So it begins...
The news came a few weeks ago. We all knew it was inevitable at some point...but the timing was not what we were expecting. There I was, getting all geared up to go to the Pentagon and start a new step in my career. Well, I'm starting a new step alright...
The good news is that I DID get picked up for promotion this time around (we're thinking June 1, but that's all up to Big ARMY). The bad news is that I will get pinned (actually promoted) in Baghdad, Iraq.
My evaluation report reads that I "volunteered for a challenging 365 day deployment to the combat zone." That is true, in that I didn't whine and cry when they told me I was likely to go. Apparently if you don't say "I'd rather not," they take that as an emphatic and whole hearted "YES!"
My First Sergeant was appreciative of the fact that I recognise that part of my job demands travel to exotic places (...and the inherent hardship cast on friends and family...not to mention...IT'S IRAQ!) So appreciative actually, that she only makes me do HALF the details I would normaly do in any given day. (Truth be told, she has been awesome and is making sure that everything is taken care of before I go.)
So there it is in a nut shell. I'm going to Iraq...for a year...by myself. (I want my mommy...)
For those of you that don't know me...I'm Sergeant (SSG) Newman, United States Army Intelligence (insert joke here...)
I am married to the greatest Army wife in the world (though there are several of my former commanders that may beg to differ) And I have two very beautiful children...a boy (the monkey), five yrs old and a girl (the poodle), three yrs old. The absolute hardest part of all this is going to be leaving them what seems like a billion miles away.
To my wife and kids: I LOVE YOU MORE THAN YOU WILL EVER KNOW.
what else is there to say? I'll keep you all posted right here as to how this next year progreses. keep checking back....
See ya.
SSG NEWMAN, out.
The good news is that I DID get picked up for promotion this time around (we're thinking June 1, but that's all up to Big ARMY). The bad news is that I will get pinned (actually promoted) in Baghdad, Iraq.
My evaluation report reads that I "volunteered for a challenging 365 day deployment to the combat zone." That is true, in that I didn't whine and cry when they told me I was likely to go. Apparently if you don't say "I'd rather not," they take that as an emphatic and whole hearted "YES!"
My First Sergeant was appreciative of the fact that I recognise that part of my job demands travel to exotic places (...and the inherent hardship cast on friends and family...not to mention...IT'S IRAQ!) So appreciative actually, that she only makes me do HALF the details I would normaly do in any given day. (Truth be told, she has been awesome and is making sure that everything is taken care of before I go.)
So there it is in a nut shell. I'm going to Iraq...for a year...by myself. (I want my mommy...)
For those of you that don't know me...I'm Sergeant (SSG) Newman, United States Army Intelligence (insert joke here...)
I am married to the greatest Army wife in the world (though there are several of my former commanders that may beg to differ) And I have two very beautiful children...a boy (the monkey), five yrs old and a girl (the poodle), three yrs old. The absolute hardest part of all this is going to be leaving them what seems like a billion miles away.
To my wife and kids: I LOVE YOU MORE THAN YOU WILL EVER KNOW.
what else is there to say? I'll keep you all posted right here as to how this next year progreses. keep checking back....
See ya.
SSG NEWMAN, out.
posted by Unknown at 11:57 PM
2 Comments:
Hey Luke- you make sure that you keep us up to date as often as you can. I'll spread the word about your blog- be safe and take care man-
Russ
PS for what it's worth- congrats on E-7!
Evidently this is the site where McKinneys like to hang. Luke, I'm praying for you and the family. Also, check out my blog. www.ginnymckinney.blogspot.com
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