Deployment to Ukraine I understand that most of my time in Ukraine was during 2018, but I completed the deployment in 2019 that’s why it is on this list. The opportunity I had to experience the Ukrainian culture and travel around Europe was just unbelievable. It was an experience that I’ll probably never have again…
Category: Military
19 Things That Made 2019 Amazing – Part 1 of 3
Began Purge Process During the last couple of months this year, we decided to start purging from our mass of stuff. This is in preparation for something you’ll read about later, but we have good reason to start this process and continue it through next year. Listened to or read 25+ books I’m not a…
2018: A Road Most Traveled
Last year was filled with a lot of movement, for work and for pleasure. Living in Middle Tennessee and working in East Tennessee is strenuous enough, but when you add a National Training Center rotation, Pre-Deployment Site Survey, Pre-Deployment training, and the actual deployment, I found myself traveling for work more than I ever have….
Traveling with my Uncle Sammy
Y’all may or may not know that thanks to the Army, I’ll be doing some traveling in the next month or so. I can’t tell you when, just know I’ll be updating my status and travel experiences through this blog. I can tell you that I’ll be in El Paso, TX for a few weeks…
Twenty Years
Last week I hit another milestone in my military career. Twenty years earlier, on 9 February 1996, I made a trip to the Knoxville Military Entrance Processing Station and took the oath to defend my country and my state. I joined the Tennessee Army National Guard for the Montgomery GI Bill and to have a…
Memorial Day
A lot of people will be celebrating today on the lake or at cookouts with friends and family. I am one of them. A lot of people look at Memorial Day as the start of summer. But what is truly is, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in service to the…
Military Leave and My Dilemma
Just like any other employer, the Tennessee Army National Guard gives me paid time off (PTO). Over the course of any given year, I receive ten Federal holidays and around four administrative days. I also receive 2.5 days of annual leave per month totaling thirty days a year. That is 44 days a year that…