Abandoning ship

Things around the unit are abuzz.

There’s not much to do, but there are plenty of meetings to discuss the fact.

Morning stand up, admin updates, directive reviews, MSO reviews, CIC updates…in addition to the normal “let’s get together to discuss xxx before Friday.”

People are scrambling, writing articles for the colonel, building a command information center like the one we had in Iraq (but without the mission or personnel to track while we were in Iraq), and a host of other high-level things I’m not privy to.

The spending gates have also been opened. We’ve been told to spend, spend, spend. Etched glass windows for the command entrance, carpet to hang on the walls of the CIC, new signs for the officer parking spots, screens, computers, projectors, anything we think we might “need.”

Why? Because it’s time for the seniors to get new positions. Promotions are in the works or already given. Now it’s time to cement the legacy, find a new position, and move on.

Most don’t really care about our budget after this quarter because they won’t be here. Also, a lot of people are getting snappy since their demands right away. Only a few weeks left to add whatever to the history books! That gets people spun up and frantic.

Meanwhile, those without the connections or prestige to call their own shots wait it out, preparing for the next rotation in Iraq. We sort of just look at all the commotion and shrug our shoulders. Not much juniors can do amid the politicking and deal-making other than getting pregnant or leaving the service, if our timing is right.

It’s just funny to me to see how bothered some leaders can get.

“Sergeant Salmons! What is your status on your three directives?! The brief is in an hour!”

“Which directives are those, sir?”

*sigh* “Newspaper utilization, battalion news release enabling, and additional public affairs asset acquisition.”

“Green, sir. All green.”

“Alright, I’ll mark it.”

The newspaper doesn’t print our stuff, since it’s about meetings; the battalion can’t be bothered to produce much of anything; and the fact that they want more reporters to cover more meetings is laughable.

But as long as it’s green, it’s good. Besides, everyone will be gone in a few weeks anyway, and the new leaders are going to want a whole litany of new procedures. Why bother keeping this old girl afloat? These cats made their rank or got their bigger/better assignments. Time to get on out.

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