BOHICA...I finally get it...

Sorry I haven't posted anything the last couple of days. Things have been pretty busy and there has been some news on Jeff's deployment...so I have had a lot to take in and process.

The military uses a lot of acronyms...I remember being a new Army wife and trying to learn the lingo so I wouldn't feel or appear stupid to other people I saw on a daily basis. I have a wonderful book called Married to the Military, and in the back, there is actually a glossary of terms to know. Thank God for that. BOHICA is one of them...and I have learned the true meaning of it this past weekend. Bend Over Here It Comes Again...this phrase can be used by many people over the past year...but Jeff and I have felt it more and more the last 3 months. On Friday, Jeff found out that he would be leaving on Friday April 3rd to go to a new Guard Unit in Indiana. That means no 4 day pass...no time for us to be together. I was heart broken...I know that may sound selfish...many people have gone without seeing their loved ones for more than 6 weeks, but given the circumstances, Jeff and I were looking forward to the weekend more than we have anything in the past few months. Orders came down to about half the guys...some would still be going to Texas with the Wisconsin National Guard unit...the rest would be going to Indiana to meet up with the Nevada National Guard unit there. This unit is the 1/221st Cavalry unit and they will be deploying to Afghanistan. Now we at least know a little more information than before, although it may not have been what we were wanting to hear. I got on the internet Friday night after finding out and did some research on the unit. This is the largest deployment for the unit since WWII...it will be the troops that Obama has been talking about. The unit uses the Bradleys, which is what Jeff was a gunner and BC (commander) on when he was at Fort Benning. The soldiers will provide security for a provincial reconstruction team that is rebuilding the country and will also conduct combat and infantry missions in Laghman Province to ensure civil order in the region. Some of the squadrons will also be assigned to sector of Afghanistan somewhere between Kabul and the Pakistan border to provide security and stability operations for countering militant forces. In other words, Jeff will be going where none of us really want him to be. Right now, we all need to start saying some extra prayers for all of the guys.

Jeff doesn't know what is going to happen when he gets to Indiana or if he will get any time off before deploying. Everything I have found on the unit says that they are set for a late April deployment...so we are crossing our fingers for a long weekend at least. Once I know more, I will be sure to post it, although Jeff probably won't know anything til at least the second week of April.

Since we know where Jeff will be deploying to, I am going to start taking orders for the Deployment Hero bracelets. Please take a minute and look at www.herobracelets.org and look at the deployment bracelets. These are something that we will all wear to support Jeff and all of the troops deployed. I will be placing an order soon...the bracelets are about $11 and I have also had some interest in the dog tags which are $13. So if you would like to order some, please let me know...bracelet or dog tags and how many. I know this order is going to be pretty big, so I will need anyone interested to send me a check so I can place the order. I just need to how many I am looking at getting, so let me know if you are interested. You can either reply to the blog, or email me at shelly613@hotmail.com . Thanks to all of you for your support already...I know that Jeff and I truly appreciate it. We love you guys!