NCM & ACAP - (MedBoard: Joint Base Lewis-McChord) Day 114

This morning I headed into the main building at WTB where we have our formations in front of as I usually do each morning. As I sit inside the news is playing and I dink around on my iPhone until it's actually time to head out to the actual formation. This morning it was pouring down rain, and surprisingly they had some common sense and decided to have the formation inside. I was in ACUs, I have an appointment at 0900, but I would have told them 0830 if anyone asked.

After formation I headed to my car as usual. My morning routines here at the WTB are getting to be pretty boring. I eat my breakfast and listen to music, then take a nap until it's time for my appointment. I head into the SFAC and check my army email, then I headed up to my weekly NCM appointment. I didn't have anything new to tell her and she didn't have anything new for me so the appointment didn't last too long. These weekly NCM appointments are basically so the nurse case manager can look the soldier in the eyes at least once a week.

I headed down to the SFAC again and waited there until 1100 playing around on my iPhone. What did we do before smart phones to pass the time? I had an ACAP follow up appointment with my counselor at 1100. He asked how everything was going and if I needed anything from him. He signed me up for a LinkedIn class and then sent me on my way.

At this point I went home and did schoolwork. When my wife came home we went to the YMCA and worked out. It feels nice to get in the gym again…away from the army.

Weekend Wrap-Up - (MedBoard: Joint Base Lewis-McChord) Days 112 & 113

This weekend wasn't all too exciting. We cleaned the house and then went to see a local comedy benefit show in town with a friend. Sunday we went to the in-laws and watched the Seahawks win…always fun! I did hear from SPC Metal (my battle buddy way back in basic and AIT). Looks like he might get stationed at Ft. Lewis, which would be pretty cool. It would be nice to see him again and hang out with him and his wife.

I've Been Here Before - (MedBoard: Joint Base Lewis-McChord) Day 111

I headed in this morning to my internship with the navy. There was pretty much nothing to do today, so I just sat at my computer and read emails, read the news, checked Twitter for more news. I would much rather be at home hanging out doing nothing, but at least going to work with the navy is only a ten minute drive vs the army which is an hour drive plus a toll on the bridge.

I had lunch in my car and then headed back to the office. I did the same old thing at first (checking email and such), but then decided to do a couple SkillPorts. I figured I might as well get a few hours done with the SkillPort training, I can then add that to my CompTia continuing education credits. That was about it today…I felt like I was back in the army sitting at a computer with nothing to do. I kind of wish the navy would actually train me to do something, but it seems I'll only be helping out a guy swapping out old computers for new computers until this project is done. Then I hear that I'll be working at the navy base outside of Silverdale. Once there the rumor is that I'll actually be learning and working on stuff for real.

More Traction - (MedBoard: Joint Base Lewis-McChord) Day 110

At the Ft. Lewis commissary...I've heard them called 

lots of names, but never a "Toilet Room"

This morning I headed to the morning formation in ACUs. It's getting pretty cold out lately and I see the company has upgraded to full winter PTs. (This includes the jacket, pants, gloves, and hat). Once released our platoon sergeant has everyone report up to the company headquarters. We all head up and find out that we have to fill out some paperwork. In typical army fashion, this is just filling out paperwork to have it in our file. We weren't given any instructions, just told to fill it out to the best of our ability and turn it in. It was basically stating everything that needs to be done before we separate from the army, we would choose either green, amber, or red depending on how we feel we've accomplished each item. The problem is that some were so full of acronyms, I had no idea what they were. I turned mine in half empty, then left and headed to my car.

I already didn't care for the army too much, but the longer I'm away and in the civilian world, it seems the more I am really starting to just hate the army. Take this paperwork we had to fill out, if they wanted everyone to do it correctly, they would have given us instructions instead of just telling us to leave it blank if we didn't know. There is so much that is done just to check the box, it drives me nuts. Back in my car I ate my normal breakfast and then took a nap.

When I woke up, I headed to physical therapy for some traction. I have a good feeling about this physical therapy, but I guess time will tell if it's really helping or not. After physical therapy, I made my way to the commissary and did some basic shopping before heading home and doing my schoolwork. Once my wife came home, we headed to the YMCA for some good cardio workout.

The Island & The Shotgun - (MedBoard: Joint Base Lewis-McChord) Day 109

This morning I headed to my internship with the navy. The morning started off a little slow, I entertained myself with my iPhone for about an hour. After that we loaded up 2 PCs into the TMP and headed off. We headed first to the naval base outside of Silverdale. We were able to install, setup, configure, and test the last remaining PC we were having issues with.

We then headed up to an island I've never heard of where there is a naval base I've never heard of. As we arrived at the gate, a guard came out as usual to check our IDs. Unlike any other military base I've been to, there was another guard that came out holding a shotgun. The guard with the shotgun stood there just watching us…waiting for us to do something crazy…itching for a chance to use that shotgun of his. Luckily our credentials got us on the base with no issues…and no shotgun blasts.

We headed to a secure conference room and replaced an older PC with our new one. We setup, configured and tested the machine. After that we made our way back to our office. Once we were back, I headed to my car and had lunch. Unfortunately we only get a half hour lunch, which means I walk to my car quickly, eat lunch while listening to the radio, then head back. There is not much time for anything else.

We then headed to a pretty cool office at this navy base. In fact it may be the coolest office in the shipyard…or at least the one with the best view. We arrived in this secure office at the top of a building. It was basically an observation tower with views of the entire waterfront and all the navy ships. There were screens everywhere with various security cameras keeping an eye on everything. We replaced an older machine there with our newer machine. As usual we setup, configured, and tested the new machine. The folks working in this small observation tower have the greatest view of all. As I stood there looking out the windows, I could see all the big war ships from views that not too many people get a chance to see. It also has a nice view of the entire bay. I am guessing the people that work up here spend quite a bit of time stuck up here because there was an exercise bicycle in the middle of the room. I wish I could have taken some photos.

We headed back to the office and I finally got setup with computer access on the navy network. After chatting with the support folks, they had me insert my CAC (common access card) into the computer. After they ran a script, I was able to log in and access the network and email. To my surprise I already had about 30 emails in my navy account. Now that I have computer access, I can at least keep myself busy when there is nothing to do here.

I headed home after that and did some schoolwork.

No Hat - (MedBoard: Joint Base Lewis-McChord) Day 108

I headed to morning formation as usual. I leave my house at 0445 for the 0630 formation at Ft. Lewis. I only takes me an hour to drive, but I give myself much more time just in case there is bad traffic or any other unseen delays. In order to leave my house at 0445, I get up at 0420. Most of the time I'm on complete and total auto-pilot that early in the morning. I've done many things like forget to shave and forget my lunch. I guess my brain just doesn't work that well that early. This morning proved to be one of those days…I realized when I was getting ready to get out of my car and head to the morning formation, that I forgot my hat. I'm in ACUs and we are not allowed to walk around outside without a hat…that is not a complete uniform. Oh Crap!

So I just stayed in my car, my squad leader will assume I'm at my internship with the navy because it's a Tuesday. I didn't want to text him and lie, so I just didn't do anything and let him assume. I really can't believe I forgot my hat! So I eat breakfast and then take a nap in my car. I then keep an eye out for people and make a strategic escape from my car to the hospital, luckily I didn't run into any NCOs on the way. I don't feel like getting chewed out for being out of uniform.

I get a text from my squad leader stating we have 100% flu shots at 0900…I ignore, I'll text him later, I'm not going to show up out of uniform. I head to physical therapy at the hospital for traction on my neck. I have a headache before and the traction along with the heat seem to help temporarily. It doesn't take long before my headache returns and it gets worse as the day progresses. I'm not sure if it's coincidence or if the traction made it worse.

I head back to my car, walking fast trying to avoid any NCOs…or any soldiers for that matter. I head to the SFAC and use their computers to check my army email. I then head to the ACAP office (in the same building) and speak with the navy HR folks. I had an appointment to see them while they were in today. They gave me the ins and outs of getting a job as a civilian working for the navy. It was pretty much the same as the federal resume class I have already attended. I may have been a little preoccupied as well because I was still pissed at myself for forgetting my hat.

After the appointment I head home and do schoolwork, but by this time my head is killing me. I try one of the new medications the neurologist prescribed me and much to my surprise, it gets rid of my headache completely after about an hour. This is good news! The medication is called "Maxalt" and is for migraines. My normal headaches aren't migraines, but they can trigger migraines. I was just about to take some Percocet, which would have helped, but doesn't get rid of my pain totally.

When my wife got home we headed off to the YMCA to get a good workout in. I'm enjoying working out at the YMCA. They have some great equipment and I am totally out of the army environment. I think this was a good decision, I can get a good workout in a better atmosphere and a better mood.

NCM - (MedBoard: Joint Base Lewis-McChord) Day 107

A view of the Tacoma Narrows bridge one of the days 

on my way home from Ft. Lewis

This morning's formation at 0630 was cold and wet. I have on my ACUs because frankly I don't want to do PT with the company. I've mentioned this a little before about how I don't care too much for the army PT, but I also think it's pretty stupid to do PT outside when it's cold and wet. Maybe it's because I'm getting older, maybe it's because I've pretty much had it with the army, maybe it's because I have a little common sense. Part of it may be because I'm getting old, in pain most of the time, and I seem to be falling apart…and I'm grumpy.

I head to the back with everyone else that has appointments. Our first sergeant is back and went through the line asking everyone what their appointment is for and when it is. I tell her I have an NCM appointment at 0830 (the latest we can have an appointment and still not participate in PT). I do have an NCM appointment, but it's at 0900, so I may have fudged the time a little.

I head back to my car, eat breakfast and take a nap. At 0830 I went to the SFAC and checked my army email, then headed up to my NCM appointment. The appointment is the same old thing, a required appointment each week with my nurse case manager to make sure I don't have any issues and to make sure everything is moving along smoothly.

After the appointment I headed home and did schoolwork…another day down.