The answer to the question..

I have a lot of mixed reactions when I tell people that I re-enlisted into the Navy Reserves and that I will now be going on active duty to serve my country in the war efforts. Some people thank me for my service, some people tell me that they would NEVER want to do what I'm doing. Most of the time I answer their questions with "well someone has to do it so it might as well be me. " Some of the time I just say "thank you" or "it's my pleasure". I have found an excerpt from a book called, "The Blog of War: Front-Line Dispatches from Soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan" by Matthew Currier Burden and he sums the answer up like this, "To that, I have to say: Serving my country is not a 4-year contract. It is a lifelong commitment. Nor is it a "due" to be paid like some cheap membership fee. It is a deeply personal obligation. And it is certainly not "time" that has to be "done" like some felony prison sentence. It is nothing short of an honor that I hold in the highest regard, an honor that I must prove worthy of, an honor that must be earned every single day."
That, my friends, is EXACTLY why I have made the decisions that I have. That is why I'm seriously considering changing branches to the Army so that I can serve my country in a greater capacity than sewing rack curtains for submarines on my Drill Weekends. I am greatly disappointed by my unit duties during Drill and I want to find out if I have to wait until the end of my contract (3 years) or can I switch to another branch at any time. I love the Navy. I come from a Navy family, but the "new" Navy is not where it's at for me anymore. I loved my time aboard ship when I was active duty 9 years ago, but the reserve Navy is not for me. I have much more to offer and I want much more out of my enlistment than being a seamstress!!! Granted, when I get my own place I'll definitely know how to sew a mean set of curtains, but come on!! This is B.S! There are people in my unit and Reserve Center that have NEVER even set foot on a ship nor will they ever in the future. What kind of crap is that!??!! I guess for some, that is quite alright, but for me it's a slap in the face! Call me gung ho, or just call me crazy, but damnit, I want to do something. So, with that being said, I am going to make this the best New Years Resolution and get off my ass and do something I feel good about for a change.

Happy F-ing New Year 2008!!

Oh, and GO GATORS! BEAT MICHIGAN!!!

TTFN