Popping Smoke

After a little over 8 years in the reserves, I’m now a full time civilian. It’s an odd, almost bittersweet, feeling to be completely honest. I’ve spent the past several years ready to be out, but now that I am out, I’ve got more freedom than I know what to do with (at least for now). No more building my entire life around drill schedules, schools, and upcoming training/mobilizations. No more unpaid work in between drills, late night calls, and early wake ups to drive to drill. I won’t miss that, nor will I miss the red-tape bureaucratic nightmare that can be military processes and procedures. I’ll especially not miss DTS (who still needs to approve my voucher from my most recent mobilization) or the evaluation system. 

I’m glad to say I have served. I believe I did my job to the best of my abilities. The Army made me grow up and mature in ways I don’t think civilian life can mirror. It taught me how to adapt quickly and take decisive action in unfamiliar situations. It gave me experiences that were miserable while doing it but some of my fondest memories now. I think that I’ll look back and miss that sometimes, because those situations are what forges bonds seldom seen elsewhere. 

But what I will miss most of all are the people. I’ve been truly blessed to have stellar soldiers all around me from my ROTC/BOLC classes and cadre, the two platoons I led, my HQ/maintenance guys as XO, and brigade staff during my time in the S3, every single team has been blessed with competent, hardworking soldiers at all levels. I still consider all of them “my guys” regardless of how much time has passed or distance is between us.

Now to fight the new challenger - the VA, who still hasn’t moved my BDD claim past step 3 a month after my most recent mobilization is over.