Today was easily one of my worst days with the 17th Fires Brigade. I had to write a counseling statement with the magic bullet. The magic bullet can easily be explained best as “if you do this again, I’m giving you some non-judicial punishment.” That means possibly taking rank, money and time. These statements are never fun to write. It’s probably been 10 years since I’ve had to write a counseling statement like this.

I went into this counseling expecting a fight, yelling and some position of parade rest. As we went through the session, I didn’t see my soldier get mad. In fact, he was absorbing everything I said. After I explained how our plan of action would be a good training opportunity, he thought about adding his own thoughts to the form. Instead, he agreed and signed his name. The expierence was also unfortunate becuase he had just written a good article and was in a great mood. When I told him it was too bad I had to end the day like this, he ended up thanking me for being a good NCO and shook my hand.

I was shocked.

I think I took it in stride, but I was very pleased with that fantastic attitude. He then told me that he’s using me as an example of a professional NCO, and that he’s always watching my behavior. We’re taking a potentially bad situation and turning it into a good learning moment. The Army or any other workplace doesn’t always have mature moments like this.

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October is here.  I’m ready to go.  However, there’s no slowing down because the 17th FiB is just getting started.  I’m way behind with my broadcast products.  I have over 120 holiday shoutouts to cut up and send to dvids.

I’m getting my mind right for not being home for Thanksgiving.  I’m worried we’ll spend it in New Jersey, but there’s nothing we can do about that.  It would be an incredible stroke of luck to not miss a Thanksgiving or Christmas while deployed.  I don’t think we’ll be that lucky.

I catch myself visualizing my last day at Ft. Dix, getting on the plane in Philadelphia, and meeting Leslie in the baggage claim of D/FW.  She’s always crying, but I’m not because I’m tough and too cool for that.

If there’s one thing I could change about this deployment, I would have run to a brigade much sooner in the year.  I stuck around the division to edit the newscast and it was a bad decision.  I regressed professionally and grew to hate my job and the arrogance around me.  I’ve got a bridge doused in kerosene.  I can’t wait to light the match in November.

This post is tagged Sucky Days