February 23, 2007

• Now what??

  So I’ve been MIA lately. So much is happening around here I can’t really keep up. I have a major paper due and recently discovered that although I did miss the deadlines, with my advisor’s help I will be able to take my Comprehensive exams and if I pass I will graduate in May. That was so exciting because I thought I would actually be able to “take the walk” — you know cap and gown  pomp and circumstance the works. See for my bachelor’s I went through an adult education program and although I had the graduation, not the cap and gown with the walk and everything else. The comprehensives start next week.
  
  Unfortunately — I’m probably not going to get that opportunity to complete that walk.
  
  Why on earth not you might ask??
  
  Well – because the Air Force has decided now is the appropriate time to stick to us.
  
  Hubby’s DEROS extension was denied (even though they recently approved others with less reasoning and justification). After taking 2 months to kill that they left us scrambling for other options. We thought we could PCS to retire but then we would have to start hubby’s terminal leave and permissive TDY in April or sell it back. Selling it back would end up costing us about $2000-$3000 per month we sell back. It’s a complicated equation that includes the money we are paid for housing and cost of living here and the cost of living and housing in NM. We don’t want to lose those entitlements. Hubby has been in the Air Force for 26 years. He has followed the rules and played the game the way it’s supposed to be played.
  
  To top that off, they gave him an assignment. To Barksdale Louisiana. Now he has to employ his 7 day option, leaving us no time to work this out and fix it.
  
  So what’s this all mean? That if we don’t sell back any leave we will be moving next month. Like, beginning of March next month. Like in 2 weeks next month.
  
  If we sell back 1 month of leave we’ll be leaving in April — in like 5 weeks in April.
  
  We really wanted to stay for the girls to finish school, in addition Silver_Fangz has her confirmation planned for the end of April.
  
  I’m feeling very bitter and disappointed by the Air Force. For 26 years they have treated us great — not always the way we wanted but in quality and fair manner. this just seem punitive. It’s not the first time we’ve run up against this — the concept that because we live on Maui and are on some sort of cruise assignment. Not taking in to account that the job her sucks…. they are undermanned, unsupported and underfunded, in addition the cost of living and difficulties getting basics like – quality health care — pregnant military women and families are now forced to go through the public health service systems as all the OB’s here banded together and refused to take Tricare because they didn’t pay enough (according to the OBs). Instead of increasing the amount allowed, they just sent the women to public health services for their care. To top all that off, this assignment is a major career killer — because of the fact that they aren’t in charge of large numbers of troops and the bias about an assignment to Maui — they just don’t ever get promoted from here.
  
  So all that aside — it comes down to this… the unit Commander is working on it and we are in wait and see mode. Since our timeline is so short we can’t wait long. We have to start planning and getting ready for the move. We have to plan for the shipping of the animals, finding temporary housing that allows animals and if we move in April  we have to arrange for schools. There’s a lot to do and not long to do it!
  
  So that’s where we’re at. It’s not pleasant, and the stress level is running high but we are managing to find the humor in the situation — course for us that’s the norm! Humor keeps us from losing our minds. Did I mention how THRILLED the girls were about this latest news??? NOT!!
  
  
  

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  Question for the day:
  What was your worst move??
  

  • 7:51 pm
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