Wake up this morning was at 0430, and at 0500 we turned in our linens, came back upstairs, and cleaned the bay. It was my day for the group I'm in to clean the latrine, so tomorrow I will be off! Once we were done, we went downstairs for formation and went out to the PT field and did 60/120s. After an exhausting PT, we went straight to breakfast, and then afterwards went upstairs and put on full battle rattle. Let me just say, I looked really good. I mean, I look like a soldier. I had my ACUs on, pants tucked into my boots, ACH on my head, IBA and FLC on, and to top it off, we wore our elbow and knee pads. You can go online and look up a picture of active duty Army in combat gear (AKA: AT-50), and that's what I looked like. Once the platoon was all decked out in their gear, we formed up downstairs and marched about 10 minutes away to the EST buildings (Engagement Skills Training) to start our ARM (Advanced Rifle Marksmanship). We shot MIGs that were hooked into the computer and air compressor (We shot M4s last time...and that is what we carry around), except this time the targets moved, like how they will when we qualify later this week. It was fun, and got us out of the heat (inside a dark room that has to be air conditioned to keep the computer and equipment from overheating). After both first and third platoons were finished, we marched back to our barracks, took off our battle rattle, and went to lunch. After lunch, we had a suicide prevention class in the classroom led by our company commander, Captain Flook. It ended up being the same video I watched both at Ball State ROTC and my RSP unit at the Muncie Armory. Oh well, with the problem of suicide in the Army (We were told May hit a new high), it is a good video for everyone to watch. For those who get deployed, they leave a family behind as well as deal with death on a daily, or at least weekly, basis. I just know that God is in control and that everything happens for His reasons, and that he won't ever put me in a situation that I can't bear. So anyway, after our class, we weren't allowed to go up to our bay, because we had a surprise bay and locker inspection! We were told to go upstairs and unlock our wall lockers, not to touch anything, and then stand toe-to-line. Someone moved while we were waiting, so the drill sergeant smoked us for about 20 minutes (I think it was more to stall time and get another workout in today). About two minutes after we finished getting smoked, the company commander and company first sergeant came into our bay and inspected our lockers. As a platoon, I guess they were really bad, but mine (as hard as this may sound, Mom) was just about as perfect as it could be, but when our inspectors left, we got smoked again for another 20 minutes. When we were done getting smoked again, we had some down time, which most everyone used to square away their wall lockers, except I used it to write (because 8 letters and a journal yesterday wasn't enough!). We were then told to go downstairs with some money to buy tokens for some fourth of July festivity, but I only had a few bucks on me, and the ATM was out of order, so I will wait (They will be back to sell them). Apparently, the tokens are the only "currency" that is allowed, and we only get breakfast and dinner that day! So yeah, too bad family weekend isn't then. Anyway, after everyone got their tokens, we practiced urban combat tactics from kneeling behind and beside an object. By the time we all practiced, it was time for dinner. After dinner, we got our linens, came back upstairs, made our beds, and took showers. The rest of the night was ours to do what we wanted, which I wrote more, did laundry, and just people-watched--staying out of trouble! A few guys picked up a handful of small rocks, filled the toes of a sock with them, and tied the open end to make a hacky sack, and played around all evening with it. Another group made some ball out of a sock, wrapped it in tape, and tossed it around (if it hit the ground, you were out?). So yeah, I didn't join in that game. Finally, final formation was at 2130 and we got milk and fruit. Afterwards, I grabbed my laundry our of the dryer, headed back upstairs, and finished a letter at 2130, after lights were out and most were asleep, the DS on duty turned on the lights and brought us mail!
16 June 2009 (Day 52)
I woke up this morning just wanting to stay laying in bed, but I had a lot that needed to get done before we left at 0600 (0515 was formation, and we woke up at 0430). Most of our rucks were ready to go because we keep them packed and hung on the end of our bunks, so when we were told to pack them, we just needed to pack toiletries that we use on a day to day basis. I saved the mail I got to read for the morning, because I was guessing I would have a little time before we headed out, which I did! I put my letters away, got all of my gear on that we were told to bring, and we marched down the street to our bus loading area. It was about a 20 minute bus ride to the shooting range. The first forty shots we received were with our iron sites. I was in the fourth group to shoot, and shot 32 of 40 targets. From what I heard, the best scores were in the low-mid 30s (35 being the highest), so I felt pretty good about my shooting. When we were done, we practiced our shooting stance and pivoting to the left and right. Once everyone was finished, the first group went to shoot with their scopes, while the second group (which I was in) went to eat MREs. When it was finally my turn to shoot, I went up, got my ammo, and prepared to shoot. I ended up shooting 25, so I don't think my scope/optic is zeroed in (I kept calling it a scope, but it doesn't magnify anything, just puts a red dot on a lens). After everyone shot, we picked up the brass and cleaned up the range. After the range was clean, we had some time to kill, so we went over the ledge formation (movement formation that gives the best security for your team). The buses arrived a little early, so we rushed to get on and then headed to the area we were camping at for the night. The Army calls it a bivwack site (whatever that is), but it's not much different than a back country campsite. We practiced shooting drills and proper stances and techniques until dinner. Dinner wasn't anything special, but we did have brownies. I decided I was going to get one this time (I was finally going to splurge!), but when I went back to the platoon, one of the guys wanted a brownie, and was willing to buy it for $5.00, so I gave it to him, and I made five bucks! I completely got the better end of that deal, because now I didn't eat those bad calories! So anyway, after dinner we got smoked for about 45 minutes because the group nearest to the drill sergeants talked during dinner (it doesn't matter if we eat in the D-Fac or have MREs in the field, there is no talking during meals). When the smoke session was over, we split off into two groups and learned about our night optics that attach to our ACHs. We didn't have batteries, so they didn't turn them on, but at least we know how to attach and use them when we do use them. When our class was over, we went and set up our camp, which was as a company instead of by platoon like last time. We had five fireguard per shift. It was 2200 before we were done and in bed. It had gotten up to 103 degrees today, so I was tired and felt drained from the sun and heat... I was really looking forward to my sleep!
17 June 2009 (Day 53)
UGH! Last night our drill sergeant decided to test how combat-ready we were, so he woke us up at 0005 (five minutes after midnight), and said we had 5 minutes to be dressed in full battle rattle and up in formation at the clearing (which we sleep a hundred yards into the woods or so). We were confused and a little disoriented, being that we only had 2 hours of sleep, it was pitch black, and we weren't sure what was happening. I thought we were packing up, so I almost had myself packed up when I was told not to pack it up and just be in full battle rattle. We formed up, and apparently took too long, so we started off on a road march through the woods on a fire road. We went back about a quarter mile or so, and our drill sergeant said to hurry it up, and the next time we need to be faster, or we will really head out on a road march! We RAN back to the formation area, and were then told to go back to bed. I went right out, and was then woken up at 0245 for my 0300 fireguard shift. My job was to walk along the line of our platoon while they slept, making sure no one came into our area, or at least know our password. My shift went by sort of fast, pleasant thoughts of home running through my mind! Time really is moving pretty quickly, and before I know it, I will be somewhat of a normal citizen again (and be a "weekend warrior"). So anyway, we were the platoon up at 0400. We packed up camp, and were in formation by 0500. At 0545, the company moved into a road march formation, and at 0600, we headed down the road about 2 miles to the firing range for the day. We dropped our gear once we got there and ate breakfast. After breakfast, we formed up and got assigned a firing lane for our pre-qualifying day. We got two practice rounds (with a MRE for lunch in between), and each round consisted of about nine different targets that pop up at distances of 50 meters to 300 meters. You get 40 rounds (2 magazines--30 rounds in one and 10 in the other), of which the first 30 rounds are shot in the prone (lying down) position, and then you switch magazines and shoot the last 10 in the kneeling position. For my first pre-qualifying round, I only hit 24 of 40 targets, but I was able to learn from where I missed (the farther the target, the more left I needed to aim), and improved slightly, hitting 28 out of 40 targets. Hitting 28 targets is good enough for sharp shooter, but I really want over 30 (and expert would be awesome--36 hits). I still wished I had more time zeroing in my optic, but I am just going to have to shoot with what I have. Everyone was done shooting by 1430, but we didn't have a bus pickup time until 1700, so we waited around. A couple of platoons were smoked (one had a heat casualty and an ambulance was called in), but first platoon didn't get out of hand or fall asleep (or wasn't caught--I didn't sleep, though, I was just a good lookout) so we didn't get smoked! The buses finally arrived at 1730, and we were transported back to our bay! It felt so good getting out of the 105 degree heat (with humidity), especially since we wear boots, pants, shirts, blouses, and headgear! Once we were back, though, we grounded our rucks and other gear in our formation area, and then headed to dinner. I love the Powerade! It got old after drinking two glasses with every meal, but now, after being outside all day with nothing but water to drink, that cold Powerade is awesome! After dinner, we had a lady talk to our platoon about t-shirts for our platoon with our names on them and all. I might get one, but we will see. They're fifteen dollars (or $50.00 for 4, so team up with three other guys and save a couple dollars). After our t-shirt briefing, we went upstairs and cleaned our weapons and unpacked our rucksacks. I chose to write as well, so that I could mail out the latest journals in the morning, so I will finish cleaning tomorrow. We then had showers (which felt really good), and then final formation. We learned we get to sleep until 0600 tomorrow, and that we don't have PT either (they want us to do as well as we can qualifying tomorrow). We came back to the bay, and since I had done laundry before we left, I took a shift for Salado to watch his stuff, if he threw in my ACUs (so I got those washed). We also had mail call at 2200, but I didn't get any mail. I finally went to sleep around 2230 after taking out the laundry, which I didn't mind, because we got to sleep in! Hopefully the rest I get tonight will help me shoot better tomorrow! (Happy birthday, Dana!)
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