In The Beginning

Every story starts at the beginning. This one started at 2:06 pm on Tuesday, January 8th 2008. That is when I got "the call" from NOSC Salt Lake City that informed me that I was being ordered back to active duty.

I have imaginged getting that call before. I always thought there would be a little bit of a chill, but I dont even remember being disappointed. I remember being in a casual conversation about a small business problem when the call came. I was actually a bit surprised by how matter of factly I accepted the news and how quickly I shifted into a serious planning mode of thinking.

I had notified my boss and the department director within an hour that I would be leaving and had a pretty good idea of what needed to be done to get ready. In the days since the call, this is what has surprised me the most. I had always thought that I would need at least a month to get ready, but two weeks is looking like it will be more than enough time.

The worst thatt I can say about this, is that it is a little bit inconvenient. I bought a house about a year ago, and I was looking forward to doing some work on it. I had already torn out my front yard with the intent of putting in a sprinkler system and some new trees and sod in the spring. I will have to leave that for my brother. He will be taking care of my home while I am gone.

It will also be vey interesting and I am starting to look forward to it. The mobilization code on my orders indicates that I will be attached to the Civil Affairs activities in Iraq, probably on loan to the Army. Civil Affairs is the military activity responsible for administering reconstruction and ensuring that military and civilian activities dont clash in ways that lead to hard feelings.

Wikipedia has an article on Civil Affairs that does a pretty good job of explaining what it entails.

Any way, a week has gone by. I have all of my bills taken care of. Nearly all of my paperwork is assembled. I only have my will and a power of attorney to complete. Most of my efforts for the next week will be consentrated on a handful of online training courses that are required for Individual Augmentees like myself.

I have never been very good at keeping a journal, and I dont really like talking or writing about myself, but my brother suggested this blog as a good way of keeping touch while I am gone. Whether I do or not, remains to be seen. As long as I have access to the internet over there, this will be a faster way to communicate than a letter.