This week was full of milestones. The soldiers were issued their dress-blues for graduation so they will have ample time to have them altered and get them into prime wearing condition (their berets have to be brushed, since they're wool). D found out that he'll get two special badges - one for his Sharpshooting status, and the other for grenades, which will be Expert!
On Saturday, Foxtrot Battery of the 1-31st Field Artillery Battalion at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma officially switched from White to Blue Phase. This signifies quite a lot to the soldiers: they get more privileges (I got to talk to D for FOUR hours on Sunday!), their schedules are less hectic, and it's almost time to come home.
The 8 km march began yesterday and there are two remaining requirements for graduation. The first is the final PT test, and the second is the dreaded 16 km march, which will happen the week before graduation. The PT test is really what D is dreading, not the march. I know he'll do great, but there's a lot of pressure on him to be successful as I'm sure you can imagine. Keep him (and me) in your thoughts this week, and most importantly, think strong and speedy thoughts toward him in the wee hours of Saturday morning. I know he'll appreciate it!
The 16 km march is only dreaded because it's hotter than Hades in Oklahoma right now. As in, there have been 55 consecutive days over 90F, and 33 consecutive days over 100F in the Lawton area. Also, there's been a whopping 0.10" of rain in the last 30 days. I can't even begin to imagine the torture that will be marching 16 km in full battle gear. I'm complaining about the heat and I get to sit in AC all day!
Supposedly, there is information coming about Family Day and Graduation at the end of the week. I know that the cadre is extra busy with keeping our soldiers safe and (somewhat) cool, so I'm not going to complain (much) about the timeliness, but it will certainly be nice to have a layout of events. D has informed me that early in the morning of Family Day, there will be a Family Run. I tried not to laugh too hard when I asked if there was a Family Walk available in an indoor, air-conditioned facility. He tried to play it off, but I know he'll want to see me in all my 0500 running-gear glory; I'll try to rough it out just for him.
My main complaint, of course, was that I wanted to be pretty when I see him for the first time in 10 weeks, but he assured me that there would be time between the "run" and the rest of the day's events to go back to the hotel for primping. I guess we'll see when I get the schedule.
I had a rough moment this Sunday when I was talking to him because he reminded me that we'll be doing this whole mess again next summer when he's in OCS (Officer Candidate School). Imagining a time away from him again when we're usually footloose-and-fancy-free (we're both in education, remember?) is tough; but by next summer it'll be old hat, right? Right?
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Coming Down the Home Stretch
The relentless heat that I wrote about last week continues to persist - today D said that it had been between 105 and 110 (F) all week. Add the soupy Oklahoma humidity to that, and misery is guaranteed. As a precaution for heat-related injuries, D's platoon has been transported by vehicle to most of their training sessions this week.
Also from last week, D found out for certain that some range activities have been canceled - like NIC-at-Night. But, he did get to throw two live grenades this week, which I know he enjoyed. They qualified on Saturday with hand grenades, but D wasn't sure of his level since their session was cut short with only 6 tosses instead of 7. Regardless, he hit all 6!
The last PT test is in two weeks, and D still has to cut about 40 seconds from his run, although he's been scoring well on sit-ups and push-ups in the practice runs. The physical expectations have been D's challenge from the beginning - he did lose about 50 pounds to get in, remember - but he's been doing great at gradually progressing. Today when I told him, "You can do it, honey - run like the wind!" He replied, "I'm running home to you, baby."
This coming week will involve more Advanced Marksman activities, including a rush simulation where the soldiers will carry their weapons (in full battle armor) through an "under-fire" scenario, running from cover to cover with others covering. It should be interesting, since the last run is done with live ammunition in their rifles (although no ammo is fired - theoretically - as long as everyone remembers to keep the safety on!) for the weight.
We're getting so close to graduation, I can hardly stand it. I thought that the last half of the summer would be easier to handle since I've (we've) muscled through 6+ week like champs, but it being so close and yet so far is rough. The days are flowing like molasses - or that could just be me in the 100+ degree heat.
We're almost there!
Also from last week, D found out for certain that some range activities have been canceled - like NIC-at-Night. But, he did get to throw two live grenades this week, which I know he enjoyed. They qualified on Saturday with hand grenades, but D wasn't sure of his level since their session was cut short with only 6 tosses instead of 7. Regardless, he hit all 6!
The last PT test is in two weeks, and D still has to cut about 40 seconds from his run, although he's been scoring well on sit-ups and push-ups in the practice runs. The physical expectations have been D's challenge from the beginning - he did lose about 50 pounds to get in, remember - but he's been doing great at gradually progressing. Today when I told him, "You can do it, honey - run like the wind!" He replied, "I'm running home to you, baby."
This coming week will involve more Advanced Marksman activities, including a rush simulation where the soldiers will carry their weapons (in full battle armor) through an "under-fire" scenario, running from cover to cover with others covering. It should be interesting, since the last run is done with live ammunition in their rifles (although no ammo is fired - theoretically - as long as everyone remembers to keep the safety on!) for the weight.
We're getting so close to graduation, I can hardly stand it. I thought that the last half of the summer would be easier to handle since I've (we've) muscled through 6+ week like champs, but it being so close and yet so far is rough. The days are flowing like molasses - or that could just be me in the 100+ degree heat.
We're almost there!
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Sharpshooting Specialist
This week was devoted to the shooting range. The soldiers had a few days of practice shooting before their bivouac, which is a French-originating word that means camping. For some reason, going "camping" isn't allowed, so instead you go bivouacking. Is it just me, or does bivouacking sound like a disease you definitely don't want to catch?
On Friday, the soldiers of 1-31 FA BN had to qualify with their weapons. D was a little worried about qualifying, since their day of practice right before was canceled due to the extreme heat (more about the heat later), but today when he called me I found out he did great! He scored as Sharpshooter, which is the middle level (Marksman, Sharpshooter, Expert), with 32 targets out of 40. Eighty percent isn't bad, especially considering my husband had never shot a gun until two weeks ago!
So, back to the extreme heat. I don't know how many of you are aware, but Oklahoma is experiencing somewhat of a dry, hot spell. As in, it hasn't been under 100F in days. Weeks, it seems like. And also, Southwestern Oklahoma, where Ft. Sill is located, has been in extreme drought conditions since practically the beginning of summer. Check this out:
So, due to these rather extreme conditions we're experiencing, the Army is concerned about a few of the normal training activities. Particularly, NIC-at-Night (Night Infiltration Course), which is a simulated firefight - basically, the soldiers low crawl while guns are being fired overhead, explosions are going off to the sides and flares are shot into the air. As you can imagine, with the Oklahoma countryside as dry as kindling, there might be interesting consequences for an activity involving so many incendiary objects.
I know D was really looking forward to this exercise, but he said today that a memo was sent out that informed the soldiers that activities involving ammunition of any kind were to be limited to graduation requirements. I imagine the Army doesn't want to set all of Western Oklahoma on fire. They do, though, still get to throw grenades this week since that area is rather barren because grenades are thrown in it practically every week.
I think D must have moved on to White Phase (goes from Red, to White, to Blue) this week, but I forgot to ask. Anyway, he got an hour for phone time this afternoon, which was really nice. Right before we got off the phone, we were celebrating the fact that ONE MONTH FROM TOMORROW we'll be seeing each other again.
Thirty-two measly days. Pssh. That's nothing!
On Friday, the soldiers of 1-31 FA BN had to qualify with their weapons. D was a little worried about qualifying, since their day of practice right before was canceled due to the extreme heat (more about the heat later), but today when he called me I found out he did great! He scored as Sharpshooter, which is the middle level (Marksman, Sharpshooter, Expert), with 32 targets out of 40. Eighty percent isn't bad, especially considering my husband had never shot a gun until two weeks ago!
So, back to the extreme heat. I don't know how many of you are aware, but Oklahoma is experiencing somewhat of a dry, hot spell. As in, it hasn't been under 100F in days. Weeks, it seems like. And also, Southwestern Oklahoma, where Ft. Sill is located, has been in extreme drought conditions since practically the beginning of summer. Check this out:
 | ||
| Ft. Sill is right outside of Lawton, OK -- 112F |
 | |
| Drought Monitor. You might say it's a little dry around these here parts. |
So, due to these rather extreme conditions we're experiencing, the Army is concerned about a few of the normal training activities. Particularly, NIC-at-Night (Night Infiltration Course), which is a simulated firefight - basically, the soldiers low crawl while guns are being fired overhead, explosions are going off to the sides and flares are shot into the air. As you can imagine, with the Oklahoma countryside as dry as kindling, there might be interesting consequences for an activity involving so many incendiary objects.
I know D was really looking forward to this exercise, but he said today that a memo was sent out that informed the soldiers that activities involving ammunition of any kind were to be limited to graduation requirements. I imagine the Army doesn't want to set all of Western Oklahoma on fire. They do, though, still get to throw grenades this week since that area is rather barren because grenades are thrown in it practically every week.
I think D must have moved on to White Phase (goes from Red, to White, to Blue) this week, but I forgot to ask. Anyway, he got an hour for phone time this afternoon, which was really nice. Right before we got off the phone, we were celebrating the fact that ONE MONTH FROM TOMORROW we'll be seeing each other again.
Thirty-two measly days. Pssh. That's nothing!
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Halfway There!
Sorry this post is a couple days late - with the Holiday Weekend it was difficult to talk myself into sitting down at the computer. The last week has flown by, thanks to taking on a couple of house projects that were desperately needing to be done.
The folks at BCT with D this week all hit the firearm range to work on sighting and shooting their beloved M16s. D reported that he did relatively well, although he had been selected to shoot first, which meant that after he finished he got to sit around and wait for everyone else to finish. This potential boredom had him volunteering for every job that needed to be done until he was scolded by a DS for not letting anyone else work!
He was able to call on Sunday, his normal calling day, when I was, of course, in Wal-Mart. It's strange how my whole world stands still when he calls. If I was driving, I would pull over. If I was at a friend's house, I would begin acting very rudely by ignoring everyone else. And if I'm in Wal-Mart, I stop dead in my tracks (in this case I was in the craft aisle) and stand still for 20 minutes.
Then, on Monday, while I was at his parents' house eating lunch, I got a text message: "I love you." My in-laws were laughing at me because I was grinning and squealing and bouncing in my seat - D's platoon had gotten phone privileges for the entire afternoon! He had to wait until their cleaning was finished to call, but I got about an hour and a half of talk-time in between calling and texts.
I know that last week I had mentioned that it was weirdly hard to talk to him on the phone for 20 minutes a week, but I was glad that particular phenomenon seemed to vanish in yesterday's call. He was still a somewhat subdued version of the D I know and love, but we were able to really talk, like we hadn't been able to in weeks. It was so nice.
Monday also marked our halfway point - he's been gone for 5 weeks, and we've got 5 more weeks to go. It was also a milestone for D in another way - the last training event is taking place one month from Monday, marking the end of the training portion of BCT. The rest of the time is cleaning up and getting ready to come home (in D's case, anyway. Most soldiers move directly on to AIT - I'm so thankful we're not doing that).
We've made it halfway, folks! Five weeks to go - I can do it!
The folks at BCT with D this week all hit the firearm range to work on sighting and shooting their beloved M16s. D reported that he did relatively well, although he had been selected to shoot first, which meant that after he finished he got to sit around and wait for everyone else to finish. This potential boredom had him volunteering for every job that needed to be done until he was scolded by a DS for not letting anyone else work!
He was able to call on Sunday, his normal calling day, when I was, of course, in Wal-Mart. It's strange how my whole world stands still when he calls. If I was driving, I would pull over. If I was at a friend's house, I would begin acting very rudely by ignoring everyone else. And if I'm in Wal-Mart, I stop dead in my tracks (in this case I was in the craft aisle) and stand still for 20 minutes.
Then, on Monday, while I was at his parents' house eating lunch, I got a text message: "I love you." My in-laws were laughing at me because I was grinning and squealing and bouncing in my seat - D's platoon had gotten phone privileges for the entire afternoon! He had to wait until their cleaning was finished to call, but I got about an hour and a half of talk-time in between calling and texts.
I know that last week I had mentioned that it was weirdly hard to talk to him on the phone for 20 minutes a week, but I was glad that particular phenomenon seemed to vanish in yesterday's call. He was still a somewhat subdued version of the D I know and love, but we were able to really talk, like we hadn't been able to in weeks. It was so nice.
Monday also marked our halfway point - he's been gone for 5 weeks, and we've got 5 more weeks to go. It was also a milestone for D in another way - the last training event is taking place one month from Monday, marking the end of the training portion of BCT. The rest of the time is cleaning up and getting ready to come home (in D's case, anyway. Most soldiers move directly on to AIT - I'm so thankful we're not doing that).
We've made it halfway, folks! Five weeks to go - I can do it!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)