Big Offer

The life-changing news just doesn't stop coming, does it? While working today at the second day of setup, I ran into a gal. She's our unit's payroll specialist (for lack of a better title) on the civilian side, but she's also the First Sergeant of one of our subordinate units. I was setting up a conference room for her, and she noticed that I had no patch on my right shoulder, an indicator that I haven't been deployed. She asked if I would want to deploy with her unit, and I'm seriously thinking about it. Here's why:

If I volunteer:

If I don't volunteer:

I know when they're leaving, early summer, and I have plenty of time to prepare. I will be in a local unit, and I will know a few faces. I will be in a subordinate unit, so any paperwork issues can be resolved by people back here at home. (Big Advantage) I will be in my own specialty, communications. As long as I'm in a commo position, I'll have lots of access to communications to keep in touch, and there's a good chance I'll stay mostly behind the wire and out of danger.

I'll be in my current situation, which means I may never deploy (like SGT Lant), or I could be forced to deploy with any or all of these nasty situations: I could have 4 days notice (like SGT Nieto did). I could be in a unit with complete strangers (like SGT Nieto). I will have no support from my home unit on paperwork issues, for instance when I'm asked to extend my deployment. (Big Disadvantage) I could be forced to change my specialty, probably to something undesirable like truck driving.

This is a huge decision to make. The current plan is 12 months door-to-door (always subject to change, of course). I'm not even sure what country we're talking about, but it doesn't make a huge difference. No matter what, these are the most favorable deployment conditions I'm likely to ever have. Also, as long as the Army holds to its policy of a 2-year period of non-deployable status after a deployment, I would transfer into the Inactive Reserve before I would have to deploy again. Yes, the Army doesn't always follow it's own policies, and yes, its rare but possible to be deployed out of Inactive Reserve. Still, I think maybe this could be a positive thing.

I just have a feeling in my bones, I've had it for months. God is telling me that this is my year to deploy, and that I'm going to go whether I like it or not. I would much rather choose my living conditions rather than play roulette with them. Luckily, I have a bit of time to decide.