Monday, October 23

Ah, Monday morning. We met outside our hotel at 0500 to load up on buses to head over to Camp Bullis. By 0700 we once again had M-16s strapped over our shoulders. At 0800 my platoon began M-9 training at the FOB. At 0930 we began grenade training. That was fun. We reviewed safety protocols and then teamed up to practice moving down range covering each other and then threw dummy grenades at our attackers. It was fun to actually practice what we talk about all week.
After lunch we went to a Leadership Challenge thing called the LDC. We broke down into groups of 10 and had to accomplish different tasks at different stations. We took turns being the leader and worked as a team to complete each task. We did not accomplish all of our tasks but we were successful at working as a team.
Immediately after dinner we had a quick briefing regarding mounted Land Navigation. They were preparing us for Tuesday’s exercise of climbing into the back of the trucks and taking turns getting from point A to point B. We also had a quick brief on how to use the Garmin GPS system that the Army uses. We were done by 1930 and had lights out at 2200. Early nights are my favorite.

Tuesday, October 24

Tuesday morning began with Combatives. So much fun!!! While the Army typically does not engage in hand-to-hand combat, it is the "Warrior Ethos" that they are trying to install into us. It is not so much of an actual fighting but more of an attempt to gain a dominant position. Today we learned the 4 basic dominant positions.
Following breakfast we broke down into three groups. One group went to the M-9 range to qualify, the second group loaded up into the trucks to complete the Mounted Land Nav, while the third went to the M-9 range to load magazines for the group that was firing.
Just before lunch, we went to the gas chamber. Yup, we went into a cinder block building with our gas masks on to learn how to trust them. Just before leaving the building we had to take them off and breathe in the gas. The gas causes your mucus membranes to freak out and as the gas touches your skin it burns. Needless to say, this was not a pleasant experience. Thankfully, it was not as bad as I had anticipated. Those who had been in before during previous training exercises had told us how bad it can be so I was expecting much worse than it was. The picture is of the actual taking off of the mask. The cloudiness of the image is due to the thickness of the gas in the room. It was nuts! But I survived.
Following the chamber and lunch it was my platoons turn to fire the M-9 at the range. I had never fired this weapon before and was a little nervous. My instructor was really nice and walked me through the safety procedures one more time. I did great! We had 30 targets and I shot 28 of them. I only received f=credit for 27 of them, but it was still good enough to qualify as expert.
That night following dinner we once again went out to the Land Nav course to complete the Night Land Nav exercise. We only had to find 2 of our points this time so I was done quickly. I was in bed at 2130. Again, early nights rock!

Wednesday, October 25

Wednesday began with more combatives. It is so much fun to learn how to defend yourself while rolling around in the mud. I worked with LT Gore who is prior service and pretty good at this. The rest of the day was spent learning about Convoy Operations. Statistics show that we lose so many of our soldiers while on convoy so our instructors were very strict about this training. The morning and first part of the afternoon were spent in briefings learning about how to lead a convoy and how to act as a team player during the convoy. The second part of the afternoon was spent rehearsing with our trucks the 6 different battle drills. We rehearsed what to do if we receive enemy fire, if we were to receive casualties, if a truck broke down, or if we dicovered an IED along the road. It was rough for all as our Convoy Commander micromanaged us throughout each step preventing us from practicing with our teams. We all went to bed that evening feeling a bit unprepared.

Thursday, October 26

Thursday again began with combatives. We began to incorporate the different steps we had been leaning so far. It had rained the night before so we spent that morning rolling around in the mud. We got so stinking filthy. Our backs were covered in mud. The icing on the cake was when I was running through the drills with Lt Gore and I rolled right onto a Fire Ant hill. Yup, it felt great!!!! I ripped my blouse off so quickly and began picking ants off of me.
The rest of the morning was spent with final rehersals for the actual convoy. After lunch the convoy began. We received fire between our first and second check point but drove right through it as practiced. We later were hit with a pretend RPG and small arms fire. We sustained 4 casualties and one of our trucks "broke down". We had to secure the area, get our casualties out, and get our broken truck out. It did not go very smoothly as people tried to put themselves in charge of the situation instead of listening to our convoy commander and truck commanders. Once we convinced the rest to follow orders and not do their own thing we got out. At our flaoating rally point we set up for a Medevac before having a review with our instructors. The review did not go so well, but we learned a lot which was the point of this. We later found an IED on the road and practiced how to secure the area and such. On our last leg of the convoy our instructors wanted us to switch leadership. They asked for a volunteer to be the Convoy Commander and the crowd went silent!!! No one spoke up. So what did I do? Of course, I said I would do it. On the drive back to the FOB truck 7 was hit with an IED and small arms fire. That truck was disabled and Truck 8 went into the kill zone to secure the area. I called on the radio to send truck 1 back to offer fire support. Truck 5 and 6 were sent to get the casualties out and tow the broken truck out. We finally got everyone loaded up again and then went to another floating rally point to call for a Medevac. Once we got to an open field we again set up for a helicopter. As the acting Convoy Commander I called the ACE, SALUTE, and 9-Line Medevac reports before the instructors called for a review. The instructors were very impressed how we as a group had taken what they had told us before and put it into action. They were also very impressed with how well I had communicated to all 8 trucks with only 3 radios and hand signals. And don't you worry, I managed to lie down on another fireant hill before becoming Covoy Commander. Yes, I am that talented!
Before we were allowed to call it a night we had to "field clean" our M-16s to turn them in on Friday. We have not yet been taught how to clean this weapon so it was fun to be creative.

Friday, October 27

Friday is our favorite day as it is the day we go back to Fort Sam Houston and our showers! But before we could go home or eat breakfast we had a 4-mile road march with our Ruc-Sacs loaded with specifics they had asked for. We averaged 15:15 per mile. After breakfast those of us who had not yet completed Mounted Land Nav earlier in the week because we were loading magazines had to complete it then. Huge perk! Those who were not doing mounted Land Nav or retesting for regular Land Nav were sent on FOB recovery. Filling sand bags and reinforcing our pretend bunkers in the hot sun. I sat in the shade for an hour while waiting for the Humvee to come back to pick up the next group of us and them spent a little over an hour in the back of the truck completing the land nav. When we got back it was time to load buses and head back to Fort Sam. Such an easy week compared to the previous!

Weekends Rock!

Upon return from Camp Bollis the hot water in the hotel we are staying in did not last long. There were over 200 of us taking showers at the same time on Friday evening. From the moment we returned from Camp it was a battle to get your clothes into a washer. We all needed to wash our uniforms. It was crazy. Thankfully I was able to get mine early as a friend came by my room as he was pulling his stuff out of a washer. Very convenient. The pic (sorry it is turned again) is what my entrance looked like when I first got back as I raced to get my clothes to a washer.

Saturday was spent hanging out with friends and running errands in town. Because the mornings had been so cold many of us needed to get some cold weather clothing to go under the uniforms. Off to the surplus store we went. I am hoping that I am much better prepared for this next week.

Sunday was spent packing and hanging out with friends. A laid back weekend is just what the doctor ordered. A few member of my platoon have come down with a nasty cold of sorts and are already dreading this upcoming week. One in particular may not make it for the first few days. I really hope she feels better so she can complete all her training with us.

Monday, October 16

We met in formation at 0500 to get on buses and head out to Camp Bollis. And no, this was not like camp when we were kids. As soon as we arrived at the Forward Operating Base (FOB) we unloaded our duffels into our tents. We were divided by Platoon and gender in the tents. We slept 30ish girls in our tent. Our FOB had no showers and had roughly 20-25 port-a-potties. Yup, baby wipe baths for a week!

Once our duffels were unloaded we were each issued an M-16 that was to be our buddy for the week. We slept with , ate with, trained with, and went to the latrine with that weapon. It was crazy! One more thing to carry over our shoulder. When we had all received our weapons we began classes at 0830. We had classes on how to take apart and rebuild our M-16s and then perform a functions test on it to be sure it would be functional when fired. With all the practice we had throughout the week I was able to do this in 2.5 minutes. Our second class was the same but with an M-9 pistol. I could do that one that morning in 34 seconds. The two other classes before lunch were regarding putting together our radios and using them with the final class teaching us how to request a MEDEVAC via the radio.

Following lunch we received training regarding Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical (NBC) gear. We were issued our masks and practiced putting them on in under 9 seconds and the rest of the MOP gear under 8 minutes. (Sorry the pics is not upright.) It was so stinking hot that afternoon and those suits are super heavy.

Just before dinner we set up our tents. After dinner we had 4 more classes to attend. We finished at 2100 and had lights out at 2200 with the next mornings formation to occur at 0600.

Tuesday, October 17

Up before the sun once again. We were up with the 0530 wake-up call and in formation at 0600. As an entire Company we road marched in our Platoons for 3 miles averaging 16 minutes a mile. That may seem slow, but with all of our gear on our backs and our weapons at the ready, it was a long walk.

We returned back to the FOB for a hot breakfast followed by a "Walk the Dog" of the Land Navigation Course. We spent 4 hours walking to different point on the course to familiarize us as to how we would be tested on the exercise. To pass this exercise we were expected to walk successfully walk to 3 of our 4 points in a three hour period. To find the points we are given an eight digit grid cordinate, a compass, a map, and a protractor. During the walk the dog of the course, Captian Hurd who lead my squad on this gave us the coordinates to the furthest parts of the course. We walked another 3-4 miles with Captian Hurd. Wow did my feet hurt!!!

Following our MREs for lunch (see thepic) we had five 40-minute course regarding Basic Rifle Marksmanship. The afternoon courses are held under the cover of trees which help keep us from falling over from the heat.

Dinner was a hot meal which was followed by mandatory study hall. During this study hall we had time to review our M-16s, M9s, radio building, and calling for a MEDEVAC all of which were to be tested later that week. Study hall ended about 2030 and lights out was at 2200.

That night 3rd Platoon was assigned CQ duty. We were responsible to cover the office for the night including the phone and the radio. We decided that the girls would be responsible this week so we set up a schedule to have two girls at a time sit in the office switching every hour. I was assigned the 0500-0600 shift on Wednesday moring with CPT Urso. During our shift we were responsible for a the radio check and to perform the wake up call. I was assigned the wake up call so I had to walk around to all 10 tents and announce the 0530 time and that this was the wake-up call. Let's just say that this made Wednesday a little longer.

Wednesday, October 18

Wednesday started with the wonderful 0530 wake-up call followed by a hot breakfast at 0600. At 0745 we were scheduled to begin our testing for the Land Navigation (Land Nav). However, because an Unexploded Ordinance had been found on the course on Tuesday our instructors were forced to postpone the test until that afternoon. So our morning began with classes held under the trees which consided of ITT. What that consists of is us crawling on the ground. Up that is me in that pic performing the "Low Crawl". I am not going to lie, it is really difficult. We did not have to go far, but it is really trying.

After lunch the temperature rose to the upper 90s/low 100s. At 1300 we began the prep for the Land Nav test. Our instrictors reviewed the rules with us and then handed out our 8-digit grid points. We had four pointson our list and we had to find three of the to pass. This was an individual exercise but half of us were out on the course at a time. We stepped out of the Forward Operation Base (FOB) on to the course with 3 hours to come back. I do not think I can express how HOT is was. We were each issued a whistle in case of emergency and had instrictors positioned throughout the course in case something happened. Well, a few people had to use their whistle as they were at the point of passing out from the heat and being dehydrated. Upon returning to the FOB we were allowed to head back to our tents and cool off in the A/C. My uniform was soaking wet from sweat. While on the course we still had all of our gear on our backs including our weapon and our gas masks. It was so difficult. Climbing the hills to get to our points was such a struggle. I thought I was going to pass out on the way to my second point and then again on the way back to the FOB following finding my final point. It was ridiculously hot!!! I returned with an hour to spare so I had plenty of time to cool off and change in the tent. While I was cooling off others were still returning from the course. As we returned we had to check in and then get our points checked. While in line people began to fall out like dominos. Yup, people were literally falling out of the line as they passed out from being too hot. It was nuts! We had 20-25 heat casualties. We had two in my tent. I was then assigned to take care of them the rest of the evening. I felt to bad for them. They were miserable even after the IV fluids they received. Most everyone was better but still slow the following morning. (By the way, I passed!) My points were: NH 38518306 (start point), NH39768303, NH40488265, NH39108271, and NH38748257.

That evening after the hot diner was again spent reviewing the M16, M9, and such with lights out at 2200.

Thursday, October 19

Yup, up again at 0530. A hot breakfast at 0600 and then my platoon hopped on a couple trucks called a Duece and a Half. I am assuming that the name refers to the weight of the vehicle. They are huge trucks. I have never had to climb into a truck like that, so tall. Think of the stereptypical Army truck to move troops and that is the truck that I am talking about.

The trucks dropped us off at the firing range where we shot our M-16s for the first time. We were learning how to "zero" our weapons. It was so, so, so, so cold. The wind was blowing so hard that we had to postpone the actual process of zeriong. There were no trees around to block the wind so we received the brunt of it. We were so cold that we all eventually had to put on our rain gear to block the wind. It was crazy! I was not very good at zeroing. I was able to finally zero, but it took 10 magazines of three shots each.

After lunch we went across the street to be tested on our M-16 and M-9 skills along with our radio skills. My 9-line sounded like "Dustoff 3A this is Animal 6. I have a MEDEVAC. Over." (waited for a response) "Line 1 - HG 23497452, Line 2 - 60 point 25 break Animal 6, Line 3 - A2 break D2, Line 4 - A, Line 5 - L1 and A3, Line 6 - P, Line 7 - A, Line 8 - C, Over." Get any of that? Don't worry, very few do. I successfully passed all four of my tests that afternoon. (I like passing all these tests.)

Here is the kicker of Thursday. Remember back to Monday's post when I discussed the relationship we were supposed to have with our M-16s? We eat with it, sleep with it, and take it to the latrine with us. Two students accidentally switched weapons when they left their tent in the morning. On a regular day that would not have mattered but since we were actually firing our weapons, the accountability was extremely important. So this one girl could not find her weapon. We had repeated searches of our weapons while at the range. The weapon was finally located back at the FOB with her bunkmate. Upon our return to the FOB Major Dolin wanted to be sure that understood how important this really was. So he had CPT Teters "smoke" us with a "half-right, face". (We turn right and do way to many push-ups in cadence very slowly on a rocky surface in full gear with our weapon on our hands.)

Following dinner we had a brief FOB improvement of spreading out some rocks before heading for bed with lights out at 2200.

If you are heading to OBC, DO NOT LOSE YOUR WEAPON!!! MEMORIZE THE SERIAL NUMBER OF YOUR WEAPON!!!

Friday, October 20

The last day of the week! Up with the 0530 wake-up call and at breakfast at 0600. We again loaded up on the Duece and a halves to head to a different firing range. This range had pop up targets.

Before I got to try my hand at the range I went with my platoon to pass the NBC testing. We had to put on our masks in under 9 seconds and then all of our MOP gear in under 8 minutes. Thankfully it was a chilly morning so putting on all the gear felt good. We finished very quickly so we had an little over an hour to eat lunch.

At 1100 my Platoon marched over to the range to qualify with our M-16s. We were given two magazines with 20 rounds in each. One clip was for when we stood in the foxhole and the other was for the unsupported prone position. My friend LT Gillespe was my spotter and he was great. He kept me calm and talked me through the process of what was about to happen. I shot a 28 and hit the 300-meter target twice. I know that that score is not the greatest, but I qualified and hit a target twice that so many did not even try for. I was stoked.

Just after we finished cleaning up the range the trucks had left to bring back the first group of students. So we had about 45 minutes to kill. (See pic.) Needless to say we found ways to kill the time.

Upon retrun to the Forward Operatng Baes (FOB) we returned our weapons and began to clean up the camp. We were so excited to board the buses at 1700 to head back to Fort Sam Houston. We finished all our briefings by 1830 and I was in my shower by 1840. That shower felt so great!!!

We have the weekend off and are preparing to go right back out Monday morning to do this all over again.

Off to Camp

I packed my Army-issued duffel and my Army-issued ALICE pack and am ready for camp! We have a meeting this evening to load our gear onto a U-Haul-ish truck as we will be leaving Ft. Sam Houston at 0500 Monday morning. We are heading for Camp Bollis which I was told is about a half hour drive away. We will be loaded onto buses with our LBEs (suspenders with belt that has cantens and such attached) and Kevlar (heavy bullet-proof helmets) before daybreak. While at camp we will "qualify" for our weapons, learn how to navigate our way form point A to point B, stand the gas chamber, and many other "fun" activities.

Anyone checked the weather lately for the San Antonio area? Well, if you haven't allow me to update you. It is supposed to rain. Yup, we are going to get soaked. I have packed my gear as if I was going canoe camping. Trash bags and Ziploc bags are holding all of my gear inside of my bags. I hope the rain only lasts for a day or so.

Hey APUers! Is it time for midterms yet? If so, GOOD LUCK!!!

Run Forrest Run

With wind blowing between 15 and 20 mph and a temperature of 56 degrees this morning before sunrise, I passed my PT test!!!

The three high points:
1) no more worries about not passing
2) can sleep in two days a week as I will only have to report three days a week for PT
3) it remains easy for me to ask for passes to leave the area on weekends

Yeah for no more PT tests while in TX!

I want tomorrow morning to pass quickly

Tomorrow we have our first PT (Physical Training) test. We are meeting at a glorious 0515 for morning formation (fancy method of roll call). The push-ups begin promptly following the raising of the colors (0535). Following the push-ups (I only have to do 17!) we will have a ten minute break and then will begin the sit-ups (only have to do 50!). We will have another 10 minute break and then hit the track for the 2-mile run. I have to be under 19:37. Thankfully I am can easily finish in about 18:00. The down side is that we are expecting rain. The only thing that could postpone the test would be lightening. So, we are planning on looking like the old army movies as we do our push-ups and sit-ups in the rain and mud in our shorts and t-shirts. It will be great. I am really looking forward to getting this over with.

Today our new student leadership was announced. We change these positions every two weeks. I have been chosen to be my squad leader. Usually this is a cake position as all we do is go to class. But for the next two weeks we will be at Camp Bollis sleeping in tents, qualifying on the M16 and M9, working on our mounted and dismounted land navigation skills, learning how to storm a building like the SWAT teams, and so much more. And the squad leaders are supposed to know what they are doing. HA! Let's just say that this will be an adventure (and it is supposed to rain off and on all next week). It is going to be hard, but I cannot wait to get there and learn how to be a soldier. Oh, and today we were issued our NBC (nuclear, biologic, chemical) gear. Yup, I will be walking into a brick building with a gas mask on and then be required to take it off and breathe in the fumes while performing specific tasks before being able to leave. I am hoping I can have one of our instructors take pictures of me while I do this so I can show people how sick I will probably come out.

A taste of my past

Just before leaving for TX I had an opportunity to see my childhood best friend. I met Scott in Pre-School. We both lived on Mockingbird Ct. in Novato. Scott and I were always hanging out. I have such fond memories from Novato and Scott is in most of them. I moved to Walnut Creek just before third grade. We stayed in touch via snail mail (see I do remember life before computers and the internet) through Jr. High and then lost touch. He is working for his father's business as a Supervisor. His current job is one that my Dad's business is working as the Geotechnical Engineer for so I got to go to work with my Dad one day and see Scott. It was a short visit as Scott was on the clock, but it was great to see him agian. Randomly throughout the conversation we both kept bringing up the fact that we have grown up and now have real jobs. It was weird to realize this as I looked into the face of my childhood best friend, but it was fun to realize too. What a great guy!!

Act as if it is not raining

Well, the heat has finally left us. It rained all morning and a good chunk of the afternoon on Tuesday. Our classrooms are a 1/2 mile walk from the "D-Fac" (dining facility) and we are instructed to "act as if it is not raining". What does that mean? It means no umbrellas. Our issued rain gear is acceptable but since we are going to the field next week all of our gear is packed. So, we walked in the rain. Not like a light drizzle but similar to the CA rains those of last year. You know, the really hard rains. The roads were like SoCals, flooded. There is no drainage here. It is crazy.

Tomorrow is our final day to prep for the field as we will have to load all of our gear onto some trucks Friday afternoon immediately following class. These next few days before the field will be spent finishing some homework and preparing for some presentations that are due while we are away and right when we get back.

I am hoping to be able to get some cool pictures while out in the field. In caes you were wondering, we will be at Camp Bollis. I am sure you could Google Earth if to see where we will be.

Columbus Rocks!

Federal holidays are amazing! Because Monday is Columbus Day we have the day off! Even better, we were given Friday as a "training day off". Translation, I am in the middle of a FOUR-DAY WEEKEND! Can you guess how stoked I am?!?

This past week was fun. One of my favorite parts was getting to put all of our gear together for our trip to the field in a week. We had to put together our packs and helmets. I had no idea how to do everything neither did the girls I hangout with it so the boys helped us out. We ordered pizza and hungout in the 2nd floor lobby and had a few good laughs at each other. Everyone seemed to have a good time. (That is Cpt. Todd Hulen helping to put together a pack.)

So far this weekend we have been pretty low key. We went out to lunch at the Rainforest Cafe on the Riverwalk. I had never eaten at one and I loved it! What a fun environment. (Although I would never be able to work there as it could very quickly become too overwhelming.) Later that night we went to see "The Departed". Martin Scorsese is brilliant but there was a little more violence and usage of the "F-Bomb" than I was expeting. Today we went to the Colmo River and "tubed". It was great. An hour and a half of floating down a river with good conversation with friends was a great way to start the day.

And to answer a popular question...no, I am not yet tired of wearing the same thing everyday. It is actually nice not to have to think about what to wear or what to do with my hair (you know, ponytail or ponytail).

A week from now we will be in the field at Camp Bolis. I cannot wait. It will be very different and difficult, but I am very excited to play "soldier".

Hey APU SONers! I would love to answer any questions you have. Look me up in the Cougar's Den E-mail system as I should still be there.

Thursday Morning

This morning we reported for PT at 0500 for a Battalion Run. The 187th ran together in our companies for 2 miles. Thankfully I am getting better and am able to stay in formaiton but I am amazed as to how many people cannot. For most I think it is a mental game that they are losing and for others they are simply not in shape nor are they making any effort to improve.

This week has been lecture after lecture. We begin at 0830 and finish at 1500. Each lecture or briefing is 50 minutes long. Yesterday we covered things like convoy operations, military operations on urban terrain (MOUT), and writing orders. There is so much information that I have yet to grasp. We have a four day weekend in "honor" of Mr. Columbus and I am sure that some of that time will be spent reviewing what was covered this week.

Next Friday, 13OCT is our PT test. A 2-mile run with push-ups and sit-ups. Newly promoted Lt. Col Bohlin, who is our nursing advisor, has challenged the nurse corp (all 141 of us) to pass the test the first time. I hope and pray that we can all pass.

The picture is of what we wear to PT each morning. The yellow belt is a super-duper refelctive belt. We are asked to wear it when we run on our own as well. Our shorts have the reflective ARMY and our t-shirts have some relfective quality too.

Class has begun

Today was our first day of real class. Our day began at 0515 with PT (a run and pull-ups). Following PT we spent the morning receiving more briefings in the main auditorium as an entire class. Following lunch we broke up into our platoons and went to class to meet our instructors. Today's class was a formal introduction to our instructors and a lecture on Army Customs and Traditions. A little on the boring side as we have figured it out by now but it was good to finally hear.

Following the class time the entire class was sent to the NCO Club to a reception hosted by the Commanding General of Ft. Sam Houston. He was a very nice man who seems to really like his job. While at the reception the students were encouraged to mingle with the Colonels and Majors in our specific field. It was great. I spent some time with Major Bohlin who is incharge of the Nurse training here at Ft. Sam. He too is a great guy who really seems to like his job. Once we finish OBC at the end of November we will then spend 2 weeks under his direct supervision taking classes such as our Trauma Nurse Core Class and spending 3 more days in the field learning about field medicine. It was fun to stand around in this hall with a lot of really high ranking people and for them to take an interest in us as students. It was great! The day finally ended at 1930.