Early Sunday morning we (those of us EWOs who are finally heading home) will move to a different base to actually begin the Warrior Transition Process. Some of it is quite important, like turning in all of our Army equipment, some of it is mandatory, like the “don’t go home and beat your family” lectures we get at the end of every deployment, but it is all intentionally designed to take longer than necessary to give us time to “decompress” from our time in a combat zone. I think their heart is in the right place but I imagine by the time I get on a plane to head home I will be more antsy than relaxed after all of the sitting around time. I will say it is nice not having a schedule today and being able to just wear my PT shorts and t-shirt in the 105 degree heat rather than having to wear my normal uniform with sleeves rolled down!
One odd thing did happen this morning though. As a few of us were standing in line to get some coffee at the little coffee shop on base, we heard an explosion. It turned out to be some training for one of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal units nearby but still, we all looked at each other with a “I thought we were done with that” look. Perhaps the extra time here to make the transition from thinking explosions and gunfire are “normal” might be alright after all!
Cheers, Pearl
