So, yesterday we got the news...Michael was selected for AFPAK Hands...what is that you say? "AFPAK Hands are the 'best and brightest' of our Armed Forces and are specially selected for his or her talent and either their knowledge of COIN doctrine, language or culture of the AFPAK region". In one view (half full), this is an honor to be selected for this special assignment; joint tour credit; accelerated career progression is offered; and specialized training. In the other view (half empty), the Captains & Majors involved with the project can expect to be 'engaged' for a period of 3-4 years...so the next ~42 months in the Brannon house will be something like this:
6 months - Daddy in DC for training - learning Afghan language, culture and what job tasks/responisibilities
12 months - Daddy 'in theatre', supposedly Michael has been assigned to Central Kabul (much better than a FOB *forward operating base* in my opinion, at least Kabul is somewhat of a modern city & has technology)
12 months - Daddy home (they've decided that 'home' will be Langley AFB)
9-12 months - Daddy back 'in theatre'
Roughly, that is 39-42 months spent on applying "their expertise to governance, stabilization, reconstruction and security" to implement the USG AFPAK strategy -- ya, whatever that means!
Stunned...virtually speechless. That was my response...it was ironic that WE were the family chosen from all the people we know in the Engineer world. There are 13 Air Force Civil Engineers attached to this project...everyone around the office trickled into Michael's 'cube' (office) giving their condolences...other friends via text, phone call or Facebook expressed their sadness...offered prayer. GOD knows we need all of the prayer we can get.
I keep running through all of the things that Michael is going to miss....holidays, birthdays...he's supposed to leave for Afghanistan the week of our 10th wedding anniversary. And then, where are we supposed to live while Michael is away...his 'hub' will eventually be Langley AFB, Virginia (where he will do his job for the 1 year home) -- so do we try to move there now, do we stay in Ohio, do we move closer to family in Texas???
At this time, Michael is supposed to leave for training the last week of August. He's trying to get that training waived and report at a later time, like early October. He will be in Washington D.C. for 6 months training before he goes in late March...should we move to Virginia so that we can be closer to him -- would we even be able to see him while he's in training?? Then he'll deploy to Afghanistan for a year, return to Langley to work for a year...so, if we don't move now to VA, then when? When would be a good time to go? Now, since we've only just begun to get settled here? Stay here, let Cassidy finish kindergarten then move that summer (when Michael should return home)? Move to Texas, probably back into our Schertz house, or rent a house in the DFW area...for the 18 months that Michael will be gone and then move to Langley when he's supposed to return??? Oh the decisions...but the one problem is, he may not be able to move us at this time. The first group of AFPAK hands didn't get to move their families until after they were already down-range. I just want things to be taken care of so that I can just get some sort of comfort with the new "single mommy" lifestyle.
I'd love to just have a life planner come and tell me what to do...I know that He will guide me, but sometimes it just isn't so clear...please pray for clarity and comfort for our family.
2 weeks ago
