Well, I have finally gotten confirmation of my impending orders to Africa. It is somewhat of a relief to know that I am for sure going. My Bride is not real happy about the situation. Actually, I think she might be excited about it but she is effectively masking it behind thinly veiled hostility. Oh well, we knew it could happen. We had discussed the possiblity of me deploying somewhere when the late unpleasentness in Iraq was in the offing. Since I am in one of those staff jobs where we own nothing, operate nothing or move nothing yet we go and tell those who do own stuff, operate stuff and move stuff that they are doing it wrong, I figured I was fair game to be and "Individual Augmentee". I often wonder why the doors to our office are locked. Is it to keep the staff in or the fleet out? Hmmm.... I wonder, six of one half dozen o' the udder. I digress. Staff jobs (especially on the shaft of the spear) are often ready manpower pools to fill temporary contingency billets. That being said I had explained to my bride that I would not actively seek to deploy but if I was asked I wouldn't say no. Long story short, I was asked and I didn't say no. I wonder how that fits with my grand Navy strategy:

Never
Again
Volunteer
Yourself

I expect it will be hardest on my little ones. How do you explain to children who have no concept of time or world affairs that Daddy is gonna be gone for the next six months. I guess I will deal with that as I must. Have lots of stuff to do before deployment. Better get started.