The Navy makes my Blood Boil

For all you non-Navy people stick with me here. This is really hard to explain.

So Jack's Squadron told everyone last week that they had to pick someone to go on a year IA (Individual Augment...non-flying job and on the ground with the Seals or Marines) to Afganistan. Four squadrons had to select a name and from those four people, one name will be picked. Well, no one in Jack's squadron volunteered and his Skipper informed him today that he chose Jack. That doesn't mean he is going, it just means he now has a 1 and 4 chance. I understand that we are in the Navy and everyone faces this at some point or another but that isn't what makes me mad.

We were under the impression that we had two more opportunities to be selected for LCDR. However, while in the meeting with the Skipper, he informed Jack that he found out from the detailer (the guy that assigns Military members their job) that he only has one more opportunity. Assuming we don't get it (odds are we won't), we will be forced out of the Navy January 2011. If he gets picked for this IA he will train in April and leave in June and be home June 2011, 6 months after the time we would be forced out. Here are our possible scenerios:

1. Leave for Afganistan, not get selected for promotion get kicked out in January of 2011 and come home, but have no time to find a job. The major positive is getting out of the danger zone and back to family sooner rather than later.

2. Go to Afganistan, not get selected for promotion and then APPLY for continuance and IF he got it, extend another year for another promotion cycle but stay the whole time in Afganistan and get out in January 2012.

We are leaning towards decision number one. Why delay the inevitable and be in the danger zone and away from family?

We find out Thursday if he is selected for the IA. I'll keep you updated.