ArmyGrunt
AH elite
So, I've been in the US Army for over half of my life. I'm in the twilight of my career, chipping away at the 19th year. My first 8.5 years in the National Guard, then I switched to the Reserves in 2009. Recently, I realized that I've been in the same battalion for most of the last 9 years.
If I want to stick with it past 20, I'll bet to get myself promoted. They don't look favorably on homesteaders when it comes to moving forward from here (E-7). I like the unit, and the Drill Sergeant job, plus it's close to home so the weekend duty commute is short. I decided it's time to try and find a new home.
We have a system called Tour of Duty where Guard, Reserve and inactive but contacted Soldiers can find and apply for missions of various lengths. I scoured the list for interesting sounding jobs I'm qualified for, but limited my sights to Europe for the most part. I applied for four jobs in Vicenza and one in Aviano, Italy. Dropped my name in the hat for one in Romania, one in Bulgaria. I even applied for one that my military job wasn't a fit, but my civilian credentials did. I emailed a person listing some of these positions to express interest. She responded with "apply if you haven't and good luck."
The last several weeks I've been looking daily at the notifications there to see if anything changed. Two listings flat out vanished *gasp*. My buddy presumed they were filled, but usually it says that on the page. Another I saw was actually filled by someone. Shit. It's not looking good...
Then my government computer took a shit on me. It hasn't turned on in over a week. Super annoying, because the only way to access that website is using gov't machines and VPN or hardwire. Difficulty in getting the news just jumped way up. I'd pretty much given up on getting selected, since each job had 5+ applicants.
Drill this past weekend, so I got to check on my notification page again. Still no change... I'm losing hope.
This morning, I was wasting study time, using my highly refined procrastination skills. I'd just looked at some financial aid stuff for college and was going to tend to that when my phone said there's an email waiting. I looked to see the name of the person I emailed; the one who gave me a generic reply. Might as well see what she had to say, right?
Pop that baby up on the screen. Read the subject and first paragraph. Jumped out of the chair, ran hooting into the other room. Volleyball knee slide up to my partner for the day, and thrust my phone out, "read this!!" Then I collapsed on the floor.
Holy shit!! I've not been so excited in years! I guess contacting her might just have been the golden ticket! I'm not sure when exactly I'll be leaving, but it's before the end of this year. 365 days in gorgeous Italy, making vastly more money than I do here at home as a medic.
So, I clearly don't know just yet how much time I'll have available, but at some point I'll be seeking a hunt to do. I plan to get all six continents hunted (thanks to whomever on this site waived that idea at me...). It's great that my flight from the States is paid for! I'd like to get some input from this community on places that are fun, maybe not super expensive, and doable in a few days so I can check off another life goal.
Come at me, fellas!
If I want to stick with it past 20, I'll bet to get myself promoted. They don't look favorably on homesteaders when it comes to moving forward from here (E-7). I like the unit, and the Drill Sergeant job, plus it's close to home so the weekend duty commute is short. I decided it's time to try and find a new home.
We have a system called Tour of Duty where Guard, Reserve and inactive but contacted Soldiers can find and apply for missions of various lengths. I scoured the list for interesting sounding jobs I'm qualified for, but limited my sights to Europe for the most part. I applied for four jobs in Vicenza and one in Aviano, Italy. Dropped my name in the hat for one in Romania, one in Bulgaria. I even applied for one that my military job wasn't a fit, but my civilian credentials did. I emailed a person listing some of these positions to express interest. She responded with "apply if you haven't and good luck."
The last several weeks I've been looking daily at the notifications there to see if anything changed. Two listings flat out vanished *gasp*. My buddy presumed they were filled, but usually it says that on the page. Another I saw was actually filled by someone. Shit. It's not looking good...
Then my government computer took a shit on me. It hasn't turned on in over a week. Super annoying, because the only way to access that website is using gov't machines and VPN or hardwire. Difficulty in getting the news just jumped way up. I'd pretty much given up on getting selected, since each job had 5+ applicants.
Drill this past weekend, so I got to check on my notification page again. Still no change... I'm losing hope.
This morning, I was wasting study time, using my highly refined procrastination skills. I'd just looked at some financial aid stuff for college and was going to tend to that when my phone said there's an email waiting. I looked to see the name of the person I emailed; the one who gave me a generic reply. Might as well see what she had to say, right?
Pop that baby up on the screen. Read the subject and first paragraph. Jumped out of the chair, ran hooting into the other room. Volleyball knee slide up to my partner for the day, and thrust my phone out, "read this!!" Then I collapsed on the floor.
Holy shit!! I've not been so excited in years! I guess contacting her might just have been the golden ticket! I'm not sure when exactly I'll be leaving, but it's before the end of this year. 365 days in gorgeous Italy, making vastly more money than I do here at home as a medic.
So, I clearly don't know just yet how much time I'll have available, but at some point I'll be seeking a hunt to do. I plan to get all six continents hunted (thanks to whomever on this site waived that idea at me...). It's great that my flight from the States is paid for! I'd like to get some input from this community on places that are fun, maybe not super expensive, and doable in a few days so I can check off another life goal.
Come at me, fellas!
Not as cheap as it was once, but probably the best deal going on a per ton basis
