A Month into it

I have been down in Oklahoma for just over a month and I have missed my brother’s birthday, my mom’s birthday and a couple of good friend’s birthdays. I will have a lot more misses as more birthdays continue to come and go, and always the hardest, the Holidays. Since I last wrote I have wrapped up all my mobilization training and am certifiably ready to head over there. Speaking of over there, there is a FX mini-series titled “Over There” that me and my roomdogs have just finished watching on our Big Sheet TV. The series is about the Iraqi War centered around year 2004. I recommend checking it out if you get a chance.

I am going to try something different from this point on with my pictures and am going to just post them in a slideshow, this album will include what our living quarters look like, the white tents are where we eat and is affectionately known as the “MOB CAFE,” Geronimo's grave, an armadillo, some artwork, and me getting my third dose of the anthrax vaccination. Well I think that pretty much sums this month up, as always, enjoy the pictures.



My section has completed all its training as well except for one late MOBer, not exactly sure of his fate at this time, but as of right now, I will have 6 soldiers going over with me. Right now our focus is on the Mobilization Readiness Exercise (MRE) and our Command Post Network (CPN) training.

The MRE is our culminating event for which we are graded on to see if we as a Battalion are ready to go overseas. The CPN is basically a mobile AT&T that my section operates to provide voice, data and video to the Battalion Commander (BC).
I continue to fight for equipment shortages to ensure that I have the right equipment to do my job in Iraq, right now I am awaiting the results of the Memorandum I submitted to US Army Forces Command (FORSCOM), I will let you know how it goes.

I got my third shot of my series of Anthrax, handled it like a pro, boy that shot stings and your tricep is sore for about 4 days after, it feels like you went to the gym and just smoked your triceps or like someone punched you real hard about 10 times in the arm….I think I get one more shot of anthrax before I leave Ft Sill and then another one once I am in Iraq.

I am proud to say that I have not had a chew since 03JUN08, I told myself once I left MN, I would quit dippin’ and so far so good! I have also picked up my running and have logged over 180 miles since getting here, which is about 40 miles per week. I have lost 10lbs so far going from 160 to 150.

I have not started lifting weights yet; I am waiting to do that once I get to Iraq. I run at 0500 when the temp is about 70 degrees and the humidity is 80% because it quickly warms up to 95 plus degrees. I placed a temp gauge on my website so you can see what it is down here and when I get to Iraq, I will update to reflect the temp there.

I am sad to report that I did not get to sing with nor make the Lynyrd Skynyrd concert on the 4th of July as I pulled Guard Duty with Grupe and another Officer so that our enlisted soldiers could enjoy the day off, regardless, I was still able to have some time off and enjoyed being able to wear civilian clothes for about 4 hours.

All my gear has been packed and is heading overseas, all I have left is the essential items to get me through the next month.

The wildlife down here is pretty robust, thus far I have seen tarantulas, deer, armadillos, elk, a fox, lots of raccoons and lots of skunks, which like to run with Grupe and I for about 25 yards before hitting the ditch, makes for an interesting morning.

I am looking forward to 4AUG as my parents, grandpa, sister, niece, nephew and friends are coming to visit me one last time before I head over there.