Salawm

The training days are getting longer and the responsibility list keeps getting longer. We are averaging 12-14 hour days now as a class. After we get our team goals accomplished for the day my team leader and I get together and hash out the day and plan for tomorrow. We’ve had a few hiccups, but it seems we’re doing better than our sister Air Force team. There still seems to be a lot of storming going on. I’m sure they’ll find a way to move on. That is the key to being successful at the mission we are embarking on.
We are getting to work with a lot of interesting people at this school. Today we worked with a gentleman that goes by the name of “Doc” and he is from Afghanistan. It’s one thing to teach the culture. It’s another to learn it from someone has lived it. And we are slowly being immersed in a way of living that is strange, for lack of a better term, to most of us. We are in the infinite stages of one of the two official languages, Dari. We suck, but everyone still has a really good attitude about sucking.
We did PT in our IBA gear today. We have a psycho Army combat arms guy on our team that is a cross fit junky so he had us out there doing as many pull ups as we could. After our arms were dead we ran 300 meters and started all over again. We did this for 20 minutes, but it felt like a couple days. Actually I was kidding about the psycho comment. He’s a very smart, easy going guy. He pinned on E-8 at his thirteen year mark. He’s about my age and we have a lot in common. He was in Iraq on Election Day on one of his many deployments, so he is a huge asset to our young team. He’s not going with us, so I am learning as much as I possibly can from him. It’s a lot to wrap your brain around at times, but it’s really changed the way I look at the Army.

P.S. Ft Riley is located outside of Manhattan Kansas, they expect us to carry up to five bags and a weapons case, and salawm means hello in dari.

Down day

Today was a down day as far as training goes. I had homework to do about the Afghanistan culture so that kept me busy for most of the day. And I didn't have Jill to watch the race with, so I didn't even bother trying to get it on our tv in the day room. My Army classmate helped me set up my vest and holster so when we get into field conditions I will be comfortable with my gear set up. After that my buddy Steve and my lieutenant and I put on our IBA and went for a walk to get used to it. We are going to start doing PT in it this week. It adds about 40 lbs to your weight and it is hard to ignore. It's going to be our best friend for 6 months. We finished up our night with a team meeting. I really like our team and I'm hoping we stay together. I know it's a long shot, but it would be nice to work with the people you train with. Tomorrow it's back to school. I hope it doesn't snow.

Let the Funston begin

My new home for the next two months.

A typical Kansas spring day.

Santa getting ready to ship my M-4 to my dad for an early Christmas present.

Waiting to check out of Custer Hill.

The last two days have disappeared in a blur. Friday began at 0430 in preparation to leave Custer Hill and move to Camp Funston. We had to clear the dorms by 0600 so we had to load all of our gear on the trucks. Once we cleared the dorms it was on to draw our weapons. We left the armory with a M-4 and a M-9.
This was also the day a front started to come through and we were under a winter storm warning. It hadn’t started snowing yet, but it was cold and windy. As soon as we pulled into Camp Funston the snow started to fall. We all needed to file into the auditorium, but to do this we all had to clear our weapons in the clearing barrel. There were 130 of us total with two weapons a piece. It got mighty cold. Once inside we were greeted by the staff and given a glimpse of what was to come. It was definitely a change from life on Custer Hill. After the meet and greet our team was released with the exception of the team leader and the NCOIC. We had another meeting to attend. This was more of a down and dirty meeting that was run by our Army First Sergeant. Now, I don’t know how many of you have had the pleasure of talking to a first sergeant, but if you haven’t you are missing something. They use swear words in ways that I hadn’t even thought possible. I’m glad I’m more of a peer and not a soldier on the other side of his desk getting my butt chewed.
The rest of our team went to turn in their weapons to the armory and then went off to unload the truck. We had also gotten our dorm assignments. I was hoping someone would grab my gear and someone did. I am really impressed at how our team has come together and kept a really good attitude. I hope this continues because according to the first sergeant their butts and my lieutenants butt rests in my hands.
After our meeting the lieutenant and I went to turn in our weapons. After standing in line for 2 hours we had accomplished this and were finally on our way to see the dorms for the first time. By this time it was 2100. I had enough time before lights out to shove everything into my wall locker, make my bed, take a shower, and head to bed. Formation was at 0630 and everyone under the rank of Lieutenant Colonel had to fall out.
We woke up to 4 inches of snow on our first official day at Camp Funston. I was ready to get started with our training. Our first class of the day was taught by a major that could rival the first sergeant. Class went on until about 1430 and I already know more about Afghanistan than I did in all my years combined before this training. This is going to be fun.

Last day at Custer Hill

Today is our last day in the Custer Hill dorms so everyone is busy trying to pack as much stuff as they can into as few bags as possible. You can pack as many as you want, but you have to carry them. I can squeeze all of my stuff into 4 bags. I packed most of my things last night because today I had to go sign for our automation/NVG/expendable supplies that we will need at Camp Funston. I took 3 other guys from my team with me and I was glad I did. We came back with 3 foot lockers full of goodies.
I’m really relieved that our team has gotten along so well. Pretty much from day one we have come together and gotten the job done. Usually you have one PITA that makes life miserable for everyone. We don’t have that and I’m hoping that helps when we get into the real training. Time will tell.
One other thing I noticed is how hard it is to keep track of your luggage and find it amongst everyone else’s. For the most part we all have the same kind of bags. There are a few exceptions, but green is a common denominator. I found a shoe repair place at the old PX that makes bag tags with your name on it. My friend and I thought it would be a cool idea to get some tags made, but with our family’s names on them so we can kind of take them with us. So I had 6 tags made so I can tell my bags from everyone else’s and I can give them to my kids when I get back.

New additions to team Deuce

Today was more focused on briefings and we didn’t get any more toys. We spent the morning doing some important paperwork for the Army and then finished it up with some testing before lunch. At lunch we started devising our plan to transfer from Custer Hill to Camp Funston. We had to face the music that we were giving up our pretty nice dorm rooms (for Army standards) and moving to an open bay dorm. Each open bay has forty bunks in it. We are going to be cozy if we weren’t yet. The afternoon was spent doing more briefings at the chapel. It was some interactive training so it wasn’t too bad. I do remember that pews aren’t that comfortable when you are over six feet. We finished up our day with a little PT and that’s when our Lieutenant got this wild idea that he wanted to climb one of the ropes hanging off some poles. It had a rope ladder, some cable ladders, and about 3 ropes. From top to bottom it was probably about twenty five feet. Did I mention he was wearing shorts? He made it up fine, but came down a little too fast and gave himself rope burns on his ankles, and inside of his thighs. I’m sure a uniform and boots will feel great tomorrow. We also found out we are getting two new additions to our team. They are both Army guys. Ones a medic and the other is a CST student like us. The only difference is he has deployed doing this five times, so I’m hoping he can really help us and give us some insight as to what we are actually going to be doing. Hopefully we work well together. We will find out Saturday when he joins us. In the meantime I am trying to pack all of my Air Force/Army gear in some logical manor so I can find it when and if I need it. Where are you Jill!?!?! Hopefully I make her proud.

Count down to Camp Funston

Today Started off just like the last couple of days. We were up, ready, and at breakfast by 0630. They sure do feed us good here. I have zero complaints about the chow hall here. It may not be the same at every Army post, but this one certainly takes care of us. We’ve also met a lot of people there. Today we ran into our senior class. They are about two weeks from graduation. They reconfirmed everything I was told from “Roadkill” so I’m glad Jill found your blog Ron.
After breakfast we made another trip to gear issue and came back with yet another duffle bag of items we need for training and for down range. Again, a lot of it stuff we already have. But the Army has way better gear than most of us have been issued at our home bases. They have the same idea, but the Army has definitely perfected their deployment gear. Tonight we are having a helmet/IBA clean-up party. We need to tie up any loose ends by Friday because we head out to Camp Funston for the rest of our training. Until then I’m heading out to eat and hit the new PX. I need some new headphones and my buddy washed his MP3 player so he needs a replacement.
A big “I miss you and love you” out to my family. Being away from you is extremely difficult, but you are always in my thoughts. 831 infinity

Cool Toys!!!

What happens when you come to train at an Army “post” (just for you Kelly) and you’ve already been issued a crap load of stuff at your home base? You get more stuff. But really cool stuff. We spent half of the day getting another duffle bag of gear to take down range. The biggest piece issued was our IBA, or body armor. It’s kind of like a puzzle and has to be put together. This is not something you want to guess at. Luckily we have someone on our team that has deployed before and knew exactly how to put things together.
The rest of the day was spent getting our orientation briefs by the Air Force and the Army. There are three branches represented in our overall class, but our teams are not mixed. We keep getting bits and pieces of information as to what we are going to be doing. Hopefully we’ll know before we get in country.
Kansas is also known for tornados and we found out why today. We went to the PX after PT this afternoon and got stuck there for a while because a tornado touched down west of the base. It didn’t make it to us, but we now know what the sirens mean.
Well, I’m off to check laundry and get ready for tomorrow. I’ll post some pictures tomorrow.
P.S. Mt. Redoubt finally erupted in Alaska early this morning. I knew it would wait until I left. Keep those folks in your thoughts.

Team meeting day

This is a shot of my room.

This is another shot of my room. Notice the Harley bedset...one of those things they failed to tell us we needed. Thank god for Wal-Mart.

We made it to Ft. Reilly about 2030 last night. We met our commander and got our room assignments for the first week here. We’re staying in dorm rooms on Custer Hill. I think everyone was ready to get settled in and get some sleep. I know I was after the Friday that never seemed to end. When we got our room keys we were told that we would be sharing a room with someone. I lucked out because I have yet to get a roommate. And my traveling partner is right across the hall. We’re doing brunch today. Today should be a light day with only a few briefings. I’m hoping to check out the post a little and stop by the BX, sorry the PX.
When we got here the staff split us up into two teams. Team one got all the brass. They have a full bird colonel, a light colonel, a couple captains, and a few lieutenants. The rest of the team is enlisted. My team is very young and my boss is a lieutenant. He seems like a really good guy so far. I’m his NCOIC since I am the ranking enlisted. I am also the oldest person on our team. The other lieutenant on our team doesn’t let me forget this. I kid him because he looks like he’s fifteen and he kids me about my titanium hip replacements.
This afternoon we took it upon ourselves to do a little PT. The lieutenant decided it would be good to see where everyone was at conditioning wise. So we took a leisurely three mile run around the golf course. Did I tell you it gets windy here??? Well, it gets windy here and that made it even more difficult for some. Having my Zune made it a lot more enjoyable. (Thanks darlin’) And guess who finished before the young lieutenant? He still bugs me about replacement hips.

The journey begins...

It’s Friday and my adventure has started. The time finally came to say good-bye to my family at the Anchorage airport and I boarded the plane. I actually met someone at the airport who was going to the same training, so it was nice to have a traveling companion. The flight from Anchorage to Minneapolis, Minnesota was full to say the least and we took off at 9:30pm Alaska time. I had two children under the age of two in the seats behind me and the gentleman that sat in the aisle seat beside me was a meat and potatoes boy. I shared my seat with him. Four hours and some change later we landed in Minneapolis and my new friend and I trucked it to our connecting flight. When I checking in at the gate I was told my ticket was a stand by ticket and the flight was over booked. They were looking for volunteers to take a later flight and offering a $300 voucher. I’m already running on little to no sleep and I’m supposed to be checking in at Ft. Riley by 1800. The later flight doesn’t leave until 1800. By this time I’m hearing Jill’s voice telling me to take a deep breath. I figure I can use my “traveling on military orders” card if I have to. As luck would have it I didn’t have to AND I got bumped up to first class. I finally got to stretch out and take a nap. The only thing that stunk was the flight to Kansas City was only an hour long. After landing at Kansas City we ran into another SSgt that was here for the same training we were. We are growing in numbers. Our reporting instructions were adequate and we made our way to the A terminal via the red bus. It took us a while to find our contact, but when we did it was obvious the games have begun. We landed at Kansas at 0830 and found out the bus would not be here to get us until 1700. We were spending the day at the airport.

I have to send out a very special thanks to my family for the hours of preparation and for getting me this far. Without your help I would be lost. Jill, you are the best. I love you.