In-processing, Day 4

The first thing I did this morning was pick up my new orders specifying that my wife was entitled to come from Korea at government expense. It was something I'd tried to arrange when I was at Fort Eustis, but it just didn't work out, despite assurances that it would be fine.

I suppose I should have checked on this earlier, but since the only people who end up in my situation are non-prior service OCS graduates who enlist from overseas, I can understand why I got steered wrong at first.

Even here, it was a bit tricky, but since I had the proper paperwork (DD form 41showing that I joined the Army from Korea, marriage certificate, P's certificate of birth abroad, and orders bring me to Fort Hood), it was all just a matter of time, waiting for the gears of the machine to turn.

Having seen the G-1 in the afternoon yesterday, I went straight to the brigade S-1 (these "-1" people are the administrative officers). Again there was a problem in figuring our where I was supposed to go, so I had to wait until the afternoon.

In the meantime I checked out one of the possibilities for on-post housing. Pretty nice -- enclosed backyard, close to a community pool, and a bus stop is nearby -- but the grass in our yard is completely brown. The contrast between our yard and those of our neighbors is almost funny.

At 1300, I checked in with the brigade S-1; since there's only one battalion (out of three) that isn't deployed right now, I don't really understand why it took so long, but I was there for at least an hour.

I was then sent to the battalion HHC and assigned to a company. (With the other two battalions stripped down to their organic essentials for their deployments, the battalion I'm in has, like, 14 companies in it -- it's just mind-boggling.) By the time I got to my company, it was about 1500.

With the internal paperwork that needed to be filled out and the end of week formation at 1630, there wasn't much time to speak with my commander about anything important, but I did find out two things: 1.) I'll be in charge of a 40 person platoon, and 2.) One of my classmates from BOLC3 will be in the same company.

I'll go in Monday morning to complete the paperwork for "permissive TDY." This will give me some time off to get the housing situation finalized and get the family settled. Overall, it looks like things have worked out well.