Yesterday John talked with S-1 about our command sponsorship, and it was needing just a few more signatures before it was going to get pushed through. It looked like we were going to be able to get the final (good) word sometime before August block leave about it.
However, stuff changed.
His platoon sergeant called him this afternoon asking about his report date to Ft. Bliss. So we made the journey up to S-1 to see what was up. John came back outside with some good and bad news.
The good news is that his report date got pushed up about 2 months to December. Meaning, he will start clearing sometime in late November. The bad news is that because of this, our command sponsorship got denied. My visa is still good until December 7, so we have some time. Even if I over stay my visa by a few weeks..if I leave after that, there is no way I could come back for another 6 months. He is happy that he doesn't have to stay in Germany for an extra 2 months, when John has already been here for almost 3 years. It is possible to get his report date moved up as well. That is if it is authorized by his recieving command, and is signed off by his departing command.
So, that means another few months of living out of hotels for us. Also, possibly the unability to take August block leave.
Right now, the final answers and solutions will be up in the air until next week. That is when John will be able to go back with his platoon leader and try to work things out and get questions answered.
I am disappointed and worried, I won't lie. The good thing is that we will be able to return to the states sooner then expected. The bad thing is that after 90 days, the Army won't recognize my presence here.
I think we are planning on laying low this weekend. Laying low and doing some research on the possible alternatives so that Monday John will be able to go to S-1 well armed with information and questions.
I just wish I could be completely hopeful about the situation; however we were counting on the sponsorship to go through. However, when we return to the states there is really no way that they can deny us sponsorship there. It is just that there is so much that goes into an overseas command sponsorship.
I believe in us. I know that we will make this work in whatever way possible. We have been through worse, and we are going to fight to be able to stay physically together for as long as he is over here.
I just wish right now that we had some concrete answers instead of all the new unknowns that we face.
No comments:
Post a Comment