20 years ago today I began this Army musician journey. It hasnt been perfect (no job is!) but Im grateful for the opportunities Ive been given and Ive had a chance to make some great music with amazing musicians. The Army paid off my student loans, helped me (or at least tried to help me lol) stay fit (thanks Benjamin Martinelli !), kept my family safe and healthy, paid the bills and sent me to exotic locations like Kosovo and Bosnia, Morocco, Belarus, and Alaska! Ive made wonderful friends and a few enemies (FTR, I was right and they were wrong lol) and learned a wide range of skills--from mountain climbing to instrument repair school. I have 27 months before Im retirement eligible (because of a break in service--which I would undo in a heartbeat!) but Ill stay until they force me out! Its been a wild, generally rewarding ride and I would do it all again! (Minus a choice or two of my own over the years!) This photo was taken at reception day 3 if I remember correctly, which would be 20 years ago on Thursday! Big thanks to the best squad leader in the Army, Ken Rupkalvis for showing me how to take care of Soldiers and families. Impossible to thank everybody individually but I got great advice from SGMs like Joel Joyner, retirees like Tim Kline and Commanders like BrigitteundJohn OPreska and Andy Esch. The high points were playing great music with amazing musicians like Fulgencio Jr Medina, Jeff Wieck and Todd Stubbs--and so many others. It flew by! And now my son ships out on June 1st! Where did the time go?
Posted on: Wed, 19 Nov 2014 05:28:48 +0000
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