New Experiences!

So, we are done with our training at Fort Jackson. Holy Smokes! I gotta tell ya, I've always respected my brothers and sisters in green but after a two-week rate of what they go through, I gotta give y'all props! What you go through, the stresses that you experience on your deployments, and the dangers that you face are incredible! Folks, Soldiers are a special breed. I love you guys!!

The training they gave us on weapons was top-notch! Let's just say the drill sergeants helped me get from decent to expert on pistol and I came only a couple of points short of expert on rifle. We did a lot of shooting in preparation for our qualification so by the time the day came it was just a matter of getting on the line and remembering what they taught us.

Let me tell ya, lugging around all that gear was NOT fun. Those tactical vests are pretty damned heavy and there were days we wore the all day...well , I did anyway. They were a pain to take off and put back on so you had to decide whether you wanted to deal with that or with the weight. We learned to deal with it and not complain. After all, it could be gear that saves our lives.

MREs. What can be said about them...they're actually not bad. The Southwest Chicken was my favorite.

Anybody ever been in a vehicle roll-over? We went through a roll-over simulator that was kind of like the dunk tank for you aviators out there. It rolls you over somewhat gently. It let me tell ya, it is a very disorienting experience. Finding the door latches was challenging because we were upside down...and the drill sergeants kelp yelling at us, "Get...Out...Of My...Vehicle!" and "Where Is Your Boom Stick!" Yes, we had to remember to get our weapons out of the vehicle...gotta set security!! It was a really fun evolution, though. Trying to get out of the back seat of that Humvee when it was upside down was comical. From trying to contort myself so I can get upright to sticking the entire lower half of my body in the front seat, we were laughing hard in that thing! Here's the team I "rolled" with.

The guys in my barracks were all pretty cool. Lots of teamwork going on there. We all did our part to watch each other's weapons and help each other get gear strapped on. I'm gonna miss those guys going to Afghanistan. I hope they come home safe.

There were some wonderful folks that came out the Sunday before we left to give us a great send-off. Since 2006 this group of volunteers go out of their way to make sure that we know that we will be missed when we go downrange. There was a Cub Scout pack that made para hoed bracelets for us. One lady brought loads of Mary Kay sunscreen and lip balm. We each received a Dang-It doll. What's a Dang-It doll?

When you want to kick the desk

or throw the phone and shout,
Here’s a little dammit doll

you cannot do without,
Just grasp it firmly by the legs

and find a place to slam it,
And as you whack it’s stuffing out

yell, "Dang-It, Dang-It, Dang-It!!"

Well, all that training is past and opening. The real journey is starting today. Gonna be a tiring plane ride but once we're done with that I can get started with what I'm being sent out there to do.