Cause mama, mama I'm coming home!

Dearest Family and Friends,

This letter is written with great amounts of solace and pleasure. I am thus bringing you the news of my earlier than anticipated arrival home.

I wanted to write this entire post in the old civil war writing home style, but that was proving to be a bit tedious.


Anyways... Tuesday (the first day of in processing) we had several different stations to go through to include, legal, finance and medical. It was a unique feeling waiting in that chair to see the doctor knowing that what I am doing over the course of the next 400 days would soon be decided. I had my medical records armed and ready to show, it didn't take much time for the doctor (who was a civilian) to make his decision. Within 5 minutes I went from expecting to go, to for sure not going! I couldn't wrap my mind, head or brain around the news, it was very titillating. I know that it was all God's timing and I give thanks to Him. I was seen by a civilian side, which is always a plus when you would rather not spend the next year of your life in Afghanistan or Iraq and second he tried to call an Army Doctor for a second opinion at the main post hospital but they were all still off from MLK Jr. holiday, lucky me he decided to sign off on it anyways and give me the big NO GO red stamp on my file. Short story long, I'm a' comin' home! I hope this made since, it's really hard to sum this all up.

This whole experience has been a roller coaster of emotions for my family and we could not thank everyone enough for your prayers and help these past several weeks.

I'll be here the next couple of weeks while they sit on the paperwork and do more important things before getting it all done, but then I will be home. I can't complain about that.

See ya'll around the 15th or so of February!! and oh yeah, !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My love and respect to all and reserve a share for yourself,

Jon "I'm coming home" Perkins

Title

The majority of the people here are pretty upset about be called to deploy, with that said everyone is making the best lemonade they can. There wasn't a single person here that was prepared for this to happen to them, some guys had just started a new job, recently married or just bought a house. It can be easy to throw yourself a pity party, and make no bones about it I have thrown myself a party. However, you can quickly be humbled by another persons story. Last night I found myself listening to a soldier tell me how he had a 4 year old, 2 year old and that his wife was due with twins any day now and how stressed he was to not be able to provide support to his wife. Today he had the unfortunate news that his wife went into labor and they had lost one of the twins. I am blessed to have an extremely happy and healthy son and could not even come close to understanding what he is going through. Some good news is that that didn't pass him through in processing and are allowing him to go home shortly. I am not even sure of his name, but either way if you could keep his family in your prayers tonight that would be good.

I had a Dream...

I've been here less than 24 hrs and have already earned a day off.

Yesterday after a hard goodbye with my wife and son, I flew out of KC and made it to South Carolina about 5 est. At the airport in South Carolina there was a waiting area for the folks that have had the same thing that happened to me happen to them. I haven't seen such a happy looking group of people in my life. :) We took a bus to Camp McCrady, signed in, told to go eat dinner and then come back for further instruction. After dinner, I went for my further instruction. We were told that first formation would be Tuesday morning at 0530. What?!? Due to MLK Jr. day there would be no training or in processing on Monday (today). Pretty frustrating news, I don't mind a day off but the first full day after I get here you tell me we aren't going to be doing anything, I would rather have spent this time with my family. Oh well.

Funny Picture of the Day...

The Army Cares about your hydration levels and is willing to place these guides above each stall to help you ascertain your level of hydration. Are you hydrated?

I think that's about all I have at the moment. Sorry for the complaints, I'm sure as time goes bye I'll develop some more palatable posts.

Cheers!

Four more days

This blog is an attempt to keep family and friends abreast of my current situation without having to send out several emails.



I guess I should start this bad boy by answering some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's for you three letter acronym lovers)



You were in the military?



Well, not quite. But, I did spend 6 years in the National Guard. When I joined the National Guard almost 6 years ago, I signed an eight year contract. Six years of serving one weekend a month and two weeks a year and then two years of IRR, I have been done doing my one weekend a month and two weeks a year since February 07 which is when I started my time in the IRR. I never expected to be the situation that I am in right now.



Where are you being deployed too and for how long?



The orders I received show me being deployed to Afghanistan with the 27th Infantry unit (out of Syracuse, NY) for 400 days. I will leave on the 20th for Ft. Jackson, SC. There is a smaller portion of Ft. Jackson, called Camp McCrady that is dedicated to training others that are in the same boat (SS IRR). I will be here for two weeks, to in process, and retrain.

What will you be doing in Afghanistan?

Short answer, I have no idea. While in the National Guard I was a radio communications specialist. it is extremely difficult to say exactly what I will be doing. They could have me doing what I was trained for or have me fill some other void. Cassie is praying they have a desk job for me. However I will definitely share what I can when I do know.

Do you get paid while deployed?

Yes, I will be paid while I am deployed. I will receive active duty pay, which once overseas the majority of my pay will be tax free which should make it comparable to what I made before I was deployed. Money wise we will be just fine.
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That's all I can think of right now. Thank you for visiting and please check back often. I don't know how often I will get to post these first couple of months, but once in Afghanistan I will have frequent access to the interweb. Also, this blog will archive monthly so if you missed a post or want to read older ones as the months go by you will be able to do that as well.