Tuesday, July 21, 2009

What to do...?

As I was sitting around my house trying to figure out what to do, I was reminded of something that I have not touched in quite a while...my blog! So, now I am sitting here about ready to type and let you know some things that I have been up to with training and with my first few days of vacation!
Buckner, CFT (Cadet Field Training), Bucknam, or whatever you want to call it, was awesome! I just finished one month of some amazing training at West Point. I basically was introduced to all the combat branches of the army and got some time to take a look at what each one is like. Not only was the training great, I met some amazing people in my class and had great times with old friends as well.
We started out training with Day/Night Land Navigation. Basically we "wander" around the woods looking for some points, both in bright light and pitch black. I have to admit, stumbling around the woods in the dark is not the 'funnest' thing in the world, but it is an adventure. After that I had combat engineers and field artillery days. At combat engineers we learned different explosives to breach doors, identifies both UXOs and IEDs, and learned about EOD teams. At field artillery we learned to call for fire, shot mortars, and fired 105s out of Howitzers. It was pretty legit. I had a close call around the mortars, though. As we reached the crest of the hill, an 81mm mortar fired short and we had to book it. We were less than 25m from a mortar that produces a 60m kill radius. Thankfully it did not detonate, but it was quite an interesting experience. After that we had ITP or Introduction to Patrolling - a brief look at Infantry tactics. We conducted an ambush and react to fire. We also had two days of marksmanship with the M4 rifle and M68 red dot sight (which was absolutely amazing). This included a night fire with some amazing night vision goggles (NVGs). During this whole time, except for marksmanship, it poured! We were constantly cold and wet and it did not make for the 'best summer of our lives' as Buckner has been labeled.
However, after marksmanship, the last two weeks was quite sweet. We had lots of down time, after a very hectic (no rest) two weeks. We had a dry and water obstacle course, CQC (close quarter combatives), and mounted training at Ft Knox, Kentucky. At the water obstacle course, we had to walk across an I beam 20ft above the water and then go down a zip-line and drop into the water. It was awesome! Ft Know was legit as well. I got to ride around in some tanks and fire some really big guns! I got to shoot a 25mm canon, an 80mm round from an M1A2 Abrams tank, a .50cal machine gun, the Mark14 automatic grenade launcher, and a 240. That was fun. I also played 'laser tag' in tanks to get an actual feel for what combat in tanks is like. I'll just say it was like nothing I had ever done before. I loved it.
The last night at Buckner we had a dance and our class broke the dance floor. It was awesome! That is one thing that we will always be remembered for - the floor collapsing from underneath us at our Illumination! The next morning we ran the six miles back to West Point and then I left for home.
Since I've been home, I have just been chilling with the family. My buddy got dropped from Air Assault school up at West Point so I went and got him so we could hang out for a few days before he started his next detail. We just chilled, went fishing, went out for a bit, it was cool. When we went fishing, we fished for a while, but then just racked out in our canoe. It was such a nice day and it did not take long for us to pass out, and next thing I know we hit the shore on the opposite side of the lake. I took him back Sunday and then went mini golfing with some friends and hung out. Today, I've been home all day hanging out with my sister.
Tomorrow I'm doing something with the family, I just don't know what yet. We were going to go to the beach, but that's a no go, and we might go to Ricket's Glen. That'd be pretty sweet.
Next week I'm hopefully going to Jersey shore with a few of my friends. I can't wait. We have been planning this for quite a few months, well, just planning on going really. I can't wait to just go and chillax for a few days near the ocean with some of my buds.
I went to my home church this past Sunday...that was really nice, especially after not being in church for a month during training. I've really been trying to stay consistent with quite time, but I haven't been doing too hot. It seems that when I have the time to do it, those are the times it never gets done, but when I'm the busiest that is when I can find time for it. If anyone ever figures that out, will you please let me know. I really want to use this time at home to spiritually prepare myself for another year at West Point. As I look back on this past year, I can definitely see how I was broken down and tried, and I know that this year won't be any easier. Those of you who want to know how to pray for me, please continue to pray that I keep myself spiritually, mentally, and physically pure and to guard my heart. That is definitely the biggest thing.
Well, I guess it is about time I get going. I will write soon and thank you all for your prayers! Peace out...