Regime Change

When you are an Individual Augmentee (IA), you go to your unit alone, and you leave your unit alone. Where I work, everyone is an IA, so everybody sort of drifts in and out according to their own orbital plan. In August we are losing a bunch of folks, which means that me and my buddy will pretty much be the senior people in our shop. By the time I start to understand this job, it will be time for me to leave - which brings us to our big news: I got my demob orders! Yup, yours truly will be cut out of here in November, so they will have approximately only about four more months to do with me as they will (go ahead, send me forward - I dare you...). My orders originally had me here for about a year, but I guess Big Navy decided that I had to get back to get commissioned (small fist pump). I am glad that I came out here - I wish that I could say that it was more fulfilling, but hey, I always knew I was a small cog in a big machine. My unit back in the States told me that it was best to be doing a job where they worked you like a dog and put you away wet (it helps to make the time go faster). They were right. Our schedule is hectic, and the days blur together into one big perpetual Monday. I have learned a lot - both professionally, and also as a leader. I am never going to be one of those folks with an amazing career - but I am, all-in-all, happy with my lot and experiences. Although, maybe next time we will get to do what was actually put in our orders.