Freaking LASER beams...

Time for a predeployment sitrep. It has been a while since I posted. It took me a while to be able to see the keyboard.

One of the benefits of military medicine is the PRK/LASIK procedures offered at the various military health/medical centers.

I had the PRK back in 2002 when I was assigned to the ship. I am not a vain person and after years of flight status with cool aviator glasses, I simply decided I had had enough. So I jumped into the line and got the peepers zapped. Over time and the fishing trips with the intense Florida sun, the eyes regressed enough to merit occasional eyeglass wear.

Going the through the predeployment physical screening and checklists I came upon the "ballistic lenses" and "prescription eye inserts for gas mask", and thought I would just go get the retreat of the eyes to put them back into standards. So I jumped into the stand by line for the Army Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl Germany, Warrior Laser Center. I had to go into a wait list but my pending deployment to the Stan got me bumped in priority. I went into standby for the Navy quota and after 3 months they called me and told my eyes would be zapped the Monday after Thanksgiving if I could make it up there.

Landstuhl and Ramstein is incredibly packed with Army Green and Air Force Blue. I felt like the fish out of water. My visit coincided with the Army - Navy game, and I debated if I should wear my NAVY sweatshirt to my surgery. My gosh, I have never seen so many shoppettes or class 6 stores in one place!

The week came and they zapped the eyeballs, and it appears that things are on track. I have some walleye vision, but after recuperating with some great German Heffen and Helles in Garmisch, I am back to 90%. I am extremely pleased with the fine folks at LMRC and the military medicine. Now if I can just remember where I left my car keys...

“Follow on orders.”

Hello all.

I want to congratulate Joe on his safe conclusion of his tour in the Stan’. Thanks Joe, you are a great American.

Well, as I complete my tour here at my current overseas duty station and ready my family and myself for the next PCS and IA deployment to Afghanistan, it occurred to me that some folks may not know the details of how the process works for a Sailor up for reassignment. In my particular case this will be my 12th Permanent Change of Station (PCS). The process begins as they all do, an email or phone call to the “Detailer” (a mythical creature who lives in a far off place, who is supposed to represent the Sailor and the Navy). This process is very similar to the mating ritual of the right whale. After a series of non-conclusive, non-binding “maybe’s”, I was able to pin the Detailer down to “Penciling” me in for a set of orders. I eagerly told Mrs. Haircut the news and we celebrated the return to the States and to our adopted hometown of Pensacola. The inevitable question from my wife was, “when will we see hard copy orders”. Now “hard copy” orders are about as binding as a U.N. Resolution, but it is enough to authorize shipment of household goods, auto, dog and more importantly complete the mortgage application for breaking ground on the house construction.

Well I called the detailer and asked when I could expect to receive the hard copy and he gave the same non committal “6-9 months out”. Then a few days later came the email: “I have an IA you might be interested in”. Whoa Nelly! Now, at first I was anxious then I was excited. I have never been the guy who has to be “voluntold” and I earlier volunteered to go IA to a PRT battalion but big Navy said “no”, something about the Army (lead on Civil Affairs and PRT’s) not having a billet for a Navy Warrant Officer. So I resigned myself to heading back to the States and wrapping up the career.

The Navy reviewed the policy of how they assign Individual Augmentee Sailors and have decided to fill the IA billets with personnel up for orders or PCS’ing. The Service has always been about timing and my timing was lousy or good depending on how you see it.

My wife was not very happy that the Navy decided to spring the new policy change at this particular point in our career. You see this is not her first tea party, and she has been with me for Desert Storm and the cruises and deployments after that and of course when I was deployed on USS Enterprise on Sep 11th. It was “just like the Navy” she said. From my point of view, since I was there at the beginning, it is very exciting to go back again. This time Boots on the Ground (BOG) I wonder what has really changed in the last 6 years.

Oh since volunteering for this IA, I received hard copy orders for the IA tour in 5 DAYS!!! Got to love the commitment! Still waiting for my Pensacola orders!

- MTH -

[Ya'd think a Senior Guy like this would know better than to admit to volunteering where his wife could see it... - the Armorer]