Leaving Afghanistan!

Well, this is it! I was beginning to think that this day wouldn’t arrive; however, I find myself at this point. Tomorrow, I am leaving Camp Mike Spann and beginning my journey through the out-processing system. The Navy calls it the Warrior Transition Program (WTP).

From my reading of this program, they seem to have managed to push about 1 day worth of administrative matters into a 3 day process. However; that will have to wait. Upon leaving here, I have take a convoy to the German base to catch a flight to Kabul. My flight doesn’t leave until the next day, so I’ll have to stay in a tent overnight. It isn’t so bad though, because I’ve made some friends with the Germans there (speaking German really helps) and I intend to meet some of them that evening.

Now Kabul will be a different matter. I fly to Kabul International Airport (KIA) and have to await a convoy to Camp Phoenix. This part should be enlightening because despite repeated requests for information, no one seems to know why any of us are required to begin out-processing at Phoenix. All of the Navy administration and finance duties have moved to Baghram Air Field when the NAVCENT Liaison Staff set up shop there. So, I only know that I should be there a couple of days and then I’ll convoy back to Kabul International Airport and get on a flight to Baghram. I can only hope that my flight to Baghram will be the same day as I arrive at the airport.

Once in Baghram, I’ll continue with admin and finance out-processing for a couple of days. Once completed, I’ll get on a plane to Kuwait to begin the main part of the process; the WTP. At Kuwait I’ll be able to turn in my body armor, weapons and most of the other items that the Army issued me. Apparently, we also have to sit through ‘decompression’ briefs and talk to psychologists to ensure that we aren’t experiencing any post traumatic stress issues. For me personally, I think that the stressful part will be waiting to get on that plane that takes me back to my wife and daughter.

I’m really happy to be leaving for many reasons. The first and foremost of which is that I really need to be with my family. I need to be a contributing member and help raise my daughter. I’m truly tired of watching her grow up over SKYPE and hearing about her many discoveries and development rather than witnessing them. Sometimes I am truly amazed that she knows who I am!

Among other reasons that I’m happy about leaving is that I am truly burned out about the Army and the National Guard. Many of them are professional and well meaning; however I’ve discovered that the Army and the National Guard do not necessarily work well together and neither has any idea how to work with the other services. Much of that misunderstanding comes from their lack of understanding as to what experience and skills the Navy can bring to help the mission. It’s a bit disappointing when you consider how long we’ve been doing this mission with them. Some of the attitudes of the enlisted are such that they really do not understand that an officer is an officer, regardless of which service. I’ve have several (more than I care to think of) instances where I’ve been told that “Well, that guy’s just in the Navy” when told that a Navy O-6 ordered them to do something. This, more often than not, has come from Army E-7s.

Either way, I’ve had many great learning experiences here. Particularly it was a great environment in learning how to successfully meet mission requirements while coordinating between Army, Air Force, National Guard and Coalition Partners. I’ve really been happy that I’ve been able to utilize my German and gain more fluency. Additionally, I’ve made some good friends among the Germans.

There is some anxiety involved with returning home. My wife has been essentially raising our daughter on her own. Now I have to reintegrate myself into that family dynamic and learn how to live with my wife again. I have to discover my ‘place’. Also, as I’ve mentioned before, I am going to be looking for a job outside the military when I return. I have been keeping a keen eye on the news and the state of the economy in the U.S. I would be lying if I said that I wasn’t nervous. I have serious responsibilities to consider.

I can say that I haven’t been idle during this time. I have made use of networking with people here who have civilian jobs and working with contractors. I also intend to get my Project Management Professional certification when I get back home. My wife and I have also been making use of the extra money that I’ve made and saved since being here. We’ve paid off my car and our credit card. Now our only long-term bill is the mortgage on our house. Our long-term goal is to have enough in savings to be able to live and pay our bills for at least 8 months in the event of not having employment. I hope that it never comes to that, but it is better to plan for the worst. We are pretty much there right now, but we’ll continue to save nonetheless.

Long-term, I am worried about our mutual fund, IRAs and our daughter’s 529 education fund. Every day I hear on the news about how bad the economy is and how it’s only going to get worse. I really have been disappointed at this point with the message that President Obama has been giving. I recently read his 2006 book “Audacity of Hope”. I daresay that I’ve had that audacity and I still have some hopeful expectations. I was very impressed with what he had to say in his book and in particular his goals for America. I support these goals greatly. I only hope that we will be able to pull out of the current economic mess in time to see these goals come to fruition. The President, in my view, should be the greatest cheerleader for the nation. I fully support being told the truth without all the political spin. I appreciate it; however, I do not believe it is enough. Tell me the situation sucks and tell me it is going to take sacrifice and hard work. Then, tell me that you believe in us as a people and that we will succeed. Only recently have I been hearing the beginnings of such optimism. Before, everything was ‘doom and gloom’ and every time there was a speech, the markets reacted negatively.

I fully understand that the markets are influenced by much more than just a speech; however it cannot be ignored that the market is largely affected by emotion and confidence. Investors cannot be expected to be optimistic and the average consumer cannot be expected to spend their money if the President doesn’t show that he has that confidence. I consider myself to be a reasonable person and my reaction has been completely logical in light of the state of the economy and the lack of confidence I’ve seen. I have saved and saved and saved. We, as a family, aren’t considering buying a new car or making other expenses that are not absolutely necessary because it is fiscally irresponsible to do so in this economy, the future forecasts and the lack of confidence which is evident. Personally, I want to have confidence and I want to hope. However, I, as do many others, have responsibilities that are far too great to ignore. Eating and having a house is far more important that buying a flat screen TV or a new car.

OK, I’ll get off of the soap-box. I intend to continue this chronicle of events throughout my experiences of out-processing. I have not yet made a decision if I will continue this blog or another once I have returned home.
Take care…