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So it all started around September of 09. That was the month I learned my unit was deploying to a "base" in Kuwait and everything was subject to change. Meaning it could change to not deploying at all or even going to Afghanistan or someplace worse. So time passes and we start to prepare by doing drills every month of Warrior Task drills. Reacting to small arms fire, fire team movements, and kicking in doors! We learn this stuff because the army says we have to learn that stuff but in reality our job is only providing support to the support. Our unit provides mission security for other units traveling north into the bases of Iraq and back. Anyways back to the story it finally becomes 2010 and we're well under way in our training, myself deciding now that I want to deploy instead of using my contract to go to college first so I can get better benefits out of the army for going to college.
It becomes March of 2010, I meet her. She has a interest in me at first sight. We met at a friends going away party for (Navy) basic training. She comes to me on facebook with simple "Hi, I didn't really get to talk to you the other day.." and some questions. We hit it off and a week later we started dating. My interest immediately spiked up when she told me "I've played Starcraft before" and "I'm a nerd". So woohoo! A girl that knows Starcraft that to me was an instant keeper because I already knew she wasn't going to bark at me about playing video games. Instead she now comes with me to LANs and even help organize and run these tournaments for the New England Starcraft 2 League since I've been gone.
Back to the story! It becomes April 2010 I go to my annual two weeks of training in Vermont. That was my first time away with my unit in training. We spent one week in Camp Ethan Allen (sucked) doing warrior task drills and one week doing the same back home (Concord, NH). I come back and spend more time with the new girl.
It's now May 2010. I get voluntold I was going to additional training (which I'm now grateful for) in Camp Grayling, Michigan. I'll have to admit, going to my first hand picked of selected soldiers for training in which we were aloud to drink, was fun. This lasted for 3 weeks and all of a sudden its now summer time. I finally now get to play the beta! Time flies by in which I spent the summer playing Starcraft 2 and being with my girlfriend, what could I ask for more? Now the reason I was grateful for the training I had in May was because I was selected to go into S2 (Military Intelligence) which is now my job on my deployment. It's with all the soldiers I've known for the past almost 2 years now and is not that bad.
Summer is basically over and is now August. I host the first New England Starcraft 2 LAN in Dover, NH and got a bigger turnout than expected. I placed 4-5 in one of them and 2nd in the other one (right before I deployed). This sparked a man that has much love in the community of the New England scene to start the league up as mentioned above and has ran for one full season which I will go back into later in my story.
It's deployment time, tears are shed, ceremonies are held and I'm on a plane off to Fort McCoy, Wisconsin for premobilization training for 8 weeks. Shit Hole.. Did not enjoy it and is not worth mentioning in my story beyond what I've said.
It's November it's time to leave Fort McCoy (thank you) and head to the middle east. Lots of confusion when we first get there as there probably is when you land in a foreign country. I slowly adjust to my new environment full of dust, haze, and a funny smell in the air. It's Camp Buehring, Kuwait and it's sorta warm.. It's winter here in the desert and its hits 70 degrees during the day. I work the night shift which is 9pm - 9am so I don't deal with the heat during the day.  ! Time flies by I learn my new job and just start a routine of waking up at 8-830 (at night) going to work, working out for roughly 2 hours, continuing work, getting off work and having 3 hours to do whatever I want to do which usually meant going to sleep in about an hour or two from then. I like getting my 9 hours (if possible) T__T.
Now all of a sudden it's April 2011. I've lurked TL for months and kept up to date with the NE League back home to know that there's a qualifying tournament for the finals later that month. My leave was in April and I got go to go home for those two tournaments, which made my leave very enjoyable. Along with getting to spend time with [i]her]/i] and friends. My two weeks are over with quickly and it's time to head back.
This sucks.. having to go back after only two weeks and having to say goodbye again..
It's now May 1st and I'm typing this up for the community in which I love, talk, and laugh with. It's now hitting 100 degrees during the day, which I feel clearly when I get up and its still 70 degrees out at night.
I miss the grass, I miss home, friends, and her. Yes.. I miss the grass and the smell of pine! I'm scrambling to make budgets and going over them in my head day after day to know everything will be in order upon my return is August. I've sponsored many tournaments for the community to watch them for myself so time passes by.. quickly. A year goes quick I must say but the hours and days seem to drag on and dragging on they do when the day you return for good becomes less then 100 days. I can't wait to hop into college, move out, and try to better myself in Starcraft 2 hopefully reaching the top of the Master league within a few months of returning. I'll be creating a new "team" when I get back, I will be sponsoring the Army National Guard by wearing my uniforms and such to tournaments, I can't reveal any details at the moment but we'll see what happens.
I'll leave off with saying I can't wait to see you all in MLG RI, National Finals! Hope to see many great games in the NASL, GSL and IPL as these are the only leagues I'm able to keep up with while I'm out here! So good luck and have fun Teamliquid on your ladder games. Thank you Teamliquid Mods for keeping Teamliquid great. thanks to the community for keeping Teamliquid a place to be. Good luck to the foreigners in Korea, Team EG and fNatic! (I'm a Gretorp/Xeris EG fanboy).
edit: I just shit myself when I hit post blog and It said "You must log in first to post this!" I thought I had to type this all over again... Thank god, and sorry no pictures and stuff yet because uploading pictures takes 12 hours to do so I'll make a picture blog when I return for good!
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Do they have DTs in Iraq? ^^
<3 Bliss!
[Edit]
And for the record, hope you're doing well!
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On May 01 2011 15:58 neSix wrote:Do they have DTs in Iraq? ^^ <3 Bliss! [Edit] And for the record, hope you're doing well!
No they don't have DTs. But they have hidden explosives they call "IEDs" they do additional damage to armored units!
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Well it's a good thing you've got detection (unless your commanding officier is in Bronze League and is too busy playing monobattles with George W. Bush).
On a serious note though man I wish you the best. Things can definatly get crazy however I'm certain that you've become a stronger person (especially in terms of work ethic and dilligence, which is kinda' what they drill into you). So all in all the experience definately will help mold you into a 'better' you. Take it easy whenever you can man and again best of wishes to you and good luck with the lady. The aroma of pine is just around the corner. 
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I wish you all the best. Be safe.
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Always scan for landmines before you move out.
Fucking seriously.
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/Salute.
Without people like you, we wouldn't have the world we live in today.
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nice blog always enjoy these, good luck i hope it all goes quickly and you return safely to us all and ur girl especially
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The dark humour in this thread is brilliant.
Best of luck with the girl dude. She sounds brilliant.
Also, do you recommend joining the army to learn discipline and whatnot, or is just to risky/time consuming/demanding for a suburban white boy to acomplish?
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the thing with the girl is still on, isn't it?
She was kinda absent during the 2nd half of your post, but there was no bitterness either so dunno
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Great post bliss! One of the tournaments you helped sponsor was mine! <3
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On May 01 2011 15:52 sYz-Adrenaline wrote:
Meaning it could change to not deploying at all or even going to Afghanistan or someplace worse.
Haha, thanks for making me feel better. :p
My cousin is deploying in July to Kabul in Afghanistan. Deploying out of Ft. Polk, though, not some crazy Wisconsin place. Haha. In July he'll be stopping Kuwait and then they move him over with a bunch of Army guys into Camp Eggers.
Kind of strange, he's Naval Reserve but they are deploying him with Army, so a lot of this month and Juune he's going through Army combat training and equipment training. My entire family is military and I don't recall anyone having to deploy via a different unit, kind of curious how common it is. Maybe it's only a reserves thing.
Also, kind of funny, his deployment paperwork said the same thing.
"All things stated are subject to change" or something along those lines. So by July who knows where he'll end up.
Come back to DC when you're back! :D
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On May 01 2011 21:01 Bswhunter wrote:
The dark humour in this thread is brilliant.
Best of luck with the girl dude. She sounds brilliant.
Also, do you recommend joining the army to learn discipline and whatnot, or is just to risky/time consuming/demanding for a suburban white boy to acomplish?
Just to learn discipline? I don't think it is worth it. For me it's just an extra paycheck with hardships attached to it with some benefits. For me all I've gotten out of the army is Self satisfaction with myself and getting buff.
On May 01 2011 22:33 indecision wrote:the thing with the girl is still on, isn't it? She was kinda absent during the 2nd half of your post, but there was no bitterness either so dunno
Still together 14 months in
On May 02 2011 01:27 Torenhire wrote:Show nested quote +On May 01 2011 15:52 sYz-Adrenaline wrote:
Meaning it could change to not deploying at all or even going to Afghanistan or someplace worse.
Haha, thanks for making me feel better. :p My cousin is deploying in July to Kabul in Afghanistan. Deploying out of Ft. Polk, though, not some crazy Wisconsin place. Haha. In July he'll be stopping Kuwait and then they move him over with a bunch of Army guys into Camp Eggers. Kind of strange, he's Naval Reserve but they are deploying him with Army, so a lot of this month and Juune he's going through Army combat training and equipment training. My entire family is military and I don't recall anyone having to deploy via a different unit, kind of curious how common it is. Maybe it's only a reserves thing. Also, kind of funny, his deployment paperwork said the same thing. "All things stated are subject to change" or something along those lines. So by July who knows where he'll end up. Come back to DC when you're back! :D
If I can make it to a DC LAN I want to! But I'll be in RI one almost 100% sure.
On May 01 2011 20:57 Liquid`HuK wrote:
nice blog always enjoy these, good luck i hope it all goes quickly and you return safely to us all and ur girl especially
Thanks! gL in your future matches. protoss hwaiting~
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Can't wait for you to come home ^_^ And yes, we will 100% be in RI for MLG. No doubt what so ever :3
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new team? :O Sounds like ACE :D God bless you man!
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EPT
