jackxsansxsally

Well, a six hour time difference sure is a pain in the ass. It leaves me with very small windows of opportunity to talk to my people back home, my working most of the day and their work/school schedules conflict a great deal as well. Thats one of the major issues I have with this assignment. The unit is outstanding, rich history, experienced NCOs, a great group of guys that more or less arrived here at the same time and training standards that force us to improve ourselves at every opportunity. The location however couldnt leave anymore to be desired. Were about as cut off as it gets here...horrendously undersupplied. Its a struggle to keep ourselves stocked with the essentials for the job and nearly impossible to get your hands on anything you want. And its a real pain in the ass living in a foreign culture, dont get me wrong I fully support traveling abroad but taking up residence in a strange land is a bit different. Being a native of NJ I was raised on the 24hr lifestyle...late night diner runs were commonplace to say the least. And now Im in a country that shuts down for a lunch break and calls it a quits before the sun is even down! Not to mention there isnt a walmart on every corner or the ever common around bases Ranger Joes whereat I could acquire any sort of gear I might desire.

And so I debate, put in for the extension after we deploy and serve out my last 2 years here with the men Ill have been to war with, or reclass and ride out the rest of my contract, not having to worry about stop loss or the rigors of the infantry.

well...got some time to figure it out.