I'm tired of being yanked around by the military, so this morning I went to talk to the Chief Master Sergeant in what used to be Lonesome's squadron. I really just wanted to see what his advice was, and if he could do anything to help. Chief's are the highest enlisted rank...and the folks holding that rank didn't get there by sitting around with their thubs up their rear ends. They also have a certain amount of influence and 'pull'. I aslo talked with the First Sergeant whilst I was hanging around up there waiting.
The general consenus is that Lonesome and I have been treated shabbily thus far, and that the time has come to start making some noise. The advice was for Lonesome to contact his Chief up at Thule, and have him come out to bat for us.
So, that's what we're doing. Last time I talked to Lonesome, less than an hour ago, he'd been on the phone with his Chief and was drafting a lengthy email detailing all the events that have taken place (or rather those that haven't taken place) since we found out we got denied overseas clearance, and those that led up to that happening.
You know, I don't like to bypass people like this....but if they're not doing their job and we're the ones that are getting screwed...well, I think that our reaching out and asking for help from someone with more power than us is totally justified. We've done everything the military has asked us to do, and we've done it in a timely manner. We don't know that the hold-up is, and no-one can give us a satisfactory explanation as to why things are not moving. Perhaps an E-9 on the case will help the process run a little quicker and smoother.
There's a time and a place for everything, and this is the time and the place for us to ask for assistance from some 'Big Guns'.