Friday was another day at the range. Got to shoot once without all the battle rattle on and then the rest of the day was in full gear down in the sand pit. It was cold out but the upside of the day was that we got a bag lunch that was actually prepared instead of those ready to eat meals that are about 3,500 calories if you eat everything in the bag. I made the big mistake of adjusting my battle rattle so I could shoot easier and paid for it the rest of the day. The adjustment made that 50 pounds of gear just hang on my shoulders so my whole body hurts today and it did not do my knees any favors either. Needless to say, as soon as I got back from the range on Friday night that vest got tightened right back up.



Saturday we had a late muster at 7:00; we were told that if we wanted breakfast it was optional but we had to go in our time slot between 5:00 and 5:30; I didn't make it to breakfast. So after tramping through the rain to muster we got sent right back to the barracks to wait until 8:30 for the next muster and then some classes. It was not a happy group but the class we had was interesting. We had an Army CADRE member, who was originally from Egypt, teach a class on cultural issues in Muslim/Islamic areas where we are going. Today covered Afghanistan and Iraq and some Saudi Arabia and next week they'll do a short class on Djibouti, Africa. There are alot of cultural issues we normally wouldn't think of so most of the class found it interesting.

After class we got turned loose for the day and have much of Sunday free. Since we all needed some supplies we had a chance to head to the PX over on Ft. Jackson. In order to keep on the bus schedule we had to decide to get our shopping done in 30 minutes or stay there close to three hours, the 30 minute option won. I picked up a decent pillow and another blanket since I've been freezing. There's some crazy computer controlled thermostat here that decides the A/c should come on some nights even though it's only 30 degrees or less outside.

After the PX we came back to the barracks and a few of us scrubbed the bathroom areas and swept and mopped and did general housekeeping. It gets a little rough after being here a week with about 60 guys sharing one bathroom and laundry area. So I had my regular weekend of scouring toilets and mopping, bleaching and changing the sheets. Choosing to do the housework brought some normal routine back to my life.

It has gotten a little nasty out with the freezing rain and all. It did look nice on the way to Ft. Jackson with all the ice on the pine trees. I always tell everyone I love being on the military bases since they're clean and maintained. Ft Jackson almost looks like a nice gated community, which in essence it is I suppose. Everyone on the inside believes in what they're doing and take pride in where they are and what they're a part of generally.

Since the weather was bad and we were back on Camp McCrady it was just practical to stay on base tonight. We went over to the DFAC and had dinner which actually was not bad.... perhaps I've been institutionalized too long since I just referred to instant mashed potatoes as being good. Of course I had worked up an appetite from an afternoon of scrubbing toilets and mopping. After a quick stop at the shoppette and scavenging for toilet paper (Supply never provides enough for 60 guys) we headed back to our clean barracks.

It was an evening of hanging out, a group watching a movie on a laptop screen and general conversation. There is no television here and the Internet connection is not good so streaming video is hardly an option. It's kind of like being back in the fraternity house again which is not a bad thing. I've gotten a better attitude since the first couple of days and the folks in my company make the experience not only bearable but enjoyable.

Great day in Ft. Jackson,,, storms rolling in this weekend though

Well I got up at 4:30 again and mustered outside at 5:00 in the cold. Loaded up in the school buses and went out to the shooting range. It's great when someone who has never handled weapons generally speaking is given an M-16 rifle and an M-9 pistol for qualification purposes with no live fire practice. I actually did reasonably well and am pretty sure I've passed all my qualifications so far.
I had to get dressed in my regular camo uniform but with all the extras. You know I never could figure out why anyone would need all those cargo pants pockets until now... they're all full. In addition to my uniform I have the 70 pounds of extra flack jacket. kevlar helmet, a rifle, a pistol, five ammunition magazines, a regular hat, a toboggan hat, a neck scarf, my camera, three granola bars just in case, two pairs of gloves, glasses, extra glasses, a multi purpose tool, a first aid kit, a camelback water canteen, elbow and knee pads and I'm sure I'm forgetting something else...... I was in that the good part of the day and had to shoot in all of that mess.
I think I've turned into an animal though. I've been wearing the same thing for a week now, I don't shower in the morning since there's not time or enough showers, I eat three meals a day where my entire company has to get through a line seated and out within 30 minutes.... it usually gives me about five to ten minutes to eat so it's neither polite nor pretty to watch I'm sure.
The upside is that Wednesday and Thursday were great days and I actually enjoyed it. I'm having fun with all of these folks here in the same boat and it's kind of like being back in a fraternity house to some extent. More shooting tomorrow. Today was a long day and tomorrow probably will be too in an effort to get things done before the weather rolls in. I also have to give credit to the Army folks doing the training here. They're great and flexible covering alot of material in a little amount of time.

Well it started out COLD again today at 5:00 outside with frost on the ground. No sleep again last night since we were in class until around 9:00 pm and had gotten outside early to start the day. I generally start the day with a poor attitude but then I suck it up and push through and do what I need to do like everyone else here.

We drove Humvees this morning and then went out and rolled over in a Humvee simulator. It was a fun exercise for most everyone. We also went to the electronic target range indoors and I actually did pretty well with that exercise with a weapon I hadn't handled before. It was my first day wearing that body armor for a good part of the day and I'm sure my old body will remind me of that tomorrow when I have to put it on again.

Tomorrow should be a long day again but hopefully my attitude will improve as the day rolls on; and let's hope for some warm weather.

Tuesday

It was a long day that started at 4:30 or so with a 5:30 muster out in the cold. We had training and classes until after 9:00 and I have to admit that I was having a pretty poor sense of humor. Luckily now it's 10:40 and I've had a hot shower and a much better attitude. Now I need to hit the rack and get ready to start it all over again with an early day and another 5:30 muster outside.

Tomorrow will have some classes and then a rollover in a Humvee in fully gear including that Interceptor Body Armor and try to extract myself with an extra 50 pounds of gear on me while upside down. Should be a fun day!

Sunday was not all that pleasant since I didn't get to have dinner with the family like I do every Sunday for the last 20+ years. I tried not to dwell on it and at least have some good people around to distract me. That's probably one of the things most difficult about this deployment is not being at home on Sundays.


Today wa a fairly uneventful day... lights on and up at 4:30 (yes that's a.m.) and headed to breakfast after a 5:15 muster. We got bussed over to Ft Jackson and issued Interceptor Body Armour (IBA), kevlar helmet and other various items meaning a couple more bags to take on to the next stop. Got to enjoy the first MRE today for lunch.... I guess that I wasn't too hungry since it wasn't too appealing. Dinner was better tonight though and now I'm winding down to get ready for the lights to come on at 4:30 again.

Arrived at NIACT - Not quite a vacation spot

Well, if you ever watched the move Private Benjamin where she arrived in the barracks and said "surely there has been a mistake"..... I'm right there feeling the same way. There are about 40 of us in bunk beds connected to another barracks by a laundry and bath room area.





So, keeping in mind that there are potentially up to 80 guys in for training, there are about six showers, toilets and sinks and a few laundry machines. It was hot when we arrived and the temp was turned down and then in the middle of the night someone decided the A/C needed to be turned on,,,,, it's not A/C season in chilly South Carolina.





Needless to say I couldn't sleep on the rock-hard mattress and the pillow I had, and was lucky to find, was like a bag full of shoes it was so lumpy. So as if sleeping with 40 other folks snoring and whatnot in the same room wasn't difficult enough, another group arrived at around 3:00 in the morning. I knew last week the room I had at the BQ with a shared bath would be greatly missed this week.



I have to admit that leaving the cell phone home instead of packing it for the next few weeks was a BIG mistake. The other great discovery today was that for 60 or 70 guys sharing the six toilet stalls,,,, there was no toilet paper to be found and the PX on location didn't have any for sale. Not good when you're 30 miles from Wal Mart with no transportation. Eighteen more days here and then on to somehting different.

Finished up at NMPS Gulfport.

So it was a long day today.....very long. Started off in medical and it wasn't that good of a start. Had a hurdle to overcome but thanks to a great Chief and staff there the problem was corrected. After that the day progressed but was a little challenging. We managed to get pay processed, travel claims filed, uniforms issued and eventually got our seabags weighed and loaded on the truck for our flight. Of course when I finally got back to the BQ late tonight I found some emails that I didn't necessarily need to deal with but I managed to do that too in between phone calls.

We've had great weather here the last couple of days and I'm hoping that it follows us to our next stop.

Great day in Gulfport

So it was a nearly perfect day in Gulfport today; low 70's with clear skies but a little muggy after the rain on Wednesday. Overall a good day with the great weather and good people around me.

Well it was gas mask fitting day and thank goodness that went well with the first go. We had a couple of folks who had to go through it multiple times and that's probably not a good feeling for those who don't like being in confined situations.

Looking forward to getting the uniforms fitted tomorrow and packing up my gear to ship out to Ft Jackson. The next adventure is just around the corner and I'll probably have some photos to start posting from that location.

NMPS in-processing started today

So today was a better day. In-processing started and I got broken out into a team of 11 folks. Most of us are going to the same place so it's good to start seeing a few faces that will be familiar. It was just good to have some folks around to talk with.

Well it seems that our team was one member short since a Chief failed to appear and she was supposed to be our Team Leader. Well guess who was next on the list to be Team Leader.... that's right it was me. So much for flying under the radar as the new guy who hasn't mobilized before...

Anyway, I'm surrounded by a bunch of great people who will no doubt make the whole process more pleasant.

Finally arrived at NMPS, Gulfport

So the flight arrived on time, the bags made it and there were no snags with the airline. But then I walked outside to meet the duty drive who failed to appear. I found another couple of guys who were looking for the duty driver too and we eventually got picked up. The duty driver finally answered the phone an hour later for the driver who picked us up. I'm sure there was some real good excuse for failing to show up but we made it to base.

While waiting I hear that I've been put up at the Hampton Inn out in town. Sure, the idea of the Heavenly Bed tonight sounded great until I found out that the hotel was five miles away from base. Not able to get to base and no rental car until Tuesday night made that whole idea sound not so good. It ended up that there was a room at the Enlisted BQ but they didn't want to put me there with a shared bath.

You know the convenience of being on base and not having to get a car beat out the good bed. So I'm in the BQ on a twin bed this week sharing a bath with someone next door,,,, not such a big deal considering next week my twin bed will be one of 40 in open barracks and the bath will be shared with everyone. This setup doesn't seem so bad when looking forward to next week's accommodations.

Tomorrow is an off day due to the holiday so I guess I'll take a trip to the NEX and uniform shop. Hopefully I can find somewhere to print out my online W-2 to get the taxes done then I can get busy on my coursework. Reporting for duty Tuesday is at 06:30 for yet more Medical.

So the adventure begins...

Sitting at the airport now waiting on my delayed flight to depart..... It was tough saying goodbye and leaving eveyone behind.

finally got flight information,,, 3:50 flight out on Sunday. It'll probably be a rough day at the airport.