my heart about ripped in two. My husband and I hugged each other thinking that we had such small problems compared to this. I left to go out to the car and got lost in the parking lot. Stress. I had to call my brother -in-law (who had left) to ask where we had parked. For the life of me I could not orient my mind to where we were parked. I wandered aimlessly looking before my mind realized I could do the car horn on the key fob and find my dammed car! I found my car and had to make two more trips before my mind would register what exactly I was out to get!

After 2 HOURS of plastic surgery, the surgeon came out to say it was deeper than he had anticipated but he did a good job. She was fine, recovering fine and we could meet her up in pediatrics. They wanted to keep her overnight since she had been under general an...anes... drugs for so long. Oh my baby looked so pityful! They wheeled her in and she was still asleep. You could see the injuries more clearly and she looked pretty banged up. She woke breifly while they moved her and she cried out for mommy! I gingerly picked her, hugged her and told her in my softest mommy voice "Mama's here, baby, mama's here!".

My husband went home to sleep and bring change of clothes to the hospital the next mroning. Needless to say I did not sleep. I kept an eye on her and my mind would just not stop. She woke at 6 am wanting to go to the potty. Then slept till 0730. She sat up and saw that the sun was up outside and began to cry out in an agitated voice "The dark is gone, oh noooo, the dark is gone!" I think that the realization that it was another day at we were STILL at this horrid place was too much for her.

Soon her IV was removed as well as the pulse monitor. I put on her fresh clothes and showed her how the bed worked. She had a BALL making the bed rise and lower and change shape.

I will be close to home over the next few days. I am so very glad that she did not lose her eye or worse, much worse. God is good.

Too Much Stress

2006-09-03T16:37:00.000-05:00

I went to "sick call" on Friday. I live more than 50 miles from the nearest base so I can go to a civilian MD when I am sick. I got a cold from my daughter while in Savannah. In fact I thought I had bronchitis or maybe pneumonia. I was given a prescription and advised bed rest. "You are under a lot of stress, Lori. You need to get off your feet for a few days, take it easy and get plenty of rest."

A lot of strees, indeed. I croaked out "I love my job" to which he responded that he knew that but it didn't matter. My doctor is also my brother -in-law. He was a Navy MD for three years after he graduated from Medical School. He said that going from being a stay at home mom and being around my children as much as I was then getting a job recruiting (also a 24/7 job) was putting a lot of stress on my body. It has been a major change.

So, for the rest of Friday and all day Saturday I stayed in the bed taking my prescription and resting. I slept hard. I feel much better today although I am still hacking and coughing. I did some minor paperwork and scheduled an interveiw for Tuesday. I will probably reschedule the interveiw for tomorrow depending on how I feel. I would like to get her paperwork into MEPS so she can test and then physcial on Friday. We shall see.

Tug of War

2006-08-31T19:06:00.000-05:00

Ever been in a game of "Tug of War"? It can be a lot of fun when you are on the winning team. You put forth a great effort and at the last moment the pressure is off the rope and you are declared the winner. Not so fun to put forth a ton of effort, feel the rope slipping away, suddenly you are swept off your feet as the rope is jerked free and you are left in the dust. Recruiting is a lot like that!

I had a great August. Now onto September. Things were lining up nicely for putting 6 people in the first two weeks. Then I got back 2 bad background checks. Giant tug pulling towards the loser line. I had the jail recheck one of the backgrounds as my guy assured me it was a mistake. It was a mistake! I regain some ground. Another guy is backpedalling by putting off making an appointment to interveiw with the unit he said he would kill to get into. Still another calls me all excited. He is ready to commit, he is ready to go, he is so ready he misses his appointment tonight. Another gal wants to do "something". Her husband is in the guard. He is encouraging her and had her to call me. She knows how good it will be. She makes her appointment and we talk. And talk. And talk. She says she will get me her information to put her into the computer...I wait, and wait and wait. I will hunt her down tomorrow. Several sharp pulls forward and I lose ground. I send off medical records to MEPS to get them seen by a MD for an ok to take someone to MEPS. Still waiting...and waiting. So I am down to taking 2 guys to MEPS next week.

WAIT! Good news, I get a call from my fella that took the practice ASVAB today and did well, he has a friend that wants to join too!! Hooah! I haven't prescreened her...but hopefully I can get her to MEPS next week with her friend. I yank that rope back really hard! Gaining ground again.

Female Dress Blues

2006-08-30T20:04:00.000-05:00

I am not one to gripe... but whoever designed the female uniform was not female and was uncomfortable with looking at a sexy female form in uniform!! Here is the dress blues for female officers on the right. It is shapeless AND the rank is smaller than on a male uniform. Hmph. I have sergeant stripes on both arms, again smaller than on a male's uniform. They have recently changed it so the female rank is not miniscule, however it is still smaller than the male counterpart uniform.

The skirt is A-line. Again shapeless. Even the Dress Mess which is the shortwaisted jacket paired with a long A-line skirt is shapeless and ugly. The shirt for the females has a long flowing ruffled front (hides the boobs I imagine) and a short little triangular shaped black tie at the neck. The males wear both jackets (Dress Blues and Dress Mess) with the lighter blue pants with the gold braid down the side. VERY impressive. The shirt is a form fitting white shirt with a bow tie. If I was king?? I would shape the skirt like a sheath with a high kick pleat in the back. I would lose the ruffled front 70's disco rented tuxedo shirt and have a tailored (fitted) white shirt with a BOW TIE. Think Barbie in unifrom! LOL. The uniform should complement the female shape while maintaining Military bearing. It shouldn't HIDE the fact that we are female.

Anyway, I wear my uniform with pride and within regulations. How does that saying go??? "Mine is not to ask why, mine is to do or die."

Wild Wild West

2006-08-29T19:18:00.000-05:00

Anyone remember the show called Wild Wild West? Yes, I know I am dating myself. But I was a wee child in my mother's womb! LOL. In the show James West was the lead character (played by a very handsome Robert Conrad) and James had it going on. I remember as a KID having a crush on James T. West. He was just so cool, so suave, so.... hot!

Have you seen the dress mess with the short waisted coat?? Here it is to the right. The picture does not do it justice. It is a darker blue and very spiffy. Imagine the left shoulder decked with medals and fitting very snuggly on a really nicely muscled older man. Think James T. West. I kid you not. I have always thought my SGM was a nice looking man, but Saturday night, in the Dress Mess.... Holy Cow. I was a good girl and kept my eyes firmly glued to my very handsome husband.... but James T. West would skirt into veiw every now and again and I would have a hot flash! LOL.

The banquet was lovely. I didn't mind wearing my uniform even though the other ladies were all in very beautiful gowns. They looked so proud holding onto the arms of their husbands. I felt all the prouder escorting my husband into the banquet room. We ate a wonderfully delicious meal. I have been to banquets before and usually the meals are lacking, but this was great. The actual awards part of the banquet was kept short and followed the meal so we were'nt all starving! Then we had a time to fellowship and have a great time. Our team has a lot more comradrie than the others teams which is really nice. We look out for each other and treat each other like family.

My husband had a GREAT time. He enjoyed meeting the people I work with and talking to my Boss SFC Ranger. I am very fortunate in a boss. He is a wonderful family man with great Army values. He knows how to pull us together as a team and keeps us focused. I can honestly say he is probably the best boss/leader I have ever worked for. I would like for the team to do something special for him (besides make 200% mission) but I can't think of anything. I will have to give it some thought.

We went home the next day, tired but in a good way. I have been very busy the last two days lining up about 6 people to take to MEPS in two weeks.

Savannah

2006-08-29T05:43:00.000-05:00

I attended my first Recruiter Awards Banquet in Savannah this past weekend. Very nice. The hotel was on the river in the historic section of town. Speaking of historic I have noticed a new trend. The word "historic" has been replaced with the word "historical". My garden club (yes, I belong to a garden club) has a committee to research "historical gardens". Homes that are over 100 years old are not historic but historical. I first noticed this a few months ago on TV. I have paid close attention now and have noticed that everyone is doing it. Am I crazy? Maybe.

So anyway, the HISTORIC section of town was really neat. Lots of really old buildings and relics. We arrived a day early to see the sights. The first night my handsome husband and I walked through the whole of the historic area and had supper at a Scottish pub called Molly McPherson's. GREAT food and atmosphere. They also have the largest selection of "Malts" or Scotch I have ever seen. Two pages (in small print) of Scotch were listed! Payson had a "black and tan" beer. He was in heaven. My husband looks very German to me. His heritage is seeped in Scottland so I'll wager a Saxon is in the woodpile somewhere. He is stocky and very strong. He would make a good extra in the William Wallace movie. Sitting in that pub, he looked right at home!

Friday the rest of the recruiting command arrived. My team, which is known as the X-Men, went to the Pirate House to eat supper. The Pirate House is a historic building that has been converted into a restaurant. It is an old creaking building with twisting narrow halls and rooms decorated with a nautical theme. I was in heaven! Our SGM came along for the meal and fellowship. The food was good and the drinks were better. The atmosphere was wonderful. After the meal and halfway through our fellowship I spot my husband and the SGM talking in earnest. They are looking at a small card and the SGM is pointing to it as my husband looks on in great interest. ACK!! The SGM is discussing the new bonus system based on accessions to my husband! I jump up from my seat where I was happily talking to some wives and say loudly "SGM! WHAT are you doing?" He turns to me with the biggest crocodile smile and says "Why, I am explaining the bonus system to your husband SGT Fields!" Smart man. Evil man. LOL.

Saturday afternoon was spent in meetings. Saturday night was the banquet. I'll write about that later. I need to go for now. Just remind me to talk about the SGM looking like James West.

Mama Lori

2006-08-23T20:38:00.000-05:00

My boy, Billy, got through MEPS. YEAH!!! It took several years off my life, but it happened. Well sort of.

We arrive at MEPS after I give him the loooong speech about how messed up MEPS is, how they are like AL Queda and try and stop people from enlisting. First thing we find out is...Billy boy is not in the system. So I walk over to the liason's office and get a song and dance about how their computers have been down all day and how I should have had my NCOIC call and verify that Billy was in the computer. The SFC Nimrod says he can do a walk-in. I repeatedly say that Billy is going in under the GED + program and requires a AIMS test in addition to the ASVAB. Repeatedly. No problem. I walk the paperwork up to the reception area and again state that Billy boy needs the AIMS test after he takes the ASVAB. No problem.

2 hours later, well on my way to North Georgia I get a frantic call from Billy. He is at the hotel and they have no reservation for him and they are booked. Did he take the AIMS test?? no. sigh. I call around and get a call from the hotel. I need to come get my recruit or he is going to have to sleep on a couch in the lobby. sigh. Half an hour later and another call from the hotel, they had a cancelation so Billy now has a room. Counting new white hairs in my head now.

I call Billy, my NCOIC and 2IC and figure out that we can get Billy to stay a second night to take the AIMS test and swear in on Thursday instead of Wednesday. I get up at o-dark-thirty to drive to Billy's house, pick up a change of clothes since he is staying second night, and drive through horrendous traffic to arrive at MEPS.

SFC Nimrod NOW says "SGT, all you had to do was tell me he needed an AIMS test...."Excuse me??? I hold my temper. Billy passed the ASVAB, sailed through his physical, took the AIMS test tonight and is sound asleep at the hotel. Tomorrow morning around 11am he will swear into the Georgia Army National Guard. Hooah! I told him I wouldn't be there to watch him swear in, but another SGT would be. He was disappointed (so was I) but I told him next week I would take him around to the armory, introduce him to the unit and the RSP NCO. I also told the SGT that is picking him up I want a PICTURE of his swearing in ceremony.

Heavy sigh. My NCOIC says it is good to be passionate about my recruits but I need to make sure I don't burn myself out.

Whoo Hoo! RSP Weekend!

2006-08-19T20:12:00.000-05:00

Recruit Sustainment Program or RSP is a program designed to keep kids motivated until they ship and hand them off to their new unit. I explained it in detail here. This was the weekend we had RSP. And we had it at my armory. The armory where I have my office has sweeping pastures as well as dense woods.

This morning we had training on how to advance (low crawl) through the pasture. The kids were broken up into 4 squads. Each squad leader called out orders to manuver their squad through the pasture while the seasoned soldiers shot air guns simulating live fire. It was hilarious. We had Floyd County's finest show up because some of the neighbors were concerned about the sound of gunfire! :-)

After a lunch of MRE's we made our way to the woods. Each squad took turns advancing into the woods where the seasoned soldiers were lying in wait with paintball guns. If you have ever seen documentaries about sniper school training, this was very similar. We were not allowed to shoot at them if they were doing the right things. But if they raised their heads to look around, or stood up or did anything other than stay concealed or low crawl; they were open game! Hee hee. Off to the sides of the course we had trashcans that we threw firecrackers into to mimic the sound of machine gun fire. We also shouted things like "Allah is God!" as well as "Die Americans".

OK, it was hilarious but it was also very educational. The kids loved it but we also taught them why we stay in teams and how to look after each other. The winning squad got to pick the movie to be shown tonight (X-Men), got first chance to shower and get to eat breakfast first tomorrow morning.

I didn't stay the night, but drove home at 2030 hot sweaty smelly dirty nasty and grinning ear to ear.

UGG!

2006-08-18T19:20:00.000-05:00

OK, so I hunt down my one applicant who has been a little gun shy. He is more than willing, he just needs a little coaxing. He gets his paperwork together and has arranged for us to pick up his high school transcripts. Oh! I almost forgot, lets do a practice ASVAB! 45 grueling minutes later I go and look at his score. Are ya ready?? Drum roll please. He got a FOUR. A four!! I stood stock still staring at the computer screen not comprehending what I was seeing. Then I quickly recovered myself saying "oh...... ok..... um. You need to study a little bit." I was stunned.

I drove him home so very sad. I explained that it was imperative that he bring his score up to a 31. Now let me explain about the ASVAB. According to the powers that be, there is no pass or fail on the ASVAB. The test is designed to test your acedemic AND vocational abilities and skills. It tests how well you comprehend basic scholastic skills as well as your ability to grasp concepts, much like an IQ test. It is not a test that if you get a 31 it means that you only got 31% correct. It means that if a person scores a 31 he has the very basic abilities and knowledge to perform well in the Military. Certain MOS or jobs in the military require a higher score. For instance a communications specialist needs to have a higher score than a 31. To qualify for extra money for college you need a 51 or better. So in theory there is no "pass" or "fail" for the ASVAB. In theory. Reality is you have to have a 31 to enter the Army.

Now I was trying hard not to be judgmental. After all not everyone is equally gifted. However I have another applicant in almost the same identical situation as this kid I'll call "Rock". They both come from poverty. Both have parents who never completed high school. Both dropped out, both have no GED. Neither can drive or have jobs. They are both staring a bleak future in the face. However, comma, "Billy Joe Bob" decided a year ago he wanted something different. He began to play basketball and diet and get into shape. He began to study the ASVAB tests. When he started studying the library would not let him check out any of the books unless he put down a $15 deposit. He didn't have it. So he stayed at the library for hours studying. In fact everytime I have to track him down he is at the library. He walks several miles to the library in this heat. One day the librarian (who also is a math teacher) decided to help Billy Joe Bob. She saw how determined he was. She began to help him with his math portion and he slowly brought up his ASVAB score from rock bottom, to 31, to 51 and now to 75. He showed me a notebook with the notes he has taken from her AND the notes he takes from the videos he watches at the library on Math and English. He watches the videos for hours. Now he has a cousin sitting and watching the videos with him. He wants to join too.

My Rock with the score of four is currently enrolled in an adult education class. Every time I drop by he either has his head on the desk taking a nap or he is outside shooting the breeze with his buds. Rock thinks that everything is supposed to fall into his lap. I guess he thinks he will learn this stuff by osmosis.

Rock probably thinks Billy Joe Bob is "lucky". He lucked up on a math teacher at the library, a recruiter who is willing to go to any lengths to get him in, and he is in tip top shape. Lucky? Yeah maybe, but Billy Joe Bob has learned a valuable lesson. "Luck" is being prepared when the opportunity presents itself.

Talk about stress

2006-08-16T19:18:00.000-05:00

I love my job.... I really do. It is exciting, adventurous and keeps me hopping. I am getting better at allocating my time. It doesn't take three times as long as I anticipate, now it only takes twice as long!

My three applicants for this week dwindled down to one for next week. I am postponing one for September 1 because I am waiting on a waiver. Then one backed out on me. So. I have found two more qualified applicants however I won't be able to put them in until September. Maybe. Confused? Join the club.

Here is how it works. Since we have one of the worst MEPS in the country our Recruiting Battalion did an analysis on different techniques that can improve our odds of getting an applicant through MEPS. One is timing the other is screening heavily.

The recruiters who had the best odds of getting an applicant through MEPS (90% or better) screen their applicants and only submit an applicant that they are SURE will make it through. I was taught ways to get prospects to fess up (it works) and to make sure there are no hidden secrets lurking around to bite me in the butt when I send an applicant to MEPS. SO that is one technique...only send someone who is squeeky clean.

The other technique is to only send applicants the first half of the month. Since ALL recruiters have to meet a quota MEPS gets BOMBARDED with applicants the second half of the month...ESPECIALLY the last week. So MEPS gets swamped. Those MEPS people look out at the sea of faces and begin to get nit-picky. They try and thin out the ranks pretty quickly and your odds of getting an applicant through drops from 66% to 33%. SO the other technique is to only send people the first 2 to 3 weeks of a month. Prior to the 20th is our best bet.

I have a conference to attend in Savannah late next week (can we say PAAAARTAY?) so I need (yes need) to get who will count towards my quota by WEDNESDAY the very latest. But.... there is always a but isn't there? This paperwork can take TIME. I put three people's paperwork into the system yesterday so that means they MIGHT get to go to MEPS next week. Sigh. We shall see.

On the postive side?? Did I mention a recruiter's conference in Savannah?? Oh yeah, baby! I get to dress up in my Dress Blues (did I mention I look great in uniform??) be escorted by my sexy and handsome husband, eat a great meal, drink some adult beverages and dance dance dance. We get to go to the beach between very short but productive meetings, dine on local cuisine and have a wonderful time. I am not too keen on spending a lot of time with the higher ups like the Colonel, Majors or the Sergeant Majors. ESPECIALLY if I don't get these other three recruits in!!! Oh well.

WTC

2006-08-15T05:50:00.000-05:00

Well, yesterday was my birthday. I am old. Let's leave it at that! :-)

Sunday the girls in my circle of friends and family (all 10 of us) got together for lunch and a movie. We met at Sweet Tomatoes at 2pm, ate until we were stuffed and then drove to the big 24 screen theatre nearby. It was my choice of movie since it was my birthday. I chose to see World Trade Center.

Wow. My eyes were still red yesterday! I cried through just about the whole thing. Oliver Stone did an OUTSTANDING job. I won't give the movie away because EVERYONE should go see this. There is a section of the movie that involves two Marine Vets and everyone in the theatre cheered. Everyone clapped when the movie was over. It is just a really good flick.

Green, Again

2006-08-11T22:07:00.000-05:00

I posted this before, but it is good enough to re-read. This guy just simply puts into words how I felt prior to re-enlisting:

July 14, 2005

Green... again

(Originally posted at Red State Rant)

At Lance’s request, I’m proud to announce on Red State Rant that after an extended effort, I’ve finally been accepted back into Uncle Sam’s Big Green Gun Club. A little background:

My efforts began on September 11, 2001, when the news about the terrorist attacks in New York City came over the radio. I immediately drove to the recruiter’s office to inquire about reenlistment options. My advance was rebuked, however, due to an ankle injury that I’d sustained two months previous, one which eventually landed me on the surgeon’s slab six months later. Running, and therefore staying in shape, was a painful proposition for nearly a year thereafter. Then my wife and I decided to start our family, a decision that I in no way second-guess, but one which further altered my plans.

As I watched the kick-off of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom from the sidelines, I couldn’t stand the fact that Marines were out there doing what Marines do, and here I was, a man of eligible age, riding the bench. The final straw came on the day that my brother, a career Marine until a back injury put him out of active duty after 15 years, emailed me a photo of himself being sworn back into the Corps as a reservist. That was simply more than I could stand.

I got off my ass, got back in shape, and got on the phone with the prior service recruiter. Skipping all the sordid details of a paperwork nightmare, a little more than a year later, on July 10, 2005, I stood before a Captain with the 4th FSSG, raised my right hand, and took the oath of enlistment for the second time in my life, sworn-in as a 35 year-old Corporal of Marines (reserve) as my wife and son looked on.

I’d been off of active duty for almost 10 years, but as we walked out of the HQ building at the Navy/Marine Corps Reserve Center and passed a Colonel, the salute that I snapped felt just as natural as it ever had, and the uniform I wore felt like an old friend. I straightened my back, poked out my chest just a little, and stepped more smartly. God, it felt great to be green again!

I give the reader all of that to answer a question many people have asked, including the worshipful Red State Rant blogmaster and my life-long friend, Lance: Why? After all, I’ve already served my country, “paid my dues,” or “done my time,” as some say.

To that, I have this to say: Serving my country is not a 4 year contract. It is a life-long commitment. Nor is it a “due” to be paid like some cheap membership fee. It is a deeply personal obligation. And it is certainly not “time” that has to be “done” like some felony prison sentence. It is nothing short of an honor that I hold in the highest regard, an honor that I must prove worthy of, an honor that must be earned every single day.

Many people have shaken their heads in disbelief, sometimes I think in disdain, when they learned of my plans. I’m a family man now, after all. Why would I volunteer, when there is a very real possibility of a combat deployment? Don’t I care about my family?

Without question, my family is the single most important part of my life on earth. But just exactly what sort of husband and father do I want for my family? What kind of man do I want my wife to devote her life to? When my children are grown, what is the picture of their father going to look like in their minds? I’ll tell you: I want my beloved wife, to whom I am utterly devoted, to go through her days without a shadow of a doubt that the man she married is a man of honor and commitment, a man that knows there are things in life worth giving one’s own life for, if necessary. I want her, as she looks out upon all of the world’s deception, falseness, infidelity, and evil, to know that her husband is on the right side of things.

I want my children to have a father that they can unwaveringly look up to as an example. I want them to grow up, not with an attitude of entitlement, but with a sense of duty, obligation, and reward. I want to teach them that we don’t always say, “Let the other guy do it.” Instead, I want them to learn that there are times that we must ask, “If not me, then who?” I want to be the best father I can be, and I can think of no better lessons to teach them than the value of honor, integrity, dedication, perseverance, and selflessness. I can offer no better example for my family than to strive to live those values every day in my own personal life.

All of that is a way of life for United States Marines.

In addition to all of that, throw in any applicable clichés regarding patriotism, fighting for our country, etc. They’re all no less true for me than anyone else who has said them, but they have become overused to the point that they have begun to lose effect. I will add one: Revenge. I make no apology for wanting to kill the bastards that want to kill us.

I harbor no illusions about saving the world, being a hero, or altering the course of events. It’s simply that at no time in my life have I been more proud and satisfied with what I was doing than while serving as an active duty Marine. My decision to leave the Corps, if I had it to do over, likely would have been different. I want to at least partially amend that decision while I am still young enough (barely) to do so. I love being around fellow Marines, doing what Marines do: training, fighting, working, sweating, cussing, bitching, adapting, improvising, overcoming, accomplishing the mission, and taking care of each other.

Lastly, these are historic times for our country and for my Marine Corps. For me, it's decision time- sit on the sidelines and merely be an observer, or step up and be a participant.

I’m stepping up.

Semper Fidelis

I just couldn't say it better myself. HOOAH!!

Is that a Light at the End of the Tunnel...

2006-08-09T06:06:00.000-05:00

or a train headlight!!?? Just kidding.

The prospect with the plates and screws called me. His MD told him those need to come out and he would heal in about 6 wweeks. WHOO HOO!! He would still need a medical evaluation and a waiver, but it would be MUCH easier.

After much urging from my husband I called Dial-a Medic and asked about the boy who had the brain surgery. He had an achrinoidal cyst. The MD at MEPS said to send in his surgical reports and post-op reports. He said all that meant was he had a leakage and they went in to remove the cyst, not as dramatic as "I had brain surgery". The MD said it might have been a very simple operation. WHOO HOO!!

I had to call an applicant and tell him that I wouldn't put him in. He had been working with a former recruiter. He had numerous law violations. Could I get the waivers? Probably. But I won't. Let me explain.

I have a girl who ran away from home quit school and was a general teenaged idiot. One day she woke up smelled the coffee and said "I don't want to live like this the rest of my life." So she got her GED, completed her first year of college and ran out of money. She has always wanted to join the Army. Her dad was in the Army. However she was never eligible because she has 4 children. By the time she was 18 and could have joined she had 2 and was single.

I am working with her. Why? Because she shows promise. She isn't wanting to *use* the Military as the sole source to turn her life around. She is taking the steps already, the Army National Guard can help her and I REALLY believe she will be a good soldier.

My felony boy? He committed forgery. Several times. He has a charge for evading and eluding. He has a DUI. He broke probation 3 or 4 times. All over a period of several years. These are the things he is telling me. NOW, he wants to straighten up. He hasn't proved himself...as in getting his GED, staying clean and criminal free for years. If I put him in, he will be in the papers as the soldier that did thus and so. No thanks.

I was a pothead when I joined the Navy. I knew I wanted my life to change. It worked because I wanted it to. But it also took me far away from my home and my creepy friends. These people would be coming right back to their stomping grounds. For 28 days a month they would have no military influence. For 2 days a month they would be at drill. That's NOT enough to "turn your life around".

I spoke with the 1st SGT of a local unit. He said "I like the prior service enlistees. They have more discipline and know their job. It is rare we get a new raw recruit that turns out well." Indeed. For someone who wants to do a 180, they need years of military life. I need to go meet the Army recruiter here in town.

three for three

2006-08-06T19:40:00.000-05:00

Well the weekend is over and I am feeling pretty good. I was able to line up three of my Prior Service people for physicals. They all passed and all three raised their right hands! SWEET! They were so excited afterwards and it was contagious, even through the hours of paperwork I had to do to finish up processing them. I worked 13 hours yesterday and 5 hours this afternoon. However it felt really good to finish everything up. My NCOIC is really proud, told me to take two days off this week. I will.

I have another prior service guy that wants to get in. I will work him and find two Non-Prior Service or NPS people to put in. It is REALLY hard finding NPS that are qualified.

I want to get to 200% of mission for Aug-Sept-Oct. I want to take leave in November, December and attend PLDC school in January. I have to have PLDC to make E-6. So I need to put 6 people in a month for three months. Then if I only get 2 in a month for Nov and Dec I am still ok. Also if I kill myself now getting people in, I can hone my skills and get really good at this. So far, these PS people have fallen into my lap. That won't keep on happening. Know what I mean?

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2006-08-03T20:12:00.000-05:00

OK. week one of august is almost over. I could just scream. I have had interveiw after interveiw after interveiw. Literally. Today I had four back to back. By the end of the evening I felt like I was a participant in a wacky game show. I was on the team trying to score a point and the applicants were on a team trying to fake me, trick me, manipulate me and score a point if they could slide one by me.

First I need to explain that there is a method to disqualifying prospects. It is called APPLE-MD. It is an acronym for AGE, PRIOR SERVICE, PHYSICAL CONDITIONS, LAW VIOLATIONS, EDUCATION, MARITAL STATUS and DEPENDANTS.

Contestant #1 please step forward:
Clean cut, good looking kid. High school graduate. Been to two years of college, quit when he ran out of money. Wants to serve his country and go to school at the same time. No law violations, no drug use. No dibilitating diseases etc. I was getting excited. This might be my first Non-Prior Service Assension! This might be my first applicant I send to MEPS! I went through the extensive list of things that might disqualify him. No, no, no were his answers! Yes, He might make it through the gaunlet! Then I said "Oh, have you ever been to the emergency room?" His response: Yes... Me: OK, lets talk about that. When did you go to the emergency room? His response: When I had my brain surgery. Next applicant please.

Contestant #2:
Nice looking, short hair, clean, eyes look bright and intelligent, good teeth (GEEZ I sound like a dog show judge!). VERY nice and polite. We sit down to talk. No drug use recently. Has a sprained knee right now. No law violations. I keep probing and picking. I want to make sure he is good on Physical and Law before I get to Education. Lookin good lookin good, almost to the end of the line... dropped out of school in the 9th grade. Can't touch him until he has his GED.

Contestant #3:
OK, young looking guy, 17 years old and a junior in high school. No physical problems, no law violations. Would love to join. His dad is a Viet Nam Vet and doesn't want his children joining the military. Wants me to talk to dad. Never married, no children. WOW. This guy looks golden. OK, great...what High school do you attend?? A High School in a neighboring county. ARRRGGG Boo Hoo.... I can't touch him, it is call poaching. So I call the recruiter and let him know he has a great lead.

Final contestant:
18 years old. Looks ok, a little out of shape. Wants to join to get his GED and serve his country. Law violation, and oh by the way I broke my arm 2 years ago and I have two plates and 11 screws in my arm. sigh. Better and Better.

The good news?? I have 4 prior service people enlisting next week.

Odds and Ends

2006-07-29T10:39:00.000-05:00

Spent the morning housecleaning. I have hired two girls to come in twice a month to do general housecleaning. I field-dayed daughter's room and the livingroom. Both rooms were filled to over flowing with toys. OK, I exagerate but I just hate clutter and both rooms were cluttered with her toys. I boxed them up (she never plays with them!), put out the rocking horse, Barbie house, Little People Farm in an orderly fashion. She plays with those three things alot so they stayed.

I am getting antsy. I had to turn in my computer to automation. It wasn't able to "replicate" or connect with Big Brother Server and upload my recruiting activities. Hence I was unable to make packets (permanent enlistment records) for any of my prospects/applicants. I will get my computer back Monday. Greaaaat. The day before the caca hits the fan I get to try and input all my info, cross my fingers and hope it is right. I was hoping to get it Thursday or Friday and have all weekend to make a stab and then have a seasoned recruiter check it on Monday. Oh well.

I found some ACU material to make valences for my office. I also have a collection of sayings to print and frame against a background of warriors. Here are some of them:

Kill a Commie for Mommie (old, but... so am I)

Happiness is.... a belt-fed weapon.

"I love the smell of Napalm in the morning.." Lt Col Bill Kilgore (Robert Duvall) in Apocalypse Now

"Don'tbe a fool and die for your country...
Let the other sonofabitch die for his!" General Patton (attributed)

"Courage is fear holding on a minute longer." Genral Patton

“It often requires more courage to dare to do right than to fear to do wrong.” Abraham Lincoln

“In peace prepare for war, in war prepare for peace. " Sun Tzu, The Art of War

That's about it. Just anticipating the beginning of the school year.

Busy times

2006-07-26T18:57:00.000-05:00

Well, August 1st is fast approaching and I will be very busy. I will *try* to blog, but no promises.

I have been getting much better at pre-screening prospects. Most of my applicants have a good shot of making it through MEPS.

I continue to work-out hard. Monday we had PT together as a unit. I kept up pretty well. When it came to running back to the unit I was out of energy. I didn't quit and walk...but I had no steam so sprinting was out of the question. SO... I got a series of work-outs called Turbo Jam and did the first work-out this morning. While I did work up a sweat.... the Army could show these people a thing or two. This will be a good supplement to my routine now. It will help me build up some cardio endurance but it cannot replace anything I am doing now.

I am getting more organized and getting into a groove. I have been visiting the schools and talking to counselors. At the first school I came loaded down with "goodies" like desk calendars, wall calendars, lanyards, pens etc. I murmured "Beware of Trojans bearing gifts..." to the sergeant accompanying me into the school and he roared with laughter. The schools are VERY appreciative of any help we can give them. I am looking forward to working with the students.

More appointments with prospects, more heartbreaking stories. My resolve for reaching these kids before the bad choices increases each day.

I get to take a few days off before the onslaught. I plan on spending a ton of time with the kids. My husband will be attending a conference in Atlanta, so I am scheduling picnics, pool time and plain old fashion fun!

Lining 'em up

2006-07-25T19:50:00.000-05:00

I have three people lined up to enlist next week. Wow, next week! Then I need to really work my schools since the school year starts Aug 4th. I have met most of the counselors who are really receptive. I am very excited.

I tell ya, it will be hard to find people for my unit. They are being very picky. I can COMPLETELY understand. If I could pick and choose who would serve next to me in Iraq or elsewhere, I would be very selective. So I *am* selective about who I am recruiting. However, they are being overly picky. They want to look 'em over! If I am talking to a prior service person they want to look at their DD-214 and meet them. Like I said, while I can understand that.... I am concerned that they are going to get really picky and not give anyone a chance.

Other recruiters for this area would put anyone with a pulse in. They said they had a recruiter that put 100 people in a unit up north and only 4 of those showed up for the deployment. YIKES!

I am meeting a lot of people, making lots of phone calls and things are smoothing out. I am told that August and September are crazy. We shall see.

July Recruiting

2006-07-22T06:26:00.000-05:00

I have been actually really been recruiting on my own for about a week now. I have learned quite a few things.

1. The recruiting year runs with the school year calendar. Our new recruiting year starts August 1. My mission also starts August 1st. I have a mission of 26. At first I thought "piece of cake!" Now I am not so cocky.

2. There are oodles of people interested in joining the military. Not many of them are qualified.

3. There are plenty of qualified people I run across. Not many of them are interested in joining the military.

4. There are Leads, Prospects and Applicants.
a. A lead is simply a name and a number.
b. A prospect is someone who has expressed interest in the National Guard.
c. An applicant is someone actually going through the process of joining.

5. Following a lead is easy. I spend an inordinate amount of time chasing down a prospect only to find out they can't be an applicant. Too overweight, has asthma, flat footed etc.

6. People who avoid you when they see you are probably qualifed, so chase 'em down!

I find that I am wasting a lot of time on paperwork and getting organized. I know there is a learning curve and I am at the beginning but.. I really need to find my groove.

As I said, my assigned mission is 26 for the year. Three for August and September and two a month for the rest of the year. MY mission is for 3 a month or 36 for the year. Next year my goal is 4 a month and the following year; 5 a month.

We take a PT test in the Army. Passing is 180 points or a score of 60 for each event (push-ups, sit-ups, 2mile run). Excelling is 300 points or a score of 100 for each event. I know me and my body and what I am capable of doing. I will never see a 100% or 300 points. However I am constantly working on what I KNOW I can achieve. I can get 100 on the sit-ups and push-ups if I work at it. My run... I can get an 85 if I really push. So MY goal for the APFT is 285. I score a 200 right now. So I am "passing" but I failed myself.

As far as recruiting goes: I need a score of 26 to pass. I want a score of 40 or 50. See what I mean? If I really push myself to get 5 recruits for the month of August then I have worked out all the kinks and have a good valuable system. I can see holes in my method right now. I get a lead (either myself or someone else) I call and talk to them and pre-screen them lightly with the APPLEMD.

A- age
P- prior service
P- physical conditions
L- Law violations
E- education
M- marital status
D- dependants

I screen lightly and they seem like a good candidate. Then I drive all over creation to see them (an appointment) only to discover they are not qualified at all. Here are a few examples from this past week.

1. 17 years old soon to be eighteen. No physical conditions like asthma etc. working on getting her GED. The Army told her she needs to lose 30 pounds and she has lost 15. Wants to know all her options and someone told her about the National Guard. No law violations, not married, no children. Sounds good right? I arrive to see that she is 5'11" and weighs 270 pounds.

2. 18 years old, a senior in high school. Took the asvab for the Army but they can't enlist him until he has graduated, he wants money now. No law violations, not married, no children. I arrive to talk to him. He then discloses that he took the practice asvab and scored a 29. Did you take the asvab at MEPS? Yep. He scored a 6. I dig a little deeper. He has been diagnosed with depression and is prescribed meds for it.

3. 26 years old. Soon to be married with four kids. We can work around the four children. She arrives at my office and I begin to dig a little deeper. She broke up with fiance, has had cervical cancer and a subsequent hysterectomy, and a lot of law violations.

4. 17 years old, soon to be 18. needs GED, a couple of traffic tickets. Physically fine. I meet him at a local Armory. Can we say METH mouth? He was stoned. He was really really dirty. He has more than just a few traffic tickets. And to top it all off, he has asthma, been diagnosed with it.

What is really really heart breaking... the ones that are older probably could have been enlisted at one time. They thought they knew it all and chose not to. Now that the reality of LIFE has hit them and they are paying the consequences of poor choices....they want to turn it all around. I applaude them for that. However I can't help them. Sad but true.

Each of these people had dreams at one time. Almost every single kid I talk to wants to go to college. They have aspirations of a better life. The National Guard can make it happen for them IF they chose it.

So ... I have set my sights on the high schools. I plan on scaring the crap out of them. I plan on letting them have it right square between the eyes. I will set what I have out on a platter. They can either take it or leave it.

That is at least a month away. In the meantime I have a stack of papers with approximately 900 leads that I will call. I am sure I will go through that pretty quickly. My goal is to talk to 5 real live prospects each day from my list. I also have a goal of making an appointment with at least one of them a week. I will keep working my list until I have eliminated each person on it. I will also go to the Department Of Labor, get some of their business cards and brochures for our office (we have a lot of soldiers returning from Iraq) AND leave some brochures and my business cards with them. I also plan on getting the names of local big industry and visiting their Human Resources Office. Let them know I can do a presentation on college money for their employees or their children. Meanwhile shaking the hand of everyone I meet and introducing myself, giving them my card.

It really is about volume. My job is to meet as many as I can and then whittle it down to the Few, the Qualified, the Guard! LOL

Once Upon A Time........ (The Elvis Story)

2006-07-20T15:43:00.000-05:00

To set this story up you have to understand a few things. The first thing is that my mother was VERY young when she started to have children. She was 16 when she married my dad and being good Catholics began to have children one after another. By the time they were 26 they had 5 children. Four girls and one boy (the youngest). My mother was/is quite the beautiful woman. Now in my opinion every woman has some beauty and somthing about them that makes them beautiful. Some let it die and others culitvate it. However my mother was stunningly beautiful. She was a natural beauty with dark brown hair and deep blue eyes and built like a brick house. The conversation in a room would literally stop when she walked in. Even at age 40 when she was attending my brother's high school football games the high school boys would stop and stare as she walked by. She was is very conservative but she couldn't hide what God gave her. Think Shania Twain.

My father was the stereotypical Latino male. He was/is very handsome. He was tall for being Colombian standing at 5'11' with thick curly dark hair and soft brown eyes. Think of Mongomery Clift. He was handsome but he was a scoundrel. He had a terrible temper and he was not faithful. He was a smooth talker. My father did eventually change his ways but not before he almost totally destroyed every single relationship he had.

When I was a young girl in elementary school we lived in California. My father was a computer programmer for NCR. My dad's sister, Gabriela or 'Gabi' for short, lived in Las Vegas and we used to go visit her quite a bit. The summer when my parents separated and then divorced, we spent a few weeks in Vegas. My Aunt thought it would be a good idea to get the kids away and help my mom cope a little bit better. She knew all too well what my father was like and she *was* taking sides....my mother's side.

One night while in Vegas, Gabi invited my mom to go to the Hilton to see where she worked in accounting. They would also spend a little time gambling and have adult time without kids. They dressed to the nines and went to the hotel. They returned later in the evening giggling like school girls and terribly excited. It seems they got to meet Elvis! Here is how it went down:

After they spent time looking at my aunt's office and playing the slots they sat in the bar sipping cokes. My mother's mom was an alcoholic and my mom never drank liquor. Anyway, Elvis happened to be playing at the Hilton that week. His manager Joe Esposito was in the bar having a drink when he noticed my mother and Aunt. He slid over next to them and struck up a conversation. They weren't interested so he pulled out his trump card...."I am Elvis Prestley's manager". Yeah right, said my mom. He persisted but they wouldn't bite. Finally he offered to take them to the Penthouse where Elvis was staying and introduce them. It finally dawned on Gabi that he was serious. She and my mother were not going anywhere without the other so he was going to have to take both of them. So he did.

My mom explained that when they walked in Elvis was practicing Karate with Peggy Lipton of the Mod Squad. His back was facing my mother when Joe Esposito introduced them. Elvis turned briefly to murmer a 'hello' and then did a double take on my mother. He turned back to Peggy and told her that he was done practicing Karate. When she realized it was because of my mother she went to a room, closed the door and never emerged the rest of the evening!

My mom described a suite of rooms that took up the top floor of the hotel. She said every room had a TV playing Elvis movies. One room had a competition sized pool table, another room had slot machines that had been brought up for Elvis to play. All Elvis had to do was ask for something and he had it. He was indeed a "King".

My mom described some of the women there. Basically they were hookers. She was really shocked. However she mentioned that Elvis didn't care for them. I have read stories about Elvis and his choices of women. He tended to gravitate towards the "girl next door" type. He would have dated Marianne and not Ginger. However he *was* captivated by my mother. He talked to her most of the night. He was shocked to find out that she was 30 years old since she looked 21. He was even more shocked to find out she was the mother of 5 children. My mother was/is quite intelligent and a good conversationalist. They had a great time and discovered they had a lot in common. They hit it off right away.

Elvis was in the process of getting divorced and very lonely. My mother said she could tell he was in a lot of emotional pain. He was starting into drugs by this time. He was beautiful, in fact I believe this was the best Elvis looked in his short life. He was 35 and on the top of his game. This was before he was totally addicted to drugs and obese.

He really enjoyed talking to my mom who was *real*. He invited her to come up to the suite the next day. My mother gave him the number to my Aunt's house. She and Gabi left with the experience of a lifetime!

The next day we rose and left to go to Lake Mead for a day of water skiing. We had a blast and returned to the house sore and tired. It was around 3:00pm and the phone rang. My mom was in the shower and my aunt was outside. I picked up the phone and said "Hello?" I heard Elvis Prestley on the other end! I KNEW immediately that it was him and he said "Hey baby, this is Elvis honey, is your Mama there darlin'?" I DROPPED the receiver and ran to find my mother. She ran to the room, picked up the phone, took a deep breath to calm herself, placed the reciever next to her ear and said "hello..." with a real light voice like she was talking to the power company or something. LOL.

The first thing Elvis said was "Where were you, I've been calling you all day!" She SCOLDED Elvis! She said with a touch of irritation..."I *told* you last night I was going water skiing today. What did you thinking I was going to *do*? Sit by the phone and wait for you to call???" He laughed and asked her if she would like to have dinner with him. She said that would be nice. They chatted for a little bit then hung up. She was THEN jumping up and down and screaming "IAM GOING TO HAVE DINNER WITH ELVIS!!!"

She and Gabi went shopping for an outfit. She bought a brown "rib tickler" shirt (basically a shirt with elastic in the fabric so it hugged your frame, something new at the time.) and chocolate brown hip hugger shorts. They are just shy of being "Daisy Dukes". She wore suede brown boots to match. Big hair and nice make-up and I swear she looked like a star! LOL.

My mom left and we anxiously awaited her return. At 10:00 pm my Aunt made us go to bed. She got home at 3:00 am!!! That morning around 10:00 over a cup of coffee, she described the evening. They had supper in the suite since Elvis cannot go anywhere without being mobbed. They sat and talked. She said she felt he just wanted to have a normal evening with a real person. He popped pills and called them his vitamins. He loved TV and was just a small town guy. He gave my mom two tickets for the show that night.

Gabi and my mom went to his show. They sat in a private box and were waited on like royalty. She said that on stage he transformed into ELVIS. He was doing what he did best. He loved it and the audienced loved him for it. After the show they met for awhile in his suite and then parted ways.

A month later my youngest sister got a birthday card from Elvis. And that is the last we heard from him. I had asked my mom in later years why she hadn't persued a relationship. As a child I romantized that Elvis would fall incurably in love with my mom and we would live a life of luxury for the rest of our lives with Lisa Marie as a sister! She laughed at me at first "Like Elvis would marry me! What a thought!" Then she got serious and explained what kind of life that would be for a wife and especially for kids. Even though it sounded like it would be great it would be a miserable shallow exsistence. Indeed.

We pestered my mom for years about "what happened that night!" and she maintains her innocence to this day. Honestly knowing my mother...nothing happened. And knowing Elvis was on drugs...more than likely nothing could happen. If it was me??? hmmmm. I don't know.

On August 16th, 1977 we were living at Homestead Air Force Base. I had just graduated from high school and turned 18 two days before. I was getting ready to leave for the University of South Florida and was dating my high school sweetheart, the very handsome David Farber. I was driving home from work (I believe) and I heard on the radio that Elvis had died. I immediately thought of my mom. How would she take it?

I walked in the house and my mom was humming as she did some house work. I said "You're taking it well!" She stopped and said "What?" I stopped, paused and said "You haven't heard.... Elvis died today...." She stood stunned and then said "Don't mess with me Lori!" as I was NOTORIOUS for playing jokes and trying to scare my mom. Her face was going white and I said "Oh, Mom... it's all over the radio! He died of a drug overdose!" She ran to her room sobbing and closed the door. I was blown away.

By the time my dad (my step-father, then a Major in the Army) got home for supper, she had composed herself, washed her face and put on some fresh make-up. She played off like Elvis' dieing was sad but not more important to her than the average person. Hmmmm.

So that is the story. Our 15 seconds of fame or our brush with an entertainment icon.

Elvis Can wait...

2006-07-16T18:47:00.000-05:00

I am so tired!! I worked all weekend at RSP. I'll explain:
The National Guard has an unusual situation when it comes to new recruits. Normally when someone wants to enlist in the Regular Army they do one of two things. They either enlist and ship off to Basic Training right away or they go into the Delayed Entry Program or DEP. When someone is in DEP, they live their life like they did before, and wait until their ship date. When I enlisted in the Navy I shipped right away. I had friends who had been in DEP for up to 2 years waiting for a certain school to have an open slot. Once their slot came open they enlisted then shipped to Boot Camp and then to their school.

The National Guard doesn't do it that way. You enlist period. There is no DEP. If you have to wait to go to Basic or a certain AIT (Advanced Individualized Training for your MOS or job) you are enlisted and drill with your unit. This was very unproductive. The new recruit had no military training at all and either stood or sat around all day with nothing to do...or they were put to work doing the things no one else wanted to do like KP duty (kitchen patrol). So while they *did* get paid to drill, they were not motivated at all. Pretty soon Georgia and others states had high "Pipe Line Losses", or people who went AWOL prior to either shipping to Basic or AIT. To combat these costly losses Georgia and other States have started what is known as the RSP program. RSP stands for Recruit Sustainment Program.

RSP has only new recruits in a unit. They learn military customs, they learn Drill and Ceremony (how to march, etc.), they learn Guard history, who their chain of command is, how their future unit fits into the big picture and ultimately how important they are to their unit. Once someone enlists they report to the closest RSP to drill one weekend a month. They are prepared for Basic and get all their paperwork in order. Once they return from Basic they either go straight to AIT or report back to RSP to await their orders to AIT. Finally once they complete all their training they attend one more RSP drill to have a hand off ceremony to their new unit Commander or representative.

SO, this weekend I got to attend a RSP drill. Wow. This was the first one for my Team and the local Armory. Prior to this they had a regional RSP held at Dobbins Reserve AFB comprised of hundreds of kids. We had 35 recruits attend. The brand new recruits dressed in our old BDU's minus the rank and names, wore tennis shoes and tried to not look scared. We had 5 PVT's that were being promoted and handed off to their new units so they had full ACU's with boots, name tags and rank ensignia. They all brought sleeping gear, a change of clothes and PT gear.

The first day we practiced close order drill and marched them all over the armory parking lot. It was HOT! They (and we) were sweating bullets. They carried mock weapons and learned how to pivot and do facing movements (right face, etc.). They learned how to march like a soldier. In case you didn't know...it is different than marching in band! Or at least my NCOIC thinks so. He is a Ranger and is FULL of attitude. He was having a ball. He cut up with the kids, but kept it serious. He joked so they would lighten up but kept them on the move. He was hilarious trying to show them how to march. "Stand up straight, you're a SOLDIER! Don't swing your arms out, you're not a dammed helocopter!.... Take good sized steps but don't goose step, you ain't no dammed Commie or Nazi! ......Have a little attitude in that step, you're PROUD to be a SOLDIER but you ain't no home boy, hooah?!" They ate it up.

Lunch was MRE's. Blech! I guess if you are in a survival mode it will do the trick, but the NCO's all went to eat at a local buffet! :-) The kids didn't mind a bit. After lunch we marched for 2 miles to a local rifle range. We unloaded 6 air rifles and the four squads took turns practicing marksmanship. One of the NCO's husband arrived with their two Glocks. My NCOIC pulled out his two handguns and my supervisor strapped on his holster and handgun. They had target practice for quite a while. MY NCOIC let me fire the handgun handed down to him from his father. His father served in Vietnam and had the weapon engraved with scrolling, his name and dates of service. It was beautiful and easy to use. Don't ask me what type of handgun it was. I want to say a 9mm, but I really have NO clue. Another thing to add to my ever growing list of things to learn.... handgun use and types.

We marched them back and the very last 1/8 of a mile the Platoon SGT thought it would be a good idea to run them in the over 90 degree heat. We had eight fall out. He got his butt chewed by the NCOIC. SFC Ranger explained to the Platoon SGT that these were raw recruits with little to no training. He said "Tailor your training to the overweight red faced kid. Always consider what the lowest denominator is capable of doing. They aren't here to do Basic."

We got them in the Armory to cool off then let them assemble in the airconditioned classroom to drink water and play a game while supper was being delivered. They ate Chick Fillet. They were in heaven!

Everyone (except a few of the NCO's) slept overnight in the armory on cots. The recruits that had attended RSP at Dobbins were used to sleeping in hotel rooms!!! They bed down on the floor in sleeping bags at 2200. At 0430 they were roused out of their slumber by the playing of Reveille VERY loudly and the Platoon SGT banging a big stick against the inside of a metal garbage can. Ahhh shades of Boot Camp! Everyone dressed quickly into PT gear and we marched them to a high school track about a half a mile away. We held a PT test for new recruits which is running one mile and push-ups and sit-ups for one minute. We marched back, had them change back into BDU's and they ate breakfast from Cracker Barrel!! It looked pretty good. Since I get money for food (separate rations) I have to go buy my food. It is considered stealing to eat the food provided for free.

For the next few hours they got to relax a bit, practicing the handing off ceremony and promotion ceremony for the five PVT's. I walked around talking to several of the kids asking them what they thought, how did they like the RSP. They loved it! One kid said "I went to my first drill last month at Dobbins and thought 'What did I get myself into!' but this was GREAT! I am glad I enlisted!" Later as I was putting something into my vehicle a kid with a beard (a guest of one of the recruits) said "See ya later SGT!" I asked him how he liked the weekend. He said "I loved it! I am going to talk to my friend's recruiter tomorrow." I congratulated him, shook his hand and told him "GOOD NEWS!"

The ceremony was nice. You could see how proud the PVT's were. They stood and recited the Soldier's Creed; sounding off very loud and clearly. OK, yes I got tears in my eyes. They were standing tall and looking like soldiers. I saw the future generation and the future looks GOOD! Hooah!

I left the armory very tired, exhausted but feeling very good and motivated. Several of the young recruits from my area said they would bring a friend next time. I gave them my card and told them if they had any issues to not hesitate to contact me. I have their names and will call them this next month to just check in on them and make sure they are staying squared away. Man o man, and they are PAYING me to do this job!

Big Brother

2006-07-13T17:21:00.000-05:00

Well. Hmmmm. OK, we arrive in the classroom for our continuing lecture series of Phase Two RRNCO. Our laptops were taken up and we were asked to write down our login info. Then we got intruction on a pilot program to monitor our telephone and interveiw skills.

In walk the top 8 Recruiters for the State as far as getting their applicants through MEPS. Seems that the State average is 10 people on the floor at MEPS but only 3 get through (or 33%). These guys (and gals) have a 90% or better success rate. I felt like someone had been reading my mind.

These recruiters will mentor two new recruiters each. We will talk to them twice a week for two months. We will be evaluated to see if our MEPS rate can imporve to at least 66%. If it does, this program will implemented State wide. Sounds good to me.

We talked and role played all day and will do so again tomorrow. In a nut shell? Disqualify to qualify. Try and find any problems with your applicant PRIOR to showing up at MEPS. Sounds like a plan to me.

On the downside? We upload these recordings to a secure website that can be accessed by ourselves, our mentors AND the chain of command. Hmmm, do I hear George Orwell snickering?

I did learn some skills that I can use. I'll track my progress here so y'all can see how I am doing. Of course I can't use names or specifics, however I can use numbers.

I have a system that I call my hopper. Some people call it a funnel, but for me a funnel implies liquid being poured out rapidly and a hopper can be used to plant seeds in the ground. I think of me filling my hopper with names of people and when I enlist one, I have planted him or her in the Guard. A tender root, a young plant. OK, got it?

So I have quite a few leads. Leads are simply names and numbers of people. Nothing more or less. I have 912 cold leads. Then there are prospects. These are people who have expressed an interest. Lastly are applicants. These are people who are in the process of enlisting. I have 5 prospects and one applicant in my hopper. I need to have at least 10. I have appointments scheduled with 3 of the prospects for next week. Hopefully they will turn into applicants.

That's about it. Tomorrow I will post about the time I spoke with Elvis on the phone. ;-)

Mission Possible

2006-07-12T19:19:00.000-05:00

We each received our "mission" for the year. As recruiters we are required to put in a certain amount of people each year. It is called your mission. My mission for the 2006/2007 school year is 26 people. I think that is very doable. In fact I will be very surprised if I don't double it.

OK, that may come across as very arrogant or at the worst; very optimistic. Well , I have several reasons for believing this is possible.

1. I believe that there has to be at the very least 50 qualified people in my county who want to join the National Guard.
a. There are a lot of good people who would love an opportunity to help or be apart of an organization devoted to helping others.
b. There are a lot of people who believe in the higher calling of Service to Country.
c. There are ton of kids who lack direction who would be willing to let the Guard be that guiding force.

2. I believe the National Guard has something to offer everyone. They just don't know it yet.

3. I believe my area has been GREATLY neglected as far as a source for recruiting. No one has worked these high schools in YEARS.
a. one recruiter assigned to the area did not even know these schools are on a year round or "modified" calendar!!!
b. recruiters from the neighboring state have been recruiting out of the highschools!!
c. no one has culivated the JROTC in the biggest high school in the county.

4. There is a large prior service group that has been essentially untapped.

5. And lastly, being who I am I know I can do it. Let me explain....

My husband opened his chiropractic practice. A year later he closed his doors and moved his practice into our home out of necessity. A year later he was seeing only 10 patients a week and breaking even (read not making a dime). I quit work and went to work for him. Within 5 months he was seeing 120 patients a week.

For me it was easy. I used to go out into the front yard and say "There has to be 100 people in this area that need chiropractic!" I kept saying it and thinking about it, and one day it became real to me. I can't explain it. It was like one day the light bulb came on and I KNEW with every fiber of my being that there WERE 100 people who needed chiropractic.

Then we went and shook hands, we set up booths, talked to people and talked to more people. I published a single ad and put little real estate signs pointing the direction to our office. We live out in the middle of NO WHERE. We live across from a 500 acre ranch on about 150 acres of woods. In one month we got 30 new patients. My husband was astonished. I just kept going out, meeting and talking to people, handing out his cards. I would talk to our patients and ask them to bring in a friend. They would.

I don't believe in luck. I believe in hard work. I do believe in being a positive thinker. "As a man thinketh...so is he..."

The girls in my office don't understand it. I can talk to a patient and get them to commit to a six-month treatment plan. The two girls have a tough time of selling. Why? They expect the patient to say no. I don't take no for an answer. Am I pushy? No, not at all. However I realize that if most people understood what is in it for them, they would be sold. And so I find a way to make sure they know what is in it for them. Then I back off and let them choose. Very few say no.

I really honestly and truly believe that EVERYONE ought to serve their country in some way, shape or form. So if they are not qualified, they can serve with the volunteer force and help me find recruits. When I talk to these people I don't expect for them to be unconvinced. I know they want to serve, they just are not educated on how the Guard can help them. That's my job, to show them how the Guard can help them and how they can help their country.

I met a long haired waiter. He looked like a hippie, acted like a hippie and when he spoke he sounded like a very educated liberal. None of the other recruiters thought he would bite. They said "Don't even try, he won't cut his hair." I said "He would for the right reasons." By the time the meal was over I had his name and number and made an appointment. Hair was not even his issue. Missing time at work was!

I know I am a female, middle aged and not one of those cool high speed MOS's like Ranger or Air Assault. But I can sell it. I don't know of a concern that cannot be overcome with logic. People actually WANT to serve. They just need to know the facts so they can get over the jitters. If someone is talking to you the recruiter...THEY ARE ALREADY SOLD!

Well, my mission for August is to have 20 appontments and 10 people on the floor at MEPS. My NCOIC says that will give me 3 recruits. MY GOAL?? My goal is to have at least half of them get through MEPS and raise that right hand. That is where the challenge lies. We shall see.

Maybe in September I will be eating Humble Pie. I hope not. I just can't see how I can't find 5 qualified people to enlist in one whole month.

On Running

2006-07-08T06:59:00.000-05:00

There is a book I want to read called "On Killing". It describes the way the Military trains its soldiers to get over killing and the psychologicqal ramifications of that training. I haven't ordered it yet... Maybe I just don't want to know.

I have kept up my running, and yes Pogue, it has stayed enjoyable! I run 2-3 miles three times a week. I have a little of the "Oh do I really want to run??" when I first wake up but then I "just do it" to coin a phrase. It FEELS GOOD! I am so surprised. I want to keep this up so it stays enjoyable. I have also cut 2 minutes off my time.

Tuesday I worked doing the Fourth of July Parade (lots of fun) and then worked a booth at a local park (not as much fun). I got 5 good leads. One of them was assigned to me. I called and called and called and never got an answer. I left one message. Yesterday I decided I am trying one more time and told him "This is my last call... if you don't call me back, I won't be calling anymore." He called me within 30 minutes.

Potential Recruit "Did I mention my probation? Yeah I have 2 more years of probation and a $6K fine to pay..."
SGT Lori (heavy sigh) "Um, no you said you had no law violations. Well I am sorry I can't help you...Oh the Army says they are willing to work with you? Wow that's great. Let me know how that turns out."

I get a phone call from my NCOIC that 2 names came up for me on 1800GOGUARD. My computer is STILL not configured to work so the names go to him. I call the first name, she is scheduled for an appointment with me this morning. She is Prior Service Army. This *should* be easy.

The second one is in the process of getting her GED and losing 30 pounds. She has lost 15 pounds already so she is motivated. I will meet with her and her parents the 19th of July.

I visited some schools yesterday but since school is out not many people were there. I also put out some countertop displays in local stores and met people. I plan on getting a solid lead today after I meet with this girl.

Next week I have meetings all week long in South Atlanta. Oh Joy! Things are moving slowly but... I should be moving right along with recruits soon.

Home, Sweet Home

2006-07-05T19:09:00.000-05:00

Well, I took the highway through Mississippi and Alabama. It shaved about 30 minutes off my time but was not worth the headache. Lots of lights etc. I got home safely and I was so glad. Grace was in heaven! She would not let me out of her sight and even spent the night inbetween mommy and daddy in the bed. Josh was still at Church Camp so I got to see him the next day. He was very happy and so was I. Payson and I had to wait somewhat. The kids were overwhelming and Payson gave me room to spend time with them. However, Grandma watched the kids on Monday and we spent the whole day together....alone!! We had a great reunion.

Tuesday, July Fourth, was my first day back at work. I was in the local parade as you can see. I was able to swing for Joshua and his three older boy cousins to ride in the huge troop carrier! You talk about 4 very happy boys. They thought they had died and gone to heaven.
Later I worked our booth at the local July Fourth Fair at the park. OK, what is hotter than Georgia between 1000 and 1600 on July Fourth? Probably Iraq, but I know it was hotter than 500 Hells! I was sweating profusely and sucking down water as fast as I could. It was all worth it as I got to meet quite a few Vets. I also talked to lots of prospective recruits and got five good solid leads. We will see what comes of it. I gave them all to my squad leader as I am not officially "on mission" until August first. It gave me good practice and a chance to meet and talk to people. I had fun, ate too much and had my hand shaken and given so many hugs. I was offered free meals (I paid anyway) and ordered a snowcone but the vendor refused to take my money. It was so sweet. I had a great time but the best moment was when the Flag was raised as a local singer belted out the National Anthem. The other two guys and I came to attention and saluted with pride. Many people stopped to listen with respect and when it was done I heard quite a few cheers. Man that felt good.

I still have a string attached to my side for a few weeks as I get trained and processed in. Soon I will be my own person and free to roam the streets of Floyd County. :-)

Final Night in Arkansas

2006-06-29T23:02:00.000-05:00

Only one of the Sergeant Majors showed up. He looked tired and beat. The airline lost his luggage. He wanted to go to APPLEBEES of all places! OK, ok I *like* Applebees, but I go to Applebees at home. Know what I mean?? So we were all standing in the "common area" of the barracks and I say "Um, do you mind if I take a rain check?? I had made plans to go to Gauchos with a bunch of friends....." chirp chirp chirp (sounds of crickets in the background) SFC Restivo comes to my rescue and says "Oh sure, that's fine..."

So. We are sitting in Gauchos. I am sitting next to a guy who is sitting directly across from Lisa, my friend from Arizona. We are all chatting, drinking our drinks and waiting for our food. I hear the guy next to me ask Lisa if she had ever had any cosmetic surgery. Without missing a beat she tells him she had implants. It is very apparent that Lisa has implants. Any idiot can tell. She is a very vibrant sexy woman and doesn't mind showing off what she has. She is not a sleaze. However, it is no secret she is well endowed. So I wasn't surprised at her answer but was taken aback at his question. It was obvious what he was driving at. My eyes got big, my mouth fell open and the took my hand to raise my chin and close my mouth in a very apparent gesture to show her my consternation! She took it all in stride and veered the conversation in another direction. Some mother's children.

Later at Gauchos, the Georgia contingent arrives, sans Sergeant Major. I thanked Restivo. He said no problem, the SGM was VERY tired and called it an early evening. We finished up and got ready to leave. Then a really weird thing happened.

Now I am not going to pretend that I haven't been hit on... and I am not going to pretend I am the prettiest thing around either. However...(shakes head) sometimes you get hit on in a very unusual way and it is just kinda weird. We were all standing around waiting to pay our respective bills (after I prequalified the waiter for enlistment into the Guard, and he is interested) This boy...ok I know he is a man, but good grief...I could be his MOM. Anyway this kid stands there, gets this dreamy look, reaches out and touches my hair. I was so startled I just kinda froze. He says "I just had to touch your hair. I see you everyday and your hair is just...so perfect. It's so shiny and straight. It never looks frizzed. You have beautiful hair." Blink blink blink. I mumbled something about having great hair. I got the good hair gene from my dad and the Colombian side of the family. I excused myself and went to the bathroom. To admire my hair. LOL just kidding.

I know it was harmless, but it was a wierd moment. I was discussing it with Lisa and the two guys we rode with. Lisa got why it was a weird moment. The guys didn't. They thought I was being too sensitive. I said "Ok Jonesey, what if a girl you had NEVER noticed comes up to you and says 'oh, I just have to tell you... you have great legs ..' or whatever??" I didn't say hair because he is bald as a cue ball. He laughed and said he would love it. Ha! so much for men. I can't explain it except to say that it was weird in a worship kinda way. Like a guy who has a foot fetish and he is in love with a particular girl's feet so he steals one of her shoes! LOL!

Well it is late and I am NOT tired. Very excited about going home. Next time I write it will be from GEORGIA!

Week Five cont.

2006-06-29T12:10:00.000-05:00

I passed the final tests. I am ready to graduate tomorrow! Can I tell you how relieved I am??

So what else is new? A fellow Georgia soldier got sent home the other day. He had downloaded some stuff on his computer and when he hooked his computer up to the net at the school, it automatically took him to a banned site. A very bad banned site. The net is monitored so soon after he had logged on and the stealth software began running the IT guy had everyone leave the room and found the laptop. My fellow soldier was soon sent home. Sad, but true.

Two of our Sergeant Majors will be here for graduation. Those of us from Georgia will be going to supper with them (on their dime). I am going to request that we go to Gauchos! Mmmm such good food and great atmosphere. I am actually glad I will have a chance to meet them and have some time to rub elbows. Can't hurt right? Besides, I am just SO brain dead any chance to relax and not have to think is MOST welcomed.

Graduation is scheduled for 0900 and is scheduled to be done by 1000. Whoo hoo! I am packed and ready to go. I have almost everything in my car, but an overnight bag and my Class A uniform. Georgia, here I come.

Week FIVE!!!

2006-06-26T19:06:00.000-05:00

OH MY GOSH. What a stress filled weekend. Friday we let out relatively early and I was glad that I didn't have a headache. A friend in class invited me to go out with her and several buds to celebrate her birthday. I agreed. I was relieved the week was done and needed an excuse to vent.

I went and got my hair trimmed up. It was getting a little long to still be within regulations. If you wear your hair down (and I do) it cannot fall below the bottom edge of the collar. Mine was getting close. I decided to not get a snack as we were all going out to eat. Then the headache started. sigh.

I got back to my room and ate a half a jelly sandwich hoping to edge out the headache. We all met outside, deciding who was riding with whom. I rode with a fellow from Alabama in his big Ford pick-up. I do not know what he has been hauling around in his vehicle but it smelled like paint remover in there. Headache increases in intensity.

We arrive at the Butcher Shop restaurant. If you are ever in Little Rock, GO TO THE BUTCHER SHOP!! Great steaks, food and atmosphere. I ordered a Merlot and sipped it slowly. We all finally arrived (15 of us) and were seated pretty quickly. We ordered our food, drank and had a great time. It was hilarious as we found out more about each other. How many of you can remember where you were when Elvis died?? I thought I was the only one who remembered that since it was 2 days shy of my 18th birthday. Seems a good many people remember that day.

I had to share my claim to fame... My mother dated Elvis and I spoke to him on the phone. I'll have to tell y'all about that sometime.

Well I laughed hard and really had a great time. It felt good to just relax. The nagging headache wasn't that bad after the second glass of wine. But we had finished and time to leave. I gave the birthday girl a big hug and climbed up into the foul smelling truck. Why I did not crack a window I will never know... but by the time we got back to the base my head was throbbing in time to the beat of the tires on the road..thump thump, thump thump, thump thump. I thanked my ride and went straight to my room. Ugh.

Saturday I woke with the same headache. I doped up and finally got rid of the headache by Sunday afternoon. Note to self...go have a CAT scan when you get back to Georgia.

Today dawned bright, crisp, and cool. At 0530 we started our run. It felt good. I ran the whole way, kept up with everyone and even had FUN running!! GASP! It just felt plain good to get out there and sweat in the cool morning air. When I was required to sprint, I just opened it up and pushed as hard as I could. I surprised myself at how fast I could go when pushed! Now comes the discipline part...will I keep this up when I go back home??

We arrived at school and right off the bat I volunteered for three of the four tests we are required to pass over the next three days. I passed all three!! I only need to pass a presentation and the final exam scheduled for Thursday morning. I felt such a wave of relief with the three big tests out of the way. Hmmmm...maybe I was having stress related headaches.

Anyway, I can see the finish line from here. I am pretty confident. I can almost taste the victory of completing this school and earning my Recruiter Badge. I can imagine hugging my kids. I can feel that little baby girl in my arms, smell the baby smell of her and imagine tears of joy flowing down my face. I've been busy making plans for son and me. Movies we will see, things we will do. And of course, late at night..I dream of my love and what he means to me..... Ahhh such sweetness wrapped up in a big bear of a man.