A Small Break At Last...

Dear Friends,

This Friday marked the end of my 3 weeks in the field. We were learning military operations in the urban environment which was a welcome change of pace from the things we had been doing. The entire week we slept in either tents or the buildings we were training in (ie. We'd run a raid on a building and then sleep there that night). Anyway, this weekend was an eventful one since two of my roommates, Josh and Paul, had their birthdays. It was a ton of fun, and we ate like kings which seems to be slowing becoming the tradition here at IOBC...work hard in the field during the week and then reward yourself with a couple good dinners during the weekend.

The coming week should be fairly easy. We do our final certification for combatives on Monday, a Ranger PT test on Wednesday, and a tactics exam on Friday. We're supposed to get off early on Friday and then be able to enjoy a 4 day weekend. It will be nice. It's kind of crazy to think about, but Ranger School is potentially only 5 weeks away. As long as I stay injury-free, then I should be going to the November 5th class. Training continues to fly by down here in GA. Without the constant routine of college, I've begun to realize that life in the Army goes by quick. I'll write again soon!

Knocking Out a Bunker & No Sleep 'Til Friday

Dear Friends,

This past week was once again pretty cool. We began the week with a live fire exercise in which we attacked a bunker and trench network. I got to lead the mission and my squad did a really good job knocking out the bunker. It's always exciting when you're shooting real bullets and moving at the same time. It's also very interesting when your primary means of communication and signaling (your radio) breaks half way though the mission. Thank God for backup signals. Later on in the week we got "destroyed" by our platoon trainer. He basically took us out for 48 hours straight of ruck marching and running missions in the woods. As squad leader I didn't sleep at all. It was good training but tiring nonetheless. Anyway, the weekend came and I got to relax and eat several good meals with some friends. I'm learning how to work hard down here in GA, but I'm also learning to rest hard when the opportunity presents itself such as on the weekends.

This next week should be the most fun yet. We are doing urban warfare operations learning how to assault villages, clear buildings, and fight in close quarters. We end the week by doing a "shoot house" where we enter a building and clear the rooms with live bullets. It apparently can get pretty exciting. This will also be the last of 3 straight field weeks. Please continue to pray that I enjoy my training and make the best of it. It can be easy to feel sorry for yourself during hard training, but I feel that as leaders we really don't have the luxury of self-pity. Until next time!

A Picture To Paint...

Dear Friends,

Let me paint a picture for you. (This actually happened to me this last week as part of my training). There we were moving as a platoon into our firing positions when suddenly mortars started dropping 700 meters in front of us on the objective we were supposed to attack. The night was black, wet, and hot. My night vision goggles picked up the light flashes from the mortar explosions and the lighting in the distance. I set up my 2 light machine guns where they could best fire at the enemy and then I got my other guys set in. Finally I gave my squad leader the ready signal. A few short minutes past and then the heavy machine guns started to open up. This was the trigger signal to begin the attack followed by parachute flares to light up the enemy positions. An entire platoon of 40 men fired at targets downrange as the mortars continued to rain in. It was quite an impressive display to see first hand.

In reality this last week was pretty hard. I didn't get a lot of sleep and it rained a lot, but overall I am learning a ton not only about the Army and its tactics but about myself too. I would appreciate prayer for strength, a positive attitude, and the ability to lead through serving my peers. This next week we will be doing more live fires assaulting bunkers and trench lines. It should all be interesting and also more enjoyable since it's not scheduled to rain until Friday if at all. Please keep the rest of my squad and platoon in your prayers. I'll send another update next week. Bye!

Iron Man, Meeting Gen. Petraeus, Etc.

Dear Friends,

This work week has turned out to be eventful despite only being 3 days long. First off, I took a written exam today which is a pretty rare thing for an infantry officer. We generally don't "do too good" with reading stuff. Anyway, this morning was my company's Iron Man Competition which consisted of the 3 best PT guys from each platoon competing in various events. You did a 1.5 mile ruck run, a 400 m water jug carry up cardiac hill (really steep hill here at Ft. Benning), a 1.5 mile run with body armor, 2 minutes of push-ups, 2 minutes of sit-ups, pull-ups, a sandbag carry, and finally a weapons assembly task. The hardest part was that you didn't get any rest between events. I felt exhausted, but I ended up taking first place. My roommates now give me a hard time asking me if "I'm actually made of iron." Another highlight is that two of my roommates, Anderson and Bosley, both met General Petraeus. He's the 4-star general in charge of the War in Iraq right now...aka one of the 5 most important people in the U.S. They were pretty happy about that chance encounter.

This weekend should be pretty fun. I've got friends coming in from a couple different places, and we should be doing something creative on Saturday. It's always good to see old friends. Anyway, next week we are going out to the field again. The weather is getting cooler, but I'm sure that it will still be tough. I'm going to enjoy my time indoors this weekend though. Bye!

Machine Guns & The Mountains of N.C.

Dear Friends,

My week of training on machine guns is done, and I can tell you that all others guns now seem kinda wimpy. It was really hot out on the firing range, but the shooting was still pretty sweet. What else? I'm currently on my 4-day holiday weekend, and I just got back from a retreat with my Bible Study in the mountains of Western North Carolina. The trails were steep, the air was clear, and the weather was beautiful. The men and women there at the retreat were from all over the U.S. ranging from Ft. Bliss, TX to Ft. Lewis, WA. They all were fired up to share what God is doing in the military through their ministries. You should be encouraged to know that there are many Christians reaching soldiers in the military. God is moving.

Anyway, this next week will be pretty short. I have another PT test, more powerpoint classes, a written exam, and a combatives (hand-to-hand fighting) certification to go through. I welcome a week out of the field because it will be the final time we have such classes for 3 weeks. Just pray that I can continue to reach the guys in my platoon with their questions and needs. I've found some good friends and guys who seem eager to learn more about Jesus. Bye!