Where to Start...
Main Body was scheduled to leave for FEX on Friday morning. Yesterday afternoon it was passed that a troop mobilization of 30,000 personnel has recently been scheduled for this weekend, there are no busses under government contract to be had, and so we are now leaving on Wednesday (tomorrow) morning.
I am currently participating in a 48-hour embarkation evolution. I work the night shift, 6 pm to 6 am, and am responsible for filling out all HAZMAT information and compiling MSDSs for each piece of construction equipment, the fluids it contains, and other miscellaneous hazardous materials like ammunition and lithium batteries.
My schedule as of yesterday morning:
Monday: 6pm to 6am Embark
Tuesday: Sleep, 6pm to 6am Embark
Wednesday: Sleep, Shop for FEX
Thursday: Pack for FEX, Renew Passport (it expires during FEX), Knitting
Friday: Go out for breakfast with husband, Leave for FEX
My schedule as of yesterday afternoon:
Monday: 6pm to 6am Embark
Tuesday: Three-hour nap, Shop, Pack, 6pm to 6am Embark
Wednesday: Finish packing, Nap if possible, Board the bus
For me it’s annoying but for other people, especially those with children, it’s a problem. One woman, a single mother of three, is flying her sister in to watch the kids while she is away for two weeks. Her sister flies in on Thursday. One day too late. Even though this woman did everything right she now has the very real problem of finding supervision for her children while she’s working twelve hour shifts for embark and the command isn’t anxious to help. Several men on the night crew were afraid of their wives’ reaction to the news. Not that it’s such a big deal, but it’s annoying to be frustrated by work only to have your wife frustrated by you.
But what seals the deal is that the embark exercise, the second in as many months, is completely notional: all of the equipment is already up at FEX. There is no pressing need, other than practice (which is important), to spend 48 hours placing equipment on chalks, working out the load planning, preparing documentation, calling for an inspection, and sending it on its way.
So what we have is a group of people who have very real concerns like childcare, sleep deprivation, domestic angst, and packing all of which have to place second to the pretend concern of moving out Hummers and bulldozers.
I am currently participating in a 48-hour embarkation evolution. I work the night shift, 6 pm to 6 am, and am responsible for filling out all HAZMAT information and compiling MSDSs for each piece of construction equipment, the fluids it contains, and other miscellaneous hazardous materials like ammunition and lithium batteries.
My schedule as of yesterday morning:
Monday: 6pm to 6am Embark
Tuesday: Sleep, 6pm to 6am Embark
Wednesday: Sleep, Shop for FEX
Thursday: Pack for FEX, Renew Passport (it expires during FEX), Knitting
Friday: Go out for breakfast with husband, Leave for FEX
My schedule as of yesterday afternoon:
Monday: 6pm to 6am Embark
Tuesday: Three-hour nap, Shop, Pack, 6pm to 6am Embark
Wednesday: Finish packing, Nap if possible, Board the bus
For me it’s annoying but for other people, especially those with children, it’s a problem. One woman, a single mother of three, is flying her sister in to watch the kids while she is away for two weeks. Her sister flies in on Thursday. One day too late. Even though this woman did everything right she now has the very real problem of finding supervision for her children while she’s working twelve hour shifts for embark and the command isn’t anxious to help. Several men on the night crew were afraid of their wives’ reaction to the news. Not that it’s such a big deal, but it’s annoying to be frustrated by work only to have your wife frustrated by you.
But what seals the deal is that the embark exercise, the second in as many months, is completely notional: all of the equipment is already up at FEX. There is no pressing need, other than practice (which is important), to spend 48 hours placing equipment on chalks, working out the load planning, preparing documentation, calling for an inspection, and sending it on its way.
So what we have is a group of people who have very real concerns like childcare, sleep deprivation, domestic angst, and packing all of which have to place second to the pretend concern of moving out Hummers and bulldozers.
posted by Jessica at 14:42
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home