Because of Rule Number One (until it happens it hasn't happened) I've tried to be careful about getting myself too prepared. It took me months before I just recently ordered some French language software and a phrase book. I've known what the medical requirements are for an equally long time but since the list is as long as my arm, I didn't feel like going and getting a bunch of shots just to find out that I wasn't going over there after all. But now things are much more certain than before. As I mentioned before, a momentum builds up and works to prevent change because no one wants to go through all of this all over again.
As an IMA reservist I have a couple of problems. One of them is lack of a home unit that can put me through PTP Block 1. Pre-deployment Training Package 1 is the basic Marine Corps stuff and it's required for joining AFRICOM; rifle range, pistol range, gas chamber, swim qual, etc. Since I drill out in Hawaii a couple of times a year, I don't have the support for completing all these events. What I'm finding out now is that they can all be taken care of in North Carolina when I get to the deployment processing center. Good enough. That leaves me with just medical. That's going to hurt enough as it is. I count 15 different shots that I need to get before hitting the ground in DJ. Lucky for me I've got a month and a half before flying to NC and another month after that before arriving in country. Should be time enough.
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