......and on with the new.

Hey everybody! Chris here. Resident husband and guest-writer extraordinaire. With today being NYE, I have been thinking about the year that has passed. I figured I would write down some of my highlights for the year.

But first, quick 2011 recap:
* Trained and prepared to deploy to Afghanistan...didn't go to Afghanistan.
* Took many AWOL guys to jail.
* Learned to play rugby and actually had the opportunity to play on a team (10th Mtn Barracks Rangers).
* FINALLY got to spend some time with my family.

There's the quick quick version.
So, if you don't have time to read anymore, you've got the jest of it.

But, if you have a few extra moments, read ONWARD my friends...

This year started with Tammy and I thinking that I was deploying to Afghanistan. It would have been my third time there, and as a family (and a couple) we were ready for me to go.

In February, I was told that I was going to stay back from the deployment as the Rear D NCOIC to handle anything that came up at Drum due to me having deployed so many times. I fought the idea at first, but became OK with it.

In March, I watched my company leave for Afghanistan. I have to say, it is a hell of a lot easier to get on the plane and take off than it is to watch it leave. I can honestly say there have only been a few times in life that I have felt worse than that. I felt like I had betrayed my Soldiers and friends. It bothered me more than I can say. I am a Sapper. I train. I fight. I deploy.
Watching everything happen from the cheap seats ain't my style.

But, my mission was to stay here. So I did. And I have been handling everything on the home front to the best of my ability since. Rear Detachment hasn't been too horrible. My boss is pretty cool. No, really, he is. I have enjoyed working for him. Some of the other NCO's that stayed back have been fun to work with, as well. So in all, it has been bearable in that aspect.

Shortly after the Brigade left, we had a bunch of AWOL Soldiers come back. This has led to me spending more time in court than I care to (since I have been stationed here on Drum for so long, I have known each one one of the Soldiers that had gone AWOL. Even the one that left in NOV 2004 and finally was caught. So, off to trial I go....). And then, I have to take them to jail as well. It's sad that I now know exactly where the prison on Ft Leavenworth is. But, you get what you get. Stupid choices=jail. And I don't feel bad for them.

In April, I saw a flyer in the gym for the FT Drum Rugby Team. This TOTALLY caught my interest. I have casually watched Rugby for years, but never really played. Now that my body has sort of 'filled out' over the years, I figured I was about the right size to finally play.
Following my first practice, I came straight home and told Tammy that what I had just done was unreal.

What a great sport!

The last true sport!

No helmets, no pads, just 15 men hitting and thrashing.
I loved it.

I joined the team, played Second Row (I was #5, if you know what I'm talking about), rocked out for a few games, and got anyone I could to come out and play. In fact, until he separated from the Army, my boy Quiles joined the team and played Flanker.

Work got the best of me the last few weeks of the season, but I can tell you that playing from the 10th Mountain Division Barracks Rangers RFC was truly a highlight of my year. It was crazy being a 33 year old rookie, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. "I'm a rugger through and through."
Quote me on that.
Oh, and the Rugby World Cup was awesome to watch. Congrats again to the All Blacks winning it all on their home pitch!

Tammy and I have talked about what my career a lot this year.
What does the future hold?
What do I have to look forward as a 12B?

As most of you know, I tanked out of SFAS (Did NOT quit...was just vastly UNDER-prepared).
So, the thought of going SPEC-OPS kinda left my mind at that point.
Well, we re-visited what the potential options were, and we decided that I would put a packet into Civil Affairs (CA) (kind of the political/humanitarian side of the Army. Kind of. But not really).
I was accepted back in October to try out for the program. I'm heading to FT Bragg in a month or so to finish "try outs" and to be able to continue to become an Operator. It is about a year of school and I have to learn French. Yep, laugh it up. Me, the biggest French/Canadian hater you know has to learn French. We're excited about the possibilities that this opportunity holds. CA is a big deal and hopefully it all pans out. My ego was checked at the door the second I failed SFAS. I am looking at this a whole different way. Check back in February to see if I made it or not...

In the beginning of September, 3 Soldiers in my unit were seriously wounded. One was shot, one lost his leg due to a mine, and the other took shrapnel from said mine. It was tough calling parents and wives to explain this. But, that wasn't nearly as hard as 30 Oct. SSG Ari Cullers was killed in combat. He was a friend. A true friend. And a hell of a barber. I asked to escort him home from Dover AFB to his home in New London, CT...which I did. It was difficult. But, the turn out of people from his hometown was amazing. Seeing the streets lined with people with their hands over their hearts was amazing. They say small towns feel the loss of a member of its community the hardest, and I agree. Ari was a mechanic, but at heart he was a Sapper. He was one of us and it was a loss that echoed throughout the Battalion.
Ari will be missed. Eternally.

In November, Tammy and I switched over to 'Clean Eating'. It has been amazing. Basically, we're skipping out on high-fats, processed foods, starches, and really anything else that's bad for you. I still eat red meat, just in smaller portions. I have to admit that I feel good. Like, really good. My blood pressure is at an all time low and the excess pounds are melting off. The recipes we have found (and have made up on our own) since doing this have been delicious. I mean uber-delicious. This is a super life-changing choice for me. But, so far, it has been totally worth it. And I recommend it. Besides, soda sucks anyways.

A few other side-note highlights were going to Boston over St. Pats day with Sapper J to see the Dropkick Murphys, Going to NJ and seeing Shane, Jon, and everyone else, and seeing the Street Dogs/Off with their Heads/Murder the Stout show in Syracuse with Tammy.

Of course, being here for Colin, Tammy's, and Emma's birthdays was also pretty awesome. I don't think I've been home for all 3 in quite some time. That's my first Hat Trick!

Tammy and I hit 8 years together at the start of this month. She is still the best thing that has ever happened to me.

On a side note, Matt Melander and I had our 21 year anniversary in August. Big love to my hetero-life mate. And here's to another 21 years. Sean, Shane. Jon, Taylor, and Collum all get a quick shout out for 15 plus years of destruction together.

2012 is beyond unwritten. We'll see what it holds for all of us. I am feeling confident about whatever may come.

Athbhliain faoi mhaise duit.

Go n-éirí an bóthar leat.

Sláinte.

Chris.