A(-)/3/323

Before the first of the year a Stateside Mobilization for January was being kicked around. It was supposedly going to take place at Ft. McClellan Alabama. The mission was to set up a training site and conduct Pre Train for Reserve and Guard Units deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan. My Brigade, 2nd Bgd 98th Div, was tasked to fill it. Instead of Mobilizing a Battalion, they decided to task each Battalion of the Brigade for a Company. An issue with my Battalion, 3rd of the 323d, was, there was no full Company. The Battalion was being rebuilt after Mobilizations and Promotions that resulted in a substantial turn over. As a result each Company would have to contribute to fill the mission. At the time of all of this, from December to April, I was "Attached" to the Unit, not yet Assigned due to a mysterious paper work shuffle beyond my comprehension. So, my going on the mission was in question, as well as I've been off Active Duty for less than a year, which, would require my volunteering and some higher approvals.

The mission was delayed to a later date. During that time Ft. McClellan became Ft. Somewhere. Ft. McClellan, the former Active Duty Taining Post, now belongs to the Alabama National Guard and they had serious concerns about their obligation in facilities. The old Basic Training Barracks belong to the City of Anniston and housing on the remaining portion of the post is limited. As time went the mission was postponed until the 15th of May. The date came closer and still no site was confirmed. In the meantime, come hell or high water, every member of my Company, was to be activated on the 15th of May except for me and my Commander that had been Activated with me for Iraq in 2006. He has since left to command another Company within the Battalion and the other members are now activated and on their way to what appears to be Ft. Hunter Ligget California. Suddenly I was Alpha Company. As a note, I was going to Bravo Company, but in January Bravo was reconstituted as Alpha Company, but the people stayed the same. After submitting my paper worrk six months earlier, I received my Orders Assigning me to the unit in April.

Then the week before Drill, the 17th and 18th, I received an e-mail informing me that a Specialist (E-4) coming off of Active Duty would report in that weekend. Now my job is to get him promoted and off to Drill Sgt School as quickly as I can. AS well, somewhere along the line something happened to the training aids. There is nothing, no training aids, not a bandage for First Aid or any hard copy reference materials (FM's, Reg's and TM's). There is a Unit deactivating on their return from Iraq and we hope to draw some NCO's from them. How am I to tell them they will be Trainers when they have nothing to train with to be proficient? So, another serious task for me is to gather as much as I can in training aids and publications.

I drill in Athens Georgia. Over the last month in civilian life I had worked 12 hour shifts and we were done with production early last week, giving me Friday off. So, I went to Athens the day before my weekend Drill. I like Athens. I stayed at the BQ at the Naval Supply School there in Athens. On the wall of my room was a memorial photo and narrative of the USS Thresher. It sucked to be them. I was walking down town Friday night and came across a shop, "Junkmans Daughters Brother". It's a freak supply shop or in my view for those young and young at heart. It had some T-shirts my Stepson would like to Lingerie I'd like to see some choice women in. Some Marines from the Naval Supply School were walking around in it. A girl reminded us several times..."Attention Junkmans Daughters Brothers shoppers..." as if it was K Mart that they would close in a matter of minutes. I had to find a Wal Mart for reasons that's none of your business and found myself in SUPER Wal Mart off of Epps Bridge Rd on the west side of town. Here came that same group of young Marines traipsing into Wal Mart. After talking with another NCO the next day he had seen the same Marines running back onto the Supply School grounds with minutes to spare before their 2300 hours curfew. There is so much entertainment in that town. To be them...Oh by the way, Franklin's Gun Shop is as cool as Junkmans Daughters Brother without the Bustiers and Go Go boots.

I posted The Hives because...I like The Hives.

Note: I edited this post from it's original state to clarify a couple of details. It ain't easy being your own editor.

"Cause I have done it before and I can do it some more"
The Appalachianist