So. Today is the day I should have been headed home. Obviously as everyone knows, I am not. As Nell said in her email to me, it is in fact bittersweet. Obviously I am very much looking forward to getting home. I miss all of you more than you know. I am also very ready to leave Iraq for atleast a little while. It is hard to spend everyday with the same people for 9 months and not end up wanting to strangle atleast a couple of them (sorry Mom will be mad at me for saying that ha). But, as many of you have guessed, when they asked for a volunteer, all I could think about was if I was in his situation. Coming home and not having Mom or Dad be there would just not be the same. If I wouldn't want to be in that situation then I should help him out. I do feel that in a lot of ways God will repay kindness with kindness (not that that was my motivation in anyway) but hopefully He'll help me out sometime later.
Well, I don't remember if I have made any updates about the promotion thing and I am too lazy to go back and read to check. If I repeat myself I apologize. When I completed my packet I needed the admin NCO to check it before it could be turned in. Well he didn't put forth the effort I needed and I missed the September board. I finished making the corrections last week and gave it back to my platoon sergeant to try and turn in again. The packet needs the signature of my team leader, the admin NCO, the Commander, and the First Sergeant. Well... I almost got all of those approvals. The First Sergeant doesn't believe in allowing packets to be submitted to the board if they need Time in Service and Time in Grade waived. I need both waived. Therefore, he will not allow my packet to be submitted. I need 3 more months Time in Grade before that doesn't need a waiver. Which means I can not submit my packet until the December board even though I have the points.
Obviously a little frustrating. But as Mom pointed out first and then my Chain of Command also said; it is better that time is the reason I cannot get promoted than if it was because they didn't believe in me. My Platoon Sergeant told me yesterday that he believes I should be an NCO and that I would be a good one, and I know my Squad believes in me because of the leadership positions they have put me in. I, along with two other Specialists now, am spending time being in charge of some of the leadership aspects of the missions. From being in charge at the trucks, or being in charge of the guard towers, to helping out giving the briefs before the mission. I would rather have their respect and confidence than stripes on my chest, I just wish I could have both!
Been a long start to a long week. I have missions everyday this week and then will be working on our offday Saturday. Small consolation, they are giving us Monday off for labor day. I guess I will try and catch up on sleep then!
My best friend will be back from leave around Sunday or Monday so that should help me out to have him to talk to again. I also want to apologize to everyone for all the emails my Mom sent out the other day! Haha, Guess I shouldn't have forwarded her the article.
I apologize for the length and if this post seems depressed. I am alright, missing home but I will def. be good soon enough. I will make sure that my next post is super happy, it is just easier to post the not so fun information once instead of telling everyone over the phone multiple times. Hope everyone is doing really well. Get prepared to cheer Auburn to some victories for me this year. I have waaaayyyy to many Tusca-losers around here that will be all over me if we lose too many games, haha. I love everyone and still look forward to seeing yall soon.