10 years ago today, September 22, 2009, Roger was discharged from the Army after 7 years and 2 months. Because of so much vacation time built up, can we say workaholic, he actually finished up working in July and started college full time in August. But in September we still celebrated our break from the Army. I remember we went to dinner at our favorite restaurant and made a big deal out it. We were beginning the next phase in our lives, the phase that lead us to where we are today and Roger becoming a doctor.
Even though staying in the Army long term had never been part of the plan, Roger stayed in 3 years past the end of his original enlistment, which was July 1996. He first extended in Korea because the Army has a stupid rule that they won’t bring a solider back from a remote assignment when they have less than 6 months left in his enlistment. Roger had 5 ½ months. Seriously. So he extended to March 1997. After he came home from Korea and I started back to college he extended again to September 1999 to ensure I would finish college before he was no longer working. It was all part of our plan, I would finish school and then work while he went. It made sense to us, but not the rest of the world. So, when the time came for Roger to get out of the Army, people told us we were crazy. Why should he leave a good job? He was practically half way to Army retirement! (I point out 7 is NOT half way to 20.) Roger turned down orders to Germany, a promotion and a training school when he got out of the Army. But College and Medical School were the plan. And he couldn’t do those while in the Army. We knew he would be better off by getting out.
So, together we jumped off a cliff. Roger left the Army and started college shortly after I graduated and found a job making less than he had in the Army. But we had his GI Bill and Hope Scholarship and I am the coupon queen. In September 2000, we received his official discharge from the Inactive Ready Reserve. We went to dinner again (we love to eat!) He was free! College was going great, Roger had almost straight A’s. Then came his senior year and 9/11 happened. And I was so thankful Roger was no longer in the Army (yes, I can hear you laughing as you read this.) Our friends and family worried he might be called up, but he was free.
That year began the journey towards medical school. Roger applied but was waitlisted. Frustrated, we celebrated his graduation, with honors. The plan had worked, almost. So we altered the plan. Roger worked in research for a year. That was a great year. We bought new living room furniture and took a cruise. And he applied to medical school again with better MCAT scores. And waited. He was waitlisted again, at 3 schools. We began to question the plan. Roger wondered was he would do if he couldn’t be a doctor. Thankfully, we never had to answer that because in May of 2003 he was accepted to the MCG Class of 2007. Because he was accepted late he was not able to apply for any outside financial aid. We used savings and took out loans. And then in the fall of his first year his friend Ian introduced him to an Army recruiter and he began to think about going back in. The money paid for school but somewhere inside of Roger he felt it was about more than that. It is hard to explain, but he wanted to help those soldiers going off to war. Again, everyone thought we were crazy. Who signs up for the Army during a war? I got the same question over and over. Isn’t there any other way? Sure there was, but this was Roger’s. And I supported that.
So, here we are back in the Army. But our life is different and Roger got to be a doctor. That would not have happened if he had stayed in the Army 10 years ago and taken the Warrant Officer position. So, yes, we are better off. But not for the reasons most people would think. See, 10 years ago they wanted Roger to stay in because he was a good sergeant. But Roger didn’t love his job, not like he loves medicine. It was like something was missing. In the end we took risks, even more than what I’ve listed here. But that is what life is about. It doesn’t always work out according to plan, but it always works out one way or the other. The path taken over the last 10, even 20 years has shaped Roger into the doctor he is today. And for that, he is better off.
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