This winter marked the darkest number of days in Germany in over 60 years according to Yahoo News :) I believe it. We have made the best of it and took some weekend trips to cities nearby. I'm glad Germany has finally allowed spring to show up.
I'm 38 weeks pregnant and expecting our 4th little girl anytime now. I'm not eager for this little ones arrival. Life has been busy and I feel like I have much to do before she makes her debut. To add to my stresses J has thrown me a complete curve ball!
In May J's commitment will be up. He'll have served in the Air Force for 4 years. We can sign up for another 2 years in May and get a $20,000 bonus. OR, he could not resign but continue to work for the JAG through next summer when we're set to PSC (move) and then get out of the AF. OR, we could wait til next summer to accept an assignment to PSC to a new base but then we would gain another 2 year commitment and have forfeited the $20,000 bonus. If we want the bonus we have to say yes, NOW. Even if we say we want to stay in for 2 more years next summer we would have lost out on the bonus.
As of 4 months ago J and I both told people our "plan" was to make a career in the Air Force. J enjoys everything he does at work. There is not one good reason he can give as to why he is feeling like maybe he should get out but yet the feeling persists. When we talk about the pros and cons the only thing we can come up with is, if he were to get out he could specialize in a specific area and we wouldn't have to move around so often. Except, the moving around part we also view as a pro, at least I do. I like seeing new places, meeting new people, experiencing different cultures etc.
So it's decision time. I am grateful for prayer. It was prayer that changed my heart over 4 years ago from NOT wanting J to be a JAG to desiring no other job BUT the JAG. I have LOVED every minute and have been the HAPPIEST I have ever been in my life these past 4 years! With that said, I know the Lord has a plan for my family and if He tells us there is another path for us then we'll follow it because we trust Him.
It is scary because J has ZERO prospects. He hasn't been job hunting and we live overseas which makes that process even more difficult.
Maybe we won't get out of the Air Force (I'm crossing my fingers that we won't ;). Maybe these feelings J's having are just the natural course one takes when it's time to make a decision....to ponder other possibilities. We will see.
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I don't think that either decision would be a bad one. It sounds like you've really enjoyed the JAG lifestyle and opportunities and would continue to do so for another 2 or 4 years. On the other hand, I'm sure your husband would be able to get another job if you decide to leave--he's had some great work experience. Whatever you end up choosing, I wish you the best.
ReplyDeleteThis is not relevant to this particular post, but I wanted to thank you for all of the information that you've posted here. I've been reading since last spring, when I began looking into JAG as a career for myself. I was fortunate enough to be selected for JAG during last October's board, and can't wait to get started myself! Your blog has been an invaluable source of information regarding the lifestyle and day to day things that come up. This information here isn't anywhere on the website, and it definitely weighed upon my decisions. THANKS!
Hi there (I've commented before regarding same-sex spouses),
ReplyDeleteI was happy to see another post. However, I'm also sad that you guys need to make this decision so quickly. I know how torn I feel when I'm not sure what to do. I know this cannot be easy on y'all.
I'm kind of like J. I've had the JAG bug for over four years. But being in a same-sex relationship kept me from strong consideration. However, with the repeal of DADT, I felt like finally, the doors were opening up.
My partner is sort of like you. She's been really supportive. And although she wasn't all that crazy about JAG at first, she has since reconsidered specially because she understand how happy the thought of being a JAG makes me. I tell her that she won't like moving around but now she says that maybe seeing new places is just what she needs. I can only hope that's true.
One condition though, she said, get an internship and get the feel of it first.
Somehow I got lucky and I will be interning with the JAG this summer. Coming to the base, meeting the JAGs there, has also reminded me how much I really want this.
However, even if I intern, that won't give me the real taste of being told to move every so often or being deployed. However, I will concede that when I was assigned to go out of state for my internship, it was a shock at first. However, I eventually warmed up to the idea and got really excited about it.
Yet... even with two people that feels more manageable. With kids, that may be another story. Changing schools, making new friends, etc. I don't really know how it would work if I get in and we eventually have kids.
Ok, I'm rambling. My point is that as much as I want to be JAG, I will never know what that's like until I'm it. So as much as I'm sure that this is what I want to do with the rest of my life, I might be totally wrong. It doesn't help that JAG get multiple-year contracts, so it's difficult to back out, let alone get back in. (Though I guess being a reserve is a neat deal).
But sometimes, it's also nice to experience something different. What I love about JDs is that you can do so much with them. Well, that's actually one of the reasons why I want to be a JAG because you get to do so much.
In any case, I wish you two the BEST of luck with your decision. Whatever you choose will be the right thing to do because you'll never really know what you left behind.
I'm interested to hear what your final decision was!
ReplyDeleteI also had a question for you about possibly collaborating on something and was hoping you could email me back to discuss? Thanks so much!
- Emma
emmabanks9 (at) gmail (dot) com
Hello, I am a soon-to-be JAG wife and have just found your blog. I have had the same experience with the Lord changing my heart toward JAG. My husband has 8 years prior service in the Air Guard, and when he got out and went to Law school I was determined that he was OUT! Now, I am now more excited than ever, and so proud of him! I can't wait to start our new adventure, and I am so happy to hear that you have had a good experience. I already have a blog account that I used to blog about our daughter's surgery, but I'm sure I will also blog about JAG life when the time comes. It is looking like his COT will start around Easter of 2016. I wonder how you and your family dealt with waiting times before COT and between COT and JASOC?
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for taking the time to share this information with us in waiting! Best wishes on your family's new civilian adventures!
Here is a link to my blog- I will likely have a post soon announcing our news!
http://trustwithoutborders-blog.blogspot.com/?m=1