Back to School
I know that you’re never too old to go back to school, but I wonder sometimes if my brain can take anymore. I’m living in a Windows Vista world with a Apple IIe brain!! The First Sergeant Course is broken into two phases, I and II. Phase I is a self-paced online study program that must be completed prior to attending the Phase II resident course at the Academy.
Phase I is comprised of about 30 separate subjects that are individually quizzed and studied on my time. The problem I’m having is concentration. There may be a number of reasons for this: 1) The stuff seems so “duh” to me that I can’t get interested; 2) I have too much going on around me to focus; 3) I’m so busy during the day that I’m just too worn out when I have time to sit down and read or study; and 4) I’m just too dumb to learn new things – my brain is just too full and I need to dump something to make room for the new information.
Now, with that said, I’m not going to pretend to be humble on this point. I know that I’m a pretty smart guy and I can do this. I just need to apply myself. In typical fashion, as the deadline gets closer to when I have to finish the Phase I’ll get more stressed which will motivate me more. I work well under stress!! Thankfully, I’m in a position where I can knock out a lot in the next few days. My evenings are mostly free and I don’t have a car where I’m at. There’s nothing to do BUT study. I’ve already finished quite a bit of it. To be fair, even the common sense stuff is teaching me a little. Or, at least, reminding me of things that I may have forgotten or need to have refreshed.
For Phase II, I will have to go TDY away from home again for a few weeks. The purpose of the course to help us learn how to manage a company size element. Companies in the Army range anywhere from about 30 people to over 100, depending on the type of company. The course will teach me to become an old man who scowls at everyone and drives a Buick. I’ll also learn different techniques to demand push-ups: “DROP” “BEAT YOUR FACE” “HOLD THE SIDEWALK DOWN” etc.
But more importantly, I’ll get to take care of Soldiers again. I realize that along with that comes the frustration of Soldiers who just don’t get it and I have to assist with UCMJ actions, but I like to think that good leadership can prevent 95% of that. Maybe I’m naive since I’ve had Soldiers go AWOL after sitting down with them for hours trying to help past their drug problems and/or showing up late to formation too often.
Anyway, we’ve been looking at a lot of homes again and I’ve also contacted the VAMC to see what they’re all about with regards to helping with a VA loan for our home. As that progresses, I’ll be letting you all know what is involved with the process. Since I’m a VA home loan moron, maybe we’ll all learn something through the process and I can help my hosts with a little more credibility (not that they don’t have any – or that I have any!!). My wife and I have honed in on three homes and I just hope they’re still available when we arrive in a few weeks (no, I’m not going to be specific).
Tracy
August 13th, 2007 at 10:03 pmI am confident that you will do WONDERFUL!!
Sometimes I think the concentration problem is because as adults we just have so much more we need to think about. The last time I was in school I didn’t have kids, a mortgage, a car payment, etc. etc. I just had to study and go to my part time job. And in the last semester: cook dinner for my hubby. Not so much taking up the brain as there is now with the kids and their schedules etc etc.
Keep us updated on how it goes!
Terri
August 14th, 2007 at 4:17 amI have complete faith in you CJ. If I can go back to school and complete my Bachelor’s Degree in my 40’s then you can do this without a problem.
I’m working with VA Mortgage right now on the home purchase that SNAFU and I are making. I don’t have any complaints. The loan officer I’ve been working with is great!
Grumpy
August 14th, 2007 at 6:18 amCJ,
Don’t knock the old Apple II. It had the whopping speed of 1 MHtz and a total RAM of 1 MEG. You talk about feeling, a “little out of the loop”. You talk about worry, when is it time to worry? The time to worry is when you brush something off of your nose and it is the ground, THEN IT IS TIME TO WORRY. I know you want to do it, SO, DO IT! You are the right man for the job and the job is the right one for you. Besides, worry is just a useless expense of energy. Go ahead, tell your instructor, you have a lot of extra energy to waste. Go ahead, LAUGH, enjoy your time at school.
Grumpy
CJ
August 14th, 2007 at 8:06 amUh oh, Grumpy. Did you say I should worry when body parts start falling off? Does that include hair? Cause I think it’s going quick!!
Troy
August 14th, 2007 at 11:07 amCJ, I have 5 years as a Company 1SG and a few years in addition to that as a Detachment NCOIC, which had about 80 people in it, so I consider that qualified 1SG time also. If you ever need anything, advice, a place to vent, or anything else just drop me a line an I will send you my number. You are about to embark on what is probably going to be the best time of your military career.
joyjoyfromnj
August 14th, 2007 at 3:00 pm“Booklearning” is just one type of learning, of thinking. It’s also the easiest to “quantify” and to get “objective” test results for. Doesn’t mean it has much to do with real life situations or the info we really need to do our jobs. You’ll get thru this, especially with your attitude that looks for even the little bit of info you didn’t know or needed to be reminded of. I know you’re smart enough to take advantage of Troy’s offer too. So keep plugging away, keep your sense of humor handy and thanks for keeping us updated!
CJ
August 14th, 2007 at 6:08 pmTroy,
I’ll most definitely be calling upon you. You just opened up the can of worms!! hehe
Donna
August 14th, 2007 at 9:23 pmCJ,
I’m like the others here, I just know that you will do great on the schooling. So glad that you are getting the opportunity to be 1st Sgt. You will make a great one, I’m sure!
Hope everything goes well with the move and the house!! Thanks for keeping us updated on what’s going on in your world!!
yankeemom
August 15th, 2007 at 6:09 amCJ ~ how exciting! Even though your brain seems full, there’s always extra space for good stuff.
And remember, you are doing something so few can or choose to do. And you’ll do it well. Cuz, that’s just how you are. ;o)
CJ
August 15th, 2007 at 10:12 pmWell, I decided that I had learned enough and took the Phase I First Sergeant exam. I scored an 88%, but I firmly believe, after seeing the reference to where I could find the “right” answer, that I was still right on two other answers. The other ones I just spaced on. So, adjusted for common sense, I got a 92%. Bring on the Phase II resident course!!