If it hasn't been more than obvious lately, I'm finding myself in the military mindset often these days. I think the biggest reason is because I'll be leaving for Basic Military Training (BMT) soon (this spring!) and I'm getting very, very excited. I've been counting down the days for months now, and the first thing people who see me regularly often ask is, "How many days left?"
As far as the prep goes, I've done as much as I can—and maybe have even gone a little overboard. I'm just that kind of person—a perfectionist and a little (or a lot) overzealous at times—so it's no surprise that I've been in such a "military mode" lately. I've learned the Air Force's pay grades, ranks and insignia, the entire Air Force song, the Airmen's Creed, the Core Values, Chain of Command, and much, much more. It's been fun to get back in a pattern of studying and memorizing—I know I'll have much more of it to do when I get down there. Don't even get me started on the fact that I'm already packed... I think I love this stuff too much sometimes.
If you didn't know, BMT is 8.5 weeks long and is held at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. I remember in the fall of 2012 when Daniel left for Tech School to become a recruiter and was gone for 6-weeks. Naive as I was, I thought the world was ending when he left—6-weeks seemed like such a long time! Looking back, that time flew by, and I don't think this time around will be any different. 8.5 weeks? Easy. I don't know how military spouses who get deployed for months and years at a time do it. They sacrifice so much.
As the days keep counting down, I keep getting more and more excited, hold Daniel a little closer each night, and prepare myself for the mental and physical test that I'm about to endure. With only two guaranteed phone calls home during that time and the hopeful promise of letters from home, I know that each moment before I go is one to be treasured.
Oh, and 8.5 weeks without even seeing a computer, Facebook, Instagram, etc? I'm actually looking forward to it—minus the short break from blogging. Think you guys will miss me? I know I'll miss you!
35 comments:
I will CERTAINLY miss you, Ms. Aunie! When do you leave again?
Awe yay for BMT coming soon. Boo for not getting to read from you for awhile.
Also, I had the craziest dream that you were in Fl. I don't know why but I bumped into while I was out and of course we had a blate right there and then. So funny.
Is BMT the part where you come to Texas? And I remember being mentally prepared for BMT when my ex joined the army. We broke up before BMT, but I still remember how that is! Good luck to you!
You're so kind... you'll come back when I return? :)
I leave next month! :)
And that's exactly how it would happen were I down there, promise :)
Yes it is!! San Antonio, in fact. So excited to see the River Walk the day after I graduate. It will be a celebration!
I am sure. haha. =]
I remember what they told me when I first showed up at basic - the days drag, but the weeks fly. You'll get into a routine, things will be both super exciting and super boring, and then, suddenly, you'll be surrounded by a bunch of strangers who in a blink became friends you've known forever, and you're done. It's an amazing, frustrating, awful, awesome experience! Wishing you the absolute best of luck, and I hope you truly get to enjoy it!
Well, you'll be prepared.....but you'll never really be prepared for that first week.
It is very shocking to say the least. You'll hear a lot of people crying for sure!
I know you'll make it though and they keep you so busy the whole time you almost don't have time to even think. You'll wonder where those 8 weeks went.
I take it a day at a time otherwise if I dwell on how much I miss my husband and how I have 265 more days to go...I'd go crazy! I try to keep busy and not think about it too much and also stay connected through photography.
I'm looking forward to the routine of everything. I hope the girls are nice... can't wait to get to know them! And the frustrating and awful part? Yep... I'm kind of oddly looking forward to that, too :)
Ha! I know what you mean. I can do all the memory work and sit-ups possible beforehand, but NOTHING will prepare me for what it's actually going to be like. I can't wait to find out!
You're so amazing. 265 more days? Whoa. Yep, taking it a day at a time is the best way. And I know that time will fly by for you, too! Your photography is AMAZING... wish I had even an ounce of the talent you possess!
That's awesome.. thank you for making me feel special & loved! Prayers are ALWAYS appreciated!
YOU are awesome. Thank you!!! Feeling loved today :)
Of course you'll be missed!! :) I know I will be looking forward to the comeback with lots of details of how it went. I am excited for you and will pray that all will goes very well from now to then and of course while you're there!!
We'll sure miss you around here! Ironic that you'll be away from blogging but closer to me 'in real life,' with San Antonio only 3 hours away, without a chance to meet up (i'm assuming...if I'm wrong let's talk! ;)).
You are so good! When I went to BMT I had zero idea of rank, insignia, or chain of command. I even asked one of the people there why the uniforms weren't all the same and I got the 'eye-roll' and was told those guys wear special uniforms because they are Officers! Haha. You'll do great!
I will totally miss you! And I'll be putting you on my prayer list for while you are away from home & Daniel and that things will go well for you.
As a British Army wife - we do it because we love our soldiers so much that there is no other choice than to get on with holding our families together so that the children keep as much normality as possible. I found your blog because my 7 year old son suffers from Trich and has done since the age of 3 and I think that you are truly inspirational. You'll fly through BMT x
Thanks so much, Sarah! It will be interesting to write about when I return. I don't want to over-do it with military talk!! Too much Air Force stuff lately?
I wish we could! We get one day off base (I think), which is on a Saturday after graduation... they're not very flexible with us, unfortunately! Sad, huh?
I think this will just be my first trip down there, though. I'd like to come back to Texas for real someday!
Oh wow!!! Ha! You went in with the perfect, mold-able mindset though! I bet they loved that :)
Katie, that would be so appreciated. Any prayer is a good prayer while I'm gone. Thank you!
Oh wow, Becky. You are amazing. How many kids do you have at home? You are an incredible & supportive wife. I can't even imagine... how long does your husband typically get deployed for? (Do they deploy in the British Army? Sorry if that is a stupid question!).
I'm so sorry to hear about your son and his trich. Hopefully since he is beginning young enough, he will learn tactics to help overcome his triggers. Poor thing. Does he pull his scalp hair? I feel for him and your family so much... trich is very hard. It's only by God's grace that I've been able to stop pulling (69-days pull-free today), and I am not sure what your beliefs are--it's a different journey for everyone--but I do know that the struggles I went through with trich have brought me to a better place today. I'm so grateful for my eyelashes and eyebrows now... I appreciate them more than ever. And to someone without trich, that might sound weird, but for me, having them is a true blessing! I'll include your son in my prayers to lift him up with strength and overcoming power!! (hope you don't mind my faith-filled tangent--don't want to seem offensive!)
Thank you for your encouragement and support!! I'm here for you if you ever need to talk ... and thank you so much for reading. Don't think I could say it enough today.
Aw, thanks, I have two boys -Alfie is 7 1/2 and Oscar who is 5 in a few weeks. I am very lucky that although I live away from my family I have a great support network within the military community as we live in a garrison town. 80% of the children at school are military kids so they all support each other. We do deploy, the last tour was 7 months from February to September in Afghanistan in 2012 then this summer he's off to Canada for three months training.
With the Trich it is his scalp and it seems to peak before a deployment when he doesn't really know whether he's coming or going, once he's gone the pulling stops. At the worst point the front third of his scalp had no hair at all. As he gets older he is definitely learning to manage his anxieties better and realises that talking about worries rather than pulling is the solution. I know that it's very likely that he'll relapse in the future but we just take it one day at a time.
Good luck and I'll be waiting with baited breath to hear all about your adventures xx
They sound just awesome... I've heard those are great ages and so much fun! I relapsed many, many times with trich. It was very hard. But having a good support system was key, so I'm so glad you're there for him. He will truly value that someday, if he doesn't already :)
Oh I bet, a whole new perspective and place in life. Exciting!!
I don't think think it's too much... but then again this is coming from someone who was in a ROTC type program as a kid and had joined the Navy right after high school but, for reasons out of my control, it didn't work out. My husband, Oscar, was in a Reserves National Guard unit so it's truly all near and dear to me :) Besides getting the female military perspective is always very different so find it very interesting! :)
Well thank you!! It's been such an honor to meet so many more men and women who have served our country by adding this new dimension to my blogging. So rewarding. Thank you again! PS> The Navy is awesome! Too bad it didn't work out though, sorry to hear that. My cousin just joined and leaves this summer!
Thank you so much! I want to make it my living some day. I have dreams of working for National Geographic or Time or some magazine like that! I'm hoping after this year I'll be amazed at taking a picture everyday.
I was prepared for the physical stuff the emotional stuff was hard and being wrong all the time was even harder. You can't avoid getting yelled at. They'll find something. LOL! But just keep your nose clean and try not to do anything silly and you'll be golden.
I was stairwell crew lol! I hated it I couldn't keep those steps clean and I was always doing push ups for the huge dust bunnies that would manifest out of no where!
Silly dust bunnies! I'm interested to see what role I will get put into. I think I can figure out already where I'll probably be due to my age, but am crossing my fingers that doesn't happen :)
I will definitely miss your blog posts! But I also can't wait to hear all about it!!
I'm going to miss posting, that's for sure!!
/ / Annelise Rowe
www.auniesauce.com
You are such an inspiration Aunie. I love that you're so excited to be doing this, both for yourself and for our country! I'm going to miss you, that's for sure, but I know you're going to be doing amazing things. Be safe friend! xoxo
Thanks so much, Joelle. That means SO MUCH to be. I can't wait to get back to normal life after basic. I know it will be different, but in a good way!
/ / Annelise Rowe
www.auniesauce.com
House mouse, element leader, education monitor. :P
Oh no!! Those don't sound like good ones :) haha!
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