Soon to be out of the strange land.

Well it's been an interesting few months after my return from deployment. In December we welcomed our 3rd child into the world, Leland Rhys Wesley Beun. I missed his arrival but my mother-in-law was there and I got to see him when he was a week old and then had to fly back to finish the deployment. I'll put in a couple pics below. I got back in May and after I got settled back in with my family I started to seek some medical treatment for my skin and my back.

Turns out I have psoriasis on my hands and feet and since I cook for the government I was told I need to request a transfer into another MOS(Army job). Now I qualify, both medically, physically and mentally for nearly every job the Army has and picked 5 that I would like to have. I chose Public Affairs, Pharmacy Tech, Respiratory Tech, Geospatial Engineer and some signal one I can't remember now. "Big Army" (Pentagon) came back with a denial of my re-class and told me to process into the physical disability system for separation.

So it looks like my military career will end in the next 5 months or so. At first I was pretty pissed but that gave way to relief that they had made up my mind for me. You see my whole time in the Army has been a battle between what they wanted me to be and who I am. It never really fit me I think. I'd never leave it voluntarily though as I would always think of the pat, insurance and retirement and would convince myself that being miserable was OK because the end would justify the means. I came into the Army to find my place in the world but this isn't it for me. I have no regrets for enlisting or anything I've done since, it's made me who I am today.

I've struggled since day one with what I thought the military to be from talking to vets and from the media and what it really is. The media portrays us as the best the nation has to offer but in my experience it's not that simple. The Army is a slice of the American pie, although a bigger slice seems to come from the South and the minorities. It seems a majority of people in it have nothing better to do and nowhere else to go. This is no surprise to me but what does surprise me is that it seems people cannot shed their old habits from before they joined. I get the impression that we are just civilians in uniform. I came out of basic "different". I felt the awesome sense of duty, honor and history that came with wearing the uniform. Every day I think of those men that came before me and what I can do today to do my best and honor their sacrifices. Instead I encounter with cynicism, racism, ignorance, laziness, selfishness and a sense of entitlement. Too idealistic you say? Perhaps. My problem has always been I build something up in my head and how I was it to be and when that thing does not meet the expectations I have set for it I have trouble dealing with the disappointment.

So know what do we do?

I was planning on continuing in the food service industry but with my skin condition that is no longer suitable for me. With the GI Bill I can go to school anywhere and study anything I'd like. I thought about going home for school or perhaps finding a job in the Detroit area. But I've already seen Michigan and my wanderlust has still not been satisfied. Besides, they are enjoy a nearly 20% unemployment rate back home so that's probably not the best place to start another career. I've decided to study Mining Engineering. Why? Well, it's a growing industry, our society always needs minerals, there are a small amount of graduates nationwide every year and there are opportunities for work worldwide. I've decided to attend South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. So more moving for us. Hopefully this will be the last career change for me. Perhaps it will be but if not we'll stay flexible and it'll turn out fine.

Another strange place I find myself in.

Here we are on another deployment. I'm in an undisclosed country in SW Asia. My duties are fairly light and it's quit boring here. I'm having to interact with the locals way more than I ever have before, so that is a nice change. I work with sailors and airmen so it's great to have a new perspective on the other branches of service. I'm using my time to take some more classes and get my run times back up to post-surgery times. It's very hot and humid here with temperatures above 120. I spend as much time as possible indoors. There is not many services on the camp I'm at and there is not much to do, so it's a little boring. But, I am as safe as one can get in this part of the world. Here's a few pictures of my living conditions here, they are a little spartan.

Military Ballin'

31st BDE Summer Ball 2009

We went to a military ball last night. It was nice to get away from the kids and mingle with my co-workers. Chanda got all dressed up and looked much better than I.

Chanda and I.

The grog bowl, my commander and Sgt Maj 2nd and 3rd from the right.

Some drunk idoits in my unit.

My Sgt, her niece and my wife.

A year in pictures.

25 May 2009
25 May 2009

Went to Korea between these pictures, see below.

T-minus

I'll be home soon and can't wait. To be frank, they can do anything they want to me at this point as long as it getsme on that bird.

Just Cause 2009

Where the magic happens.
Me on the first day, my wife hates the 'stach.
Cooking breakfast.
SPC Piltz, my KP.
Co-worker SPC Cho.
Getting some.
Looking for the commies.
For the ladies!
SPC Piltz and I.

Wut?

Some horseplay out in the boonies.
Waiting for something to happen, we do this alot.
Driving home, looks natural, eh?
The Yellow Sea
Yellow Sea sunrise.

I lied

I do have another board to go to before I leave. A Promotion board.(gulp) It will be 01 May.

Low on the totem poll.

So I went back to the old workplace today and saw how the Air Force is utilizing our old offices. See we used to occupy a fairly large space. Every section had it's own office, the platoon leaders and sergeants had there own desk and phone line and there was a large orderly room. The Air Force moved in and said we need all this room. The unit moved all that stuff into a 1000 sq ft building. Now everyone shares 3 offices. No one had their own phone, except 1SG and the commander. Well I went back there to pick something up and saw the old office. I'm not exaggerating when I saw the only thing in our huge orderly room was a table with a microwave on it. That's it. Most of the offices are empty and those occupied have one person in it. A large room say 15x20 has one guy and his desk. That's it. Meanwhile when I go to the new place they have to let someone out the back so I can step in. Guess I know where the dumbass groundpounders stand around here.

Dear ACUs

As I struggle to do laundary tonight and pluck OD green socks stuck to my uniforms from a seemingly endless array of velcro. I am reminded of a letter I read in the Army Times a little while back. I should send this to Obama.

Dear ACUs,

We’ve been together for almost two years now, and in that time, you have brought me nothing but grief. Why do you hate me?

I turn you inside out when I wash you. I’ve never used optical brighteners. I hang you with your collars up. And I try to keep your Velcro flat.

But you treat me so badly, despite all the good things I do for you. Why?

You fade, noticeably, after three washes. Your seams come apart.

After two months, you’re visible for over 800 meters in all conditions. Your Velcro wears out too quickly, you stain so easily and you look like something out of a bad sci-fi movie.

Do I deserve to get treated like this?

BDU and DCU treated me so much better. Even when I was seeing both of them (at the same time, and they both knew it) they still loved me.

When I was in Iraq, BDU waited for me, and DCU kept me safe.

Neither of them ever faded on me, and despite the fact that DCU’s complexion is much fairer than yours, stains always washed out — even that time when I tried to check the oil on a running generator.

I was heartbroken when they were taken from me.

I expected you to be as good to me as they were, but you’ve been terrible to me.

And you wonder why I say such terrible things about you. You wonder why I call you names like “Confederate Starship Trooper Uniform.”

I would like to divorce you, but I can’t. My Uncle Sam says that he’ll cut me out of his will if I do, and I can’t afford to disappoint him — not just because of the inheritance, but because I love the American family.

I wish they saw you the way I do — the side you only show, when it’s just us. Then maybe they’d support me more.

I’m scared that one of these days you’re going to get me killed because you refuse to protect me. You’re completely unable to camouflage me, and that’s dangerous.

This is a hollow marriage, and I will never be happy with you. I hope you can live with that.

Spc. Jarod R. DePastene

Fort Sill, Okla.

From the Army Times Dec 2008

You know the Marines started this and I have to admit they have badass uniforms and (gasp) two different patterns! What an idea! The Air Force has some pretty cool Vietnam-looking tiger stripes with (gasp) sew on patches. Someone is getting rich selling this garbage to the Army and only the soldiers pay the price by not being protected, having to buy new ones when they rip and fade too soon, and the general psycological weariness of looking like shit all the time. They remind me of pajamas, they stick to my buddy, themselves and worst of all the screens of the MKT. (@#%^!) They rip, they are noisey (you try being quiet and opening the pockets), the velcro wears out too fast, they fade quickly; the list is endless. The Army keeps telling me that they are good trying to make me feel better but no one beleives what they say. They say it saves me money all that velcro because I don't have to sew patches on. Like my rank or unit changes that often; never mind my name is velcro, really? They say wash and wear, saves time and money cleaning. But guess what? All the idiots in my unit get them cleaned, so I'm the one that looks out of place. The skill badges are pin on. Really pin on? Good idea except when I have to take the M-Fers off and place them on the next day's uniform. I hope before this is over they change their minds but probably not.

LOUD NOISES

So I now live on the third floor in a newly renovated building. There are contractors re-paving the parking lot below my room. And every day the start work at 0700 and stop around 1700. If you are not aware I'm now working nights so that time period is my bedtime. But you say, "Close the window, how noisy can it be?". Great idea but the windows in this brand new building might as well be bedsheets they are so thin. They are SINGLE pained windows. Can you believe that? I didn't think they still made windows like that. So every day I sleep with my pillow over my head getting woken up every few minutes by construction noise. My favorite is the large mechanical beast they are using that makes the whole end of my building shake, that's a real fun time.

Done with boards.

Well after three successive boards I won Cook of the 2nd Quarter for 8th Army. What that means in English is I won best Army cook in Korea from this quarter. I did real well and made some contacts with some higher ups in Army food service. What a releif that it's over, three in a row is a little much. The awards ceremony won't be until April so we'll see how much stuff I get for winning. I'll make sure someone takes some pics too.

Thanksgiving Pics

Here's a few pictures from our Thanksgiving meal. I know Thanksgiving was a while ago but I just got my hands on these a few days ago(thanks Dean).

Here I am preparing the meal (I was working on the ham).

Here I am online just as service began.

Gen. Sharp, USFK Commander came to serve the troops.

Two Hard Working guys, SPC Dean and SPC Harris. (wearing his new award, good job battle!)

The shift that I work with and made the meal happen. From L to R. SGT Nino (shift leader), myself, SPC Ricardson, SPC Collins, SGT Ayala (1st cook), SPC Dean (rations NCOIC), CPL Decker (admin) and PFC Jenkins. We no longer work together as things have changed since then.

Sick

So sick right now, fever, drippy nose, headache, cough, the works. I think the last time I felt like this Clinton was in office. Maybe I'm allergic to Democratic administrations? I now have a couple days in bed, at least I can study for my board if I can stay awake.

Wish me luck and a rant

I have a board to go to next month.

Lets see if I have the intelligence to regurgitate information on command.

Really, I'm excited and it gives me a chance to be recognized and maybe win a piece of ribbon.

A soldier will fight long and hard for a bit of colored ribbon.-Napoleon Bonaparte

I need to post something that is bothering me as well. I have this friend who's been in the Army a while. I don't think he has ever passed a PT test. As a result he is of low rank and was overweight. He lost a considerable amount of weight and now he and I are the same weight. Unfortunately his body fat percentage is higher(at least it was two weeks ago) and does not meet the Army standard. His enlistment is close to ending and now miraculously his BF is now under and he makes the standard. Never mind he still has thus far ever passed a PT test. So now they are promoting him to the same rank as I am. Something I worked hard to get and did it the old fashioned way (as early as legally possible) without any favors. He is going to get with phony baloney tape test and PT. It really puts a damper on my accomplishment. So the question comes to my mind, 'Why have standards when they can be altered or ignored as it suits or possibly benefits you?'. You see we are at war, so EVERYONE stays. That is the bottom line.

Rock Band-guy

Well here I am getting ready for the next couple days. Traveling to an undisclosed location for some Army training. The rest of my unit has already left this morning and myself and a few others are the only ones in the building. Naturally as is my luck, one of the guys left behind is the Rock Band-guy. You see Rock Band is one of those games that you play along with a plastic guitar to rock songs. It gives you a false sense of accomplishment and makes you beleive you are musically talented. The guy above me plays it constantly. What's worse is he had a bunion removed from his foot and got 30(!) days of recovery time. Heck I blew my shoulder out and got two weeks, he gets 30 for a bunion?! So he's home all day and night playing Rock Band, alone. Isn't it supposed to be a party game? So the one chance I have for peace and quiet while the mutants are away is ruined by Rock Band-foot-guy and I get to listen to Lynard Skynard over and over and over. Thank you Rock Band-guy, you suck.