Henry's Web Log

Last weekend, we told the boys about the deployment. Why the wait? Well, school started Wednesday, and we wanted to let them adjust a little. Eric, our new teenager, took the news quietly and thought on it a while. It wasn't until Monday that he started asking me some questions, as I walked him up to his bus stop. That in itself was a big deal: it's not cool to be seen at the bus with your parents. So we talked.
Ethan took the news to heart immediately. He's more emotional than his brother. In fact, they're pretty close to polar opposites. It was a big help to assure him that I'd be in touch with email, phone calls, maybe even a webcam. And especially that this was an important mission for our country. Ethan's a big fan of the Military Channel, so his view of war is certainly dramatic, if not a little too premature for a 9 year old. I recommend an adult be with anyone under 13 who watches the Military Channel.
Lisa has had some trouble sleeping, and her mind is full of gotta-do events. She's a fantastic organizer (yet the military wants me for Logistics!). Lisa can't go to church without a small notebook: she makes great plans in the form of 20 to 30 item to-do lists, and juggles it all with a smile: Cub Scouts, Pool Manager, Red Cross Instructor, Reflections chairperson (fine arts contest), Lego team coach, substitute teacher, recreation center child-fitness instructor, and the lists go on...

The tweaked Dilbert cartoon from Friday's post was inspired by one of my favorite Dilberts: I've had it on my office door forever. PHB walks in and says, "What happened while I was in jail?" So the funny thing was, this was from my old 2005 Dilbert desk calendar, and was dated November 5th. Spooky, that it's approximately the date I'll return from this assignment. Well, that was just too cool to leave alone. A quick photoshop tweak, and PHB is just coming back from a 13 month Iraq deployment, and completely clueless that his office works so much better when he's away.

After writing several military buddies for their best practices and advice, I have filled up my schedule with appointments.
I spoke to John Phillips, a good friend, military reservist, entrepreneur, and Iraqi veteran. He runs Premier Transfer & Storage, a very well run moving company. With John, I firmed up plans for how ACI would run in my absence, and the key points for a year-long deployment.
Today there was a meeting with our attorney to revise our wills, estate plan, advance medical directive, power of attorney and generally discuss how to run the business from afar, as well as key items for Lisa to watch out for. Then a similar meeting with our external business accountant, Chip.
Most Army buddies have told me that the US footprint in Iraq has improved to the point that just about everything you need is there-- you just replace your predecessor and after a week or two train-up, you're full speed ahead.
Next week, I'll announce the deployment and our business continuity plan to ACI's leadership staff, and follow that up with an employee meeting to explain what's going to happen, that everything will continue as usual, and maybe they'll even get things done a little better without me!

In the midst of the deployment news, Anne Giles Clelland contacted businesses in the Corporate Research Center park, where we've been for 12 years, and was looking for interesting companies to blog about. What a deal!
I sent her some great photos of Eric at Claytor lake. No dice-- kids' photos are verbottin on the web. So there's me, flying off the top of the boat dock, about a 15 foot drop, into Claytor Lake.
The Handshake 2.0 site and business model is a great one. Plus Anne Giles Clelland is super nice, an accomplished athlete, and really enjoys her work.

The orders are mighty valid, of course. In the last week, I pursued a few contacts in St Louis who sent me a standard form, saying I could apply for a hardship case, but that's not what I wanted at all. Just a standard answer to my call, I guess.
Lisa and I talked about it, at length, several times. The conclusion was that if I have to go, we can do this. Especially since so many of my friends have been 3 times or more! But there's a lot to do, to arrange, and prepare.
Reflecting on this new turn, what triggered the Army to suddenly decide its my time? I had just completed the Command and General Staff College course, "Intermediate Level Education", which took two summers plus a year of once-a-month weekends to Ft. Lee, Virginia. Ft Lee is the closest installation to my home in southwest Virginia, about a 4 hour drive. The course involved a lot of leadership development, history, doctorine, counterinsurgency warfare, logistics, and a big emphasis on joint operations.
This summer started with two weeks at Ft. Dix to finish ILE. Living in military barracks, roomates, intermitent A/C, Internet and hot water (pick 1 at a time. Maybe 2 on a good day).
Then a week back at work, but a few of those days were with Ethan at Cub Scout day camp, hosted at Camp Alta Mons. Then a week at Camp Ottari, wiht Eric, living in a tent with Troop 42. A week back at the office, then it was a week in our trailer at the lake, enjoying a great visit from my mother. Another week at the office, then off to Claytor Lake Aquatics base. In a tent. Another week back at work, then I saddled up for Camp Powhattanza: Ethan's 4-night Cub Scout adventure. Lots of great activities, and a really great time with my boys.
Ft. Dix turns out to be one of the more upscale places I stayed this summer. I probably logged more nights in a cot than my own bed! Have I just been getting prepped for these orders all along??
"You know, this tent living is fine, and standing in line for mess hall chow is dandy, but what would really make this special is to be far from my family, in a sea of sand and temperatures hitting 130 every day." **PING** The Orders fairy waived her wand.
It really was a great summer- particularly so because there was so much family time with Eric and Ethan, my mom, and several wonderful weekends on the lake with Lisa and the boys.