But first, an update.
My tentative schedule for the next few months keeps changing. Here is the latest of what I know. Gwen, Pete, and I are being sent to "the field" on August 14th until the 31st to some training with our respective units here in Germany (somewhere in east nowhere, Germany). Being in "the field" is supposed to simulate being deployed - you sleep in large tents, wear camouflage all day, eat MREs (army "Meals Ready to Eat)), and do training and military stuff just about 24/7.
Unfortunately my board exam is on the 23rd and 24th of this month, so Pete and I have to leave in the middle of all this mess to go back to the US to take the test. (More on the boards and the title of this post in a minute). So we'll leave the field on the 20th and return the 25th (poor Gwen is stuck there the entire time). Following our field training, Gwen and I are allowed to go back to our unit (here at Landstuhl hospital) and spend about a month doing light doctor's work, finalizing deployment plans, etc.
In October, Gwen and I check back in with our NEW unit (The 1st Armored Division, from here on abbreviated the "1st AD") and do some more training which will essentially focus on turning wussy docs into real soldiers. It's at this point that I'll have to "qualify" with a 9 mm pistol, fire an M-16, learn how to put a knife in my teeth properly, etc. (I think this time period comes with free American Flag tattoos....)
Then, we may or may not get some leave time at the end of October (last 2 weeks-ish) prior to "going live". On or about the 1st of November, we're supposedly on some sort of hot call where we could get a phone call and need to be on a runway somewhere within 24 hours with all our shit. Then it's a military hop to Kuwait. Then a convoy to Iraq. Crazy, huh?
So anyway - regarding the Board exam.
I had originally signed up to take the test in Seattle because I thought the army would let me stay there over the summer (for the test) prior to sending me to Germany. This proved to be wrong, but by the time I went to Germany it was too late to change test centers according to the ABIM (American Board of Internal Medicine). Despite my appeals, the board declined to change the test center away from Seattle. (I wanted to go to a more eastern city to minimize the jet lag for taking a test (where I really need to be able to concentrate) and also to curtail the ridiculous travel time coming to and from Europe for only a few days).
So I tell Papa Stup all this and he gets fired up and takes it on himself to ask (and then later shame) the board to let me change my test center. When I first asked, I hadn't yet known about going to Iraq. By the time my dad got wind of it, he knew about me going to Iraq and the whole nine.
What ensued was a set of emails between my dad and the people at the ABIM. At first, they continued to decline my test center change but did offer me a full refund because of the deployment if I chose not to take the test. While normally not done, this didn't satisfy Papa Stup in the least. Now by this time (late last week), I told my dad to settle down because I needed the paper work from the Army to take the test ANYWHERE, so I figured I'd just settle on Seattle and deal with the 9 hour time difference. Before I told my dad this, however, he had already sent another email to the ABIM, which essentially outlined his disappointment with their decision. It also stated that he'd respect his son's wishes to cease inquiry because of the aforementioned necessary paperwork from the Army to be able to go back to the States at all. My dad forwarded me that email, which has some good stuff.
As it turns out, and based on that email from my dad, the board has consented to let me take the test ANYWHERE in the US!. This fires me up, because now I can take the test in Chicago with Pete - thus we can travel together, and everything will be a lot easier (only a single, direct flight is required) PLUS the jet lag will "only" be 7 hours (hell - it's better than 9.)
Here are pieces of that email (good stuff!): (Papa Stup to the ABIM after the request to change test centers was initially denied)
"Thank you for you response. I have forwarded it to my son and will
honor his
request that I do not take this further. Although I am puzzled by your
response. His assignment will be with the 1st Armored Division in the
field. His
first duty will be to provide the best of care to injured servicemen,
in the
field, before they are transferred to a place with better facilities.
As a Parent
I am always concerned about his safety. As an American I would be
incensed at
the thought of even one life be compromised or lost because he was not
alert,
fatigued, etc. because of a simple decision which could have been made.
As an
Executive who has traveled worldwide I know the effects on the body and
mind
of extended air travel. I am also acutely aware of the germs recycled
in
airplanes. The close confines as well can with the right circumstance
have longer
lasting illness effects. I would not want to take the slightest chance
this
would affect judgment or care given to our servicemen in a war torn
environment
where religious fanaticism invites injuries and death.
I recently returned to Houston from a Philadelphia. Boarding the flight
were
three servicemen. It literally took only a few minutes for myself and
several
of my fellow passengers to give our front cabin seats to these young
men. In
the process we found out they were delivering the remains of of fellow
servicemen to grieving family members. They went out of their way to
thanks us. I was
speechless and could only utter my thanks for the brave job they have
undertaken and that it was a privilege and honor to meet them. I did
not feel any
better and thought about their difficult job and the families awaiting
their son's
or daughter's remains throughout the entire flight.
My own sense would be to recommend to my son that he not take this exam
but
wait till a later time period. But he is his own person and will make
decisions
as he sees fit. He is a good person who will serve in the same proud
tradition of his fellow servicemen.
Our Servicemen deserve the best Doctor's in excellent shape with alert
minds.
This is not about being fair! This is about making the exception when
there
is a difference. Especially when the circumstance appears to be
paperwork,documentation and space. I appeal to your sensibilities to
reconsider. THANK YOU"
Dude - talk about schooling some shit! Prior to this email, my dad had gotten the first refusal from the ABIM and told me on the phone that he'd talk to a "damn Senator" if he had to. I was totally smiling. You get good old concerned parent (and Texas-living Red Stater) Papa Stup on a mission involving his potentially-in-harms-way son getting the raw end of a deal from a bunch of uptight bureaucrats and LOOK OUT. Awesome. My favorite part was how he broke down "germs recycled in airplanes" to a panel of physicians.
In looking back, I'm glad my dad got all amped. Essentially the board was denying my request because of some lame and inflexible administrative policy without taking a true look at the situation.
On the phone with me later, he broke it down like this - "Mike, it's a bunch of bull; they're telling us you can't take the test in a new spot! WHY?!? Because it's their policy and someone doesn't want to fax an extra paper to another city?!? (**the level of exasperation in his voice at this last sentence was hilarious**) What a bunch of crap!"
And you know what - he's right. Nice work Papa Stup!
Later, after we received the email permitting me to change, he added, "Mike - I basically shamed them into it..."
True dat!
So now I'll be going to Chicago to take the exam. I will likely (not finalized yet) be flying out 8/20/05 and returning 8/25/05 to Germany. The test is 2 days long on the 23rd and 24th. Pete and I will be traveling together which will make it nice. Also, 7 hours is no minor jet lag (when needing to concentrate), but it sure its better than 9.
Thanks, Dad. Again.
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