BLOG: INDIRECT FIRE -- Friends, if not family

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jacob Richmond
  • 355th Figher Wing Public Affairs
DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  Maybe the thing I've loved most about being in the active-duty military is making so many good friends in a lot of different places. They make up the most substantial part of that military "family" I mentioned in the first entry. Unfortunately, the nature of service means you don't stay in the same place with your friends for very long; too soon, either you move or they move.

These days, two of my best friends live in Virginia, not far from Naval Station Norfolk where I'll be catching "the rotator" across the Atlantic. I met them in Germany, they got married soon after and coincidentally got stationed with us at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. For about three years, they were our only real "couple friends" - we had lots of fun together, then started settling down for family life around the same time.

When I checked in at the Air Mobility Command terminal at NSN, the lady behind the desk told me my flight wouldn't be departing until the early hours of July 5. Needless to say, I felt pretty fortunate that I wouldn't be spending the next 80 hours by myself in a military billeting room.

My buddy picked me up immediately and took me to their place. Amused, he assured me their home was "a Wi-Fi hot spot"; I was looking forward to seeing my wife and son on the Web cam.

In the meantime, while I'm craving some interaction with my own little boy, I've been enjoying hanging out with my friends' two young girls (one's 3 and the other's 18 months). I did a little babysitting yesterday, and I enjoyed playing with Barbie dolls a little more than I would have expected. I guess I realize it's my last opportunity to act like a daddy for a long time, and the girls seem content to help wean me from it.

Of course, I've talked to my family on Skype several times, and I'm already wondering how much harder this six months would be without that luxury. I was really happy to find out that Joint Base Balad (where I'm headed) has prevalent and reliable personal Internet access. I did the math and determined if I wake up at around 4 a.m., I'll be able to talk to my boy every night before he goes to bed. Again, I'm reminded of how different my deployment experience will be, when compared to most others. I remember well when my wife (fiancée at the time) deployed as an Air National Guard weather forecaster attached to the Army's 101st Airborne Division. From March through May 2003, she only had telephone access once every week or two. Sometimes, I'd miss her call and feel horrible for days. I'm glad she won't have to deal with that.

So, I have about 12 hours left before I put my uniform on and get airborne on the big plane. Before then, I get to enjoy a Fourth of July barbecue - I'm sure the bone-in ribeyes will be most delicious thing I'll eat for a while - and another couple of Skype calls. Bittersweetness aside, there are certainly worse ways to spend my last day before the next 179.