Da Beast and I got married September 2011. As we got to know each other both before and after that marriage I had learned how fascinating military life had always been to him. He even thought about doing the ROTC (reserve officer training corps) in high school but didn't. He does like to write stories and always includes some type of military lingo, weaponry, uniform, excreta in his character descriptions. As we discussed this interest I had expressed to him that I didn't think I could handle that kind of life: always wondering, always worrying, and being alone. I had just found him and married him for heaven sake and I wasn't going to be without him for one second. (Okay that's an exaggeration but you get the picture.)
Da Beast has always been interested in technology but was unsure what he wanted to go into exactly and whether or not he could have it as a sustainable career. He looked into becoming a Physical Therapist and a Paramedic after his leg surgery when we were only about 6 months married and ended up moving to a school which was highly rated for the second career option. Soon after we moved we decided that wasn't the career he really wanted and he went back to figuring out what technological job he wanted to have. He tried the community college, we thought maybe we should try a move cross country, we had our first baby, he changed jobs, he changed jobs again to a internet company, he tried BYU pathways, I got pregnant with baby number two, we decided our time where we were currently living was up even though we didn't want to leave, but above all we felt a little lost in direction. The more schooling he tried to get into, the different jobs that he took, and even the location we felt strongly we needed to move to looked like a mess but through it all we were led closer and closer to the destination we were made for. Through all that Dax felt his happiest at the internet job he was apart of and knew he wanted to go into computers and get his certifications but even that took time and money we didn't currently have. We were a little frustrated but kept plugging forward with where we felt like we needed to be.
We moved. We moved to a place we didn't really want to go at first but felt like it was the place we needed to be so we could spend more time with extended family, especially grandparents. Even the first house we looked at felt like home and where we were supposed to be. We bought our first house and the ward we moved into was the ward we needed in our lives at that time as well. We were just barely into our 5th year of marriage and little did I know the amount of growth and learning I needed to do over the next 2.5 years in our house supported by our special ward. After I got over the largest emotional, spiritual, and mental hurdles I'd ever faced in my life and things started to pick up again Dax received an email from the Navy offering technology based jobs. Jokingly and knowing the previous military conversation was a "no-go", Da Beast said "hey I could join the Navy". Without actually thinking about it I said "okay" in response. We were both taken by surprise by the seriousness of my tone. As Dax asked me if I was serious I had already began contemplating the seriousness of what I had said and whether I REALLY was okay with it. There was SO much peace around the decision that there was no room for doubt. Da Beast talked to a recruiter online with the Navy and also mentioned the Air force was an option he'd like to consider. The real question was, would he feel more comfortable on an:
Airplane or Ship?
He said he would feel more comfortable on an Airplane and I had agreed after watching all the training for the Navy. It didn't seem to fit him. Once we started looking more into the Airforce, watching the training videos and even the last name of our recruiter became little signs along the way that this was the direction we were meant to go, no matter how big or little of a challenge it would be for us it was right and we perused on even through the long waits and frustrating obstacles.
May 24th 2018- The first time we met in person with a Airforce recruiter. It was also the same day Da Beast's youngest sister was graduating from highschool. We left our children with Grandma and Grandpa at the pre-graduation dinner and went together to get some of our questions answered. Knowing nothing about the Airforce despite the family members we knew had been in the military in one way or another we thought that once you agreed to be apart of a branch that within a few months you were sent to boot camp. We had learned that not only is it not called "boot camp" but Basic Military Training (BMT) but that the process and paperwork alone would take a bit of time. As of that day we were looking at the end of the year beginning of next.
August 6th 2018- Da Beast had another appointment with his recruiter but this one was different. For all the other appointments that had been made it was for general type of paperwork such as marriage licence, job history, house and living history, medical history, social, etc. It was very similar to just applying for a civilian job (this term was something I'd never really heard of before but it was used in reference to "regular" jobs versus a government based job,) The history requested however was a lot more extensive than just a civilian job. They wanted Da Beast's whole life. They also send you to do your Armed Forces Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test, which is basically like a career placement or college placement test. They test you in different areas to determine where you are and what careers in the military are available to you based off of your score. After all of this was completed he made this appointment in August to find out when he would attend Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) which is an all day event testing out every physical aspect such as eye exam, rectal and reproductive system, and joint and ligament movement through short exercises such as the "duck walk". Those are just a few things they check. Next they go through your medical history with you as well as discuss career and financial aspects of the military branch you are going into. Then you take an oath. Da Beast's appointment was scheduled for the next week but what actually happened is the doctors that oversee the medical part of MEPS requested more in depth information about his medical history.
We were put on a delayed entrance program and everything was on hold until we sent them all they needed to know which they never said all at once. Over the next few months we would send in the medical information we received from past hospital visits and even make other appointments for updated information, send it in, it was accepted and then they would ask for another that needed more review. This happened about 3 or 4 times before Dax was actually scheduled for MEPS. I had the feeling that June would be the time that things would start changing for us.
June 3rd 2019- All of the paperwork was accepted for Da Beast's extensive medical history and today was the appointment where his recruiter briefed him on all things MEPS. The hotel stay the night before with all the military recruits in the state; Meals that were provided; conduct that was acceptable; acceptable dress and appearance; and even suggestions such as don't go swimming or drink soda/alcohol or mention ANY medical issue that had not been reported before attending because it could mess with the process. The date was scheduled for reporting to the hotel on the 10th and MEPS all day on the 11th. The kids and I drove Da Beast out to his hotel and had dinner with him after he checked in and before he had to report for more briefing. We felt in awe that after so many months this was actually happening. We parted ways and the kids and I drove home. The next morning at 6am Da Beast came in through the door. I asked him what had happened and he said that the doctor that had approved his paperwork sent an outdated form to the MEPS office and so he wasn't even let in and instead was sent home. Da Beast conversed with his recruiter who got it fixed and had him rescheduled for the following week.
June 18th-19th 2019- Da Beast drove himself out this time since the kids and I didn't need the car and was gone for half the day this time before returning home... again... frustrated. There was an accident that was missing from his records that Da Beast had brought up because he thought he had told his recruiter about it. Apparently he hadn't or it wasn't noted because they didn't have it on record. It was policy to not let him continue on without a full account of information so they stopped him in the process and sent him home early. Luckily he won't have to go through the whole MEPS evaluation. Once the paperwork for that accident is sent in, reviewed, and approved he'll reschedule and go in pretty much right where he left off.
To be continued...
------------> Next Blog Post: Our Quest of Freedom and Bravery Pt.2
Airplane or Ship?
He said he would feel more comfortable on an Airplane and I had agreed after watching all the training for the Navy. It didn't seem to fit him. Once we started looking more into the Airforce, watching the training videos and even the last name of our recruiter became little signs along the way that this was the direction we were meant to go, no matter how big or little of a challenge it would be for us it was right and we perused on even through the long waits and frustrating obstacles.
May 24th 2018- The first time we met in person with a Airforce recruiter. It was also the same day Da Beast's youngest sister was graduating from highschool. We left our children with Grandma and Grandpa at the pre-graduation dinner and went together to get some of our questions answered. Knowing nothing about the Airforce despite the family members we knew had been in the military in one way or another we thought that once you agreed to be apart of a branch that within a few months you were sent to boot camp. We had learned that not only is it not called "boot camp" but Basic Military Training (BMT) but that the process and paperwork alone would take a bit of time. As of that day we were looking at the end of the year beginning of next.
August 6th 2018- Da Beast had another appointment with his recruiter but this one was different. For all the other appointments that had been made it was for general type of paperwork such as marriage licence, job history, house and living history, medical history, social, etc. It was very similar to just applying for a civilian job (this term was something I'd never really heard of before but it was used in reference to "regular" jobs versus a government based job,) The history requested however was a lot more extensive than just a civilian job. They wanted Da Beast's whole life. They also send you to do your Armed Forces Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test, which is basically like a career placement or college placement test. They test you in different areas to determine where you are and what careers in the military are available to you based off of your score. After all of this was completed he made this appointment in August to find out when he would attend Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) which is an all day event testing out every physical aspect such as eye exam, rectal and reproductive system, and joint and ligament movement through short exercises such as the "duck walk". Those are just a few things they check. Next they go through your medical history with you as well as discuss career and financial aspects of the military branch you are going into. Then you take an oath. Da Beast's appointment was scheduled for the next week but what actually happened is the doctors that oversee the medical part of MEPS requested more in depth information about his medical history.
We were put on a delayed entrance program and everything was on hold until we sent them all they needed to know which they never said all at once. Over the next few months we would send in the medical information we received from past hospital visits and even make other appointments for updated information, send it in, it was accepted and then they would ask for another that needed more review. This happened about 3 or 4 times before Dax was actually scheduled for MEPS. I had the feeling that June would be the time that things would start changing for us.
June 3rd 2019- All of the paperwork was accepted for Da Beast's extensive medical history and today was the appointment where his recruiter briefed him on all things MEPS. The hotel stay the night before with all the military recruits in the state; Meals that were provided; conduct that was acceptable; acceptable dress and appearance; and even suggestions such as don't go swimming or drink soda/alcohol or mention ANY medical issue that had not been reported before attending because it could mess with the process. The date was scheduled for reporting to the hotel on the 10th and MEPS all day on the 11th. The kids and I drove Da Beast out to his hotel and had dinner with him after he checked in and before he had to report for more briefing. We felt in awe that after so many months this was actually happening. We parted ways and the kids and I drove home. The next morning at 6am Da Beast came in through the door. I asked him what had happened and he said that the doctor that had approved his paperwork sent an outdated form to the MEPS office and so he wasn't even let in and instead was sent home. Da Beast conversed with his recruiter who got it fixed and had him rescheduled for the following week.
June 18th-19th 2019- Da Beast drove himself out this time since the kids and I didn't need the car and was gone for half the day this time before returning home... again... frustrated. There was an accident that was missing from his records that Da Beast had brought up because he thought he had told his recruiter about it. Apparently he hadn't or it wasn't noted because they didn't have it on record. It was policy to not let him continue on without a full account of information so they stopped him in the process and sent him home early. Luckily he won't have to go through the whole MEPS evaluation. Once the paperwork for that accident is sent in, reviewed, and approved he'll reschedule and go in pretty much right where he left off.
To be continued...
------------> Next Blog Post: Our Quest of Freedom and Bravery Pt.2
