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CLICK HERE TO SEE UPDATE (September 1, 2005)
CLICK HERE TO SEE UPDATE (February 1, 2005)
CLICK HERE TO SEE UPDATE (September, 30 2004)
Earning a living or should we say "earning a paycheck" because it's not much of a living. That's what it all boils down to; replenishing your bank account to be able to pay the bills. Living paycheck to paycheck. So, what do I do to earn my paycheck? That depends who you ask. Ask my boss and he will say "nothing"; ask me and I will say "too much". For starters, I have never had a full-time job where I needed to depend on a time clock. Pretty much I have been living on tax payers money . . . No, no not on welfare or any other hand-me downs, I mean the hard earned tax payers money. Uncle Sam has been signing my paycheck for the last twenty years.
Yes sir, he sure has. Before I had finished high school I was sitting in the recruiter's office. A week later the recruiter was sitting in my living room asking my mother to sign the papers because I was seventeen years old. So, with a lot of reluctance she did. Ten days after my graduation I took my Oath of Enlistment and was on a plane heading to Parris Island, I missed my senior prom and a Billy Idol/Joan Jet concert - both scheduled for the weekend after I left. I arrived in Parris Island ready to start my new life in the United States Marine Corps.
During my tenure as a Marine I traveled to Okinawa, Hokkaido, and the Philippines. For the greater part of the enlistment I was stationed in California. Looking back at my first enlistment I can genuinely state that I do not regret anything I did. It was an awesome time - how wouldn't it be, the mid-80s in Southern California; what else can a guy ask for? Upon completion of my initial enlistment I figured it was time to move along and I separated from the Corps . . . Well, maybe physically because as the popular saying goes "Once a Marine, Always a Marine".
During my undergrad years I spent some time in the Army National Guard. Just couldn't pass up the opportunity of getting GI Bill, plus a few extra dollars a month for each drill, and the capability of purchasing on post.The time in the Guard was also very good. The unit was very tight and everyone got along very well. Desert Shield/Desert Storm prompted a unit mobilization and we spent over seven months performing base operations in Europe. When we returned to our home station I figured it was time for me to, once again move on with my career.
A couple of months after returning I picked up my undergrad studies right where I left it before deploying. A friend who had also been deployed talked me into pursuing a commission with him. In a blink of eye we were both enrolled in the R.O.T.C. Two years of serious training and partying - or was it serious partying and training, heck I can't recall it's been too long - concluded with a commission as an Army Second Lieutenant after taking the Oath of Office. Both the Oath of Enlistment and the Oath of Office have a history in and of themselves.
A few summers have passed since the day I got commissioned and I am still getting my share of tax payers dollars. The only difference is that now I pay about three time more in taxes than I did when I was a Private, so I deserve my paycheck. My career is going good and current world events give me job security. It is not certain that we will not undergo a reduction in force anytime soon, so I have to enjoy it while it lasts. With this said, I'd like to ask you to continue to pay your taxes so I can continue to receive a paycheck.
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UPDATE (September 30, 2004)
The verdict is in, we are going to head to Louisville, Kentucky before the Christmas Holidays. After much wheeling and dealing with branch I opted for this assignment. It has the potential of affording me the time and workload I need in order to continue the healing process of my recent major back surgery. I'm happy with the choice. Only time will tell.
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UPDATE (February 1, 2005)
This had to have been the move from hell!!! The four days we were on the the road it was rainy and miserable. The carrier with whom I sent my car lost the thing for a little over a week. Yeah, the car made it here safe, but it was so late. By the way, do not use National Auto Transport for anything. These guys have the worse service I have ever seen in my life. Stay away from them. So, when we arrived in the area we went house-hunting. OMG, the houses here are . . . well . . . incredible to say the least. It took us looking at what seemed to be thousands of houses in order to choose one. Nothing was up to standards for us. Since then we have managed to settled in and I have started my new job. Now all we are waiting for is for the sun to come out and the weather to improve.
UPDATE (September 1, 2005)
It's been a while since my last update to this particular page. I finally got promoted to Major. Yeap, believe or not the Army actually made me a Major . . . that's scary, eh??? This is quite possibly my last promotion since I plan to retire in about four years. Let's see what happens between now and then.
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