Latest from spcsol

1/24/08
+took the HETT road test today
+got to call cadence and march the platoon today, it rocked!
+Got my lisence for the HETT
+People are asking me to call cadence more often and are wondering why I've held out on them so long. I'm going to memorize the words to Hey There Delilah and call that for cadence...they're going to hate me :)

1/25/08
+it is 1 degree today which means it was a lot colder on other days cause it doesn't feel that bad right now. When its bright and sunny outside and you can still see your breath you know its cold.
+we went driving again around the night driving course...once again my platoon was the only one training
+we got tasked to help all the other platoons clean their gas masks. It was pointless because we couldn't even get the masks wet otherwise they would freeze. All we could do was dry wipe them and send them back. There was really no reason to even issue us the masks right now.
+I've come to the conclusion that everyone in the army has, will, or is struggling with Alcoholism. People will tell you the craziest things and its the people you'd least expect to have done certain things or have certain problems
+Got to go to the gym and lifted with Zach and Seth hopefully that will be something that continues should we get any free time

1/26/08
+the communication break down and extra crap we have to do because of the disorganization is really annoying. I offered to help make a schedule, spreadsheets, and organize platoon/company notes for SFC Rodriguez and to let them use my 2-way radios
+got to go to the USO for a little bit with Sgt Motto and Sgt Bernal. Played some foozball and table tennis. I'm even with Bernal 1 and 1 but Sgt Motto got owned!
+They reorganized the squads today so now 3rd Sqd has Parker, Chaboya,and Manuel. Other than that still have everyone else. Hopefully they won't be jacked up
+There are only 3 people in 3rd Sqd that have previous deployment experience and unfortunately I've the most arms experience and run the most missions. So I guess now I have to teach weapons classes
+We had to do these briefings with the Chaplain about ROE(rules of engagement) and escalation of force and suicide. What's difficult about this is that we have to do platoon and squad meetings after all these classes and its already 2100! I'm so hungry too we didn't get to eat lunch chow. But I don't think I can stay awake to order delivery

1/27/08
+Got to go to church and they had a different chaplain. I think this one is the post chaplain though its hard to tell cause I've seen 4 different chaplains out here. But this one was pretty good as a speaker and he plays the guitar too. And for some reason he closed out the service singing This little light of mine. But from the two chaplains I've heard speak I'm amazed that they have actually really good voices and sing well. The Message today was about your spiritual rhythm and remembering that you are a missionary. You have to remember that you are also on God's mission. He also talked about how people grow in their faith on deployment but how often churches aren't ready to minister to soldiers when they come back
+went to combatives class today. Was able to pretty much go through the whole course even though we went to church. The combatives course wasn't bad, but I knew all the techniques they covered. I'd like to see if I can get into the training area to practice some of the techniques
+ found out that there is a contemporary worship service at 1800
+Had the NBC(Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) class. It was so hot in the class room and we had to go to MOPP 4 which means you put on a huge jacket, pants, boots, gloves and gas mask
+Today was Jenny's birthday! She turned 22! I'm going to try to text her or call her back. I texted her this morning and she tried calling back but I was in the NBC class
-Got to talk with Jenny for a little bit she was having lunch with the bf...then more miscomunication with the company ordering everyone to report to the company area(312) when everyone is at chow and wanting people on quarters to come too. Then it turned out that they sent everyone back.
+Got to talk to Mai today too, good to hear from her after trip to Thailand. She got me some pants! The cool fisherman pants so psyched!
+had another briefing today and the LTC exploded on Cuesta and Solerzano, it was king of funny...he kicked them out then had the 1SG bring them back in. The JAG brief was about escalation of force and more rules of war stuff
+I'm starting a bible study on Tuesday nights and will be teaching martial arts stuff on Thursdays.

1/28/08
+300am wake-up today and still it was disorganized and unnecessary. We got up early for them to have us stand outside in the freezing snow and go back and forth between 312 and the barracks 3 times!
+Started SRP again...they were talking about what would happen when someone that gets the small pox vaccination and doesn't comply with the rules. They said the unit would be put on quarantine for however long it took for CDC to complete their investigation. An investigation that could potentially last a year and that stops our time clock for deployment...which means that we would have to restart our mobilization after the investigation is over then complete the 400 day deployment

1/29/08
+Finished SRP today and had to get the typhoid and anthrax shots. Ortega reacted to a shot and had to go to the hospital
+The doctor here told me my eyes aren't that bad and that the chances of me suffering trauma to my head that would cause retinal detatchment were like the chances of someone holding an umbrella and getting hit by lightning. He still advises I not do martial arts and a bunch of other things that are a part of my life.
+ went to the all ranks club, which is basically a restaurant setting like applebees/coffee exchange, for lunch
+I'm almost sick but I'm still fighting it...got a runny nose
+we had to give urine samples today at 3am!

1/30/08
+you know its cold when it hurts to pee in a porta potty
+it was cold enough today that 1st and 2nd Platoon ran to the DFAC(dining facility) passing all the other platoons headquarters, maintenance, 3rd and 4th Platoon. I think we were supposed to eat last but we ended up first cause we out ran 1st Platoon. On the way back from chow we airborne shuffled while the LT ran circles around our frmation. Probably not the safest thing to do with all the ice and potholes and rocks and uneven ground. Especially not safe when he started running circles backwards. But it was fun and I respect the LT more now that we see him doing stuff with us.
+my arm is still sore from the anthrax
+Went through RFI(Rapid Field Issue) today and got a bunch of new equipment. I wonder how much they want me to give back. We'll have to wait and see what the command says we need to have too before I start sending stuff home.
+people in 2nd are becoming more frustruated with Rodriguez especially the NCO's I think mostly because of the way Rodriquez reacted to people going to Walmart without telling him personally and telling the squad leaders
+Supposed to take a CLS(combat life saver) course today to get recertified. Part of the issue for RFI is the new first aid kit. Its significantly bigger than the old one which doesn't say much(old one was a single field dressing) You can do a little more with the new ones

1/31/08
+I went to sick call today and found out I have a sinus infection. They put me on some antibiotics and other stuff. Because I missed the CLS class for sick call I'm getting rolled back to a later date
+Had to take a PLGR class(gps) and walked around forever doing land navigation in the cold and snow
+took a COIN(counter insurgency) class. I found it to be pretty interesting and comprehensive. It covered history, language, religion and culture of the deploying region.
+I'm so tired today after I got back I just went straight to sleep till the PLGR class
+I don't understand why people feel the need to say that the things they are doing are classified or try to make things up about what they've done. I know I probably have a more liberal tongue than others, but honestly 90% of the people in the military really don't have interesting jobs they way the general public thinks they do. But do to some crack-downs I'll try to monitor myself and not release information about training and other critical things such as dates and locations. +this morning it was so cold but it got warmer throughout the day, I think I may have a fever or something. Everytime I go to sleep I wake up really hot and feeling very dehydrated
+when going through these counter insurgency classes I think about people back home(general public) and I just want them to be able to get the same information as I do and I want people to see the same things I see. It makes me think that documenting my experiences is even more important to ensure that people at home aren't being misled
+its interesting what goes on before deployment with the mobilization. People are spazing out and seisuring. I've seen people have mental breakdowns in front of me during some of the training...its crazy! On top of all this stuff going on people are dropping out of formation like flies due to viral and bacterial sickness.

2/1/08
+I've never faced the walking dilema I have in Indiana anywhere else. When snow starts getting sluch you have two options. Either you walk through the slush and get muddy/dirty or walk on places that look clear only to find out its ice as you slip and fall.
+People are already talking about who is going or who wants to sleep with who. From what I've been hearing there have already been some romantic trysts.
+Its sad that the Army needs to pull out these old guys that aren't wearing much rank. They suffer such a pay decrease but still need to support their families and/or take several lifestyle cuts in order to survive. Some older soldiers have started trying to make some extra money by hustling the younger ones.
+There is ice all over the ground...literally every inch of ground is covered in ice. People are falling all over the place! Sometimes its funny, but two soldiers had falls bad enough to send them to the hospital. One cool thing is u can use footlockers likes sleds, its especially fun going down the numerous hills they have here...

2/2/08
+Turned in our Old TA50 yesterday and got a new footlocker, gerber, weapons cleaning kit w/gerber, and seatbelt cutter.
+I made a boo boo today. I seat jacked 3rd Plt's LT! I think I pissed her off. I didn't do it intentionally There was a helmet on a seat next to one of the trays of one of the guys from my squad so I thought it was his helmet and he just put it there while he went to get condiments. So I moved the helmet to the floor next to mine and sat down. Then this black chick, who initially I thought was either Airforce or from another unit comes from behind me and turns me around and asks if there was a helmet on the chair. So I apologize and say I didn't know it was hers and I start to reach for it to give it to her(as this is all happening I see her rank and recognize her as 3rd PLT's LT.) But she smacks my hand and grabs up her helmet and says, "it was there for a reason" then storms off. Now all the gentlemanly stuff aside, you never leave your equipment unsecured you should have it on you or under the care/guard of a battle buddy. Anyone that's been in the Army long enough knows to do that so you don't get in trouble for losing a sensitive item and because if you leave stuff out it gets stolen. Anyway...I'm writing an apology note and have to think of something to give with the letter. Now would be a good time to know how to make paper roses. I would buy real ones but there aren't any around here...I suppose I could give her a beef stick...:) She goes to the Protestant worship service so I will probably write an encouraging note and thank her for being in a position of leadership/servanthood and some verses.