While I lay here in my bed. I reminisce about being stationed back in Oklahoma. You're probably thinking "what. the. fuck" but it was truly a great assignment. When I first got orders to Oklahoma all I could think was Twister, and Little House on the Prairie. Shocked and in disbelief, I honestly thought it to be a bad dream but in the end it was an awesome assignment.
I think its normal for everyone to want to be back at their previous assignment. I think its because we settle down and have good connections and a strong group of friends that you got to hang out with nearly everyday and then to leave them behind is just a loss for words. Granted I keep in-touch with them weekly, its still sad. From December 1st 2014 through August 15th 2017 I enjoyed my time in Oklahoma. I attended school nearly every semester while I was there and earned my associates degree. All at the same time pinning on Staff Sergeant and making bold career moves. At the end I was burnt out though and was ready for a change.
Education and Training was no joke. Running all these different programs. Ensuring people were up to date on all their certifications. Making sure everyone was being trained properly. It was busy and took a toll. Emotionally at the end of my tenure there, I was very bipolar with my emotions because I grew to love it and was sad to leave but yet happy to move on to a new assignment, new adventures, and new accomplishments to be achieved. Mainly saddened because of all the awesome people that I had met over the past few years. Its so sad and heartbreaking to leave people you care so much about.
Admittingly during those nearly 2.5 years I learned a lot about myself. What I'm capable of achieving. Who I am as a person. How to live my life successfully. My flaws. My pros. My cons. Accepting the fate of my failed relationships; all 3 of them. Accepting that I was about to move again.
When I think back. I was Grateful. Thankful. Enlightened. Encouraged. I had a lot of great mentors while there both civilian and active duty. Each person teaching me what to do and not to do to help further my career. Also a lot of great opportunities; meeting President Obama. Becoming NCOIC before even sewing on my new rank. Going on multiple TDY's. It truly is the little things in life that you look back on that made all the difference. Granted not everyday was perfect while I was there but you keep a positive attitude and a great outlook and it gets you further than the person next to you with a shitty attitude and a wrinkled uniform. I learned early on in my career that despite all the negativity, you keep moving on and learn what not to become.
Every experience; the good, the bad, the ugly, the devastating. It all taught me something. Its the greatest advice to give... keeping a positive attitude. I give it to everyone even if they don't wanna hear it. Embrace the suck because there is always light at the end of the tunnel. My light was getting stationed here at Hurlburt Field. The greatest advice someone gave to me was "never burn bridges because you might see that individual later down the road and they can help you in more ways than you can imagine by just giving them a little respect." It's so true. There have been people in my career that I have absolutely hated but I still smiled and respected them. Its just a way to get by and progress in your career I guess.
But again, I was thankful to have a great group of friends while I was there. Going hiking in the Wichita Mountains. Drinking at Fuzzy's downtown. Going to the gay strip on the weekends to catch a drag show and dance the night away. Marching in the pride parade. Traveling to Tulsa and Dallas for a weekend getaway. Going tornado chasing during the spring months to get my adrenaline going. Having awesome parties at friends house's and listening to bachata and trying Cuban, Panamanian, Dominican food. The weekend routine of going to the movies on Friday nights. I truly enjoyed every moment, every person, every experience, every day. I wouldn't change a damn thing.
