It's been 2 weeks since we found out we're not going to England. 

We still don't have any idea where we're going next, in fact, the paperwork needed to make that decision isn't even in the hands of the people that need it yet.

We're waiting on one form.  One single, solitary form, that's sitting on someone's desk.  That desk is located less than half a mile from where I sit right now, writing this.  It would be easy enough for me to go over there, get it, and fax it to the right person.  That would be the easy, most logical way, right?

But we're dealing with the military.  Nothing is ever 'easy' when it comes to the military and paperwork.  No, this form can't just be sent from here to there.  It has to go through another location, a location that neither Lonesome or I have ever lived at or even been to.  I'll explain why:

Lonesome is at Thule AB, Greenland.  That's where he's stationed.  I'm at Ellsworth AFB, SD.  This is where he was stationed before he went to Greenland.  Because Thule is a 'remote' location, I wasn't allowed to accompany him there, I had to stay here.  Thule is a satellite facility, and it's attached to Peterson AFB, CO.  Peterson is the 'mother' base, so to speak.  With me so far?

OK, so...the people who make the decisons about where we're going to next are in Texas.  They're the ones that need the form, the one that's sitting on a desk less than half a mile from me.  So, why don't they just request it, I hear you say.  Because that's not the way the AF does things.  Texas has to request the form from Peterson, despite the fact that the form's not there...and then Peterson in turn has to request the form from here.  In the meantime, Thule has to be kept apprised of the situation, so they can tell Lonesome where the process is at.  So, now we have 4 facilities in the 'loop'.  Ellsworth, Thule, Peterson and Texas.  4 different personnel offices, for one piece of documentation.

Lonseome spoke to the Sgt in Texas this morning to ask what the hold up is - we've known for a week that we needed this form, and it has yet to be transmitted because no-one knows quite how to go about it (??). She said that they finally have the correct procedure in place, and that she's expecting to receive the form from Peterson this afternoon.  Lonesome asked what would happen if that didn't occur.  She said if that was the case, she'd call Ellsworth directly and request the form next week.  Lonesome suggested that I could perhaps go over there and fax it directly to her.  She said that was also an option.  

So, if that's an option, why are we having to go though all these other hoops?  Because that's the way the AF does it, that's the way it's supposed to be done, was my answer. 

Like I said, there's an easy way, and then there's the AF way.

Oh, and check this out:  We're still going to have to wait another 2 weeks after they get this form to find out where we're going. 

Gotta love the military life, huh?