well, we're on the way...

I've picked up a lot of new visitors because of Lori at http://toysfortroops.blogspot.com.  She's doing some great things over there and you should visit and check it out.  Normally I'd try to visit everyone's blogs and leave more comments, but my 'net access has been very limited.  I'm okay, my guys are okay, we're all doing well.  We're just going through the painful, painful process of "mobilizing". 

My unit is the most heavily deployed company in the Army Reserves.  To my understanding there hasn't been in a time in the last decade when we haven't had people deployed.  We're at 200% strength because so many people volunteer to come to our unit because they know we train hard, work hard and play hard.  We've got a partial company deployed to Iraq, we're getting ready to go where we're going, and then in the beginning of next year we're pushing more people to Iraq.  I'm going on my third deployment, my roommate is going on his fourth.  Over 90% of the guys going with me have deployed before. 

None of that matters.  We're all being treated like idiots going through this process.  I understand that.  When you're pushing this many bodies through all of these stations you have to talk to the lowest common denominator so that you can get people through quickly.  But then there's the active duty mind set that reservists are a bunch of dumb, lazy fat-asses.  I had the same misconception when I was on active duty.  Not because I had any dealings with reservists, but because that's what everyone said.  We actually were given a lengthy lecture today about how we were all on active duty now, on an active duty post and whatever nonsense we might do at home or on our drill weekends wasn't going to e tolerated here.  That we needed to act like professional soldiers for once.  Not because we'd done anything wrong, simply because of who we are.

The most annoying part about that lecture?  The active duty people giving it weren't wearing any indications on their uniform that they've ever deployed before.  They're not required to, but most people usually will, just to give themselves some instant street-cred.  

Anyways, we're doing well, we're in relatively good spirits and we're eager to get this show on the road. 

Hope everyone is surviving the holiday madness, and sorry for making the rounds.