Below the 2 year mark!

If everything goes as it should, we have less than two more years with the Army! We're both very excited about it, although we are well aware that a lot of things could throw a wrench in it, but we're trying not to think about that. If everything goes the way it's supposed to, this time two years from now, Uncle Sam won't be able to touch either of us ever again as long as we live. (Although isn't it weird how the VA always knows our new address even though we never give it to them? We both receive correspondence from them on various things from time to time, and they always send it to the right address. It's the microchips. It's gotta be. Just kidding.)

Last night, I pointed this out to Thak, that we've got less than two years to go, and he mentioned something that I hadn't thought of. In 2005, when he reenlisted, he signed a 6 year reenlistment contract. That's why he's still in. Had he signed a 4 year contract or a 2 year contract, he'd be out by now. We came to the conclusion that signing that 6 year contract wasn't a mistake, even though it does make us stick with this for longer, even though we're so ready to be done with it. These are the reasons it is good he signed those 6 years:

1) We bought the truck in cash with the reenlistment bonus. Had he signed less years, we wouldn't have been able to do that, and might even have two car payments, which is feasible on E-6 pay, but not something anyone wants to get out of the Army with.

2) He'll get his schooling done. Having this requirement of getting away from Ft. Stewart because of his promotion (Stewart had only one slot for an E-6 generator mechanic. It was full.) we came here to Ft. Bliss, and with his unit just setting up, he's got the opportunity to go to school, become ASE certified, and his graduation will coincide almost exactly with his ETS date, so he will be ready to be placed in a job upon graduation.

3) A little theory of mine. I think that anyone who's been in the Army for as long as Thak has, kind of needs to hate it a little if they're going to get out and actually make a go of being out. He's been a soldier since he was 17 years old. It's the only thing he's ever been any good at. He's put his entire life into this. Yeah, he's said he wants to get out for a long time now, but it was never in him to actually do it. Why do you think he kept on reenlisting, and not actually readying himself to get out? He just wasn't ready. This reenlistment being as long as it is, gave him the time he needed, to begin to really hate it, and get really tired of it, and actually take steps to become ready to get out.

No, at this point, the only thing that will make Thak sign the indefinite reenlistment, which is his only option at this point, is if two supremely unlikely things both happen. He must make the next Sergeant First Class promotion list, and he must receive orders to Letterkenny Army Depot. Both of these things are slightly less likely than hell freezing over, so for all intents and purposes, we are now below the two year mark!