Yesterday was an important day for me in my career.  I reenlisted for the second time.  My first reenlistment was all about money.  I was short of cash, and I had just had major repairs done on my Jeep Wrangler.  My parents were able to lend me the money to pay for the repairs, but I wanted to get them paid back as soon as possible, and the Army offered me a way to do that and have a little left over for personal expenses (in other words, fun toys to add to the jeep!).  This time it was different.  There wasn't any money available.  The only option I was able to get was Station Stabilization.  I took that, because my wife and I have settled in at Fort Riley, we don't like the idea of moving.  This reenlistment was more an issue of making sure my family is provided for.  I've been watching the economy decline rather quickly in the past several years.  The unemployment rate is higher than I prefer, and I'm simply not satisfied in any job that doesn't put me in a position of public service.  I'm sure if I twisted the facts around a little bit, all jobs are public services, but I'm not trying to make Tide detergent bottles again and justify it by telling myself that someone out there needs those bottles for their laundry.  I've done that before, it wasn't satisfying.  My medical career is extremely fulfilling, and I'm quite ready to continue it, for now by staying in the Army, letting them pay for my continued education, and eventually leaving the army with a degree in Emergency Management with a specialty in Medicine. 

And now, on to the actual reenlistment.  While I didn't have many options available for the conditions of my reenlistment, I was able to tell the Army where I wanted to do the ceremony, and who I wanted to have conduct the ceremony for me.  I chose my commanding officer for my Troop (a company-size element in the Cavalry) to swear me into service, and I chose the former Presidential Palace at the Victory Base Complex for the location.  I tried to go to the US Embassy in the Green Zone for the reenlistment, because I wanted to reenlist on US Soil, but that was impossible because of security restraints.  Once we arrived at the palace, we took a short tour of the public areas and chose, in my opinion, the perfect location for the ceremony.  The palace is three stories tall, with a chandellier extending from the third story ceiling to about the level of the first story ceiling in the main room.  The best place I could find for my ceremony was on the second story, between two supporting columns, with the chandellier in the background.  While most of it was covered up in the photos because of the American flag behind me, it was still an awesome experience, and I wouldn't change it for anything.  I love the way the Army does whatever they can to make our ceremonies as special as they can to honor us.  I guess it's the little things that make a difference when you're in a war zone. 

PS, if you ever get a chance to go to the palace, take it.  The place is amazing.