Update

Update

Preparing for the Board

Paul has been preparing for the board. The promotion board. He does it this way every time, first he has to lose weight, and pass a PT Test (Physical Training Test). For his age he has to Run 2 miles in less than 17 Minutes 42 seconds, has to do 40 sit ups in 2 minutes, and 30 Push ups in 2 minutes. He usually doesn't have much trouble passing the test as much as he has trouble weighing what the military wants him to weigh (I'm sure it has nothing to do with my cooking or the treats we always have around).

So he is almost there he past those and updated his ERB. The document of his military history, schools he's been to both military and civilian, the weapons he is qualified in shooting, his pt score, and all the units he's been a part of, each of those have a score attached to it and he can be promoted by his score. Each month the army lowers or raises the cut off scores depending on if the need of soldiers in certain ranks. If the Army determines they need more E6 Soldiers in the MOS of an 88M (a truck driver) they lower the cut off so soldiers can be promoted for that position if they have an ERB score that exceeds the cut off number. Did I confuse you? Example Paul is a SGT and has a score of say 650 on his ERB the Army decides they need more SSG's (one step up from SGT) If they drop the cut off to 649 or lower Paul gets promoted that month. If they drop it to 651 or higher Paul won't get promoted but other soldiers with higher scores will.

His board date is the 29th. We got his Class A uniform all ready updating his ribbon rack and sewing on the correct patches for his current unit, rank, and time in service stripes. I think He ready to face them on Thursday. I'm sure he will do well, he has this thing about him that if he puts his mind to it it happens easily for him. He says he gets nervous, but he never really shows that ever.

I can tell you how to lose 2 inches over night

How much will you pay me to reveal my secret?

Just Kidding it not a secret it's well know in the military, only I didn't really think it would work until this morning I was proven wrong. Paul had a weigh-in this morning in preparing to go before the board in a few weeks. He was slightly over well okay a bunch over, but they wanted to see some improvement quick so he put it to the test.

Last night he put Preparation H all over his belly and love handles and wrapped it all up tight with plastic wrap. This morning wa la he really lost 2 inches.

Okay so it probably doesn't have lasting affects and if you have more than 2 inches to get rid of it's not going to work. So he is working out several times a day and eating better to permanently drop the weight. I was however impressed that it worked for a quick temporary fix to keep the big guys off his back.

In the Military - Your never alone

It's true. There is always someone who knows what your going through. Okay not always 100% exactly the same, but basically we all go through things. You would think that would make us less judgemental. It doesn't. How easily we forget our feelings when it was our turn to be without a spouse due to deployment. I've seen wives get angry when someone is asking for help too often while their hubby is deployed . And then turn around and get angry again when nobody answers their own plea for help while their hubby is deployed. I guess the saying is true what goes around , comes around.

Military Benefits

Honestly when ever it's been a bad day and I just want to get out of the military I have to stop and think about what the benefits are. Medical Benefits from being in the military are huge for our family. I have a 7 year old with Juvenile Diabetes, for 5 years she has been on insulin and is on her second insulin pump from MINIMED. Along with all the other supplies she uses daily our medical bills would be horrendous. Not to mention all the other regular medical issues that most families face. You know flu shots, immunizations, broken bones, births. I paid thousands for my first two girls. And only about $30 for each of my other two. And the $30 was to cover the meals I ate during my hospital stay.
I have had two kids get tubes in their ears, countless earaches, one broken arm (from roller skating), one split chin (riding a bike in the rain), a tooth through a lip (running up slick stairs in socks). Please don't get me wrong we are not prone to accidents this has been over 13 years. But I have not paid for any of these medical bills.

Even my hubby has received his share of the benefits, which is only right since he puts in the hours of being a soldier. Last year he was mountain biking in the hills of Washington when he decided it would be a good idea to drop off a 8 foot jump. Not! It landed him in in the ER with a left collar bone break - bad, it broke the skin. And his right thumb was also broke. Two area's his doctor told him that usually don't get casted or need surgery. But not my sweetie, he was in surgery for both. A plate in his shoulder and pins in his thumb. Both of which were needed to heal properly, but also would have to be removed further down the road. Needless to say he spent the next 6 weeks at home with his left arm strapped down in a sling, and his right arm in a cast covering so that he barely had use of his fingers. Through all this he spent 6 weeks at home, and our pay check still came same as always!

Married to the Military

You hear all the time that when you get married your not just marrying your the guy (or gal) you fell in love with, your marrying his (or her) family.

Nobody ever told me when my hubby joined the Army that I would be 'joining' in the silent ranks. Yea yea I knew we'd be moving, LOTS. I knew we would be entering a whole new life. I just didn't know what the life would be like - you know - the reality part. Well 10 years later, I think I've got a handle on the situation. I've come to the conclusion that I'll get my hubby back in 10 years - and believe or not I'm okay with that.

The military has been good to us, and as long as you keep things in perspective you'll do alright. Take the good and the bad and move on.