Update

So, I have started to blog again. Mostly motivated by my sister's blog Ellis-Party-of-5 and my brother-in-law's Tangents. I usually have something interesting to share, so I might as well try to keep it all in a blog.

Update on me...

Well, I am coming up on my 4th year in the Marine Corps. Time really flies. My rough timeline of Marine Corps service is as follows

July 2007-Officer Candidate School and Commissioning
July 2007-Assistant Officer Recruiter, Orlando
October 2007- The Basic School, Quantico, Va
June 2008- On-the-job training at 2d Assault Amphibian Bn, Camp Lejeune, NC
- Mojave Viper, 29 Palms, CA
October 2008- Assault Amphibian Officer's Course (MOS School) Camp Pendleton, CA
January 2009- Platoon Commander, Bravo Company, 2d Asslt Amph Bn, Camp Lejeune, NC
-Multiple training/ship exercises
-Mojave Viper, 29 Palms, CA
-Joint Fires Observer Course, Norfolk, VA
-Operation Enduring Freedom-Afghanistan Nov 2009-May 2010
June 2010- Company Executive Officer, Headquarters and Service Co, 2d Asslt Amph Bn
August 2010- Platoon Commander, Delta Company, 2d Assault Amphibian Bn
-Attached to Battalion Landing Team 2/2 part of 22d Marine Expeditionary Unit
-Training in Fort Picket and Camp Lejeune

So... basically I am working up to be a part of the 22d Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). MEUs are the smallest Marine Air-Ground Task Force. It is built around an infantry battalion (900 or so Marines). There are organic air assets, tanks, AAVs, engineers, logistics, recon, artillery, and other support elements not normally part of an infantry unit. Once deployed, the MEU usually floats around on ships, awaiting any emergency operation (embassy evacuation, humanitarian assistance, anti-piracy operations, peacekeeping,etc.) The MEUs have gone into Iraq and Afghanistan several times (in fact the 26th MEU is currently in A-stan), so that is not out of the question.

I am awaiting promotion to Captain and Career Designation. Promotion is about a given (98% selection or so). However, Career Designation is not (60-65%). When Lieutenants are commissioned, they are essentially put on "probation" for 4 years. They cannot continue in the active service past 4 years unless they are Career Designated (used to be called augmented). In fact until a few years ago, all officers were commissioned as USMCR (reserve that is) and put on active service for 4 years, automatically going back to the reserves for most officers. It would be un-realistic to keep all officers in the active service, just because we don't need that many. Before the Long War, it was very very competitive. Around a 15-25% selection. It was almost expected that you got out after 4 years. However, the war (and subsequent growth of the Marine Corps) has kept the selection at around 95%. Now with the war coming to an end (or is it?) selection is slowly decreasing. My board (meeting this month) is the lowest it has been for a while. If I don't get selected, I have to get out or go to the reserves. If I am, I can stay in indefinitely (or until they stop promoting me or retirement). It is in God's hands, I will rejoice either way. I would love to stay in, however there are plenty of other things I see myself doing. I would love to stay connected to the Corps through the reserves or inactive reserve (which I have to do for at least 4 years anyway). God closes doors and opens others. We shall see. Unfortunately, if I don't get selected, I cannot go on this deployment.

Should I stay in, for at least a few more years, I will move to a new duty station upon return from deployment (Jan/Feb 2012). I am trying to go to Virginia (DC or Quantico)...or if I can...Europe (part of Embassy Security Guard Program).

Training with the MEU has kept me very busy. I spend every few weeks in the field. The entire month of December was spent in the freezing cold of Fort Pickett, Virginia. I just got out of two weeks of raid training here at Lejeune. Looking forward to another trip to Pickett, and about 6 weeks (2 week periods) on ship...and then deployment in the summer. This training is the best in the Corps, much more training than units designated to go to Afghanistan are getting. I cannot wait to get on ship on deployment to get a break, haha.