Annual Training

For the past week, Derek has been gone for what the kids call "army work" and what adults call annual training. If you've ever seen a National Guard commerical, this is the "two weeks in the summer" obligation, only it consists of less rapelling and jumping out of helicopters.

This is a different than when he was away for two weeks at the beginning of August, which was a training course for his new job that accompanied his promotion to sergeant. Annual training is a group exercise, while his training was for an individual role within his unit.

Derek has been spending his time at annual training between St. Joseph (his "home" station) and Fort Leavenworth in Kansas. It's not common for the National Guard to work inbetween states. The National Guard is federally and state funded and so typically operations run at a state-level. Derek's unit, however, provides all of the signal support for the entire 35th Infantry Division, which is spread over multiple states. While he often gets to work here in Missouri, his duties always support the division. With his promotion to E-5, Derek switched from working in NetOps to COMSEC, which has to do with security and encryption... and other techincal stuff that is far beyond my understanding.

The Family Readiness Group (FRG) hosted a family picnic today so the kids, Derek's parents, and I ventured up to visit! It was a nice treat to be able to spend some time with Derek in the middle of annual training.

Derek gave a tour of the armory and all of the equipment.

 

Everyone loved Belle's dress!! (and of course, I do too!)

Local emergency services came by and the kids got all sorts of goodies and they each got to sit on the police motorcycle.

Jackson enjoyed the bounce houses, but he was really hoping to get to do this game (whatever it's called) with Daddy.

We had a great afternoon and it was followed with more great news: Derek was released for the evening after the picnic! After spending a few hours up at the armory, Forrest and Linda brought the kids home and Derek and I got to have an impromtu date! Derek has been so busy with 15+ hour days that we hardly even talk. It was wonderful to enjoy a nice, uninterrupted dinner catching up on the last 9 days.... only six more days to go!

Sergeant

This weekend was a special drill weekend for Derek-- he got promoted from Specialist to Sergeant! We're so proud! :) 

Don't they all look great in their camo??

I've been itching to share this news for what seems like forever!! Derek has been promotable within his unit for over two years and the promotion talk really started taking off last fall when openings became available. The paperwork started earlier this spring and his official promotion on paper was in April! I've known how awesome he is for quite some time and I love that other people recognize it too! :) 

With the promotion comes additional training coming up in the next couple of months. Fortunately, it will be broken down into two, two-week trainings. He does have his two week annual training in between the two other trainings, but even so, six weeks doesn't seem all that big after managing nine months two years ago. 

Derek really enjoys serving in the National Guard, though he wouldn't describe it as "serving". He loves the culture and the camaraderie. And while he sees it as something he feels led to do, I see his service every time he goes. Even though he "only" serves one weekend and two weeks each summer, those are weekends that he sacrifices each and every month. Those weekends he spends at drill creates a 12 day working streak between his civilian and army job without a single day off. And that happens every month. Even when he loves what he does, his army weekends wear him out.  Eventually when I'm employed, I'd love for him to be able to take a day off in between because he really deserves it!!

The guard and reservists get a lot of grief at times from their active duty counterparts, and even sometimes lack of recognition from the civilian, at times. And that's okay-- the soldiers I know don't really do it for the recognition. But service in the guard or reserves comes with a unique set of challenges, which includes managing two careers at once. Derek excels at both-- and that makes me a super proud wife. :)