As I look at my little blog, I see it has been quite some time since I posted anything...
Josh and Alyssa had a wonderful wedding! It was really fun and quite memorable...this is my favorite picture from that special day. Thanks again Patrick for taking such an awesome shot, I just LOVE the look on Josh's face...
The newlyweds have driven across the country with the kitties and are settled in their new home at Fort Drum. Alyssa has found a job and is (re) adjusting to life on base, she grew up with a Navy dad...
After an amusing Facebook posting about recorded bugle calls, I asked her if she would write me a little something about living on a military base...
So without further delay, my guest blogger is my daughter in law, Alyssa, the new Mrs Evans!
Living in Military Housing
by Alyssa Evans
Adirondack Creek, Ft. Drum, NY
As a military dependent, one of the things that separate you from the civilian world is living in military housing. You do have a choice, but it is generally cheaper to live in military housing than renting off base. (Or off post, as my Army husband often corrects me.) Water, electricity, gas and garbage are all included in the “rent”. The rent isn’t rent in the traditional sense, but rather, instead of getting the housing allowance in the paycheck, it goes straight to the housing management.
Catalina Heights Navy Housing 2003
Most of the domicile units are town home or apartment style homes. Ours is a 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom with a huge living room and a decent sized kitchen. There is an approved colors list that we are allowed to paint the inside of our home without having to repaint the walls back to white before we moved out. We have a backyard which needs the grass cut down and the weeds plucked. The front yard is maintained by the company the runs the communities. (In the early 2000’s military housing was sold to private companies to make room in the DoD budget. This saves money when the houses need to be updated with new carpet, new appliances, etc. And also allowed for major rejuvenations, and in some cases, completely tearing down and rebuilding some communities altogether.)
Catalina Heights Navy Housing 2009
The commissary, exchange, and shopettes are just a few minutes away. On a good day you can walk or bike to them from the house. There are also many parks, playgrounds, bike trails, splash pads, and other outdoor recreation centers around the base. Many bases also have wildlife and forest preserves, so you may see wild animals and a lot of greenery. Recently, I have seen deer, wild turkey, chipmunks, and a snapping turtle.
Creek, Fort Drum NY
When you live in the housing on base (as opposed to the military housing off base), you may face several different traffic rushes. PT, lunch, and going home are all very busy road times. There are also several different bugle calls (I can’t think of the names off the top of my head). There are a few in the morning, even on the weekends, one at 5pm and Taps plays at 10pm. You may also hear planes flying overheard. However, live on base long enough and you get used to the noises. However, overall, living in military housing is not that different from living in civilian housing.
In May, Josh and Alyssa announced their engagement...the wedding will be November 7, 2011...here are a couple of photos they had taken when Josh was home in May...we are all very excited to welcome Alyssa to our family, she is a wonderful girl and truly a soul mate for Josh.
What else has Josh been up to?
Over the Memorial Day weekend, Josh was on special assignment at West Point. Members of his platoon were sent to the prestigious academy to provide additional security for the graduation ceremony...the special guest was the first lady, Michelle Obama. At one point during the weekend, Josh was standing about ten feet away from her...
After 15 months in the Army, Josh has finally been able to do what he has been trained for...go on patrol as an official MP of the US Army. He has been out on the roads for the past month policing the streets and citizens of Fort Drum. He has handled domestic calls, numerous complaints and has responded to other calls with lights and sirens.
He is also an active planner in the wedding, something he thankfully didn't inherit from his dad, he and Alyssa have been working hard on the plans and sharing all kinds of details on Skype and email...
In August, he will be traveling to Fort Bliss Texas for training, we are hoping that we may have a chance to see him if he has some down time...we aren't really sure about that one yet...
Well, let's start with the really good stuff...on his first night in town, Josh proposed to Alyssa! He had purchased the ring a few months ago and now it is finally where it belongs...on her finger. The wedding will be Monday November 7th in Gilbert at a very beautiful location...While on leave they were able to take care of some of the wedding details like the tux fitting, a visit to the wedding site and obtaining the marriage license. We are all very excited about this engagement and have welcomed Alyssa to our little family...
Josh and his mentor, Craig
Police Memorial
On Monday, the kids went to the 38th Annual Arizona Peace Officers Memorial Service. Every year, on the first Monday in May, the Arizona Peace Officers Memorial Board honors the officers that have made the ultimate sacrifice and their families. Josh has attended every year that he possibly can; last year of course he was in BCT at Fort Leonard Wood.
Caio...The eating adventure begins!
Family night at Tagliani's
On Tuesday our cousin Maureen was in town for one day on business, it was pretty lucky that it was one of the days that Josh was home. We invited Aunt Jo and made a family night at out favorite Italian restaurant, Tagliani's. We had a really great time catching up and Alyssa got to meet another member of our family...
Josh signs the flag at Pullanos
Saturday night...Climb to Glory!
On Saturday we met the Greenrocks at Pullanos for pizza, wings and the opportunity for Josh to sign the 10th Mountain Division flag that Trent brought back from Fort Drum on his post deployment leave just a few weeks before. Trent also signed the flag when he was in town...It's very comforting to know that Josh and Trent are able to spend time together at Fort Drum. Thanks again to Paul and Eliean for inviting us!
Nice Ring!!
Sunday - Mothers Day
What a blessing that Josh was home for Mothers Day...last year he was in red phase of BCT and I got a quick phone call...we had a great day that was capped off with a BBQ at Alyssa’s families home. It was a chance for us to meet more of Alyssa's family. It was alot of fun and we all felt very welcome.
Josh at Fort Drum...
This was a busy leave for Josh with wedding activities, visiting with friends and families, some shopping, just hanging out and eating...I think we hit all of the culinary continents!It is always hard to put him back on the plane when leave is over and that morning was no exception...I think as an Army family we are always looking forward to the next leave and thinking about ways to support his efforts while we are all so far away. We all miss him very much and are very proud of him...His next leave will be for the wedding in November...then we will all be preparing for his deployment to Iraq...
I have mentioned Trent a few times in my postings, Josh’s buddy since kindergarten.Trent returned to the good old USA safe and sound in late February.
The boys have been able to spend some time together, their barracks are about a 10 minute drive…There has been a bit of comfort just knowing that they can hang out and be buddies again like the old days.Trent will be back in Phoenix for an extended leave in April…I know that his parents must be absolutely over joyed that Trent is back…
So...What has Josh been up to?
We put Josh on the plane with a whole new wardrobe of long underwear, micro fleece shirts and other cold weather gear…I’m pretty sure that he is making good use of all these items as the weather at Fort Drum has been, predictably snowy and cold.Last week looked like a bit of a warm up with temps in the high 30’s but this morning Trent reported on Facebook that the snow was back…
Josh has been out in the field for a week about two weeks ago, and last Sunday they departed for a training facility in Seneca, NY.Field exercises have been conducted in the elements and cover all kinds of tasks that the unit will use on deployment…and when you are an MP, you get to play the good guy and the bad guy too, I’m sure on some level it’s a bit liberating. I know at the end of the week, a hot shower and your bed at the barracks is nothing short of paradise…
Josh will be home for a visit in May and I know we are all anxious to see him…this trip will be personally eventful for him and I suspect I will make an announcement that friends and family will be very excited about…
And, what's happening at home?
I can’t say that I am used to Josh being so far away but I can say that somehow, I have adjusted to it…it’s great to be able to shoot him a text with a little musing or two, maybe put a little card in the mail with a batch of his favorite cookies…Truth be told, he has asked that I ease off on the cookies…I don’t know about that…I might still have a batch or twelve left in me…these are the little things we do to cope…
Yesterday we got together and went to the airshow at Luke AFB.What a fun day we had walking around looking at planes, watching the airshow that was capped off by a thrilling performance by the Thunderbirds.The other highlight was a WWII display that featured General Patton’s Jeep.Some of you know that my dad was a huge Patton fan, and with the words “military police” emblazoned on the hood, we simply had to take the picture…I can tell you at that moment we missed dad and Josh…
One last thought, the military has declared “Red Shirt Friday” as a way for all of us to support the troops…Do you have a red shirt in your closet?Wear red on Fridays as a way to show support for all the brave men and women that are far away from family and friends fighting for our country…
"They say that Fort Drum is the Army's best kept secret. I now know why...it's buried under snow damn near year-round!" - PV2 Evans Let it Snow... Snow, snow and more snow...and when your platoon is on snow removal, what do you do...shovel snow, snow and of course more snow...
Army Life... Josh has been settling into Army life at Fort Drum...there is down time, Army busy work, platoon duties and PT that fill his day. He has had a few four day weekends tossed into the mix as well.He has made new friends and found a few survivors from his days at Fort Leonard Wood, they share rides to Walmart and Best Buy and other locations around Watertown NY, the town ten miles from the Fort. Off Duty... His new Army family gets together for Halloween parties for the kids, Thanksgiving potlucks and other social activities...Josh was "adopted" by a buddy and spent Thanksgiving at their home, they had a big dinner with all the trimmings and settled in for a video-game marathon later...
Army Exodous... The Army likes to send soldiers home whenever possible to be with family in a program called "Army Exodous" simply put, they send as many soldiers home as possible, even from BCT...I have connected with a couple of of other Army moms and they are all expecting their soldiers home from Germany, Iraq and Fort Riley Kansas. Josh gets to come home too...he will be here in Phoenix for a week and a half starting December 27 and he leaves the day after my 50th birthday...we are literally counting down the minutes to the trip to the airport...
Josh's actual Christmas was 24 hour guard type duty for the barracks...from 7am Christmas Eve to 7am Christmas day...I imagine as I type this, he is still sleeping...we are hoping for a Skype later...
The Road Ahead... When Josh gets back to Fort Drum he will start a two and a half month field training cycle, then his platoon will take to the roads for a couple of months and then once again they will embark on another field training cycle. Sometime after this second training cycle, Josh and his platoon will be deployed. Most likely in the last quarter of the year, destination is not official...
Trent... For those of you keeping track of Trent, Josh's buddy in Afghanistan, he is very busy but checks into Facebook from time to time and his folks post updates too. He is in a cycle where he's off base for six to seven days, back for one and then back out on patrol...his deployment ends February 15th, 2011. Then back to Fort Drum...I know these two soldiers will be happy to see each other...
So, from our family to yours, a very Merry Christmas and prosperous New Year!
If you are inclined to prayer, please keep all of our troops in yours...
Josh has been at Fort Drum for two weeks now...during these two weeks he has been in processing and getting familiar with the base and settling into the routine...
In processing has consisted of getting equipment issued, briefings, some "Army busy work" and many hours of hurry up and wait...the difference in the hurry up and wait at Fort Drum is, he doesn't have to remain in formation while he does it like he did in BCT
Operational Army, at least at this point has more regular hours, he's up every morning for PT at 7am, goes to chow, briefings and whatever else they have him do and then he's off at 5pm...he seems to have his cell phone on him some of the time too as we text once or twice throughout the day...in the evenings he can Skype, play video games or take a cab off Post for some shopping...
He is living in a new barracks facility on the old part of the Fort. He is in a three story building housed with a couple of hundred MP's. He has a room mate, they share a common area with a small kitchen, they both have their own rooms with minimal furnishings and a walk in closet...I got a mini tour through Skype tonight and that walk in closet is quickly filling up with all that new Army gear including some arctic gear that he will need in the cold months ahead. The view outside his second story window is a couple of trees and a construction site...
Tonight we used Skype for the first time and had a great talk for an hour...it was good to see his face and just share the ramblings of the day and get a sense of his living quarters...he has an internet connection with access to Facebook, email and all those other connections to the outside world...
In the weeks and months ahead in addition to getting used to the weather, he will receive more training and will start working shifts on the base and roads doing his assigned MP duties...he looks forward to using all the training that he has received...
Lastly, the unit that he is attached to just returned home from a 10 month deployment in May 2010. That means that he will not be deployed in the 180 days that the Drill Sergeants had indicated in BCT. I am grateful for this piece of news. I know that he will deploy and that is what he has been trained to do...I am thankful it is not right away...I know that he looks forward to Trent returning from Afghanistan in the spring and how happy they both will be to serve together at Fort Drum...
If you would like to send Josh some snail mail:
Joshua Evans 91st MP BN/23rd MP CO Fort Drum, NY 13602
Josh was home for almost three weeks...it was really wonderful having him around, coming home from work and having the Silverado parked in front of the house, game night, our favorite Thai place...
His home town recruiting gig turned out to be less than strenuous...a couple of hours per day putting flyers on cars and a shredding stint...
He had a chance to visit with his buddy Trent before he returned to Afghanistan, he was able to visit with almost all of his friends before he had to leave again for Fort Drum...
He slept in, played video games, ate fatty cakes and fast food, took the occasional nap, got a tattoo...you know the usual vacation type stuff...
We even had an all out Thanksgiving feast on the Sunday before he left, it was a great time with lots of food, family and some new friends...
Josh caught the red eye to Newark and then a connection flight to Syracuse. Then it was a short drive from Syracuse to Watertown, NY and then on into Fort Drum. He showed up one day early and was almost immediately plunged back into Army life...there was an unexpected hour of PT...kind of a new guy welcome thing...
Because of the holiday, there was a four day weekend so the Fort was a little empty. He was assigned into the brand new barracks complex and ran into soldiers that he met when he was at Fort Leonard Wood. He spent most of the weekend getting used to the Fort. It will take two weeks for the in processing to be complete, I can't figure out what in the world will take two weeks to process buy hey, it's the Army...stay tuned...
