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maradyddFrom what I can tell, the answer to that question is "still in Des Moines".
I was supposed to ship out this morning, y'see. I was good. I did everything I was supposed to do. I reported to MEPS promptly at 5:30 AM, with all my required personal gear (toiletries, sports bras, extra socks and underwear, a lock with two keys, writing materials, &c.) in my duffel bag and ready to go. I was second in line at the Army processing window, where they asked me my name, dutifully searched through their lists ... and said "We don't have any paperwork for you."
"Okay," I said, and waited while the staff sergeant on duty, a towering bald Hispanic man with the oddly Dickensian name of Sgt. Lugo, handled the problems of a guy who needed approval to receive the physical for Airborne school, a woman who'd gotten married since her last visit to MEPS and needed her name changed on all her records, and a 17-year-old kid from College Station who couldn't find his parental consent form.
I was smart. I had come prepared. I busted out my PalmPilot and started playing Arkanoid. A skinny black kid sat down next to me and started asking me questions about it until Sgt. Lugo informed him that his paperwork had arrived and he'd ship out today. He jumped up and started punching the air with his fist. I've never seen anyone so happy to learn that they were off to boot camp.
By 7 AM, the good Staff Sergeant had cleared enough other problems off his plate to call up Des Moines and learn that no, in fact they had not sent my paperwork. They would have to FedEx it. It might arrive today. It was more likely that it would arrive tomorrow. I would therefore ship out Friday, or possibly even Monday.
Oh, Br'er Fox, don't throw me in that briar patch, I said to myself. Had I mentioned that the Peter Murphy concert is tonight, after all?
SSG Lugo also imparted a useful piece of information I hadn't been able to get from anyone else: how Reception Week works for basic training. See, the Reception Battalion starts receiving and in-processing recruits for a new class on Tuesday of each week. The earlier you get there, the longer you sit on your ass with nothing to do except get up at 0530 and eat Army food. I can leave as late as Monday and not have to worry about missing the group I'm assigned to. Ultimately, the Army decides when I leave, but obviously now it'll be not just late in Reception Week, but very late. Thank you, SSG Lugo. Thank you, lazy person in Des Moines who screwed up my paperwork.
Sometimes, even when the Army does stuff wrong, it gets it right. :)
I was supposed to ship out this morning, y'see. I was good. I did everything I was supposed to do. I reported to MEPS promptly at 5:30 AM, with all my required personal gear (toiletries, sports bras, extra socks and underwear, a lock with two keys, writing materials, &c.) in my duffel bag and ready to go. I was second in line at the Army processing window, where they asked me my name, dutifully searched through their lists ... and said "We don't have any paperwork for you."
"Okay," I said, and waited while the staff sergeant on duty, a towering bald Hispanic man with the oddly Dickensian name of Sgt. Lugo, handled the problems of a guy who needed approval to receive the physical for Airborne school, a woman who'd gotten married since her last visit to MEPS and needed her name changed on all her records, and a 17-year-old kid from College Station who couldn't find his parental consent form.
I was smart. I had come prepared. I busted out my PalmPilot and started playing Arkanoid. A skinny black kid sat down next to me and started asking me questions about it until Sgt. Lugo informed him that his paperwork had arrived and he'd ship out today. He jumped up and started punching the air with his fist. I've never seen anyone so happy to learn that they were off to boot camp.
By 7 AM, the good Staff Sergeant had cleared enough other problems off his plate to call up Des Moines and learn that no, in fact they had not sent my paperwork. They would have to FedEx it. It might arrive today. It was more likely that it would arrive tomorrow. I would therefore ship out Friday, or possibly even Monday.
Oh, Br'er Fox, don't throw me in that briar patch, I said to myself. Had I mentioned that the Peter Murphy concert is tonight, after all?
SSG Lugo also imparted a useful piece of information I hadn't been able to get from anyone else: how Reception Week works for basic training. See, the Reception Battalion starts receiving and in-processing recruits for a new class on Tuesday of each week. The earlier you get there, the longer you sit on your ass with nothing to do except get up at 0530 and eat Army food. I can leave as late as Monday and not have to worry about missing the group I'm assigned to. Ultimately, the Army decides when I leave, but obviously now it'll be not just late in Reception Week, but very late. Thank you, SSG Lugo. Thank you, lazy person in Des Moines who screwed up my paperwork.
Sometimes, even when the Army does stuff wrong, it gets it right. :)
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Ph34r FedEx
And I still do think that "Reception Battalion" sounds like you're going to be "received" by guys with guns in a rather unfriendly way.
Re: Ph34r FedEx
Date: 2002-05-30 04:40 pm (UTC)Anyway. I get to go back in tomorrow morning, at which time I fully expect to be told "It's not here yet, it should arrive around 10 AM, go home and come back Monday." Same day delivery is unlikely to say the least.
Re: Ph34r FedEx
Date: 2002-05-30 10:04 pm (UTC)> "received" by guys with guns in a rather unfriendly way.
You think it sounds bad as-is? I keot misreading it as "Reception Baton"!
(no subject)
Date: 2002-05-30 05:45 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2002-05-30 10:05 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2002-05-31 03:54 pm (UTC)Call me?
(no subject)
Date: 2002-05-30 10:35 pm (UTC)hey add me as your friend...good luck in DAS Boot Camp! The first week is the hardest I'm told...if you didn't already know that.
(no subject)
Date: 2002-05-31 02:01 am (UTC)No seriously, keep in touch and all that claptrap.
~Michael