Everything Happens for a Reason
Well yesterday I found out my friend Dan is getting kicked out of the military. He told me this one the way back to his place and it shocked me just as much as it shocked him.
"Bro, what the fuck is going on? Why are they doing this to you?" I asked him.
It turns out his immediate supervisor and his superintendent don't like him both, and because he has a handful of LOR's, they are pressing for an Administrative Discharge. Mind you, this guy doesn't have any UIF's, Control Roster action or Article 15 paperwork. They're doing this to him because he filed an IG complaint last week about a shitty EPR they gave him, and they're taking punitive action although they're not supposed to. Personally I think they're doing this because he's the only white guy in the section amidst the racist black and hispanic people in his chain of command. I met his immediate supervisor last year before I left Misawa and I could tell within a few seconds she was a black-power femin-nazi type that wouldn't think twice about giving someone like Dan a bunch of shit. In Dan's defense, he's a good guy at heart but a little rough around the edges since he grew up in Brooklyn, and while I can admire the New Yorker/New Jersey mentality, the majority of Air Force poster children have trouble relating to such mindset. Pussies.
So, I told Dan we were going to fight this thing fucking tooth and nail. I told him that I will draft up a character reference on the dude supporting him, that he will take to the ADC to get these fuckers off their backs hopefully. I've been in similar situations where I've been fucked with by whatever assholes in my chain of command who didn't like me and had nobody to turn to. I took a few beatings but it taught me the importance of helping others out when they really need it. And for friends, I consider it to be an obligation. He shouldn't even have to ask.
I made certain to draft up a fucking letter that made him sound like he was the shit. For starters he won the Commander's Choice award, which is like an Airman of the Month award, he was selected for Senior Airman below the zone and won it, and just completed his CCAF degree. He's currently enrolled in school and stays out of trouble when he's not at work. It's the fact that the assholes here at Misawa are such fucking pricks that they think it's important to mess with hard workers like him. The same happened to me when I was here when the Chief of the Hospital tried shooting down my EPR and medal. His opinion was I was a dirtbag NCO, although both my troops won Airman of the Quarter and he didn't know the first fucking thing about me or my work ethics. So with assholes like him running things, it's no wonder Dan's been having such a hard time.
Another person that's been having difficulty with this place is his wife, Shanna. She's really sweet and has gone the distance with Dan, although I don't know how much longer they will be together. He's convinced he will be out of the Air Force by this Friday when everything has been finalized and he intends on going back to New York while his wife finishes out her enlistment here. Shanna really needs him although I don't think he realizes that. I've tried explaining this to him, but in a round-about fashion, and told him what a mistake he would be making if he does decide to follow-through with these plans. Talking with Shanna last night, she started crying to me as she explained in detail some of the things that have gone on. While I won't go into details, I will say that after a year of dealing with Melanie's drama, listening to Shanna pour her heart out to me was a walk in the park. I told her to keep her chin up and that perhaps this is nothing more than just some bullshit on his leadership's part, and reassured her I would do everything I can to help out.
"You know I'm glad you came here when you did, Machine. It's like we were given a gift." she said to me.
I am convinced that after this year in Korea, and now being here to help Dan through this that everything happens for a reason. Had I taken leave sooner or later, I wouldn't be here to help him and give him advice about the bullshit. I think it's really shitty that Misawa leadership has gone from being half-way decent to just outright shitty during my absence, and from talking with other people, it became this way last year when people like myself started leaving to go to other assignments. I am so sorry that stuff like this happens to good people and good friends.
Another thing I realized about myself last night when listening to Shanna, is how much I enjoy spending time with women and how I like their company. Even if we just sit and talk, it is something that I really enjoy doing. When I was alot younger I could've really cared less about something like this since all I wanted was just a quick piece of ass and then I'd go about my business, however now I really appreciate having communication with someone. I don't know if that makes me gay or I'm starting to show my age, but I really think the times he ignores Shanna and plays the guitar for hours on end, he doesn't realize how much it hurts her. Kind of like the same way Melanie would ignore me all that time.
Despite my efforts, I honestly believe Dan will be out of the military by the weekend. While I think it's a shame this is happening, I think that perhaps in some way he will realize how valuable Shanna is in his life when he leaves here and returns Stateside. By then it may be too late since she is the type of person that can't be alone for too long before she starts seeking company. But the important thing is that at least I tried to help the dude in his time of need - something that few people have done for me.
Never let it be said that I don't take care of my own.
"Bro, what the fuck is going on? Why are they doing this to you?" I asked him.
It turns out his immediate supervisor and his superintendent don't like him both, and because he has a handful of LOR's, they are pressing for an Administrative Discharge. Mind you, this guy doesn't have any UIF's, Control Roster action or Article 15 paperwork. They're doing this to him because he filed an IG complaint last week about a shitty EPR they gave him, and they're taking punitive action although they're not supposed to. Personally I think they're doing this because he's the only white guy in the section amidst the racist black and hispanic people in his chain of command. I met his immediate supervisor last year before I left Misawa and I could tell within a few seconds she was a black-power femin-nazi type that wouldn't think twice about giving someone like Dan a bunch of shit. In Dan's defense, he's a good guy at heart but a little rough around the edges since he grew up in Brooklyn, and while I can admire the New Yorker/New Jersey mentality, the majority of Air Force poster children have trouble relating to such mindset. Pussies.
So, I told Dan we were going to fight this thing fucking tooth and nail. I told him that I will draft up a character reference on the dude supporting him, that he will take to the ADC to get these fuckers off their backs hopefully. I've been in similar situations where I've been fucked with by whatever assholes in my chain of command who didn't like me and had nobody to turn to. I took a few beatings but it taught me the importance of helping others out when they really need it. And for friends, I consider it to be an obligation. He shouldn't even have to ask.
I made certain to draft up a fucking letter that made him sound like he was the shit. For starters he won the Commander's Choice award, which is like an Airman of the Month award, he was selected for Senior Airman below the zone and won it, and just completed his CCAF degree. He's currently enrolled in school and stays out of trouble when he's not at work. It's the fact that the assholes here at Misawa are such fucking pricks that they think it's important to mess with hard workers like him. The same happened to me when I was here when the Chief of the Hospital tried shooting down my EPR and medal. His opinion was I was a dirtbag NCO, although both my troops won Airman of the Quarter and he didn't know the first fucking thing about me or my work ethics. So with assholes like him running things, it's no wonder Dan's been having such a hard time.
Another person that's been having difficulty with this place is his wife, Shanna. She's really sweet and has gone the distance with Dan, although I don't know how much longer they will be together. He's convinced he will be out of the Air Force by this Friday when everything has been finalized and he intends on going back to New York while his wife finishes out her enlistment here. Shanna really needs him although I don't think he realizes that. I've tried explaining this to him, but in a round-about fashion, and told him what a mistake he would be making if he does decide to follow-through with these plans. Talking with Shanna last night, she started crying to me as she explained in detail some of the things that have gone on. While I won't go into details, I will say that after a year of dealing with Melanie's drama, listening to Shanna pour her heart out to me was a walk in the park. I told her to keep her chin up and that perhaps this is nothing more than just some bullshit on his leadership's part, and reassured her I would do everything I can to help out.
"You know I'm glad you came here when you did, Machine. It's like we were given a gift." she said to me.
I am convinced that after this year in Korea, and now being here to help Dan through this that everything happens for a reason. Had I taken leave sooner or later, I wouldn't be here to help him and give him advice about the bullshit. I think it's really shitty that Misawa leadership has gone from being half-way decent to just outright shitty during my absence, and from talking with other people, it became this way last year when people like myself started leaving to go to other assignments. I am so sorry that stuff like this happens to good people and good friends.
Another thing I realized about myself last night when listening to Shanna, is how much I enjoy spending time with women and how I like their company. Even if we just sit and talk, it is something that I really enjoy doing. When I was alot younger I could've really cared less about something like this since all I wanted was just a quick piece of ass and then I'd go about my business, however now I really appreciate having communication with someone. I don't know if that makes me gay or I'm starting to show my age, but I really think the times he ignores Shanna and plays the guitar for hours on end, he doesn't realize how much it hurts her. Kind of like the same way Melanie would ignore me all that time.
Despite my efforts, I honestly believe Dan will be out of the military by the weekend. While I think it's a shame this is happening, I think that perhaps in some way he will realize how valuable Shanna is in his life when he leaves here and returns Stateside. By then it may be too late since she is the type of person that can't be alone for too long before she starts seeking company. But the important thing is that at least I tried to help the dude in his time of need - something that few people have done for me.
Never let it be said that I don't take care of my own.
posted by Machine at 2:06 AM
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