A SOLDIER'S PERSPECTIVE
THE WEB'S LEADING MILITARY BLOG SINCE 2004
Well, today marked the official start of my clearing and the fact that I’m leaving here. We had the packing inspectors come by to look at our household good to make sure they had enough packing material for when they arrive.
Next thing is to get all my transportation appointments made as well as a pre-inspection of the house. I can already tell there’s going to be a fight with housing. A few of my friends who have recently moved or preparing to move said that housing came in with a blacklight to check the carpet. While the carpet looked fine on the surface, the blacklight revealed stains unknown to the naked eye. When I did the inspection of the house upon moving in, there was no blacklight test. One of my friends is being charged well over $1000 to replace a carpet that doesn’t appear to have any defects in it. Like me, she didn’t get a blacklight inspection upon moving in either. This is something new.
So, there will probably be an inevitable standoff when/if this happens to me. Emily does a better job than anyone I’ve met with keeping the house clean and presentable. She vaccuums almost daily and we shampoo the carpet at least monthly.
Luckily this isn’t my first move into or out of military housing. I made a very detailed list of every discrepency that I found when we moved in so it doesn’t get pinned on me when we leave. Truth be told, this was the dirtiest house I’ve EVER moved into on a military base. We had to call in the cleaning team twice to do stuff that should have been done before we go here.
I have already begun turning in all the equipment that I signed for from my unit. I was responsible for over $150,000 worth of equipment, which includes my HMMWV (Humvee). I’ve been responsible for much more, but it’s still a significant amount of money. A few years ago, as a Staff Sergeant, I was responsible for more than $2 million worth of sensitive electronic surveilance equipment, so this is nothing.
I’ve also just learned that I’ve been awarded a Meritorious Service Medal for my time in this unit. I don’t think I did enough to deserve such an award, but since the Colonel and General signed off on it, I must have. I’m a little ashamed about some of my awards because I wonder if I’d have gotten them if I weren’t a Sergeant First Class. I know that I give everything I can to my job, but I’ve seen many soldiers and junior NCOs who received much less than they got simply by virtue of their rank. If it was an award I submitted you better believe I never backed down. I’m totally against rank-based merit when it comes to awards.
Anyway, I went to Hannah’s school today and DJ’d a sock hop for their little 50′s party. The kids had a good time “singing” into the microphone and dancing. I didn’t charge anything for doing it. She’s in Pre-Kindergarten and had a lot of fun.
(10) Readers Comments
Leave a Reply
![[UPDATE] The “Face” of Military Dating Scams – The Wall of Shame](http://militarygear.com/asp/wp-content/themes/LondonLive/thumb.php?src=http://militarygear.com/asp/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/2.jpg&w=53&h=41&zc=1&q=100)
Army Review of PTSD Will Reinforce Combat Veterans Not to Seek Help
Who would WANT a PTSD diagnosis? Only a fraud would. I would give an
Anatomy of a Military Dating Scam
HI EVERYONE, I KNOW THAT THIS JOHN BULLARD JR. IS A SCAMMER FROM E
wordsmith
Good luck with the move. And hey! Congratulations with your Meritorious Service Medal. My money is on it being well-deserved.
Hilary
CONGRATS!!
Donna
CJ,
I would surely flunk that test Hee! I know that you guys will pass with flying colors. You sound like you guys are very concientious about keeping your house clean!!
I can’t imagine them taking a black light to the carpet!
I also congratulate you on your award! I know that it is well deserved!!
That was so nice of you to dj Hannah’s party. I’ll bet the kids did have a great time!
dusgalan
CJ: You deserve that recognition. And trust me, it wasn’t for the “time” you spent there—it’s for what you did WITH that time that’s important. You will never know how many lives you have potentialy saved because of the hours of training and time you “spent” with our soldiers. In my opinion, a little piece of ribbon and pot-metal doesn’t even begin to recognize that achievement. This may sound silly, but when I received a medal for this or that, I often thought of the cowardly lion in the Wizard of Oz who wanted courage but didn’t realize he had it all along until it was recognized with a simlple medal. Well, that’s how it works–you have had the RIGHT STUFF all along! And it’s right on time that somebody recognized that.
Good luck with the inspection! I say “Black Light-Schmlack Light! who cares?
dusgalan of mt
HM USN/USMC
I feel that everyone here feel the same way. I hope this is not the end but only the begining. Semper Fi! and continue on my brother. God speed be with you. And I hope this is not the end….
SK
Congratulations on your medal, I’m sure it was well earned! Also, on this Veteran’s Day I’d like to say Thank You to you and your family for the many sacrifices you have all made so that you might serve our country. You are truly special people.
DC Retired USN
Can you live off post? I did the onbase thing once, could not believe the rules! Forget about the departure inspection. Never again.
I once lived on a sailboat in Europe, collected all the OHA, met some great folks as neighbors. I never cared to live in any of the Ametrican “ghettos”, where you have all the comforts of stateside living. Adds a spice to mingle with the locals… as long as you aren’t in Toulon or Marseilles.
Good luck on the next tour, God Bless all those who serve!
CJ
I could live off post, but in DC I can’t afford it. Normally I do live off post.
PMTerri
Hurry up and get yourself out here CJ!!!!!!! I’m waiting to meet that wonderful family of yours!
PeggySue66
Our last PCS out of PA was a nightmare…..
the only time I EVER had a literal white glove inspection….on the pipes on the laundry room of all places.
The guy actually climbed IN the oven with his flashlight to see if there was one molecule of burnt drippings.
We even used toothbrushes on the baseboards for two weeks (done every other day) prior to the pre-inspect and he said they needed to be cleaned. ~groan~
Walls had to be washed but not bleached….and the shower door (which was imposible to keep clear due to calcium deposits) had to be spotless. (Orange oil covers it but doesn’t clean it – trick I learned and made it pass) Even the fence had to be brand new.
That was my last PCS (Eric may have to move due to base closure) but me and the kids will stay right here.
Good luck to you and congrats on your award!