The Joint Readiness Training Center. The name sounds like a very professional military center where one would go to...get ready. Get ready for what you may ask. Iraq is what. We leave tonight and have an 11 hour bus ride into the heart of Louisiana to a little place called Ft. Polk. I've heard nothing but bad things about this place. From Ft. Polk we ride even further into the wilderness until we are securely positioned in the middle of nowhere, where we will then begin our training.
The number one item I've had recommended to me so far is bug spray.
"But its the middle of winter, there can't be that many bugs."
"Dude, just bring bug spray."
Stellar. The extent of my unit level training has been "clearing" the stairwell of my barracks with my fireteam and going over Battle Drills which usually turns into my squad leader drawing pictures of hilarious sex positions on the white board. The laughs are good and all but I really wish I was getting more training before going to a place where a lack of training increases your chances of death.
I'm really hoping JRTC is more than just "20 days in a swamp" like everyone is saying it's going to be.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Mechanized Infantry
Uhhh, yeah. So here I am in Fort Hood Texas. I made it, I guess. And just in time to get deployed. Woohoo. We leave for JRTC in two weeks, come home for a month, and then deploy. Perfect timing. Way to go guy!
The real Army is strange. I would be lieing if I said I didn't miss basic training. There's too much, dare I say, freedom here. Too much room to fuck up. And coming home from work everynight to a TOTALLY empty room is one of the worst punishments I've had to endure. When you're at home, you take things like cups, plates, silverware and toilet paper for granted. Drinking water out of the faucet like a caveman has become the norm as has walking the half mile to the Food Court just to use the restroom there.
Maybe through some financial miracle I'll come across enough money to pay for a laptop, but until then, $20.00 to use the internet for two hours is whats happening now. I've been here for about a week and so far all I've gotten to fill my room up is TA-50. Otherwise known as all of the equipment we get issued. Canteens, body armor, ruck sacks, great stuff.
Not having a car sucks. I've been getting lots of practice for Iraq walking around in the Texas heat. Its the middle/end of winter and it's 70 degrees everyday compared to Ft. Bennings 30-40. I thought I was going to die my first day here.
I've been slotted as a Rifleman in our dismounted infantry squad. Cool I guess. I was kind of hoping to get to sit in the air conditioned Bradley while everyone else went out and did all the work, but oh well. I still havn't been issued my weapon and havn't gone for a ride in the Bradley yet either. That probably wont happen until JRTC.
Hopefully I'll be able to post more later. Until the next 20 dollar bill.
The real Army is strange. I would be lieing if I said I didn't miss basic training. There's too much, dare I say, freedom here. Too much room to fuck up. And coming home from work everynight to a TOTALLY empty room is one of the worst punishments I've had to endure. When you're at home, you take things like cups, plates, silverware and toilet paper for granted. Drinking water out of the faucet like a caveman has become the norm as has walking the half mile to the Food Court just to use the restroom there.
Maybe through some financial miracle I'll come across enough money to pay for a laptop, but until then, $20.00 to use the internet for two hours is whats happening now. I've been here for about a week and so far all I've gotten to fill my room up is TA-50. Otherwise known as all of the equipment we get issued. Canteens, body armor, ruck sacks, great stuff.
Not having a car sucks. I've been getting lots of practice for Iraq walking around in the Texas heat. Its the middle/end of winter and it's 70 degrees everyday compared to Ft. Bennings 30-40. I thought I was going to die my first day here.
I've been slotted as a Rifleman in our dismounted infantry squad. Cool I guess. I was kind of hoping to get to sit in the air conditioned Bradley while everyone else went out and did all the work, but oh well. I still havn't been issued my weapon and havn't gone for a ride in the Bradley yet either. That probably wont happen until JRTC.
Hopefully I'll be able to post more later. Until the next 20 dollar bill.
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