On Vox: Horizon looks Clear.

A couple of weeks ago I got a phone call from my old army unit. Technically I'm still their reserve soldier, but practically they hardly ever call for me. Anyway, they wanted me for an "early discharge from reserve service" interview. I didn't know what that meant, so they told me they got stuck with too many reserve soldiers. They could not call them back for service any more, they didn't have the budget, they didn't have operational need for so many people, and so and so forth. The funny part was that they needed my consent to be discharged early. "Can we do it over the phone? I'll give you my consent right away." - "No, we only do that for enlisted people, officers have to come here". Okay, so they arrange me this whole bunch of entry permits, set a date, and I drive there (some 20km) right after work.

The  base hasn't changed much, except for a few cosmetic touches. They hauled a decommissioned fighter jet and placed it on a stand by the gate. Looks funny for a rear unit. A couple of name changes, numbering changes, but the rest stays the same. The building still smells of rats, the walls are covered with inspirational posters, and the people are young and energetic. Anyways, I get into the lieutenant colonel's office, and see an old friend of mine. She hasn't changed much, but got promoted to head of department. A few smiles, questions about old friends, and then comes the formal part. "Would you like to be discharged from reserve service?" - "Yes, please". She writes that down on a blank. - "Okay, that will be all". - "??? Do I need to sign the paper?" - "No, it's okay". - "So why did I have to get my ass over here?". - "That's our procedure, sorry". Now all I have to do is wait for the request to be processed, and then they're gonna have a ceremony (!) at the base, to thank me for all I've done for the unit, and send me on my way to a bright and prosperous life as a civilian :P

Originally posted on wildernesscat.vox.com