Christmas & New Year's Eve passed with a moderate amount of fanfare each; both were my best holidays overseas yet.
2010 brings lots of change, with my deployment & the prospect of staying in Japan or moving on afterward. The decision post-Middle East was not one I was prepared to make lightly, as there are many variables to consider. Once I boiled it down to the key parts that affected me and why I came out here to begin with, it was a fairly one-sided argument: Time to move on to possibly greener pastures.
My main reason that I didn't fight orders to come back to Tokyo was that I was growing beyond what my last assignment could offer me. I was the bottom of the office ladder, even after 2 promotions while present. I had a sterling record, but there just wasn't room to expand over the next 3 years. I wanted to assume greater responsibility & authority, perhaps even get a chance to supervise someone for a short period. I couldn't get that in Washington, not even with the experience I earned or the amount of time invested within the unit. So, I opted to accept re-assignment back in Asia.
I came out here with the best of intentions & eyes wide open for opportunity to succeed. Despite having over 2 years of experience in the job I was tasked for, and nearly 18 months experience directly within this theater, at this very base, I was once again put at the bottom of the list simply because I was the latest to arrive. I was not certified to perform all tasks that someone of my experience/skill level is expected to perform; because we had so many higher-ranking individuals, I was expected to do the "nuts & bolts" assembly of customer service instead of getting the chance to test new waters.
Additionally, when a junior Airman DID arrive, I was passed over for supervising duties because I had already made my plans to eventually leave the service known. I wasn't in-your-face about my decision to one day quit the Air Force, but neither did I hide my intentions. I was just as open about choosing this assignment for the opportunity to lead, even at the middle-level of management. The role of supervisor was given to a good friend & co-worker who had JUST been promoted and returned from his first deployment, as I was being notified of my 2nd one coming early this year.
It's impossible to say that being given expanded authority or responsibilities would have changed my opinion of service, never mind my plans to change career & cash in on my benefits. I can say that the knowledge from my 3rd-in-command individual that I was intentionally passed over twice because of my long-term goals immediately killed my morale.
After 16 months, I have only clocked 1 day where I was late to work, by 10 minutes. Every other day, I was anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour early so I could handle additional duties; God forbid I be assigned an Administrative shift to accomplish that. I never turned down jobs that came over my desk, and I disproportionately fielded more night shifts than any single individual.
I've been given nothing to encourage me to remain in the Air Force that would have literally cost my command NOTHING in expenses/time. I was simply told to consider what it would be like to get ANOTHER promotion or to switch job duties perhaps. While things at a final, 1-year assignment are hardly going to be a 180 from the treatment I received here, at least it will be a change in attitude/latitude with the knowledge that I'm done in 12 months.
This is why NCO's are leaving by the dozen each week: The older generation is too reluctant to mentor the individual if they are a professional rival or if they "deem it isn't in the best interest of the US Air Force." I pity the upcoming generation of Airmen...
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Thursday, December 24, 2009
A Serviceman's Christmas
The winter holidays are a bit different for those of us on active duty, especially when we're stationed and/or deployed overseas. Most of us are young, single men who have no children, and are hundreds if not thousands of miles away from home.
I customarily volunteer to work the Christmas shifts in exchange for New Year's Eve/Day off, as that is a holiday that lends itself to being young & single just a bit more. I have spent 4 of my 6 Christmas seasons over here in Japan now, and it follows a fairly simple pattern:
1. After the end of Christmas shift, gather a handful of people in my situation & head out to a bar/karaoke joint that is having a Christmas Eve party. There's usually free grub, and it gives us a chance to celebrate/commiserate the fact that we're all away from home during the holidays.
2. Sleep in on Christmas Day, and take advantage of the time difference to call back home to family. Since I usually have this day off, I can afford the lengthy holiday phone calls because I don't have anywhere else to be. Since it takes a matter of minutes to open gifts or Christmas cards as a single dude, I usually combine clean-up with end of the year cleaning. All broken & unused junk gets a pink slip and I try to have my place looking much tidier for the coming year, even if it is just a temporary victory against clutter.
3. If I've gotten an invite for dinner, take it up and continue to spread the Christmas spirit. If not, there is always a holiday meal at the dining facility & it never hurts to save a few bucks while living high on the hog.
The main thing is using my time productively instead of sitting around being a sad-sack because my family is far away & I don't have the time/means to visit them this time of year. When I can, I also try to share genuine goodwill with the younger folks who may be roughing it with their first "grown-up Christmas" ever. I remember what a let-down it was my first time away from home, so I do what I can to combat that.
I hope everyone who is able can spend some time with their family & friends this year; if not, there are probably others in your position too, so let's reach out and beat back the chilly breeze and quietness of winter together! Cheers!!
I customarily volunteer to work the Christmas shifts in exchange for New Year's Eve/Day off, as that is a holiday that lends itself to being young & single just a bit more. I have spent 4 of my 6 Christmas seasons over here in Japan now, and it follows a fairly simple pattern:
1. After the end of Christmas shift, gather a handful of people in my situation & head out to a bar/karaoke joint that is having a Christmas Eve party. There's usually free grub, and it gives us a chance to celebrate/commiserate the fact that we're all away from home during the holidays.
2. Sleep in on Christmas Day, and take advantage of the time difference to call back home to family. Since I usually have this day off, I can afford the lengthy holiday phone calls because I don't have anywhere else to be. Since it takes a matter of minutes to open gifts or Christmas cards as a single dude, I usually combine clean-up with end of the year cleaning. All broken & unused junk gets a pink slip and I try to have my place looking much tidier for the coming year, even if it is just a temporary victory against clutter.
3. If I've gotten an invite for dinner, take it up and continue to spread the Christmas spirit. If not, there is always a holiday meal at the dining facility & it never hurts to save a few bucks while living high on the hog.
The main thing is using my time productively instead of sitting around being a sad-sack because my family is far away & I don't have the time/means to visit them this time of year. When I can, I also try to share genuine goodwill with the younger folks who may be roughing it with their first "grown-up Christmas" ever. I remember what a let-down it was my first time away from home, so I do what I can to combat that.
I hope everyone who is able can spend some time with their family & friends this year; if not, there are probably others in your position too, so let's reach out and beat back the chilly breeze and quietness of winter together! Cheers!!
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Beginning of An Era
Hello to everyone here on Planet Earth, and up in space for any astronauts who may be checking the state of the Intarwubz while in orbit.
I'm beginning this blog to chart (yet another) veteran's journey to a deployment in the Middle East, the ensuing tales & trials that adventure will hold, and then the rundown after returning home as a new combat veteran.
First off, some basic stuff that has to be done at the outset: Views & Opinions expressed on here belong to myself alone and do not represent the policies, attitudes, or beliefs of the U.S. Air Force, the US Department of Defense, or any entity outside of the meatspace between my ears. As such, don't assume that what I say, think, and therefore publish is common among any of the above-mentioned organizations.
About myself: I'm a veteran in the U.S. Air Force, serving on Active Duty since early 2004. My Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) is 1W071; for you non-USAF people, this is just a designation of what my job in the service is. 1-Whiskeys are your weather observers & forecasters. I've spent over half a decade primarily supporting USAF missions, though I've recently completed training to upgrade my qualifications to that of a "Battlefield Weather Airman." This is just a fancy, mil-corporate buzzword for a weather forecaster who's office is out on the front lines in support of U.S. Army aviation missions. Hoo-ah!
I've been stationed in Tokyo, Japan 2 times, for a total of nearly 3 years. In between assignments here in Japan, I was assigned to McChord Air Force Base just south of Tacoma, Washington for 2 1/2 years. While assigned there, I completed my first deployment to the United Arab Emirates for 4 months of non-combat zone duty. Add in the 9 months of Basic Military Training & Initial Skills Training that I had during my first year of military service, and you're pretty much caught up on where I've been and how long I was at a given area.
These days, I hold the rank of Staff Sergeant. I'm the lowest rank of Non-Commissioned Officer, and as a member of Middle Management, I've already lost most of my "Street Credit" with younger Airmen who work near my office. I see it as a fair trade for not having to share a kitchen or laundry room with them anymore.
That's who I am on paper, if you were to water down my military service record. Who I am in reality, like anyone with a pulse, steady breathing, and a Social Security Number, is a bit more complicated. Hopefully the posts that go up here in the future will begin to flesh that out a bit, and in the event of a TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) that causes partial or total amnesia, I now have a record that approaches the level of snarkiness that I exhibit "as appropriate" for my given environment. (I've been known to have a tongue that is sharper than a razor blade in an Armani suit.)
Stay tuned & we'll see where this thing goes.
SSgt Tom "Jinxy" Jenkins
I'm beginning this blog to chart (yet another) veteran's journey to a deployment in the Middle East, the ensuing tales & trials that adventure will hold, and then the rundown after returning home as a new combat veteran.
First off, some basic stuff that has to be done at the outset: Views & Opinions expressed on here belong to myself alone and do not represent the policies, attitudes, or beliefs of the U.S. Air Force, the US Department of Defense, or any entity outside of the meatspace between my ears. As such, don't assume that what I say, think, and therefore publish is common among any of the above-mentioned organizations.
About myself: I'm a veteran in the U.S. Air Force, serving on Active Duty since early 2004. My Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) is 1W071; for you non-USAF people, this is just a designation of what my job in the service is. 1-Whiskeys are your weather observers & forecasters. I've spent over half a decade primarily supporting USAF missions, though I've recently completed training to upgrade my qualifications to that of a "Battlefield Weather Airman." This is just a fancy, mil-corporate buzzword for a weather forecaster who's office is out on the front lines in support of U.S. Army aviation missions. Hoo-ah!
I've been stationed in Tokyo, Japan 2 times, for a total of nearly 3 years. In between assignments here in Japan, I was assigned to McChord Air Force Base just south of Tacoma, Washington for 2 1/2 years. While assigned there, I completed my first deployment to the United Arab Emirates for 4 months of non-combat zone duty. Add in the 9 months of Basic Military Training & Initial Skills Training that I had during my first year of military service, and you're pretty much caught up on where I've been and how long I was at a given area.
These days, I hold the rank of Staff Sergeant. I'm the lowest rank of Non-Commissioned Officer, and as a member of Middle Management, I've already lost most of my "Street Credit" with younger Airmen who work near my office. I see it as a fair trade for not having to share a kitchen or laundry room with them anymore.
That's who I am on paper, if you were to water down my military service record. Who I am in reality, like anyone with a pulse, steady breathing, and a Social Security Number, is a bit more complicated. Hopefully the posts that go up here in the future will begin to flesh that out a bit, and in the event of a TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) that causes partial or total amnesia, I now have a record that approaches the level of snarkiness that I exhibit "as appropriate" for my given environment. (I've been known to have a tongue that is sharper than a razor blade in an Armani suit.)
Stay tuned & we'll see where this thing goes.
SSgt Tom "Jinxy" Jenkins
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