Oooops, sorry, you THOUGHT you were going...
Anyone who’s been in the Army more than two days knows that the service has a passion for doing things at the last minute. That’s the whole basis for our existence, in a way, because we don’t generally get like a year’s notice to get everybody ready to respond to a terrorist attack or a natural disaster. Some units’ only purpose is to be able to respond to something within 18 hours – wheels up, on the way to help, in 18 hours, not everyone coming in with a cuppa joe wondering what’s happening. So it’s in that spirit of “last minute” that I find myself having to change my plans about being a drill sergeant.
I got two e-mail messages earlier this week – one right after the other, from some demonic person named “ATRRSHELP.” This person’s first message cancelled my scheduled Drill Sergeant School class date of 18 March without even a “sorry, man.” His second message placed me in something called “wait status” for a late May report date. My permanent change of station date has been bumped as well, from July to September.
Now for anyone who’s experienced the pain of an impending separation, you probably know the rant I’m about to embark upon. I was away at ANCOC for 3 ½ weeks, scheduled to return for 4, then depart for Fort Benning for 9 ½ weeks -- so a total time away of about 4 months. My wife and I explained to my three-year-old daughter that Daddy was going away to school for a loooong time. Prepped her nicely only to have the dates change.
Seems every ten years individuals who possess a security clearance must undergo a review. I submitted my review in September. Here it is almost March and it’s not done yet. I eventually learned these type of investigations can take anywhere from 7 to 12 months to complete. But that’s not the worst of it – there’s also a background investigation for DS duty. Wait – that ain’t all – Army regs only allow ONE active investigation at a time. So, it could possibly take until September to complete the security review – THEN wait for the DS background check, THEN wait for a class date, THEN PCS – it could be frickin’ 2006 before I see that round hat.
Oh, well, last minute as usual.
I got two e-mail messages earlier this week – one right after the other, from some demonic person named “ATRRSHELP.” This person’s first message cancelled my scheduled Drill Sergeant School class date of 18 March without even a “sorry, man.” His second message placed me in something called “wait status” for a late May report date. My permanent change of station date has been bumped as well, from July to September.
Now for anyone who’s experienced the pain of an impending separation, you probably know the rant I’m about to embark upon. I was away at ANCOC for 3 ½ weeks, scheduled to return for 4, then depart for Fort Benning for 9 ½ weeks -- so a total time away of about 4 months. My wife and I explained to my three-year-old daughter that Daddy was going away to school for a loooong time. Prepped her nicely only to have the dates change.
Seems every ten years individuals who possess a security clearance must undergo a review. I submitted my review in September. Here it is almost March and it’s not done yet. I eventually learned these type of investigations can take anywhere from 7 to 12 months to complete. But that’s not the worst of it – there’s also a background investigation for DS duty. Wait – that ain’t all – Army regs only allow ONE active investigation at a time. So, it could possibly take until September to complete the security review – THEN wait for the DS background check, THEN wait for a class date, THEN PCS – it could be frickin’ 2006 before I see that round hat.
Oh, well, last minute as usual.
posted by broadcastmike at 4:58 PM
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