I spent my first two nights away from the boys this past week. Pat and the boys did great but I sure did miss them. I dreaded being away and I couldn't wait to get home. I finally got to fly to FT Carson, CO last week to out-process the Army. I was supposed to go the week prior but my unit apparently didn't pay for my ticket therefore when I tried to get through the airport I didn't get very far. During the holidays the military only works half days so I was not able to get out until this past Wed. I was able to do everything in one day and fly home on Friday. Now I am on terminal leave which in civilian terms means vacation. I saved up 74 days of vacation so my last paid day in the Army is March 15th then I am a real civilian....maybe.
I have a total of 17 yrs 9 months and 11 days in the military. It's very hard for me to walk away from that with nothing. I know some of you may be getting ready to have a heart attack on me, but I've been talking to the Army Reserves. I would like to finish out my 20 yrs in the Army Reserves. Now that some of your hearts are beating fast and you are saying to yourself "Lex, what are you thinking" let me give you some more information. If I finish my 20 yrs I would start receiving a retirement check at the age of 60 and maybe 55 if they get it passed. I would do a 3 year commitment receiving a $10,000 bonus for signing up for 3 yrs. I would be guaranteed a 2 year stability with no deployments which would be my first two years. I would be rolling the dice for the last year but since my retirement paperwork would be submitted the chances of my deploying would be very slim. Plus who knows where the world or military will be in 2 years. I would drill one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer. The unit I am looking at is Fort Douglas in Salt Lake right next to the hospital where the boys were. There is a new BDE being stood up and they are so new that there two weeks this summer will be home station which means right there in Salt Lake. I should make LTC within the next 2 yrs and that means for at retirement. I am supposed to meet with the Reserves again this week to start looking at what jobs are actually available. There is no aviation in the Reserves in Utah I will be doing what the Army calls a branch immaterial job which means any officer can do it whether Aviation, Infantry, Engineer, Armor etc. Pat and I are continuing to gather our facts, praying very hard and hopefully we will make a decision soon. Pat is also considering it. He would have to serve 5 yrs but his retirement check would be larger than mine because he has more active duty years than me. I have some time because I can't start with the Army Reserves until I am out of the Army on March 15th. Just keep us in your prayers that whatever decision we make will be best for our family.
The boys have stayed very busy playing in their box houses. I told Pat the next hunting trip he will have to find a large box and make a house before he leaves.
We hope everyone is staying warm and healthy. We continue to get snow here in Salt Lake and the ski resort is just calling my name.
This Monday will be my first official day at Century 21 with Pat. I am excited but nervous because if you know me you know I don't like change. So I'm stepping out of the Army box I've been in for 17 years and trying something new. I will even have to put thought to what I am going to wear each day. That's one good thing about the Army, there is no thinking when it comes to what to wear.
Wish me luck.
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