On September 11, 2001, I was about three weeks into my IRR after terminal leave. I was still on JST time, up all night and sleeping into the afternoon. My mom called to tell me to turn on the news after the first plane hit the towers. I kept drifting in and out of sleep while the events unfolded. I opened my eyes just before the first tower collapsed. I didn't fall asleep again.
Over the following days I learned that the government contract I was supposed to start the following week was postponed indefinitely. I called the local recruiter and told him I was on IRR and I was prepared to activate right away. For weeks, I kept checking in, waiting for orders. They never came, so I became a Security Officer for South Florida Regional Transportation Authority until other opportunities took me in another direction.
Over the following days I learned that the government contract I was supposed to start the following week was postponed indefinitely. I called the local recruiter and told him I was on IRR and I was prepared to activate right away. For weeks, I kept checking in, waiting for orders. They never came, so I became a Security Officer for South Florida Regional Transportation Authority until other opportunities took me in another direction.
