Week 1: Introduction
I'm Matt. For most of my adult life I have been called by my last name, usually attached to a rank. 'Matt' is still somewhat foreign in my ears, and certainly in my own mouth. For the duration of my twenties, and most of my thirties thus far, the phrase "introduce yourself" consisted of standing up in a crowded room full of men and women dressed identically to me, loudly stating my rank, name, and the details of my previous duty assignment. "Sergeant Long, I'm coming from the 172nd out of Graf." And the person next to me would stand up and do the same. "Specialist Jones. 2ID at Hovey." And since I was with 2ID sometime in the past I could find Jones afterward, exchange pleasant insults and perhaps make a friend. Life is so much more complicated now. This week alone I have sat through grueling introductory exercises where we are encouraged to announce our major, our age, our hobbies, and desperately hope we didn't sound like psychop