Question #3

Question:  When during MOS school did you find out your first duty station? My fiance is currently at MCT in Pendleton,and I'm a bit axious to know when he will know where we will end up living! Thank you sooo much for your service, and God Bless. :)

Answer:  MCT lasts for a little less then a month and after that he will be going to his MOS school.  Depending on what his MOS is will determine where he goes and how long he is there for.  Typically during any type of training environment (boot camp, MCT, or MOS School), you are not authorized a vehicle or to move your spouse to that location.  If schooling is expected to last more then a year he may be authorized a vehicle only.  As far as finding out when he will receive orders for his first duty station, that usually happens the  last week or two of MOS school.  The instructors want to  be fairly confident that the students will pass that course before orders are issued.  Considering that you are married it is unlikely that he would be sent to an oversees duty station at first such as Okinawa, Japan or even Hawaii.  It will more then likely be in CONUS.  To get an idea of where he may be going you can:

1.  Find out his MOS #:  Four digit number (0651 in my case)
2.  Contact his recruiter and ask where the school house is for MOS XXXX.  Then you'll know where he's going after Pendleton.
 3.  After MOS school he could go any where, but more then likely will stay in the USA and once again will typically find out the last week or two while there.

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Ok, So I Lied

I guess this will be my last post before I finally head out. I'm sitting in a Lansing hotel and who would of known...they have internet access. A lot of people have been asking me if I feel nervous, excited, or scared and truthfully right now I'm not feeling to much. I have an idea of what to expect, I know this is going to be hard, I'm expecting to get yelled at a whole lot! It's somewhat easier to go into something knowing kind of what to expect. At the same time it may just be that I'm so ignorant of what to expect that in reality I should be scared out of my mind.

Whatever the case me be, I know that I am excited about whats coming up soon in the future. Mostly the part of the future that excludes boot camp...haha! I'm going to have to tons of stories to tell I'm sure and I hope that once graduation is done, I'll be able to post some pictures of it

Mom, stop crying, I'm gonna be fine, you'll hear from me later tonight, and I'll be sure to write you often. Thanks so much for your help in taking care of things while I'm gone. I'm gonna miss you lots but it'll go by really fast I'm sure. Take care of yourself and don't get all stressed out. If the computer breaks well...umm...ok just don't break the computer. :)

From what I was told, I'll be at MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station) for awhile tomorrow morning again. Apparently I'll be taking another physical, questions, and then taking the Oath of Enlistment again. I know I'll end up in Chicago for about six hours before it leaves for San Diego. I'm not sure if we're driving to Chicago or flying, I would assume we'd be flying if they expect us in California by night time. So as of now the majority of my time will be spent waiting and waiting and waiting. We're told often here to just, "hurry up and wait!" So that's what I'm planning on doing.

For those of you who are wondering the current ten day forecast of San Diego includes sunny skies with lows of 49 degrees and highs of 70 degrees. Nothing to be jelous about at all! I don't think there would be a better time to be in California then this time right now. Weather wise, it's going to be great.

Well, unless there's a computer in the Chicago airport tomorrow I don't plan on writing again until somtime after April 3rd. To all who read, please pray for me as it is greatly needed. I look forward to what God has in store for me in the next few years. I encourage you all to follow God's plan for your life wherever it may lead you. In Christ...Joe C.

Time to Go

Well folks, the time to go has finally arrived. The next time I write, God helping me, I will be a United States Marine. I spent the day cleaning up my room, washing clothes, and spending time with family and friends. I will miss everybody so much and I covet the prayers of all of you to help me stay strong both physically and spiritually.

January 4, 2009 at 12:30 pm, I will be leaving to go to Lansing, MI where I will spend the night in a hotel courtesy of Uncle Sam. I will wake up Monday morning at 5 am where, for the last time, I will go to MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station). Here, I will undergo basic questions ensuring I haven't disqualified myself since my initial enlistment, I will review my contract, and take the Oath of Enlistment again. Then it's off to the airport to await my flight to San Diego, California. From what I understand I will be arriving at Marine Corps Recruit Depot at night and processing will continue through the night and into the next day. I will not sleep at all Monday night. So if you're wondering what I'll be doing on the plane...take a guess!

Basic Training will be thirteen weeks long, including one week of initial processing. If all goes well I will be graduating on April 3, 2009. I will not know my mailing address until I arrive in California and I will have no way of posting it while I am there. If you wish to send me a letter you can contact my church at the link posted on my blog. Otherwise, feel free to leave a comment or send me an email (my email is listed on my profile), and I'll be sure to answer back when I am able.

I am looking forward to this next step in my life and I am glad to be able to serve both my God and my Country. Until I write again....Joseph Cuestas.

Lots of Lasts

The time is approaching for me to leave for boot camp on January 5th. It is a bitter sweet time as I enter into this next chapter of my life. I have grown used to where I am. I have a decent job, I am active in my ministries, and I am overall doing well. But the time is fast approaching when I will be leaving all of this behind.

I have now spent the last Sunday on my bus route. I have grown to love the children that were on that route and thoroughly enjoyed playing games, singing songs, and just plain being a goofball with them. I pray that they continue to be faithful and that they one day will grow out of the bus ministry and end up in "the big church" as they sometimes call it.

My last Sunday in church is now complete as well. I can never fully express what this church has done in the lives of me and my family. I would love to stay and serve as much as they would allow me to, but the time has come for me to move on. I look forward to the next church where God will allow me to serve and witness for Him.

My last week of work in the civilian world is also upon me. My job at Best Buy (#405 is the best!!) has been the most enjoyable paying job that I ever had. The atmosphere was great, the people, quirky sometimes, were lots of fun. I will miss the friends, coworkers, and bosses that I had the privilege of working with. You guys are all awesome and I will miss you.

While this week may be a week of "lasts" it is certain that the next week will open the horizon to many new beginnings. I look forward to what God has in store for me as He continues to mold and make me into the Christian that He wants me to be.