I just returned from Avon Park, Florida, again, having completed this year's competition for our Group. Let me just say that I would much rather bust my ass in the field, running, rucking, jumping, climbing, etc., than being the guy who has to evaluate and grade the competitors. The hours aren't necessarily tougher, and running/evaluating events isn't so stressful a job as to make the overall experience unpleasant, either. Having to pull a guy aside and tell him he failed does suck, though.
I think it'd be a much easier thing if this was some sort of instructional phase, like Basic Training, or a specialty school, where one is dealing with raw recruits or only slightly more advanced trainees. Instead, I had to deal with very motivated, skilled, and experienced operators who came to earn bragging rights. Specifically, because of the times we're going through and the things we have to do, I had to devise tests that would raise the bar higher than that they had been accustomed to. Then, as I said, I had to tell him that he failed. "Get in the truck--you're done." "Time has run out." "You have failed to negotiate this course". Etc.
When it was all said and done with, we had one last night at the range and we all proceeded to get rather shit-faced. I had originally planned to head to Tampa Bay or Orlando, but it all kind of, well, didn't sit well with me. So, I went to join the after-ceremony festivities instead. When the party started winding down, I sponsored an extra keg of beer, and two bottles of Patron Anejo.
Did I mention I had to drive 9 hours today to get back to Fayetteville? Don't worry--I was sober as a judge by the time I took to the wheel.
On the bad (or at least more sobering) news department:
1) I'll be leaving for some amount of time come January. Work.
Being financially masochistic and wanting to make sure s5 and Olivia don't fall into homelessness, I'll still keep my account active. I'm sure I'll eventually find some comms guy that lets folks browse "porn" on the net. If Volkov can do it, so can I.
2) I can't go to Greece for Christmas. My sister got sick, couldn't work for two weeks, and found herself enough $$$ in the hole for me to not be able to afford to pay for both my last minute airfare and her rent as well. Merry X-Mas, sis--you'll be massaging my feet for hours at a time.
P.S.: adjusted for a somewhat embarassing typo. And no, it wasn't in the last paragraph.
I think it'd be a much easier thing if this was some sort of instructional phase, like Basic Training, or a specialty school, where one is dealing with raw recruits or only slightly more advanced trainees. Instead, I had to deal with very motivated, skilled, and experienced operators who came to earn bragging rights. Specifically, because of the times we're going through and the things we have to do, I had to devise tests that would raise the bar higher than that they had been accustomed to. Then, as I said, I had to tell him that he failed. "Get in the truck--you're done." "Time has run out." "You have failed to negotiate this course". Etc.
When it was all said and done with, we had one last night at the range and we all proceeded to get rather shit-faced. I had originally planned to head to Tampa Bay or Orlando, but it all kind of, well, didn't sit well with me. So, I went to join the after-ceremony festivities instead. When the party started winding down, I sponsored an extra keg of beer, and two bottles of Patron Anejo.
Did I mention I had to drive 9 hours today to get back to Fayetteville? Don't worry--I was sober as a judge by the time I took to the wheel.
On the bad (or at least more sobering) news department:
1) I'll be leaving for some amount of time come January. Work.
Being financially masochistic and wanting to make sure s5 and Olivia don't fall into homelessness, I'll still keep my account active. I'm sure I'll eventually find some comms guy that lets folks browse "porn" on the net. If Volkov can do it, so can I.
2) I can't go to Greece for Christmas. My sister got sick, couldn't work for two weeks, and found herself enough $$$ in the hole for me to not be able to afford to pay for both my last minute airfare and her rent as well. Merry X-Mas, sis--you'll be massaging my feet for hours at a time.
P.S.: adjusted for a somewhat embarassing typo. And no, it wasn't in the last paragraph.
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Currently finishing B.A., then Army OCS, hopefully.
It sounds like your holiday season has been quite exciting. Good for you.