Denied!

Submitted by SoldierMedic on Wed, 02/18/2009 - 7:26am

For almost three years I have been on a quest. And for three years I have been denied, even when the prize of my conquest seems so attainable. But this was the closest I have ever come to it.

I have been waiting for almost 3 years after volunteering online for a deployment through the Army Knowledge Online (AKO) website. And nothing has yet to happen from that. I have tried to get deployed in another method as well; keeping my feelers out for intel, I came across a unit setting up for a deployment to Iraq that needed a medic. But my unit would not release me to them.

But almost two weeks ago the commander for a company I used to be attached to came up to me, and the conversation we had made my heart skip a beat.

Him: "You are a whiskey, aren't you?" (Referring to my Military Occupation Specialty 68W, or medic).

Me: Yeah

Him: You want to deploy?

Me: HELLS TO THE YEAH!

Him: You aren't even going to ask where first?

Me: I've been waiting to deploy so long, it doesn't really matter right now.

Things go really well after that. Within a day I have filled out paperwork to start the application for a Secret Security clearance, my commander has spoken with the commander of the unit deploying, and I am already daydreaming about my role in the unit I would be going with. For me the unit seemed like it would be a perfect fit; a Civil Affairs unit, I would be assigned as a medic for a small Civil Affairs Team. My job wouldn't be kicking down doors (although I would love to be the medic for that), or guarding some FOB (KIA by boredom), I would be performing medical care for civilians with nobody else to turn to. I would be digging wells so children wouldn't die of Cholera. I would be teaching people about the importance of oral hygiene.

But then my hopes and dreams were all dashed to bits on the harsh rocks of reality. There would be no deployment for me. The commander of the deploying unit hadn't spoken with the team leader who needed medic in a while. When he finally did he discovered that the position had been filled about a week before I had been asked if I wanted to go.

The only recourse I have now is to continue training; continue preparing for the next opportunity.

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Re: Denied!

Submitted by Pagan on Wed, 02/18/2009 - 1:20pm.

Well sadly that's how things go, you wanna deploy and those that don't do. When I was in the Marines I wanted so bad to be stationed in Japan, all my buddies in the same MOS who didn't got orders and I never did, no matter how hard I tried. Then I've got a good buddy in the Guard who tried like hell to get sent to Iraq or Afghanistan, no matter what he did they just continued to jerk him around. So in the end he said fuck it and went over as a Suit and is making over $10k a month.

There's no sense nor reason for it, it just happens that way. My two bits are keep doing what you can and until the orders come just keep training. Other than that check into the Contracting side of things, you'd not only get sent over but make a shit load of money doing it.