Deployment

by Kim Bolduc-Bartlett
(China, Maine)

Deployment


Assigned to a Navy patrol squadron, every 18 months, the whole squadron packs up and “deploys” to another country for 180 days. Iceland, Sicily, Puerto Rico; their locations are on a rotating cycle. Relieving the previous squadron to return back to its’ home base. Six months of 12- hour shifts. I get one day off every two weeks.




The 2012 Deployment

July, my mother dies. August, I break my foot. October, I bury my dog.
November- my boyfriend died and I am confined to a wheel chair for the next two months. My deployment did not end after 180 days. There were no days off.