Last night's sleep was alright, and I wish it was longer. Wake up was at 0400, and we had to turn in our sheets/linens at 0430, after we changed into ACUs. After we turned them in, we cleaned the bay and grabbed the last of our items we needed for our overnighter. We then went downstairs and were going to eat breakfast, but ended up standing in formation for over and hour. We then put on all of our gear (FLC, ACH, and rucksack) and headed out to the buses to get transported out to the firing range. We got off the buses and lined up our gear in formation on the ground, and got breakfast. It was the usual food (eggs, ham, potatoes). Plus, in honor of mom, I ate a bowl of Raisin Bran (sorry, it was Kelloggs!). After breakfast, the company lined up in four ranks, and the first two lines went to zero in the sites on their M4s, while the back two lines went to learn about how to set up a perimeter as a platoon. I was in the third line, so I enjoyed the class, and then sat and waited in the shade while the first half of the company shot their weapons. I wish I had brought some letters with me for all the down time I had while I was waiting, because I need/want to reply! After sitting around for over five hours (ate an MRE for lunch as well), I finally got to shoot. I got recorded as a group on my first five shots, and after that, the shots were together but didn't count as a group. When I finished with my 30 shots using the iron sites, and because I was in the last group, I basically sat down and got right back up to to shoot using the scope on top and zero it in. My first five shots were somewhat close, and so it was readjusted and I shot another 25 shots. During one group of ten shots, I started on the wrong target, and shot the last two shots on my first target. I have a breathing problem, because my shots are spread out vertically, so that is something I will have to practice controlling. I then got to sit around in the shade, sipping on Gatorade while second platoon zeroed in their scopes. We ran out of time for third and fourth platoons to zero in their weapons, so they will probably do that tomorrow. We had a shake down to make sure no one was taking anything from the range, and helped clean up the area. We then put everything back on and got ready to ruck to where we would be spending the night. We were told it was a four mile march, but it was maybe a mile and a half or so. We didn't leave from the range until 1830, when we were supposed to leave at 1700. We ate dinner once we got to our site, and as predicted, set up our platoon areas in the way we were taught during our class. Because of my camping experience, my battle buddies around me came to me for advice. It didn't rain so I just laid out my poncho, put my sleeping bag on top, and then used my poncho liner (blanket that ties into the poncho during cold weather) and slept like that. It was too hot to use a sleeping bag (plus, I didn't want to stuff it back into the bag and compress it, then put it back in my ruck sack in the morning) so I didn't use it. I slept great, and fell asleep to the sound of another group doing their night shooting on a nearby range. By the time I went to sleep, it was about 2130, and wake up was at 0430. I didn't have to pull fireguard, so I got to sleep straight through until morning!
09 June 2009 (Day 45)
Fireguard woke us up at 0430, and it was a lot cooler than when I went to bed. I laid in bed and fell asleep sweating, then woke up cold and trying to stay warm. As soon as I got up and moving, I warmed up, and so we packed everything up, broke camp, and went to the main area to meet up with other platoons. We got our granola bar, and then sat around for over and hour, waiting on our next instructions. I am glad I brought my notepad with me to write, because with all the down time we have had, I have been able to get my journal yesterday done and start today's with ease and not lose any sleep. Plus, it has made time go by faster, which is a good thing! I am the only one in my platoon to have brought letter writing material (as well as our pocket notebook). Anyway, the buses came at 0700, so we got on them, and went to the next rifle range. We pulled in and there were different buildings and plywood structures, so we thought we were going to learn tactics of how to clear a room or building, but there was a range we didn't see at first in the back. We got off the bus and ate breakfast, then second and fourth platoons went to the range to zero in their scopes, while first and third worked on changing out magazines correctly and quickly from the prone and standing positions. For the prone, you roll to your side to grab a new magazine, dropping the old one, and sliding the new one in. If you're standing, you drop your old one as you take a knee, put in the new one and stand back up. It is a great lunge workout! As second and fourth platoons finished zeroing in their scopes, they would take the class, so my platoon ended up practicing for over two hours! At 1100, everyone finished zeroing in their scopes and buses came and took us back to the barracks, where we had a shake down and cleaned our weapons. We then got MREs for lunch (which was around 1330), and then we went back to cleaning our weapons. We had a briefing about weapon safety and qualifying before we were allowed to go up to our bays and put things away. After about 30 minutes, it was time to go to dinner (1630). After dinner, we went back upstairs with our clean linens, took showers, made beds, and then had time to clean and unpack our gear. During that time, some of the guys were called into the drill sergeant's office, including Spence and Salado, and they found out where they could be stationed. They will be in the 101st stationed at Fort Campbell in Kentucky. They were all excited because that is air assault, so if/when they go to combat, it will be via Black Hawk (like in Black Hawk Down). This was good news to them, and they are happy to be there! Since I am National Guard, I already know I am in Indiana. It just matters what specific job I choose as Lieutenant once I graduate to go into, so we will see where in the Indianapolis area I will be stationed. So anyway, we went down to our final formation, got a head count, then came back up to the bay to get ready for bed. We didn't get mail tonight, so that was a bummer, but hopefully we get it tomorrow night, since it would have been a few days now. Anyway, I have fireguard from 2300-2400, so lights just went off and I am going to bed!
10 June 2009 (Day 46)
Last night I had fireguard from 2300-2400, so I was able to get about 90 minutes of sleep before waking up for my shift. For fireguard, our drill sergeant was the one on duty for the night, so he had me follow him around for about 20 minutes, taping up notecards of items that needed to be cleaned in the other platoons' latrines. After that was done, I joined Spence back in our bay to finish up our fireguard shift. When I woke up at 0445, I got ready for the day, and my squad has latrine cleaning duty this week, so today was my day to clean (I have tomorrow off). Once our bay was clean, we headed downstairs for first formation and did PT outside. Today's physical activities included warm-ups, 60/120s (60 seconds of sprints, then 120 seconds of walking), and stretches. After PT, we came back to the bay and changed into ACUs and headed to breakfast. While waiting for breakfast, I am starting to notice the heat and humidity earlier. We are just standing in formation, and sweat is rolling down my face, back, stomach, legs...just everywhere. It is not even 0800, and I am soaked with sweat. It is a feeling I am just getting used to...always being sweaty! Anyway, breakfast was the same and afterwards, first and second platoons went out to zero in our weapons at 100 meters and 200 meters. We loaded onto the buses and drove about 15 minutes away to the range. We shot 60 rounds (30 at each distance) total, and of those, I hit the black figure 57 times (still hit the target the other three times, just not the shadow). When we finished, we ate MREs for lunch, and then switched with second platoon. By switching, we went behind the mound and were in charge of raising and lowering the targets for second platoon. It was an interesting process. The target was on this medieval-looking contraption that had counter weights and then the target on the front. We would lower it and put in plugs to make the areas where the shooter shot larger so they could see it. We were outside from 0900-1830, so it was a long hot day, in which I easily drank a gallon and a half of water or more! The drill sergeants had us get into heat category five uniform (roll up pant legs to above the boot, roll sleeves twice, and unzip shirt and just velcro it up). Anyway, we came back to the barracks and ate a catered dinner in out formation area (they stop serving dinner at 1800 in the D-Fac). After dinner, we went upstairs and unpacked gear and took showers. We enjoyed a little bit of personal time and then had our final formation. We went upstairs and I stayed in the laundry room to write today's journal and keep an eye on the load I had in the dryer (put it in the washer during free time). We were then told we had mail, so the platoon came down to our formation area to get it. I had two letters, one from Brittney and one from my dad. After mail call, I went back to the laundry room, read my letters, and got my stuff out of the dryer. I then headed back upstairs and went to bed! I didn't have any other duties tonight, so I was in bed and asleep by 2200. I still haven't had time to write back to previous letters, but if we switch with third and fourth platoons, then we will have a lot of down time tomorrow and get hair cuts (because that is all they did while we were out shooting). Anyway, goodnight and hopefully I get a lot of time to write tomorrow!
11 June 2009 (Day 47)
I woke up this morning and had the morning off (half of my squad cleaned the bathroom one day, and the other half cleaned it the next, and yesterday was my day), so I folded my laundry, filled up my camelback, and then it was time for first formation, and we headed out to do PT. By the time we got out to the PT field, I was already sweating up a storm because of the humidity, but 3+ miles and countless numbers of push ups and sit-ups later, I am sure I couldn't get any wetter, even if I stood under a shower! My clothes clung to my body and I felt disgusting! We came back to the barracks and had catered breakfast. We then went upstairs and changed into ACUs, where we formed back up downstairs, and had a class over recon and a refreshing over the platoon fortification formation out in the sun! Just standing there, my ACUs were sweaty after just a few minutes. The class was somewhat interesting, but it was really just all replay material. We walked through the motions of setting up our own fortifications, and by the time both first and second platoons did it, we came back for lunch in the formation area. I had a sloppy joe MRE (not too bad!), which was the first time I had that. Afterwards, we cleaned our weapons for about an hour, and then changed into PTs. We then marched down the road and got hair cuts (or our heads shaved). As we got done, we walked back to our barrack in groups of five, and had some downtime until it was dinner time. Dinner was catered, and when we finished eating, we went back upstairs to what we thought would be a nice time in the bay where I could write some letters and relax, but fourth platoon left two weapons out, and so they were smoked out on the PT field, while the rest of the company did PT on their own. Third platoon messed up as well (not sure what they did), so they joined fourth platoon crawling around in the sand. This went on for over three hours, in which I took my time walking the track (over five miles!). So yeah, we came back inside, took showers quickly, and Spence and I had fireguard from 2200-2300, so we ended up having the first shift! And on top of that, final formation wasn't even until 2220, and by the time everyone got done with their mile and received their mail, it was 2305, and I had to go downstairs to get my mail, which I got my package of PTs, and a letter from my mom, dad, my Sease grandparents, and Brittney! Anyway, Spence and I didn't even really have a fireguard shift, which we didn't really lose any sleep, and we had gone through our rotation! Sleep around here is treasured, so I am no longer going to write after lights out. I started to respond to a letter I had received over a week ago (yes, I am that behind), but PT tonight got in the way! Again, hopefully I will have time in the near future, but for now, these journals will have to do!
On a side note, we are coming to the end of week 5 (family day in one month!!!), and there are still guys in my platoon who are just too young (mentally). I don't know what it is, but they just don't have the discipline. They talk in formation and move around. They play stupid games in the bay (slapping rears, throwing soap suds in the shower, saying side comments to everything, etc.), and it is really starting to get annoying. Mark my words...we will probably get smoked, and smoked good in the future for their constant stupidity. We might be coming up on our last week of red phase, but the lack of discipline is plenty a reason for some corrective training. Anyway, enough ranting for now (I'll save that for my letters to Brittney).
12 June 2009 (Day 48)
Less than a month until family day!!! :) I can't wait, plus, today is the start of week six! Anyway, about last night's mail...I read Brittney's letter first (which was a few pages long), and was going to read more, but we had a rucksack march in the morning, so I saved the rest for morning. When I woke up this morning (about four hours of sleep later), I got ready for the march and was downstairs with a 50 lbs. rucksack, FLC, ACH, and wearing ACUs! As I thought would happen, we didn't even start marching until a little after 0600, so I grabbed my letters and read them while I was downstairs! Mom, thanks again for mailing the PTs, as well as a little over 40 stamps! (Had 20, now 60, so I should be good for the remainder of my stay in Georgia!) Also, thanks for the pictures! It was nice to see the family and Dad and Grandpap's picture with General Umbarger. So anyway, we finally stepped off and did about 4 and a half miles (of which about one and a half miles was on the road where I lost the ring, but I didn't find it as we marched through). We arrived at the shooting range and got a briefing on what we will be doing. We had 44 rounds that we shot at three different targets (one at 75 meters, 175 meters, and 300 meters) that popped up and down. The process took all day, and I hit 37 of 44 targets. The 300 meter shot was hard for me, because the target was a silhouette of a man that popped up from behind a dirt mound for about 10 seconds, and at that distance, it's like trying to hit a football player on the field from the nosebleed section. We had MREs for lunch (had meatballs in marinara sauce...not too bad). After lunch, most of the company (including me) fell sleep in the shade (it was 94 degrees and humid), but I wasn't caught! Of course, we all got smoked for it, but those 20-30 minutes were worth it (a combined total of over four hours of PT the day before, and only four hours of sleep plus a 4 and a half mile road march gets tiring). Anyway, we cleaned our weapons and practices magazine changes and then it was time to top off water and get our gear pack on for the 2 and a half mile march "home" (yes, "home," because after 5 weeks of living in the bay, it feels so good to come back after a day's training to the AC and what little property of mine I have here, so it is now my home away from home...for now). So we got back and had a couple of drop outs this time, but not to the scale of our last road march. However, we came back and went straight to dinner, and a guy from our platoon and third platoon both went down and had to go to the hospital. We then came upstairs with our gear after dinner, took cool showers, and then had personal time, which was really filled with unpacking, cleaning, and organizing the gear we took. We then had final formation at 2030 (be downstairs 10 minutes early to ALL formations), and we got mail (another letter from my mom about coming down for Family Day, the hotel being booked, and looking at aerial views of Ft. Benning online). By the time we got upstairs, it was 2105, so lights went out shortly after, and now I am writing this journal...and just yesterday I wrote about not writing after lights out anymore. The sacrifices I make so everyone knows what I am doing while away from home. I started a letter yesterday and didn't have the time to finish it, and now today, so I will make sure that this weekend I catch up with mail. I enjoy writing, so when I can't write back, it is a bummer! It is about 2145, so I am going to get some sleep and let my body rest. At least I don't have any guard duty tonight! Love you all and keep me in your prayers!
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