Let Us Never Forget

I just wanted to take the time today, to say Thank you to all of those that continue to remember 9/11, the victims and family members of this day and the men and women who continue to keep us safe each day.

God Bless,
aam

Update

Hi all,
Just a quick update to let you all know that our Scout has returned to Ft. Drum safe and sound. I will be away from my blog for a few days while we continue to move in and set up our new house. I am currently trying to decide between DSL and Satellite internet.

I will be back soon.

God Bless,
aam

Tuesday Photo

07/29/2009 -

U.S. Army Spc. Jeremy Griesemer, assigned to 1st Battalion, 111th Infantry Regiment, 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 28th Infantry Division, Pennsylvania National Guard, Multi-National Division - Baghdad, shakes hands with a young boy outside the Huda Girls School, in Tarmiyah, Iraq, July 29, 2009.

Joint forces came to the school to conduct a junior academic achievement mission meant to facilitate better relations with the citizens of Tarmiyah.

(U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Ali Hargis/Released)

All Is Right In My World

Our Scout is home.

It is so good to have him home with us for a few days. We have been busy catching up and just being family, his brothers do not let him far out of their site and it sounds so good to hear his voice throughout the house.

I promise to post pictures as soon as I find my camera cord. We are in the process of moving and the cord is in a box somewhere.

Chris has promised that he will guest blog while he is home, so stay tuned.

God Bless,

aam

Expectations

Expectations

While talking to a potential recruit, the military recruiter said, "Exactly what kind of job are you looking for in the military?"

The high school kid said, "I'm looking for something with an enlistment bonus of about $20,000, where I won't have to work too hard, and won't have to deploy overseas.

The recruiter said, "Well, what if I could hook you up with a skill that allowed you to come straight in as an E-7, where you'll only work weekdays, and you can have the base of your choice and stay there as long as you want?"

The young recruit sat up straight and said, "Wow! Are you kidding?"

The recruiter replied, "Yeah, but you started it."

Today's the Day

Scout Sighting Checklist:

Welcome Home Posters ~ Check

Favorite Foods in the house ~ Check

Camera batteries charged ~ Check

Truck gassed up ~ Check

Excited little brothers ~ Check

Mom on overload ~ Check

His plane lands is due in around 4:30 this afternoon. Do you think it is to early for me to head to the airport now? I am ready to see my Scout. For the next 10 days all will be right in my world.

I haven't really gone into much here due to OPSEC and still can not discuss to much but I feel it is safe to say that we are gearing up for the dreaded D word. Chris will be deploying in the next 2 months and it will be quite a while before he will be home again.

I asked him recently if he was ready. He responded "more than". I told him I was not and he laughed and said "you will be ok". We had almost the same conversation just a few days over a year ago and I think the responses were the same.

But enough about that.... Today is a day of celebration!!! Our Scout is coming home and we are going to enjoy every minute of the time he is here.

Enjoy your weekend everyone.

God Bless,

aam

1-71 Cavalry recognizes Soldiers for extending contracts

By Pfc. Blair Neelands
1st Brigade Combat Team Journalist

Leaders of 1st Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment recognized and honored several Soldiers for extending their service contracts through 1st Brigade Combat Team’s upcoming deployment during a special breakfast ceremony July 23.
After the breakfast, 32 troopers each received a certificate of appreciation from the battalion’s command team, Lt. Col. John Paganini and Command Sgt. Maj. Mark Oldroyd. By taking part in the Army’s new Deployment Incentive Extension Program, the Soldiers receive an additional $500 per month. This extra pay kicks in after their actual enlistment service contract ends and continues until their extension is complete. One Soldier who took advantage of this incentive is Spec. Joseph Anderson, an infantryman with C Troop. Anderson said he decided to extend in order to spend another deployment with the unit.
“I am going to re-enlist eventually and move to another post, but for now I will stay here,” he said. “I want to finish this third and last deployment with 1-71.”Anderson, who grew up a “Navy brat,” joined the Army nearly four years ago. He said he may want to go the distance and make a career out of the military for himself as well. The benefits of the program were just a plus for him.
“I didn’t even know about the benefits,” Anderson said. “I just knew I wanted to stay in the Army. All the extra stuff was just an added bonus.”Before presenting certificates, Oldroyd said how much it meant to him to see so many Soldiers extend their contracts, fully knowing what they are about to face.“In my 24 years of being in the Army, I have decided I love being a Soldier and I love everything we stand for,” Oldroyd said. “What blows me away every day is the young Soldiers (who) come in and feel that same way.”
Oldroyd explained that the Deployment Incentive Extension Program was developed to replace stop-loss. Initially, the Army expected some 23 percent of Soldiers to re-enlist and serve another tour.
“Our unit has had between 55 and 60 percent of our Soldiers take advantage of this,” Oldroyd said to his troops. “This is awesome – you are awesome.”Following the ceremony, Paganini echoed Oldroyd’s words of thanks. “You guys who have extended make my job a whole lot easier,” he said. “We can’t replace any of you or your Family Members.”
Before the ceremony came to an end, Paganini expressed to his troops what their actions meant to him.
“As a professional, as a Soldier and as a man, I cannot thank you enough for what you have done,” he said.

1 day till Scout Sighting