Oh My, an Update!

Its been a long time coming.
We haven't had internet and I have neglected my Blog.
So, just a short update since I last posted about 4 months ago.

I graduated from OCS and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the Infantry on June 30. A week later, I participated in a pilot program of BOLC II (Basic Officer Leadership Course) as the Army's "guinea pig" for 7 weeks. Then mid August I began IOBC (Infantry Officer Basic Course), the course I am currently still attending. It 16 weeks long training of tactics and leadership skills focused solely on Infantry Platoon leadership needed to be successful. The course is 10 weeks field exercises of tactics and application and 6 weeks of theory and classroom tactics study. It is generally a week in the field and then a week in classrooms. I really enjoy the variety in the schedule and I am home every weekend.

My timeline following this (for all who are interested) is:
IOBC graduation Dec 14
Ranger School in January
Airborne maybe March
Report to Ft. Drum, NY somewhere between May and June

Of course this timeline is all dependent upon my ability to pass one of the most difficult courses the Army has to offer. Ranger school. In the Infantry it is very important for officers to be Ranger qualified. Sometimes the emphasis on Ranger school makes it seem like the most important thing for a young officer.

Ranger school is 8 weeks of hell. A very physical course that is designed to mentally and physically stress and emotionally drain the strongest of soldiers. Weeks of being sleep deprived and running a calorie hungry body through very physical days on only 2 MREs per day is the standard platform to initiate most of the stress. Being hungry and tired seems to work for everyone. The course is divided into 3 phases: Darby phase at Ft. Benning, very physical portion of the course were the instructors focus all spare time on energy burning exercises in between legitimate training; Mountain phase in Dahlonega, GA, with hours of patrolling in mountainous terrain and very tiring night operations; Florida phase at Eglin Airforce Base, focusing on river operations an jungle type patrolling.

Much of my current training is preparing me to do my job as a Platoon leader, but most of my physical training is to get me ready for Ranger school. Good luck there, I am chasing a bunch of 22 yr old athletes everytime we go running.

Well, that is my world in the military right now. My civilian life on the weekends you usually hear about from Shalene. Each week, I look forward to the weekend to spend time with my wonderful wife and great daughter.

Some of the links are videos if you are interested.