Steve Sizemore's Weblog

Well I just finished with a week of annual training with the Air National Guard. We did a Phase 1 ORI. Basically we simulated packing up and deploying to an oversees location. Picture all the logistics of moving a few hundred people and material to go war. While that was going on the network control center was inspected on some of our Information Assurance procedures. It was a long week of 12+ hour days and checklists.

Complicated checklists that tell you what to do if you get a classified message on an unclassified network. Or what do to if you get a virus. We didn't do so well. Some of the members of the NCC, that should have known the procedures, seemed less than confident about it. The inspector picked up on our self-doubt and dug deeper. The most important thing ... when you're being evaluated is to appear confident at all times. Just looking smart can allow others to give you the benifit of the doubt. Some of us didn't look so smart this weekend.

The one nice thing about this week is that on Monday I sewed on the rank of Technical Seargent. I was pretty excited but at the same time I felt kinda guilty. There were several other people that put in for the same position. I just felt bad that I won. Everyone one was cool about it though. So I guess I got all worried for nothing.

What else? I turn 27 tomorrow. No big plans. I'm seriously considering not going back to work tomorrow. I probably should go, just because I've been away for an entire week, and I know I have a lot of work to do. I just feel really drained. Throughout this week, I slowly lost the ability to communicate and think clearly. Things got a little fuzzy toward the end. Am I getting to old for this? So I may just skip work altogether, just so I can return 100% rested and ready to work. Is it better to go to work and give 50% or rest up and work at 105%? Does this make me some sort of rock star primadona? ... slacker?