Moments that you never forget

 I realized that with all of this "lack of internet" I never got around to sharing the pictures of one of the biggest moments in Andy's military career... at least so far.
 The weeks leading up to it are fairly well documented. But that last week, well, it was an adventure.

 Mom dropped the boys and I off at the Ft. Benning campground, where we stayed in an adorable little, (and I mean little) cabin. Andy was able to join us in his free(ish) time and give me access to his truck. It was a full week, filled with the last minute details of learning how to behave in the outside world once you are an officer.

The boys and I had some playtime while we waited.

We were fascinated by the homes left behind...

pensive about the home we were headed to

and silly in the "home" we were using at the moment. 

We always manage to keep ourselves busy while waiting for daddy.

 We even went to the Infantry Museum.

Some very interesting displays, even kid friendly ones - but by the time we finished I had some very grumpy, hungry boys... see.

But the most important event of the week was the moment when all of Andy's hard work was recognized and rewarded.

Waiting

and watching (or perhaps coloring?)

Sorry about the close-up Tara!

Swearing in.

Aren't they a good looking group of officers?

Shaking hands with the "big wigs" as he walked across the stage.

When they had called everyone across the stage they were summoned into the back room, then dismissed. All of the families were waiting with anticipation. Their officers appeared. We waited, and waited, and waited. (Perhaps with less patience then we should have?) I finally flagged down a classmate I was familiar with and asked where he might be.  

He was helping someone else, of course. 

They had to take some "candidate" thing off their shoulder and put some official "I am now and officer for real" thing on. Andy's gifts are service and generosity. So of course he had stayed and helped everyone else. 

 I showed up with my handy dandy, never leave home without it, pocket knife and between the two of us we were able to get the job finished! 

The first salute. 

It was a beautiful moment between brothers. 

Andy wanted his Silver Dollar to go to someone special, and Josh drove several hours to do that for him.

One proud momma!

 One proud wife. (and three boys who are tired of having their picture taken)

 A family picture.

My dad came too. 

My family is proud too, even if Andy graduating means he will take us far away! 

One graduation down, one more to go. 

Chemical BOLC, here we are! 

Blessings, 

Monday, monday, where did you go...

As any of you who know me well have already realized, no news = bad news.
 But first, let me back up on the Andy story. When he set out on this Officer Candidate School journey, the AF and the Army were having difficulty working together. Surprise! The Blue to Green program is supposed to be a smooth transition, but, like anything the government has a hand in, there are some things that don't go as smoothly as we would hope. His approved "exit" date from the AF expired in March. The next available opening for OCS was in July. The recruiter declared that didn't really matter. They could transfer him on over, give him a job at his current rank (E-5) while he waited and hopefully they would find an opening in an earlier class.
 We assumed, since he didn't have any training in a specific Army job, they would stick him in something boring that anyone can do. Yard work, answering phones, handing out balls at the gym. He would work 9-5, be off in the evenings, and drive up here on the weekends. It's only about two hours away.

 In the meantime, we took the two months of leave he had accrued during his time in the AF and enjoyed some family time. All of Dec and Jan were free time. Feb 1st was his last day in AF. Feb 2nd was supposed to be his swearing in for the Army.
 Our problems begin there. His recruiter, although he had two months while Andy was on terminal leave, had not checked Andy's package thoroughly and it was missing one piece of paper. Andy frantically called, and searched, and managed to get it faxed from the AF to MEPS, but it was 45 minutes too late. So, he had to wait to swear in until the next day. He was officially not in either branch of the military for one entire day.
 That is causing huge problems for our insurance. Argh!

 Then, when he got to Ft. Benning, he was thrown into a room full of other guys who had arrived for OCS, told to turn in his truck keys, and walked through a mini basic training style "reception". Shots given, head buzzed, uniforms handed out, curfew strictly enforced. With no warning. I got a txt saying. "It's lights out. I'll call when I can." That's all I heard for nearly 24 hours, and after that communication was still very spotty for days. What is funny is that all of these guys are prior enlisted. They have been through this already, in one branch or another. It seemed slightly over-kill. But, of course, they went along with it. However, they were held for 10 days.... and weren't allowed any PT. For fear they would hurt themselves before classes began. Seriously?

 Here is the kicker. They were transferred over to the OCS dorms on Friday. There they found out that with the newbies coming straight from basic, as well as the candidates from the Reserves and National guard there were close to 200 people trying to get in this class.

 There were 120 spots.

 Andy, who isn't supposed to start a class until July asked on Sunday if he could bow out, and not steal a spot from someone who is supposed to start this time. Because he had a hacking cough and was on antibiotics at the time, the 1st shirt approved his choice; but, he has to try in 3 weeks when the next class starts. That does not guarantee him a spot however. The 80 guys who didn't make the cut this week will be stiff competition.

 The way they made their final decision was with the PT test. A score of 300 is perfect. I believe that 180 is passing. Andy usually gets 240-250. They were not taking anything less than 270. That is not just a good score - that is fabulous. And the poor guys who had been held for 10 days without PT? Only about half of them made it into this class.

 At least Andy knows what he will be doing with his free time during the next three weeks!

 When he is not working out, or studying for the future book work he will have, he has been put on a special duty as a teacher's helper in the public school on post. He was helping to grade 4th grade papers today. As the son of a teacher, it is a perfect job for him, but he says it makes him miss his boys dreadfully!

 Since all of our assumptions were incorrect, and he will not be working some insignificant job, then free in the evening and weekends, we have had to adjust our way of thinking. The thought of waiting until July for him to even start his class is slightly overwhelming, when we have no access to him at all. So, we hold onto hope with both hands that he will kick some butt on the PT test in three weeks and be able to move up with that class. In the meantime, I have been able to talk to him every night this past week. 30-45 minutes isn't much, but it is more then I had last time he was in the desert, and at least I know he isn't in danger. And - txt messages are part of our cell plan. I annoy him all day long, and occasionally he is able to send me three words in reply. I take what I can get!

 On a completely different side note:
 We have been married for 9 1/2 years. Andy has been in the military for 9 years. Yesterday was the 6th time he was gone for Valentine's day. It is always this time of year. Always. He misses V-day and his birthday (which is St. Patty's day) and Easter every single time. Poor guy.

 And with that, I bring us to the end of my exciting/boring update on military life. Until next time,