I, (state your name), do solemnly swear

Are there dates you never forget? Other than your anniversary or your wife's or child's birthday are there dates that are so ingrained you'll never forget them? Today is the anniversary of two...TWO...very significant days in my life. The 27th of February had been on the top of the list for a long time - I considered it the single most important and life-altering day of my life and also the day of greatest relief. It was that way for 10+ years, at least until February 16, 2002 (my wedding day) knocked it down to the #2 spot and then June 2, 2005 (little Dub's arrival) ultimately knocked it down to #3. No, I didn't get sober nor did I find God. I did something far harder and required faith in something a lot less predictable than God.

Seventeen years ago (today, exactly) I signed my name on the dotted line and enlisted in the U.S. Army. Nine years ago today, I fulfilled that eight-year contract, was honorably discharged and no longer the property of said Army.

Might as well start at the beginning, right? Let's get this on the table right from the start - at 21-years-old I was a fuck up. Thankfully, no one other than me really knew how deep a rut I was in. I was in a going-nowhere-job, drinking way too much and smoking even more. I had no motivation to go back to school and didn't have a clue what I wanted to do there even if I did. I was at the top of the spiral and knew it only went down from there. My mother, recognizing that things were not good and sick of being in denial, confronted me one night and suggested I look into the military or anything that might help me find some kind of direction. I pooh-poohed her saying that was never gonna happen, that I would be fine, I'll figure it out. Tired of hearing the same old, same old she let it go. What hurt wasn't hearing that what I was doing wasn't helping me or that I was disappointing them. What hurt was that I was making them old - my apathy was beating them down to the point they were giving up on me. The next day, I borrowed a friend's Fiero (it was the 80s - everyone was doing it) and went to the recruiter.

We talked for quite a while, SSG Tucker and I. I had taken the ASVAB two years prior just for shits and giggles (thought about joining the Guard - it was a fleeting though, but a thought nonetheless) and he was impressed with my scores (although, initially he didn't believe me when I told him - I may have been apathetic, but I wasn't stupid) and said given certain scores, I was elegible for pretty much anything the Army had to offer - and believe me, the Army has a looooottt to offer as far as employment. Let's be clear - recruiters have two pitches: one for the smart and directionless and one for the not-so-smart and motivated. Smart guys usually shut them down and want to talk about "what can you do for me?" That's me. I wanted to know what I could expect, what benefits there were, where I could go. All things considered, it's still just a job. Granted, there's far more risk involved (understatement, much?), but it's still a job with 30 vacation days, ridiculous amounts of holidays, a 9-4 workday (when not in the woods), room and board, advancement based on merit and time in service and other benefits too numerous to list. But, it's a life - not a lifestyle - a life. SSG Tucker and I agreed he would take me to the MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station) in Boston for the full enlistment rigamarole. Seventeen years ago today.

What a day this turns out to be. Oh. My. God. This was my first introduction into the military's "hurry up and wait" mindset. It's a day filled with physicals, background checks and paperwork...and more paperwork...and oh yeah, more paperwork. Nine fuckin' hours later I had chosen an MOS (Military Occupation Specialty) - a job, chosen a departure date and been administered an oath of service. I had also secured an enlistment bonus and would go to Germany for my first tour after Basic and AIT, both of which would be at Fort Sill, OK. And I wouldn't leave until May so there was plenty of time to get my head around what I had done and enjoy the remaining three months. Looking back on it all, there are some things I would have changed: you should never be in Oklahoma in the middle of summer...ever; might have gone a different job route; don't give up the summer.

Did I mention that I hadn't told anyone about this? No one. At all. Not my parents, not my best friends.

When I got home from my MEPS Station experience, I told my father what I had been doing that day. First he wanted to make sure I hadn't signed anything, that we should talk about it, look at the details. But I told him that part was done, I had to make a decision and I did. And he looked relieved and I think he actually looked a little younger. My mother was a little more surprised after having heard me discount the military some many other times. But she was pleased and made no attempt to hide it.

So, there I was. Just biding time waiting for the 25th of May (oh yeah - make sure when you leave for Basic that it's not a long weekend - fuckin' Memorial Day - or there will just be a whooooooole lotta waiting). I was actually excited about what the future held and I hadn't felt that way for a long time. It was a relief to have something to do and look forward to.

I know this was a bit serious, but it wasn't a very humorous time for me. Now, Basic Training and AIT? That shit was hilarious - you wouldn't believe some of the characters I met then, you'd think I was making them up. Seriously, the guys from Wymoing? Priceless.

Tags: mr. big dubya, personal