Personal Update

Spectre

Spectre

Joined
Nov 3, 1998
Messages
4,331
Those of you who have been around a while probably remember that the Army tried to involuntarily reactivate me this summer. I'm due to graduate in May with my BA, so I requested a delay to allow me time to graduate before being deployed.

That was denied. I was pretty bummed; I'm an nontraditional student, and I felt it was really important for me to get my BA out of the way. My status is now as follows:

So, some of you have heard parts of the story, but it looks like this is the final version:

I am now an ROTC cadet at ASU;
I am now a member of the Georgia National Guard;
I will graduate in May;
I will commission in December.

I plan on GRFD (guaranteed Reserve component, in my case, Guard), and completing my Ph.D. with a specialization in military history.

John
 
So is your NG status a good thing, or just the best under the circumstances? Could your unit still be called up for active duty? Just wanted to be sure whether to commiserate with you or congratulate you. :)

It's a shame that so many who have already served are having their lives put on hold because we don't have enough men in uniform. Thank you for your service John.:thumbup:

Steve
 
"I will graduate in May."

Sounds like a good thing.

That's great, John. One thing at a time; the future is, by-and-large, indifferent to our plans for it.




Be well and safe.
 
Well, the NG got me out of the IRR (former svc members not training, but subject to recall). The ROTC has an "SMP" agreement signed with the Guard, in my case. This means that I won't be illegible to be deployed until after I commission, and I plan on having myself already assigned to a NG unit near the college I'll hopefully be attending for grad school, so when I commission, I'll already have my unit "locked in".

I'm certain I'll face at least one long deployment before I get my Ph.D, and I'm okay with that.

J
 
John I wasn't aware you were in GA. If you ever want a really well cooked meal gimme a call and my wife will do her best for ya. You'll have to drive over here though. Sorry to hear of the impediment to your schooling I know what a pain in the ass it is trying to graduate without abnormal impediments. And like Steve said, Thank you for your service. Its an honor to know you sir.
 
Thanks for the update, and hoping things go more-or-less the way you want them to, John.

If you do deploy, may it be to somewhere like Germany, and not a sandy place... unless that's what you wish. :eek:


Mike
 
Best of luck to you, John. I really do hope it all works out well for you. Thanks for the update.

Jake
 
John, I was wondering what was going On with you. Thanks for the update. I'm glad that you will get to finish the school thing.

A sidenote on the sandbox thingy.........my nephew is in Fallujah and swears he's having a great time............Marines:rolleyes: :D
 
Sorry to keep anyone in suspense (but, thanks for caring). I wasn't really certain about all aspects of this until this afternoon.

There's really a great bunch here, and I'm happy to know you all.

John
 
Filtering out all the jargon and letters, I'm guessing something good has happened. Congratulations, John.
 
Sounds like you have taken as much control over your situation as possible under the circumstances. Many, many cannot say that. Good fortune.
 
Glad to hear it all did work out for you John. Or should I say cadet? :) LT Spectre, I can't wait to see it. You'll make a good one.
 
I never pictured you as an ossifer, John, but I suspect that you'll do a far better job of it than most of the ones I've known.

Best of luck, as always.

(I'll save the jokes for when you put on the bars.)
 
John, we don't know what the face of the world will look like politically in 10 months. I do know a PHD will suit you. And that wherever you are will be blessed with a higher service because of your own unique presence. You will have good karma and productivity whatever and however all this comes down. I wish you well, and am very glad you checked in, as I was just thinking about you and have missed our weekly phone conversations. "Conversations with the Spirit".



munk
 
munk said:
John, we don't know what the face of the world will look like politically in 10 months. I do know a PHD will suit you. And that wherever you are will be blessed with a higher service because of your own unique presence. You will have good karma and productivity whatever and however all this comes down. I wish you well, and am very glad you checked in, as I was just thinking about you and have missed our weekly phone conversations. "Conversations with the Spirit".



munk
Click to expand...

yeah what he said.

However the important words are "Graduate in May".
 
munk,

I've unfortunately allowed myself to get swamped with work*. In fact, I tried to drop out of the ROTC program yesterday, because I'm so far behind, and I don't want to muck up my GPA.

The commanding officer and executive officer want to keep me, I guess, so we worked out a way for me to have more time, and graduate from the program a semester early. I think everyone won. :)

Sorry for all the acronyms, folks. It's "Army training" (ever see Stripes?). :D ASU= Augusta State University.

*I'm an Anthropology minor, and the university just finally added another full-time ANTHRO professor, so I'm taking 3 upper-level ANTHRO courses, one of them an "independent studies" course.

Thanks again for all the kind wishes,

John
 
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