Small update on PFC Kali...

[Serk]

So I haven't said much about Kali and her military career lately, for reason. A few people have reached out privately and I've updated them, but the long and short of it is she discovered early this year that the stresses or language school are not healthy for her, and requested a change in MOS (Forfeiting her $40,000 sign on bonus  .)

She's spent the intervening months dealing with some issues and waiting on the Army to decide what they're gonna do with her. (Admittedly, there are worse places to be living in paid for room and board with very few duties than Monterey, California!)

About a month ago they finally gave her a list of new MOS to choose from. It was a crap-sandwich of a list, but she had to eat from it.

She chose her top 4 choices.

They came back a week ago and said nevermind, those are all gone, choose from these even crappier MOS instead.

So of course, today they came back and told her they were assigning her to her 2nd to last choice of the entire list - 92Y - Quartermaster.

...but at least it's SOMETHING and will get her out of California and on to doing SOMETHING.

She wasn't happy initially, but has come to accept it and is preparing for her move; 2 months of training at Fort Lee, Virginia, starting in another month or so.



So we're trying to see if we can work something out where Mom flies to Monterey, gets to hang out for a day or three, then drives with her to Virginia, maybe detour to Home for a few days if at all possible.

Oh, and she's no longer a teenager, turned 20 last week.....

So that's the abbreviated version. Been some highs, been a lot of lows, lot of drama, some bad decisions, some good decisions, some REALLY bad decisions, but she's come through it all stronger and is moving forward.

(And I see a crappy MOS as inventive for her to get back into skydiving and try to get into the Golden Knights!)

[carolinarider09]

While I don't know much about what Quartermasters really do, I think its a supply thing.  As such, its management of supplies and it would seem (well depending on how high up in rank you are) an area that could well make a difference for how a team operates in the field. 

Management of supplies is good training for other activities.  But again, I was an ET so...... I only know what I have read. 

[..]

A good logistics person is really appreciated by the front line troops who depend on them for EVERYTHING.

[old2soon]

     Should I've Needed ANYTHING for an Aircraft repair It Had to be ordered thru Q/M! And aboard ship we had three types of fixed wing and 1 type of rotary wing But there were diffrent blocs of similar aircraft-like model changes but generally keeping the same skin But some sub systems were mucho different. Glad She be doin better! She Do in Fact become a Member of The Golden Knights we betta hear it here! Thanks fer the update Brian! RIDE SAFE.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Life never seems to go the way we plan it. Although it may seem like a setback, it very well could turn out to be the best thing that happens to her. If I had a nickel for every bad decision I made at her age I’d have been able to retire at 30.
In the Navy there were many different jobs in the Supply Division. I imagine it’s the same in the Army QuarterMasters. There might be something very interesting that she will get a lot of benefit from. 

[Valkorado]

I'm happy to hear Kali's getting outta Cali!   

[Jess from VA]

Thanks for the update Brian.

I am sorry for her (and your) troubles.

Perhaps it wasn't so much the language school, but (Army unit) Monterrey and all her experiences there.

A move with a clean slate and fresh start is a good deal.  And she should (must) knuckle down make the best of it.  I am wishing her smooth sailing and success. 

Ft Lee is like a big Army university.  Today, Fort Lee maintains its mission as the intellectual center of the U.S. Army's combat service support. It is home to the Army Logistics Management College, Defense Commissary Agency, Quartermaster Corps Historian, the U.S. Army Women's Museum, and U.S. Army Quartermaster Museum.

https://installations.militaryonesource.mil/in-depth-overview/fort-lee

[Rams]

Life never seems to go the way we plan it. Although it may seem like a setback, it very well could turn out to be the best thing that happens to her. If I had a nickel for every bad decision I made at her age I’d have been able to retire at 30.

This agree with.    When one door closes, another opens.    I have no doubt she'll excel in whatever she does.

My own daughter is active Guard, she was selected and attended/graduated from WOC school about a year ago but they still don't have a position available for her so, she keeps working at her job and doing what she needs to do.   Just last week we attended her promotion to E7 so, life ain't all bad.  Eventually, it'll all work out if she keeps her nose to the grindstone.

Rams

[cookiedough]

best of luck, just make sure you keep in contact with her and support her in whatever she does, which am sure you will do. 

My kid age 21 in college 1 year left was thinking of quitting college (I think jokingly not sure really) and working full time at a moving company job paying $30hr with tips/commissions.  He said he can make more money doing that full time vs. becoming a teacher, which is true.  He starts going into real classes for teaching as part of his college program in next few months will see how that goes?  Sucks he does not get to pick where he goes since my other daughter now age 24 had to drive 40 minutes in WINTER on BAD roads to a small rural town to do her college teaching classes. 

[3fan4life]

Ft Lee is a small post which can be a good thing.

It isn't far from VA Beach and other places for some R&R.

One of my brothers was stationed there in the early 70's and was officially in the Quartermaster Corp.

He went to work at the VA after leaving there and worked in supply for 40 years.

Every installation that the Army has needs a supply person.

I'm sure she'll find options that she hasn't even considered.

[Patrick]

She comes from good stock, she'll be fine. I just hope she gets to like her job.

[Oldfishguy]

I had a friend that made 6 months of Farsi school in the Army before being reassigned to German language school.  He spent the next 25 years as a German linguist in the Army, except for a two year stint  using what Farsi he retained when the desert became a war zone. 

At some early point in her next training she will be assigned a permanent post.  Before they assign, I would suggest putting in for overseas.  I spent a few years in West Germany in the Army, it is good duty.  The Army is different on that foreign soil.  Although, one stands a chance of being assigned Korea, which is difficult serious duty; those are only one year tours though.  Western Europe is the place for good duty.

And when your young, see the world.

[da prez]

  Grandson enlisted in Airforce for special forces training (I never knew AF had). He completed officer training and found out the recruiter  stroked him. He is now a Captain as a combat instructor. He is a grandson-in-law.
 Bonnie's granddaughter is now a Major doing another flip overseas in Kuwait . She outranks her husband.
They are both planning on a full career in the AF. She lives in a cargo container . Officers quarters

                                      da prez and Bonnie

[Jersey mike]

From what I’ve heard QM isn’t a bad gig, there are certainly worse places to be.

I’m sorry I haven’t kept up on her career but if linguistics is her field of choice it doesn’t mean she’s shut out forever, just might take her a bit longer to get tnere. If QM isn’t her cup of tea either, she’s not stuck in the military for life either. She may end up getting her hands a little dirty in QM but it’s not the end of the world, there’s a ton of paperwork in QM and logistics do come into play as Britman said so tell her to keep keep her chin up, this isn’t her forever job unless she wants it to be.

[Serk]

Thanks ya'll..... We've finagled things where Mom is gonna fly out and hang out with her for her last few days in Monterey, then drive with her back HOME for a few days (Long enough and at the right time to vote! ) and then, as her training in VA is only 8 weeks, she'll fly there (Also gives us more time with her here), do her training, then either get the car and drive there or we'll keep the car here, depending on where her initial duty station ends up being...

[cookiedough]

joys of parenting:  visiting the kiddos more than they coming home to see us.....   

[Serk]

New tiny update - With all the "The Army can change their mind at any time" disclaimers in place, it seems after she goes through Quartermaster school her first duty posting will be in.....

...well, let's just say I'm suddenly far more concerned about a short fat crazy dude with nukes.....

[carolinarider09]

Well now that is interesting.   

[f6gal]

New tiny update - With all the "The Army can change their mind at any time" disclaimers in place, it seems after she goes through Quartermaster school her first duty posting will be in.....

...well, let's just say I'm suddenly far more concerned about a short fat crazy dude with nukes.....

There's a lot worse places she could be sent. 

[scooperhsd]

New tiny update - With all the "The Army can change their mind at any time" disclaimers in place, it seems after she goes through Quartermaster school her first duty posting will be in.....

...well, let's just say I'm suddenly far more concerned about a short fat crazy dude with nukes.....

There's a lot worse places she could be sent. 

Really ? The only places I could think of that would meet that are in the Middle east....

[f6gal]

New tiny update - With all the "The Army can change their mind at any time" disclaimers in place, it seems after she goes through Quartermaster school her first duty posting will be in.....

...well, let's just say I'm suddenly far more concerned about a short fat crazy dude with nukes.....

There's a lot worse places she could be sent.  

Really ? The only places I could think of that would meet that are in the Middle east....

From what I've heard from folks that were stationed there, SK isn't a bad gig.  I'd much rather go to SK than the Middle East or anywhere near the Russia/Ukraine debacle.  

[Serk]

From what I've heard from folks that were stationed there, SK isn't a bad gig.  I'd much rather go to SK than the Middle East or anywhere near the Russia/Ukraine debacle.  

From all I've read in the last few days it is indeed a very nice posting; after a recent expansion the base she'll be going to is now the largest US Army base outside of the CONUS so there'll be plenty of amenities.....

The only problem as a parent that I have is that there's a mildly insane dude with nukes and since she'll be at the largest US Army base outside of CONUS, it'll have giant crosshairs on it...

[RP#62]

Well, at least its not Chicago.

-RP

[da prez]

Granddaughter is back in Kuwait.  Airforce major in intelligence. This is her second tour.

        da prez

[98valk]

my sister who is a retired 20 yr army vet, told me she was sent to sk for a month and they asked her to stay there esp since she ranked very high in marksman shooting. she said she wanted to stay state side and requested hawaii, so they sent her to anchorage where she stayed and did her 20.

she said sk is like submarine duty one has to request it, they don't make u do it, except for that one month.
I don't know if it is still that way since it was 35 yrs ago that she told me that.

[Serk]

she said sk is like submarine duty one has to request it, they don't make u do it, except for that one month.
I don't know if it is still that way since it was 35 yrs ago that she told me that.

In general it seems the Army will put 'em where it needs 'em, but she was allowed to request CONUS or international early in her in processing, and she requested an overseas posting, so there is that...

From what I've read to decrease disruptions in personal and family life, the current standard is for single service members a 2 year rotation to South Korea, for married a 3 year posting.

If 2 years that give us some time for her to get settled, and us to go visit and let her show us around, which excites me greatly, never been to Asia!

[Jess from VA]

There's a big difference in assignments between complete rookies (very little choice), and more senior enlisted and officers who have already done a remote or hardship tour or two.  But it's always needs of the service first, as it should be.

Overseas assignments can be longer if you take your wife, not if you are just married and she doesn't come with you.  And your authorized shipping weight allowance goes up with a wife (family).

Most rookies don't have much, and can't ship much.  NO one on a first enlistment should ever get married.  All your time should be spent learning your job and military life, not learning your spouse.

When I was given a direct JAG commission they asked where I'd like to go.  I asked if I really had a choice.  They said not really, but they might be able to accommodate me.  So I said, OK how about anywhere on either coast.  I got the coast of the Alabama River in Montgomery.  It was a very nice base, and great people everywhere, but it was the hottest dang place I'd ever been in my life (outside of working on a steel mill blast furnace).  

Marching on the flight line in summer sun, it actually cooked your feet.  You went down to the tailor shop and got grommet holes put in your shoes, and stuck cardboard in your shoes too. 

[98valk]

she said sk is like submarine duty one has to request it, they don't make u do it, except for that one month.
I don't know if it is still that way since it was 35 yrs ago that she told me that.

In general it seems the Army will put 'em where it needs 'em, but she was allowed to request CONUS or international early in her in processing, and she requested an overseas posting, so there is that...

From what I've read to decrease disruptions in personal and family life, the current standard is for single service members a 2 year rotation to South Korea, for married a 3 year posting.

If 2 years that give us some time for her to get settled, and us to go visit and let her show us around, which excites me greatly, never been to Asia!

well Alaska is out of CONUS so I guess that is why they sent my sister there. I know she liked it there and never tried to get re-assigned.
she always tried to get me to move up there, I always said not enough warm snow free months to ride my cycles. of course every time Anchorage had their winter heat wave when they would be warmer than the northeast she would contact me to let me know to get me to move. haha

well God Bless your daughter and pray that she will go to where God can fulfill his plans for her. amen.

[Jess from VA]

I visited Anchorage once (in a KC10 tanker) for a job interview when I was getting out of service.

It was summer and LONG days (hard to sleep in broad daylight.

I could not believe how many bikes there were.  I was told they set a date after which riding was illegal; seemed the locals would just keep going in the snow. 

I really liked it up there, but though I got a job offer, it didn't work out. 

So I got DC (NoVA) as a consolation prize.   

[scooperhsd]

Poor consolation prize