SAND STORM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So imagine this its just a normal day in Iraq the sun is out and you decide to go into the MWR (Moral Welfare and Recreation) to check your email. It takes about 20 minutes to check your email and then its time for lunch. You decided to walk to the DFAC. As you are walking outside the sky is dark as all hell and you notice that a sand storm is coming. Which normally is not a big deal. So as you are walking to the DFAC you notice that there is a big orange and brown clown moving toward you. Out of nowhere like a ninja come a 2nd Lt running, as he passes he says "i would start running if i were you" . Like a Hollywood movie you all look to your left at the same time and see this big ass cloud of dust and dirty coming toward you. Needless to say you started to run, and like a Hollywood movie you didn't make it. Now you have been in allot of sand storms and seen allot, but this one just sucked. When you got to the DFAC all three of you were covered from head to toe in dust and it felt like someone poured a vacum bag over your head and in your mouth. Also just like a Hollywood movie after lunch the sky is clear and no sign of the storm.

EMBRACE THE SUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!

St Patricks Day

No green beer for me :( But happy St Patrick's day to everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Letter and Packages

Ok this is a note to anyone that has sent me something or is planning to send me something. IF YOU HAVE NOT SENT IT YET THEN THERE IS NO NEED TO. Most of the mail gets here in a weeks time, but sometimes it takes longer. I have already send a good amount of stuff home. At this point it is point less to send anything this close to the end.

I would like to say thanks for all of the wonderful emails, forwards and letters that i have been getting. see you soon!!!

FIRE FIRE!!!!!!!!!!

So the other day i had a problem with the windshield wiper motor in my truck. The mechanics sent me down to our sister company shop to pickup a new one. It normally wouldn't be a problem here but its been raining like mad these last few days. So i went and got what i thought at the time was the right motor and headed back to the company area.
Once i got back the mechanics started to work on the truck . After about 2 hours of cursing, the wiper motor was in place but not working. The motor was spinning but the wipers were not moving (later on we found out it was for the wrong vehicle). Since we could not get it to work we decided to take it out of the vehicle and go with out it. The mechanic started to take it out then about 30 minutes into it he was just ready to throw it. I decided to get in the truck and take it out myself. While doing this something (a switch that i found later) was grounding out on the wiper motor causing it to spark. You would think after this happen once i would have disconnected the batteries.......nope. I tried to get it to work for about 30 minutes ( Did i also mention we had a mission that day and this truck was needed)then i gave up. The mechanic got back into the truck and tried to get it to work again. Five minutes later there were sparks flying like the fourth of July. I walked around to the side door and the mechanic yelled fire fire. So then I grabbed the fire extinguisher and put the fire out. All of the wiring for the lights and other electronic tools was melted or burned. Needless to say my truck did not go on the mission. It would take me 5 hours and about 20 feet of wire to rewire all of the lights. Then i spent another 2 hours cleaning out that purple dry chemical from the extinguisher. Which made it a fun but messy process.

The snake effect

So since things are starting to come to an end there are a series of task that have to be completed before we can get out of here. The army physical fitness test is one of these tasks. The APFT is use to measure the fitness of a soldier in a series of events (push-ups, sit ups. and two mile run). This test is given twice a year to help evaluate the physical fitness of soldiers. All of the NCO's (Sergent's) had to take the test a week prior to everyone else. While administering the test to our soldiers we found this little guy chillin by the side of the road. At first no one noticed him and we kept on walking, then one of the guys said hey look there. After a few seconds of looking at the little guy we figured that he was a baby sand viper......kinds like the one that chased me a few months earlier but a hell of allot smaller. We spent a few minutes looking at the little guy and then finished administering the test. After the test we walked back over and he was gone.

Packing

So my days in Iraq are starting to come to an end and now its time to pack all of the stuff . At first i did not think i had that much stuff until i started packing everything. It looks like by the time i leave here i will have 3 tough boxes (which are large plastic containers), 3 boxes and 2 duffel bags of stuff going back with me....crazy.!!!!In a few weeks we will be moving out of our housing area and back to the temporary housing. It seems we just got here...... not so much! It is good to know that we will be coming home soon, but things are still dangerous until we are in the states.

Electronic Gremlin

Since i have been back from leave everything that i have touched or been around that is electronic has died or come to life. Once i got back from leave i started to have problems with my laptop. At first it was the USB devices were not working and then the started to work again. Soon after that the my computer would only come on when it wanted to. I though that the computer was on its last leg, so i decided to backup all the data. I was right no less then two days later my laptop died. I had to call Toshiba and send it back to the states (which took 45 minutes on the phone and a 18 day travel time to get back).

That was only the start in less then 4 days everything started dying. Both of my external hard drives died and when i say died i mean worked one minute then starting ticking the next (not a good sound). We have computers in our vehicles which are one of the many forms of communication. The FBCB2 in my Vehicle was fried by the Como SGT while performing an upgrade. The Siren box that i used to help move traffic out of the way started to work when it wanted to. Sometimes it worked and other times it sounded like a screaming sheep (not a pleasant sound). Two weeks later i found out the problem was from a bad ground. On our way back from a mission my Go-Lights which i use to search the area around us started to become posted and started to turn on and off and move on there own also. Two days later my radios died and i was not able to transmit. ( Not a good thing in a combat zone). In all the gremlins lasted about three weeks, most of the problems were due to grounds or electronic devices failing. But it was still a long three weeks.

Muddy Mess Part 2

So its been raining on and off here again for the last few day and this shit sucks ass. I mean i it sucks. We had a mission to another FOB the other night and it started raining on the way there. It wasn't that bad at first then the rain started to come down like crazy. When we were tracking through the check points the truck was starting to slide sideways a little. The only good thing is that I'm in one of the better if not best off road vehicle that we have. So after playing the slip and slide a few times we made it to the FOB. Once in the gate they asked us to part the vehicles on the side of the road. The mine roller that was in front of me turned off of the road and started to slide off into a ditch. Soon after it did. Once in the ditch the truck moved back and forth like a fish out of water trying to get out of its trap. Finally after a few minutes of moving back and forth the truck managed to break free of its muddy trap. The rain continued most of the next day which made the ride back just as fun as the ride there.

Home

So they put out the information the other day that we should be back in the states and in our homes by mid May. That was the best news that i have been given since we got here. Ever though we are stating to gear down and get ready to go home the next 10 weeks here will be the hardest and most dangerous. Te first two months and the last two are normally the hardest.

We still have a few months to go and since i am one of the lead instructor. My crew and i will be on the road until the last mission. Which sucks, but what ever it takes to get out of here. Soon i will start trying to make the plans for when i get home and back to work (something i'm looking forward to). I'm sure Sarah Adam or Rick will plan a party somewhere for the big homecoming. Please guys limit the amount of drinks its been a long time.

Muddy Mess

So we all though that the rainy season had missed us. Well that was a stupid thought. Today it rained i mean rained for the first time since i have been here and it sucks. Its been raining for almost two days and the ground is like a swamp. There is mud everywhere and it just sucks. Its like walking in mud, but not the normal mud. This stuff is slippery and it sticks to everything and everything sticks to it. I mean you walk through the mud then step on some rocks and now you have a ton of rocks stuck to the bottom of your feet. It just sucks so bad. The mud also gets on and all over everything. Ok enough of that. I do have to say it would be a red necks dream to be here during the rainy season.

Back in the suck

So life is starting to get back to normal. have been back a little more then a week now and there are no real changes to whats been going on. The only big difference is that we are working more at night then during the day right now. My soldiers were glade to see me back which was a good thing, but being back does suck. We will be spending the next few weeks getting my truck back in order. Since i was not here for three weeks its been pretty much a loner vehicle and other people have been using it. There are only a few things that need to be fixed here and there, then back to normal.
Things are starting to get hotter to the north of us. I am pretty sure most people have been following the craziness in the city of Mosul which is a few miles north of here. It seems like the enemy took a few months of during the winter months but things are starting to pick up a little again. Anyway all is good here its just strange being back, kinda like i was never home in the first place.

Leave

It was good to go home for a few days to see everyone. Sorry i didn't get to see you all, but time was limited. The adventure to get back here was just that. It started with me getting on a plane at Q-West and setting in the PAX terminal for about 4 hours waiting on the plane to land. We got into Kuwait at about 9pm local time, which was not too bad. Then we had to have all of these briefings on drinking and driving, domestic violence and bull like that. After the move I turned in my combat equipment to the warehouse and we went to find our room. The tent that was assigned to us in the tent city was full. So me and my fellow members of Delta company banded together to get in the same tent. So finally we get a place to sleep and then I thought it was a good idea to go to the only McDonald's in the Middle East. (Which was good at the time but I paid dearly for it later). So finally I went to bed with a few bathroom runs during the night. We got back to the terminal at about 730 watched another video and received our itineraries for our flights back to the states. They gave us about four our off until we had to be on lock down.
The lock down process was another joke. They had us all line up outside of the out processing building, and then we moved inside for about 4 hours. There was some delay with naval customs. After we were corralled out of the PAX center. They moved us to naval customs. Naval customs was no joke. Everything that we had was searched. They made everyone pull all of the contents of each bag out and separate it. While this is going on there is an inspector watching you? Everything is X-rayed twice just to insure that you are not trying to hide anything. After they destroyed my bags and everything in it we went to the holding area. The holding area was a place that had razor wire around the fence that out lined the area. This was so that there were no people trying to go AWOL and leave the country. We sat in the holding area for about an hour then were lined up outside to get on the bus. The bus ride was about two hours to Kuwait City were we boarded a plane to come back.

The plane ride sucked. Imagine being in one of those TV commercials and you’re the little guy stuck between two big guys, well that was me. I am not a little guy either. So the first leg of our plane ride was from Kuwait to Germany which was ok besides the fact I couldn't’t move at all. It took us about five hours to get there from Kuwait. After we landed there was a crew change and we were all reminded that we are not allowed to drink or purchase alcohol during the trip back. So we sat in a closed off terminal for about 30 minutes, then back on the plane. We left German and headed back to the states. The flight from German to the U.S. was just as bad as the flight there. Anyway we landed in the states about 13 hours later.
Once we were off the plane. We were directed through costumes again and then to the ticket counter. My bags were x-rayed for the third time and I headed to my planes gate. Well the rest is pretty easy to figure out.

Once i got home i had to do a little shopping. I went to the store and got a few new pair of shoes and some cloths. It was kind strange being around all these people and not having to worry about anything. The days went by fast. I spent most of the first week hanging out with friends and driving my car. New Years was very low key. We just hung out at momma cook's house and had some wine. Most of week one was spent in DEL. We headed to Sayre Pa to do a little car shopping. Which was fun (Sarah wants to get a hybrid). Spent that weekend in Sayre and then headed back to Albany on Sunday. The rest of the week was low key went to a few movies and then on Thursday i flew back to say my last good byes. I stopped by 14 to see everyone, but of course most people were on runs. Beth i tried to see you guys and i waited around the station for a few but you got sucked into the black hole of New Castle County. I had dinner with Megan and JC then headed back to Chestertown to say bye to my family. I flew back into Albany on Friday and the next two days flew by. Sunday morning i returned to Atlanta and flew back to the suck. We got back to Q-West until three day later.

The New Ride

SO i found this car on the Internet while i was in Iraq. If any of you know me then you might think its trouble. Sarah's first impression in the car was "I like the Lancer better" . The car is fast and three times as fast as the lancer. At first I wanted to buy an EVO or WRX STI when i got back, then I thought everyone and thier mother has those cars. So i started searching for other AWD cars and I found this one on Auto trader. I sent my brother and dad 5 hours away to Virgina to pickup this car. That's a story on its self. When I got home on leave I had the car registered and tagged. Needless to say my first drive in the car was very slow!! Yeah I know you people are like sure Marcus slow, but I have to say the car throw me off for a second. Anyway while I was home I got to drive my new toy for a few days which was great. So to give you an idea of what it can do i will list whats been done to it.

1990 Eagle Talon TSI AWD turbo. AC, PM, PS, AM/FM Sat capable CD player.

ENGINE: Mitsubishi 4G63 turbo 4-cyl. Rebuilt only 6,000 miles ago after spun balance shaft bearing. Stock crank, 0.020 over block, no balance shafts, Ross 8.5:1 forged pistons, forged Eagle rods, Mitsu metal HG, ARP rods and head hardware, SS exhaust valves, 5-angle valve job, new stems and seals porting, lots of epoxy, stock cams, Fidanza gears, Moroso oil pan, coated main and rod bearings, new front case.

MORE MODS: EIII16G (22 psi on street, 12 psi on track), ported 2G manny Jethot coated, SST O2 housing with 38mm Tial into exhaust, 3" turbo back, K&N, S-AFC on MAP, 2G MAS, FIC 650's, Supra pump, Aeromotive FPR, Greddy EGT, Autometer boost, Spa design digital oil temp, oil pressure, fuel pressure and H20 temp gauges, blitz turbo timer, oil catch can, Wideband O2, tiny battery, 2-stage H20 inject, big cooler, aluminum radiator water/ methonal injection system.

SUSPENSION: F Strut brace, KONI yellows, DSS coilovers, 400F/350R with GCC CC plates, rear toe eliminator, custom rear camber adjusters, RMDSM rear bar, ES bushings throughout, 4-bolt rear, 13" Baer brakes in front with PFC 01 pads, all SST lines (incl clutch), Konig Tantrum 17 X 8, Kumho Ecsta MX 245/45ZR17

Now I know most people are like what in the world is that but for my tuner and car fans you know what all of that means.

The Holidays

Hello every one!!

Well it’s that time of year the holidays are here and it just seems like another day. It’s funny we have been here for almost four months now. The days are easy sometimes and hard others. I have seen people smile, cry and be marveled at the things that happen here. Relationships have grown strong and engagements have crashed like a burning plane. It’s hard to relate to people back home, just because it hard to put things in a perspective people can understand. It’s hard going through the weeks not being able to talk about things. Seeing your life change, but you’re not a part of it.

Thanksgiving was a little different. There was lots of turkey but it was from a can so it made things a little interesting. We were off Thanksgiving Day and I ate like a pig. The next day we went to another FOB and they blew a bridge on the route with a VBIED (Vehicle Born Improvised Explosive Device). No one was hurt, but we were stuck at the other FOB for 5 days. Which was fun the first two days then it got boring.

In less than two weeks I should be on a plane home for my two weeks off. My cell phone is still on so I will try to catch up with people on the phone. I really don’t plan on spending my days visiting to many of my friends. I love you guys but family first, and to be honest Sarah has supported me the most and deserves a lot of my time. I should be back by the 31st so feel free to call

Anyways a friend asked me a few emails ago what it is like in a day of a soldier in Iraq. So I will take the time to tell you how a typical day would unfold.

0600 Wakeup: Take the time to make any phone calls that I have to make to the states (10pm eastern time) Call my girl friend and anyone else. Personal hygiene

0730 Gym: Go to the gym and do our normal weight lifting routine then to

0830 breakfast: pineapples two bowls of cereal and two bottles of cranberry juice. Watch the news form the day prior in the states.

0900 hygiene: shower if there is water if not get ready for PMCS (Preventive Maintenance Checks and Services)

1000 Training: classes anything from ASV training to Medical classes

1130 lunch: The same thing every day Salad oil and Vinegar, turkey sandwich, pickles on the side and to containers of apple juice

1230 PX: walk through (checking for new movies or magazines)

1330 PLT meeting discuss any issues or problems (always boring as hell)

1430 NCO paper work: counseling, NCOERS

1530 Back to the Gym and run 6 to 12 miles

1730 Dinner Whatever is good. Mainly grilled chicken salad oil and vinegar 2 containers of apple juice and Ice cream every other Friday

1830 call home again if I didn’t talk to anyone before check my email

1930 mission prep PCC (pre combat checks)and PCIs(pre combat inspections) packing gear for the next mission pack for at least 4 days any snacks and charge my IPOD.

2030 personal time

Well that’s all I have to say for now. I cannot wait to get out of here. Station 14 and 26 I will be stopping by while I am home, just not sure when. Laura email me girl we need to catch up. Adam and Rich what’s the word????????????

The First Few Months

Hello

Things are going well here in the middle east … or at least as well as they can go. Its been more then a month since I sent out my last email to everyone. Its really hard to find time to send out a email or to get on the internet. Due to security reasons there is a limitation to the things that I can talk about. Most of the crazy stories will be saved for those late nights out with friends or those long boring nights at the station once I'm home. The missions that t we have done to date some have been short sometimes and others are very long. I think that our longest mission to day was 22 hours. The Shortest mission so far was a small two hours. Its hard to imagine all that time spent sitting in a vehicle. With your butt going numb from the thin cushion seats. The only good thing is that I'm in a ASV. The AC is colder then an Arctic day , the armor is great, but the leg room is like riding in a clown car. So I can guess that you can imagine that a long trip in vehicle suck.

The local people in Iraq seem to be nice. We really don't have to much contact with the local people due to the nature of our mission. Unless its passing out candy or water. Whenever these convoy go through a town the people of the town even the kids are waving hi, throwing up the peace sign of two thumbs up. I'm not sure this is a hi for help or just a hi for candy. Some of the units are allowed to pass out candy to the people, but for most of us its not allowed. The IP (Iraq Police and Iraq Army) and IAs are the main security force in the country next to us. They are nice and they always ask for water when we pass through there check points. Its crazy to be here and hear all of the horror story's on the new. Most of the things that happen in the news are blown way out of proportion so it seems the be twenty times worst then it is. In all its not that bad here, but no matter what its still dangerous as all hell. A few weeks ago we had a chance to see what things are like outside of Baghdad, and I would rather not make that trip again. So far we have been all over the northern part of the country. Due to security reasons I can't say where.

I guess I will split the rest of this email in to three parts the good , the bad , and the what the fuck.

The good:

The weather is great.

The food is even better

The Turkish worker here are interesting

I love the care packages its like Halloween year round

We get a chance to go to the other Fob's to compare the PX (Past Exchange/ Wal-mart for the army)

The group of guys under me are great

The people are nice inside and outside of the wire.

Having people wash our clothes for us. That's a gift and a curse

The bad:

Yes the weather is good during the day, but its starting to get cold as shit at night. Cold being 70

Everywhere you go it smells like a porter potty aka SHITTY IRAQ

The rainy season is about to come and when it rains it rains. They say it will rain for about 3 to 4 weeks straight.

IRF I can't say what it is but trust me it sucks.

Life without WAWA

The what the fuck:

Iraq is a poor country but why do you have to buy gas from a jug.

Showers: I'm sure I said this in my last email but having a limitation on the amount of water that you can use just sucks.

Cows: A dairy Cow riding in the back of a pick up. I guess that's how they transport there live stock.

Kids: Bad ass little kids everywhere (yes the same ones from the candy statement above)

Sheep: Why there are sheep all over the desert I have no clue but there all over

Donkeys: There like deer here they are everywhere.

Sand storm: I hate the sand. Its like someone taking a vacuum bag and throwing it in your face then down your cloths.I just want to say

Thank you to everyone that has or is in the process of sending a care package letters, funny emails and face book jesters.

Medic 7 I have a crazy story for you guys, but I have to send that in a separate email.

Dana how's the new shift? Sorry I never got a chance to write you back. Beth sorry I haven't emailed you I will soon before I left.

Milki I will respond to your email soon.

Joe thanks for the fire fighter link to u tube.

Michelle I have the bracelet that you wanted. Its not a green one its in deserts colors, just email me your address.

Rich have you picked a day for your wedding yet LOL!! and you have no idea how much the hard drive helped.

Laura sorry about the other day things got a little busy but, I will call you soon.Brian I'm still working on a AI to swoop patches with Adam well I will call you soon.

Sarah my love thanks for all of the cards packages and the love

Justin why is your new email deer slayer. Last I checked you haven't killed a deer in a few years.Thank you everyone

kuwait

hello

So its been a almost a month since i was in the good old United States of America. Things are going well here, but lets get one point out there now!!!!

Its hotter then shits here. Its like someone taking a industrial hair dryer and pointing it at you. Between the heat and the sun I'm gonna be blacker then shit when i get home. On average the temperature is in the 120s. They say it get up to 150 in the summer and it hasn't rained since Feb.

I have been working out like crazy. I ran four miles yesterday during the day and it was like taking a shower in my own sweat. CRAZY!!!! The gym here is nicely equipped.

Anyway life is good I'm limited to what things i can say over the net so allot of the good stories will have to wait until i get home. We spend two weeks in Kuwait training and getting use to the hot desert heat. The days are going by quick to, which is good i guess. We have started our mission here which is convoy logistic patrols but that's all i can say.

The food is damn good. Last week we had steak and lobster for dinner so i really can't complain about that. The mess hall in open for four meals breakfast, lunch , dinner and midnight chow. Well that's a quick low down hope all is well. For anyone who wants to send me letters or packages my address is:

Sgt Wilson, Marcus

Co. D, 1-175th IN(L)

Q-West Base Complex

APO, AE 09351

The day is getting closer

Hey!!!!!!!!!!

Its been a few weeks since i wrote the last email to everyone. The days of the FOB are know behind us. Last week we came out of the field after being their for the last 6 weeks. The last few weeks in the FOB were oh so fun ( No so much). We ended our days in the FOB with a cumulative training. This training consisted of the tasked we learned at Dix. ARTEP (which i have no idea what it means) was the final exercise. We go on pass on Friday. I will be home for four days then we leave for Iraq. Our mission Convoy security should start some time in Sept and hopefully i will be home by early June of next year. Since my time at home is limited I figure that it would be good to meet up with everyone all at once. So once again at Deer Park tavern in Newark Del 8PM Sat the 11th. I would love to spend the whole weekend with my friends but, most of the time is taken by family. It would be nice to see everyone , but i also know thats not going to happen.For the people that I will not get a chance to see thank you for all of your support and email, thanks for all of the crazy care packages, letters and music. I know its hard for people to comprehend what's going on, sometimes its hard for me. This next year will be hard for for all of use, but just remember there will be another crazy party when i come home!!!! If i could sit here and say that i was not worried about this war then i would be lying.....I'm worried shit less!! And i know everyone else is to just remember that i made the decision to join and i am well awear of the cost. If i do not get a chance to see you on Sat. thanks for the support and i will see you when i come home.

hell

So as the days get hotter!!!

Well lets see....Things in the FOB just suck ass. Imagine living in a tent in the middle of Jersey during the summer time. Need i say more.Anyways things are starting to slow down. The last two weeks have been a little crazy. Most of the days have started at 4am and are over at about 10PM. We all seem to becoming a custom to the heat. Well thats a lie, but it sounds good. Any way here is a brief look at what's been going on the last few weeks. I broke it up in to to definitions.

The army definition and my own.

Land Navigation Army Definition: One or more personnel moving from point A to point B using a map, compass or terrain association to navigate.

My Definition: We walked about 4 miles in the woods and on the road. I pulled about 4 ticks, saw a few snakes and sweated my ass off for about 2 days. To walk in a big ass circle.

MOUNT Military Operations in Urban Terrain

Army definition: Overtaking a building to gain access or to secure a building.

My definition: a few guys running like jack asses with some ass hole telling us were not doing it right, but we have been doing this shit for about 6 years. So why the hell do i need some old ass man who does not know his foot from his ass instructing me in this.

MMSO Mounted Maneuvers Security Operations

Army Definition: Vehicles moving in a tactical formation to gain fire superiority over a enemy combatant

My definition: Basically we drove around in truck sweating our balls of with the windows up (stupid army rule) and yes it was about 95 to about 100 that week. While some dumb ass shoot blank rounds at us. This is bullshit!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ASO Area Security Operations

Army definition: While working in sections or small groups. Soldiers will conduct critical site security operations of a controlled area.

My Definition: Once again a few old guys with the heads so far up there ass its crazy. We rode around in vehicles and basically performed all of the stuff that we were doing a week prior.

The Suck

Welcome to the suck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Things are going great this is week 2 in the FOB. Yeah right!!!!!!!!! This place sucks ASS. The training is going well they still have not posted a date for when we are leaving. Most of the training for the last few days has been rifle ranges, automatic weapons systems and a few hand to hand combat classes. While in the FOB (forward operations base) we have to wear all of our gear including the intercepter vest which weights about 50 pounds due to the ballistic plates and it sucks. Life in the FOB is suppose to mimic life in Iraq. ( Its nothing like the real thing.) The Tents are hot as hell and the MR BOBS (Portia Potts) stank. Oh and i can't forget the gray water (recycled water) that we take showers in. Besides that life is great and i can't wait to get the hell out of here. I'm sure things are normal back home

MOB training

Well Well!!!!!!!

So to start off the army sucks ass!!!!

Things are finally starting to get into full swing here. Last week was a easy week and things are starting to ramp up. Since we arrived here a weeks a half ago. Since then I have:

taken a APFT army physical fitness test (push ups sit-ups and a two mile run)P.S. I'm not in shape

received a smallpox and anthrax vaccinethese shots suck ass!!!!!!!!!!!

3 mile road marchwell they told us 3 and it ended up being 4

administered two pee test ( which suck ass, wakeup was a 330 am on those two days)thank god

i didn't have to watch. Its all about the labels!!

assistant instructor in a first aid class (we learned how to do needle decompression) something i will not ever let these guys perform on me

spent a total of about 60 + hours in briefingsdeath by power-point.

The begining

Things are starting to kick off for me an the troops of Dco 1 175th. I would like to take the time to say thank you for all of the support from everyone.The first leg of the training cycle will begin on Friday. The last few days have just been packing esential items. The Mob training will begin at Ft Dix and should last anywhere from 40 to 80 days. I will have my cell phone until we leave for the sand box, but on that note please don't call me unless its really important. As far as email there is no word on if we will have email access, but i should be able to check my email at least once a week. Things are going good and i really miss all of you guys be safe and I'll talk to you soon.