In the 'real' Army now...

So, for the last couple of years at Rucker, we have not been in the 'real' Army. Travis was at a training post, so it doesn't funtion like a 'real' unit. Travis kept saying he can't wait to get into a 'real' unit. I did not really understand, how could it be much different...but it is! All last week he had to work on in-processing at Fort Stewart, which is about a 45 min. drive from our house. Fort Stewart is the Army post that Hunter Army Airfield is attached to. When he finished with Stewart, he had to start in-processing at Hunter. This process normally can take up to a couple of weeks, but Travis was put on the VIP fast track list, because he was supposedly going to be sent to Fort Hood in TX 3 days after we closed on our house to begin progressing...this is a whole other story that will be blogged at a later date. Obviously, he hasn't left yet, but will be sent in a couple weeks. Well, he has been signed into Hunter since last Thursday, almost a full week and the Army had no clue what to do with him. He was told a few different options of jobs, and was told to wait for a phone call. Well, if you have been in the Army for a while, you know that no one gets back to you. So, he decided to make a few phone calls and and emails on Friday and wait, and if he did not hear anything by Monday he would go in. Surprise, surpise, nothing was heard, he went in on Monday and was told to wait, again. So, waiting we did. He finally heard something Monday afternoon and was told to go in on Tuesday. He went in on Tuesday and then sent home for lunch. He went back in around 1pm and hit the ground running. He was told is going to the S-3 shop for his new company. It is not really where he wanted to be, but he actually is getting a pretty cool job, if I do say so myself. He will be one of two Battle Captains. The S-3 shop is in charge of planning all the operations they will be doing when deployed. His job as a Battle Captain will be to implementing and flying those operations (?) I think. I am not sure if he really knows his exact job description. I really think the name sounds cool...Battle Captain. He sounds so important or something!

He called me about 2:30 yesterday to tell me he finally has a job and we were invited to the FRG (Family Readiness Group) meeting that was at 6. Once we hung up we did not talk again until about 5:40. So, we met at the FRG meeting and he told me all about getting to meet all of his 5 or so bosses and they each had their owen set of things for him to-do. We enjoyed the FRG meeting. I met a couple of wives. There really were not many spouses there.

When the meeting was over, Travis let me know we had to go to Wal-mart and Home Depot to get his tuft (sp?) box and fill it up. So, we scarfed down some chick-fil-a and ran into Home Depot. We bought his 'suitcase' and then to wal-mart to spend too much money!!! He had to have his boxed turned in by 8am this morning for it to get onto the ship to go over to Afghanistan. We bought sheets, towels, toiletries for a couple months, a desk fan, pillow, etc...everything that you use at home we had to fill into this box...too bad I could not fit! :) He will have a small post exchange (px-the army's version of Wal-Mart) over there but it will not have many brand options and it will be a very smaller scale then what we have here.

Empty box...

Foxy wants to go :)

I spent the evening washing his new sheets and towels so it will smell somewhat like home :) and Travis let me pack most of it. Poor thing had to do all sorts of work on the computer while I packed. We both stayed busy working and packing until about 11:30pm.

Here is his inventory list, there are a few items on the back, but this is mainly it.

Well, this day is really happening! Every time I think about him leaving, I get a strange sense of peace over me and I know we will be ok. I know that is God touching me with his hand and letting me know to have faith! Keep praying, we love you all!