Life Changes

[Pitspitr]

Actually Leo I may be on plan C as well.

Plan "A" was full time farming
Plan "B" was farming plus several part time jobs
Plan "C" may be a full time job, but farming in the summer. I should know if I get the job in the next few weeks. If so I may actually get to shoot more, but we'll have to see.

[Dalton Masterson]

Major Matt, Good luck to you in your endevours. Sorry to hear you will have to cut back on shooting, but other things DO have priorities over the game we play here.

We will certainly see you in the future again, I am sure.

Pitspitr, got my fingers crossed for you.

DM

[Capt. Montgomery Little]

Richard,  Sorry to hear about your job situation but happy to hear of your commission. Keep the family first and you can never go wrong. We continue to pray for you and yours. God Bless and shoot whenever you can.

Are we going to see you at the NCOWS Convention?

[US Scout]

Rich -

Sorry to hear of your misfortune, but at least you have a "plan B" to fall back on.   Just keep your head (and other parts) down and out of harm's way.

Does this mean that your alias will now change to "Lt Matt Lewis"?   

[Guns Garrett]

How about..."Butterbar Bill"?

Good on ya, Rich!

[Major Matt Lewis]

Larry,

I had the option not to go to Drill this weekend, but it's a MUTA 5 and that is almost $600.  So, I am doing drill this weekend.  I just don't feel being out of work, I can justify not putting some cash away for a rainy day.  I HAD REALLY WANTED TO BE AT THE CONVENTION

[Leo Tanner]

All in all, I'd say ya made a good choice.  Everyone should learn ta buckle down so well right now.  I got teased for missing something later this week and all I could think was, "you ain't my accountant".  It was all in good fun, but family is first.

[Capt. Montgomery Little]

Richard,  Excellent decision for this weekend. However it just won't be the same without you.  As the General said, keep your head on straight and your butt down and all will be well.

[Frenchie]

You know we're all behind you 100%, Richard. Congratulations on the commsission and thanks for your service. Be well!

[Pony Racer]

So LT where are the pictures???!!!

In the USCG - we have a wetting down every time you make a new rank - so where and when is the party??!!

Congrats again!

Welcome to the Officer Corp.

PR

[Major Matt Lewis]

Sir,

I will get some posted.  I was offered a job yesterday.  My Army career planner offered me the opportunity to go active duty for three years.  It would really only work out, if I got Ft. Riley so I would not have to up root the family.  I have to believe that Ft. Riley is not a hard place to get.  I have until September to make up my mind.  I up side is that a year or so down range would liquidate all debt because I would have no living expenses.

[Pony Racer]

Did they give you an idea if Ft Riley is one of the places they would be looking to send you.

Our "detailers" usually look at us for specific jobs and then ask us our location druthers (not that we get to pick very often mind you).

If you are lucky sometimes you get 1 of the 4-5 locations listed.  However, we are a much smaller service, by far!

Congrats again

[Major Matt Lewis]

She was VERY clear on the following:

1. The wants and needs of the Army would come first.

2. I would get to request 2 CONUS posts, but to see rule number 1 if I didn't get either of my requests.

3. I would be going down range at least once, and that the Army tours are 12 months.

I would think that Ft. Riley would be a good fit because, who in their right mind wants to be stationed in Central Kansas?  Tina is dead set on staying here, at least until my daughter graduates from high school,  so that REALLY handicaps my career search.  The local economy revolves around my current employer and they are now canablizing themselves to keep the lights on, so the local Kansas City economy at some point is going to collapse.  Either my employeer will go bankrupt or they will be somebodies conquest so either way, the local economy is going to take a hit.  My wife's job is very secure, as she is an ER Nurse.  She wants to stay here so, I will be a geographical bachelor.  Ft. Riley is about 2.5 hours away so I could come home on the weekends. 

So, with all that as the back ground, and me leaving for about 5 months of training in 6 weeks, I do not have time to secure a job here in the local area.  Plus, who would want to hire me just to have me leave in a month? 

My career planner let me know that this offer expired the week before I graduated, so I have time before I make a final decision, but I am thinking that I will probably opt to go active duty because it is the bird in the hand....It seems that the universe, God and the wicked witch of the West iare all telling me that I am going to be a fulltime soldier for a little bit.  That is not my first choice, but it is the hand I am being dealt....The kids like to eat and live inside.

[Pony Racer]

I hear you there pard.

My wife and i have discussed the geo-bachelor route due to the likelihood that after my next field unit tour - I would most likely come back to DC or go some where as a USCG Liaison officer.

Housing market is really driving force behind that.

PR

[Major Matt Lewis]

There just doesn't seem to be any "good" solutions.  The fact is that if I wanted to be an everyday soldier, I would have joined the Army and not the Reserves.  I have no issue with being Moblized and would invite the opportunity.  Which I was told by my CO last night when I was kicking the can with him is a very good possibility.  The fact of the matter is, without fulltime employment, which ends tomorrow, I am a bit jittery in this economy about feeding the family.  The Army has offered me an opportunity, so I AM very grateful, I just don't want to make a bad decision.

[Mustang Gregg]

Richard:

We feel your pain, Pard!  That geographical bachelor stuff ain't much fun, nor is it cheap!   

I was a geographical bachelor with a 3+ hour drive from work to home from 2004 to 2007. 
That was working at Ft. Flat Water (AASF #2 in Grand Island, NE) to our home in Table Rock, NE. 
But now I drive only 75 miles to work on 4 days a week.   
But I still make the long drive to Grand Island at least twice a month for duty.   

Good luck with the position, Major!  Ft Riley will be a all right.

MG

PS.  Does anything ever come up at Ft. Leavenworth?

[Major Matt Lewis]

Thanks.  Ft. Leaenworth is not an option for me as the want to get deployments out of me and Leavanworth is a training base.

[Pitspitr]

Well, it's official, my life is going to change too.
Today I was officially offered the Technology Coordinator/Transportation Coordinator position at the school. I won't be getting rich, but the pay will be dependable, unlike farming. It'll be quite a change working for someone else full time as I've been self-employed for the last 28 years. It'll also make attending the Grand Muster more difficult... but I don't think it will be completely out of the question. I should be good this year, but future trips will be difficult during the school year. The upside is that I should be able to attend MORE shoots during the summer.

[Texas Lawdog]

Congrats. on the new job, Jerry. A job may get harder to find in these times. You can still pop in unannounced at the Muster when you can.  Good luck with the new job.

[Dalton Masterson]

Congrats Pitspitr!!!
See you sunday hopefully!
DM