My husband is deployed right now, but the plan for life after deployment involves me moving to Germany to be with him. Every time I tell someone this, they get really excited for me. (Not going to lie, it is pretty cool.) However, I cannot fully celebrate yet because I’m waiting on command sponsorship.
Translation to civilian speak: I need approval from the Army before I have permission to move. Sure, I could move without their permission, but I’d have to pay for it, we wouldn’t get our housing allowance or COLA (cost of living adjustment), etc etc, so on and so forth. Basically, it ain’t happening without command sponsorship. Thus, my restraint when it comes to celebrating my big move.
I have a lovely checklist of all the things that need to happen in order to get command sponsorship The big thing I had to take care of: my EFMP screening. Translation: a medical check-up to make sure that the Army can meet my health needs overseas. Yesterday, I finally went to the doctor.
According to the doctor: I’m healthy as a whistle! Woo-woo! My body rocks because:
- My blood pressure was 104/76. I don’t totally know what this means; I just know it’s good.
- My weight is normal. (I don’t weight myself ever because I know it will give me a complex. I even considered standing on the scale backwards when they weighed me so I wouldn’t see. I guess I could have just closed my eyes.)
- My family history is good. (I called my mom afterwards to ask her many probing questions about her cholesterol and the cause of death of my deceased grandparents.)
- I felt so good about the visit that I went for a 3 mile run with my little lion as soon as I got home.
- Best of all, the doctor checked all the right boxes on my form!
Oh, but I’m not done yet. I need to fax the form to the EFMP office at Ft. Hood and they’ll pass it along to Germany, I think. Since I don’t live on or near post, I actually completed a “distance screening.” The Army needs to look over everything before I can cross the EFMP screening off my checklist.
The whole thing has me holding my breath. I want to be with my husband desperately. I just have this fear that for some reason command sponsorship won’t happen. For now, I’m doing what I can, checking things off my list. If nothing else, at least I have my health.
Do you understand the whole blood pressure thing? Is yours good? When was the last time you had a check-up? This was the first time for me in ages. (You know, other than a lady check-up).*
PS – Happy Valentine’s Day!
Yay! I actually just took my blood pressure, but it’s still up (pregnancy, normally it’s fine). I probably need a physical in the next year, but my insurance doesn’t cover preventative care except for babies and children (because the state requires it). Anyways, congrats on being another step closer to Germany!
I’m glad you’re crossing off all the things on your command sponsorship to-do list; I honestly cannot imagine any reason why you wouldn’t be permitted command sponsorship. It’s just part of the protocol….and I think the Army likes to leave you hanging like that sometimes.
For instance, Craig is actually stationed at Ft. Hood but we stayed back in Virginia because moving would have been dumb, considering he’d be deployed the whole time we were stationed there. So, we had to fill out a waiver to keep getting DC BAH, which is much, much more money than Ft. Hood BAH. Ft. Hood BAH would only cover half of our rent. Anyway, that waiver took FOREVER. We filled out all the appropriate paper work and it still sat on someone’s desk for ages. And of course, it had to be resubmitted. I swear someone sits in an official Army paperwork office and delights in tweaking people.
Anyhow, I’m glady you’ve been deemed healthy and fit for travel! All that running pays off!
I might be just the person to help you with this blood pressure(BP) interpretation! Your BP is perfect
We really like to see at/around/or less than 120/80. Especially for someone your age, weight, exercise status, etc.
I know some runners/atheletes who have been training for-ev-er even have a lower BP like in the 80-90/50-60 range…which is perfectly normal for them because they’ve got their heart conditioned so well.
Long story short, I’d be happy for you to show up in my OR any day!
Even though I hope I never have to give you anesthesia, I would do it in a second…you are like my dream patient!
*on a side note….I think I use the most smiley faces of anyone I’ve ever met/read…weird. I try to contain myself but they just keep happening!
…bwahaha*
I had no idea that you would be traveling to Germany after the deployment. I admit that would make me really excited too! You will have to let me know more details when it gets a bit closer. One of my army wive friends here is also being stationed in Germany mid summer! I think the most important part is that you will get to be with your hubs. When it all comes down to it, that’s all that really matters. Though living in Europe is awesome! (I lived in italy for 9 months in college).
Way to eat your veggies and be healthy!
my husband is a nurse and he totally explains the blood pressure thing to me all the time and i never remember…woops!
you can be my valentine!
good luck with your sponsorship! that would be FABULOUS! Germany is gorgeous and it would be incredible to be reunited with your husband.
i understand why you are worried though. I would be too! but you are in my prayers hun! and happy valentines day from wife to another who has a husband away
All I know is the top number shouldn’t be over 120… or maybe 130
That is exciting, but I totally understand your hesitation. I’m all about hoping for the best and planning for the worst.
My blood pressure is bad. So I take medication for it. It’s because I am overweight I. Best move would be to loose weight. Well, at least I am trying.
I think it works like this: They put the pressure on your arm until no blood moves anymore. Then they listen while they slowly release the pressure until they hear your blood move again. The first number is for the arterial blood I think, the second number for the blood flowing back to your heart through the veins. First number should be higher because the arterial blood is pumped through your body by your heart while on the way back it’s just the veins and whatever they do to move it. If either number is to high, it means it stresses the blood vessels to much.