First Day of Work

Where to begin...

I got to the base around 8:30am. I met my sponsor Major I*. She is very nice and she introduced me to about 20 or 30 people. All I have to say is thank goodness they all have their names and ranks attached to the front of their uniforms or I wouldn't have any idea who anyone is. I think everyone should wear velcro name tags. It would make life a lot simpler and everyone would always know your name.

I spent a lot of today waiting for my password to be approved so I could sign onto networks and ask for more approvals and get a building pass. I am now "official" with a picture name badge and everything. When I got home Brad wanted to see my picture. He disapproved of me smiling in the picture. "You're not supposed to smile in these things," he said. I don't care. I was happy. It was the last thing I needed in order to be fully processed today. Well, I also need my two month vehicle pass but that is pending approval and should be ready tomorrow.

In between waiting for password approval and vehicle approval and building pass approval I went on a lot of tours. Major I* took me on a tour of the base, including a tour of the gym. Major I* is very enthusiastic about working out. Brad said, "so that means she could kick both our butts." I said probably, but I don't think it would take much. We also drove around the area around the base and we went on a tour of the building.

Most of the building is filled with cubicles. These are the tall cubicles you can't see over. There are also cubicles with doors on them which is something that I have never seen before. I'm sure the building is laid out pretty symmetrically but the cubicles are set up in a way that creates a bit of a maze. Major I* led me around the building and I swear we came back to the JAG office a different way every time. I start work tomorrow at 9:00am but I may have to get there at 8:00am with a compass just to find my way back. I am not in the JAG office that I linked in a previous post. Instead, I am in the Army Reserve Headquarters building. The building itself is relatively new. All over the building there are cases with uniforms and other military artifacts which represent the Army Reserve or the Army Reserve's accomplishments over the years. There is even a cannon on the bottom floor. There can't be that many legal interns who can say there is a cannon in the building where they work.

The highlight of the day, though, had to be when I found out where I am going to be working during the summer. They have assigned me an office, not a cubicle, an office. It is quite large and has two desks, one with the computer the other behind the chair with the printer. Oh, yeah I have my own printer. There is also a bookshelf, four chairs and a set of BDU's hanging on the back door. So I guess I could invite a whole bunch of people to hang out in my office. We could read the phonebook, dress up and print things. But we can't call anyone because my phone has been disconnected. It was an empty office for a while so they are working on getting it reconnected. The JAG office is getting another intern next week. I asked where the other intern was going to be and was told he was also getting an office, but I saw his office and it is a lot smaller than mine. So I guess getting there first has its perks.

Well that's all for today...I am working on reviewing and proposing regulations tomorrow with Lieutenant Colonel C*.