27Mar2010

Hey Everyone!

Since everyone enjoys my letters, they will love this one. LOL.

Okay, so here is the huge update for one week which is way awesome. I'm way excited to talk about it all. LOL. Last Sat we were in Puggle Sticks. Puggle Sticks are PVC pipes with round soft padding on both ends. We used them to get first hand training on how to use our rifle to block and attack in case of close hand-to-hand combat. It's fun. But, alot of work is needed to just perform by only technique to win the match. all of us were placed in weight divisions and at the end, we chose the best in our platoon in each of the five weight divisions. Thoms for the 125-140 class, Rosa for the 140-160 class, Ming for the 160-180 class, LaBlanc for the 180-200 class, and Tripp for the 200+ class. Then, we put them up against the best from the other platoons in each of those divisions. Four of the guys were just beasts, and LaBlanc was all about technique. Guys were getting pounded left and right, and it was awesome! So, at the end, three of our guys; Thomas, Rosa and Tripp took 1st place, and Ming and LaBlanc took 3rd place in their division. It was so awesome that the 4th platoon (my platoon) aka Warlords took our first plaque, we were so happy to finally have a plaque to hange. So, we now have the Puggle Stick plaque for the 4th platoon. LOL! :)

Sunday we were supposed to go see an airshow outside the base in Columbus, and we were excited for all the pizza and snacks we were going to eat, that we can't have while in basic training. Also, we were allowed to make phone calls, so you can see how excited I was. So, we got to the air field only to find out it was cancelled due to bad weather! So, we were all depressed all day. Especially me cuz I missed church! :( I was sad.

The next thing on our agenda was Monday's APFT test. This would be our 2nd one, and we need 50% in each category. So, my last APFT scores in the 2 minute/2 mile were 33 push-ups, 49 sit-ups and 15:29 for the 2 mile with a score of 178 points. Now Mondays scores were 47 push-ups, 44 sit-ups, and 13:45 for the 2 miles. My score was 211 points.

I am very impressed with myself, except for the sit-ups. But still I am so happy cuz I got 14 more push-ups and I cut off almost 2 minutes off my 2 miles. All I have done to condition myself is run with the B group, and I have pushed myself hard on the Ruck Marches. I am 89 points away from having a score of 300, which is awesome. If I can get it, then I will get a 1 hour pass every Saturday to do whatever, so I am pushing. Overall, 4th platoon ran most 2 miles in under 14 minutes. We had 79% of our platoon pass, and an average of 225 points, and we won our 2nd plaque. That's just in a couple of days, so the 4th platoon is finally showing everyone what we are truely made of, and why we are called the "Warlords."

Wednesday sucked, but was the best day of my life at Fort Benning for Basic. We had a 6 mile Ruck March to Malone 16 (Shooting Range) for Pre-Qualification in BRM. I was doing so good until we stopped 4 1/2 miles into the march. Then my foot started to swell up. Well, at least the inside of my right foot at least. I pushed the last 1 1/2 miles and finally rested my foot and got prepared to start shooting 40 pop-up targets. My first time shooting for the day was 26 out of 40. I saw where I screwed up, so I made my corrections. I at lunch (MREs as usual, LOL) and then we practed hand grenade throwing with only practice shells. Finally, I went back for my 2nd time around. I made my correction and began to shoot the 40 targets. 20 in the prone-supported postion, 10 in the prone-unsupported position, and 10 in the kneeling position. I was on fire and so sweaty. LOL. I stayed focused and continued performing fundamentals: steady position, aiming/sight picture, breath control and trigger squeeze. After my targe destroying was finished, we lined up for our scores. Drill Sergeant Kroes was telling us our scores. When he got to me and asked if I qualified the first time (which is at least 23 targets to qualify) I told him I hit 26, and then he said "What the hell happened? Privat, you got 37 out of 40!" So guess what that means.........I have made Expert Marksman. YES!!!!!!!!!!!
I am so happy and proud of myself, because I wanted that Expert Marksman Badge.

The following day we went to Malone 14 for qualification, but it was for competition. The first platoon to get the most qualifiers on the first round of shooting were the winners. Four of us from the 4th platoon and one from the 1st platoon had to go to another range to zero our new M68 CCOs, so we couldn't qualify yet. We were trying to zero our M68 ccos, and we just couldn't. Every time I adjusted my new CCO, it went the completely in the opposite direction. A 6th guy showed up finally, and told us the 4th platoon had lost, and that it was now between the 1st and 3rd platoon. The one thing wrong with his logic was that me and my three soldiers from the 4th platoon still had not shot yet. After 2 1/2 hours, we gave up cuz all or CCOs were broken. So, we went back to Malone 14 and Drill Sergeant Ballejo told us to go use someone else's rifle with a perfect zero'd CCO, so we did. We came back and shot and lined up. Drill Sergeant Kroes yelled our scores, and because of the 3 of us, we all qualified on our first shooting, and we won! Our 3rd plaque. The BRM Plaque. Drill Sergeant Ballejo was so excited. 94% of the 4th platoon qualified. So, now everytime we get a haircut, we get milkshakes. YES LOL! It's SUH-WEEEEET. So I am an Expert Marksman, and now I have my badge to add to my class A uniform.

Now yesterday, we marched 2 miles to Malone 1 for grenade training. We learned how to hold and properly throw a grenade. At the end we threw two live grenades, which was so freaken awesome. Then we had to march back. My foot is so messed up. My right foot keeps swelling up during the marches. I couldn't even walk afterwards. Now the last thing is more BAC (Basic Army Combatives). They taught us some more moves and then put us in an all out battle royal. So they started with one guy from each platoon against each other, and if someone tapped out, then the next person in the platoon that tapped out came in. It was so crazy and fun I finally went in and 4the and 3rd platoon teamed up. We went to help our guys, but we were told to go get 1st platoon cuz they were just sitting there waiting. Both of their guys were huge. About 280-300 lbs. HUGE, and med and Hunter had to take them on. So we chaged in (knowing we were going to get ripped to shreds, LOL) So I took on the biggest guy of the two, who just so happens to be prior service, which sucks. So I go;t slammed hard to the ground, and I struggled. He got on top of me and I got him in a hold until his partner was on top of him. So I had two heavy guys on my trying to tap me out. I was about 5 seconds away from having this prior service jerk tap out when Drill Sergeant Huntly cuts in and puts his crotch in my face and pulls my face into his crotch. He then asks what platoon I was in, and when I told him , he goes "Oh, wrong platoon!" LOL So then he takes the prior service jerk away, so I lost my win and had to take on his partner because Hunter tapped out. This even bigger jerk punched me straight across the face and got me in a choke hold, and I had to tap out. My mouth was so bloody it sucked. The inside of my cheek is all cut up big time :( .

So that's my week. LOL. Davies and I are both going to do sniper school, or at least try to get in. We are talking to the Drill Sergeant about it soon. So we will see what happens.

It's getting harder and harder to find time to write now. We are so busy now, and we only get about 20 minutes of personal time. I was happy to write because the 1st sergeant threw the Drill Sergeants and their familes an Easter Party. So, we have been sitting around doing nothing. LOL YES!!!! Nap time for 2 hours and 20 minutes.

Anyways, I am having a flippin blast w/basic, and because of it, I have 3 weeks left for basic training, and 5 weeks until I graduate from the Army, and finally get stationed at a unit. LOL.

Keep the letters coming. Can't wait for my 36 hour pass. Lots and lots of pizza, soda and cake for me and Smith. (****Kimberly Note****For those who don't know I am going to visit Ryan in April, and we will be with his new and close friend while they have a pass)

Anyways, time for a nap. LOL

I love you all,

Love always,

Ryan

******Foul Language Warning******* 20Mar2010

Hey Everyone,

Ok, so here is the most awome update on my marksmanship training. This is awesome. I'm excited.

So Tuesday, I zero'd my M68 CCO (scope on my rifle) so that whenever I shoot I hit right where I am aiming. Anyways, so I shot my first 5 rounds for the day, and my partner went down w/my rifle to check the target w/D.S. Kroes, and I hear the D.S. make a comment and he made 1 adjustment. Then my partner came back and told me that I had made a frowny face with my shots so that not a single piece of the target was in that area anymore, and then he tells me that D.S. Kroes said "WTF?! He shot a fucking frowny face!" I started laughing, and then I loaded my next 5 rounds and shot again. Again, the same process. D.S. Kroes goes to my target and all I hear is him yelling to me
"428!!!" I respond "yes drill sergant." He then says "you rock!." I got a huge smile on my face. He then went to the next target and yelled "407...you do not rock!" LOL. It was awesome. My partner comes back...no adjustment made...and proceeds to tell me "lucky shot!" He asked if I shoot back at home, and I told him paintball and a 12 guage to just shoot stuff. So we talked as I loaded my next 5 rounds. So I shoot 1 more time, and again D.S. Kroes gets to mine and says "why can't people shoot more like you? you're done. excellent job!"

It was awesome. So I'm waiting for my partner to see my target, and D.S. Kroes comes walking along the firing line, and points to the target, and this is all that was said by me and D.S. Kroes:

"Who's partner is that?, that was the only one to zero so far?"
I raised my hand and said "me, drill sergant. Pvt Lindsey."
"How many round did you fire Pvt?"
"15 rounds total drill sergant."
"5 rounds w/the fuckin frowny face, and then 10 perfect shots after
my one adjustment right?"
"Yes, drill sergant."
"Fuckin girlie name, but shoots like a man."

He then proceeds to yell to everyone in his section:

"That is how you should be...PVTs. I should only have to make 1
adjustment, and you should hit dead on every time, like Pvt Lindsey
here."

It was so awesome that a drill sergant was giving me compliments, which they do not do. Anyways, so I coached 2 guys, and the next shot...they both zero'd their M68 CCOs. I left to clean my rifle, and after a couple of hours, 407, who is Britt, came up to me and called me a genius, and told me that D.S. Kroes has been talking about me all day. "You all need to shoot like Pvt Lindey! Pvt Lindsey will no doubt shoot and be 1 of a few to shoot expert when it comes to qualify!" "Pvt Lindey this...." "Pvt Lindsey that...."

This is so much fun. LOL. I'm excited. All week we have been training and practicing for qualifications, which is next Thursday 25Mar2010. So I will keep you updated. My cco broke tho, so I have to get a new 1 and zero that one in. My iron sight is zero'd. I can qualify expert w/that, but I will miss a few. But I want to hit all 40 targets. I can't wait.

Oh, D&C Competition keeps getting cancelled so I don't know when that will be, but I will let you know.

Anyways, I gotta go. Thought you would enjoy that, and I can't believe you laughed at me getting for getting punched for combatives. LOL. Oh, I'm trying for sniper school.

I love you all,

Love Always,

Ryan

14MAR2010

Hey Everyone,

So I know you want to hear about this. LOL! We are doing nothing but BRM (Basic Rifle Marksmanship). The last few days having worked on the fundamentals of BRM. Steady position, breath, control, trigger, squeez and sight picture. We are however, shooting off 50 live rounds each. Right now we are zeroing our M68 cco (close combat optics) scope. We are getting it down to where we are nailing our target dead on. There is a little kick, cuz it's a 5.56 mm caliber rifle.

My buddy Davies zero'd in yesterday, and was so dead on that a quarter could not fit through. DS Huntley is talking to him about sniper school because snipers have to, and can only hit in a quarter size target. That's what I'm going for, plus, I'm going for my expert riflemans badge. Which means I neet to hit 36 of 40 targets. My rifle is way outta wack. But, all I need to do tomorrow is adjust it, and it will all be good. It's fun and amazing, and I can't wait to somehow take a picture and show you how I look. LOL I'm pretty sexy in my ACU's, IBA and with my M4 Carbine (all combat uniform and individual body armor). Well, I thought you would love to hear about it.

I will let you know how I do when we go back to the range on Tuesday. Monday we are doing my favorite thing. Land navigation. And from what I hear, we are camping/staying the night out there :) I'm very excited about that cuz then we eat nothing but MREs. YESSSS!!! My favorite meals. They are the best. You should buy some if you can find them. You guys would like them. Either that or I will buy some. LOL.

Anyways, I have to go, it's time for dinner. Chow. MMMMMMM.......

I love you guys

Love Always,

Ryan

Hey Everyone,

Thank you! I feel so loved with the letter. In fact, I started getting tons of mail in the last couple days. 5 from Tasha, 1 from you, 1 from Grandma Peggy and 1 from the church branch out here. That's just in the last couple days. It's awsome LOL. Send more. LOL

Can't believe dad still isn't back to work yet. It's been ages. It seems like. That's cool that grandpa is getting his hip surgery. That really sucks that dad won't be able to go into the temple for the wedding. I really want dad there. Why can't he come again? That's gonna suck bad.

So, your coming in April? Sweet. I'm excited. My buddy Smith wants to meet you. We have been together since MEPS in Sacramento. It's awesome cuz we get along very well. I can't wait tho. That will be awesome. There are two members in my platoon if I didn't mention that in my last letter. Davies and I can't remember the other guys name, but I will get it later. I'm always forgetting his name. Every time. Davies and I talk about the Book Of Mormon (BOM) and I read it every day, and pray. In fact, my BOM stays on me 24/7. I don't go anywhere without it.

So you have a room already booked? (for his graduation in May) How far is that from Columbus? Columbus is just litterally outside my base, which is pretty much as far as I can go at the moment, but by the time all of you are here (Tasha, Kate, my mom and myself) it won't matter. The class A unifom is hot. Don't have it yet, but we should be getting them pretty soon. I believe. IDK fo sure.

Ok, so quick update. I have gone on a few marches in the last week. 5 miles 2 days ago, and we did 4 miles this morning. Both with 60-70 lb packs, and carrying our rifles. It's fun. My legs and calves are hard as rocks tho. LOL. We did a communications course on how to properly use a radio and what to say and how to say it. We went to a land navigation course where they split us into 4 main teams to plot our points on a map, find how far to go, and to find 3 points using a compass, a terain map, and pace counts. I love it. It's so much fun and we get to search a HUGE area. It takes roughly 3 hours to do. LOL

I have not fired my rifle yet. In fact, we are however going over technique. Steady positions, correct site arm, tiger squeeze using only the tip of our finger, and breath control. The way we do that is we get in a good position, put a pole into the barrel of the rifle and put a penny or dime onto the pole. You squeeze the tigger, and if you do it correctly, the penny or dime will not fall, and you will hit your target every time.

Today we went to some building that had rifles. It was a laser shooting range. It was like a giant game of duck hunt, just no moving targets....to get our breath control and trigger squeeze down for the real thing, which will be this Friday. So, by the time you receive this letter, I would have already fired my rifle. Or what we like to call "Black Metalic Angel of Retribution." LOL We like it. LOL I'm very excited that we get to start on Friday. Time here at the Basic is going quite fast.

Oh, you wanted to know about the run. My two mile is 15:29, but we have another physical fitness test on Monday, so that time should be better. I hope. Left heel is swollen, and the right heel is blistered, so we'll see. Push-ups and sit-ups will be amazing tho, so that will make up for it.

You can send packages, it looks like, but if you do, it can't have food of any kind, no cough drops. Just stuff I will need, like soap, shampoo, um, razors for shaving, tissue, bengay, moleskin, writing items, and thats about it. Besides photos, normal mail and stuff. I just have to open them in front of the Drill Sergeant, so they can see.

Anyways, gotta go. Bed time. 1/2 passed my bedtime actually. Give my love to eveyone. I miss you, and I will see you soon.

Love Always,

Ryan

Letter dated 23Feb2010

Hello again,

Okay. I thought everyone might enjoy seeing all the letters, so I am posting the first one I received from Ryan. From now on, they will go in order.

Kimberly


Hi Mom and Family,

Training is getting really started now. We just started our physical training assessments with a 1-1-1, which is 1 mile, 1 minute push-ups, and 1 minute sit-ups. For not being in shape the way I used to be in high school, I ran a 7:21 miles, did 34 push-ups, and 21 sit-ups, and that's good so far. It's bad because I start getting very slow and weak. In order to be qualified to graduate, I have to run at least a 13 minute 2 mile, do 75 push-ups, and 80 sit-ups in 2 minutes each.

I just need to get it done fast so I can just rest for the rest of the time. LOL! What really sucks even more is they took us to the PX, which is the shopping store. The reason I say that it sucks, is that the first time I went, I spent $237 on things I needed. When we got to basic, the drill sergeants told us to throw most of it away because they don't want it here. But when they took us again yesterday, they said to get everything we need for 3 weeks, and I only had $30 left. So, I couldn't really get anything because it's expensive like no other. :( I can't get anything, until I get paid. I can't even get packages either. Can you send stamps tho? They are very expensive and we get hardly anything.

Anyway, we have one awesome Drill Sergeant. He actually helps us and we don't get smoked (drilled) like the other platoons do because we actually listen to all the drill sergeants. So we have it pretty easy right now. SUH-WEEEEET! But when it comes to it, the 3 that we have for Drill Sergeants, said that they will drill us hard for the things we must do. We are way excited about it all.

I'm in the 4th Platoon Bravo Company, and we are the best. Tomorrow we have the gas chamber, and we are looking way forward to it. But crying like a baby from riot control gas, is going to be interesting.

Saturday we have a drill ceremony competition and our platoon and our Drill Sergeants want to win all of our competitions, which is 4. So we are ready for the 1st one.

Anyway, I gotta go. We need to finish making sure our gas masks are ready. Send stamps or something. I miss you all.

Love Always,

Ryan

Letter received March 8, 2009

Hi Everyone,

Things are getting very exciting now. We are starting a bunch of obstacle courses now and learning to work as a team.

So, If I remember correctly, I last said we had the gas chamber coming up. So, we hit the gas chamber and all it is is riot control gas and pepper spray at a high concentration and stronger dose. So, we went in shoulder to shoulder w/ our gas masks on. We were then standing there waiting for the drill sargeant. They lit the gas and 1 by 1 the drill sargeant came up to us and we had to pull our mask 4-6" away from our face and say our last name and last 4 of our social. That wasn't bad. They then told us to take off our mask, so I did and I immediately closed my eyes and held my breath, and I had 10 seconds to go until someone hit me, and I lost it. :( My eyes were starting to burn and it just felt like someone shoved something down my throat. I couldn't breath and I was coughing and gagging soo much. It sucked. LOL

Anyway, we started confidence courses and repelling and only 20 of 55 soldiers in my platoon were able to climbe the rope of "The Tough One" Confidence Course. I was 1 of 4 that climbed up the rope w/out our feet in less than 7 seconds. It was really good. I spent a good 20 minutes helping a heavier guy cross part of the course cuz he is afraid of heights w/his weight. I got him across though. We went repelling and that was such a cinch. LOL

The most exciting time will be this Saturday . We have a drill and ceremony competition against the other 3 platoons. We are ready for it big time.

We just did our first physical test on Monday. I ran a 15:29 two mile, 49 sit-ups in 2 minutes, and then 33 push-ups in 2 minutes, which sucks cuz I accidentily touched the ground before the 1 minute mark. :( So, I have been working on push-ups every night. Trying to get 70 push-ups in at least 1 1/2 minutes. It's my best goal. LOL. I'm excited tho. I passed, and that's all that matters.

The one thing we are getting ready for is rifle marksmanship. We get to go shoot our M4 Carbine Rifles on March 15th, and my goal is to go for expert. I need to hit 36 of 40 targets to get the badge.

Oh, yesterday....ha ha ha ha ha ha Your all gonna love this. My left eye is cut, and getting swollen. LOL. It's combatives week and yesterday the drill sergatns got to pound in all the privates faces. LOL. Each of us had to go 4 rounds and had to perform the correct hold really quick, and we couldn't fight back. So, my 2nd round, the D.S. (Drill Sergeant) got throught my block and nailed my left eye and cut it very good. First hit to the face ever! LOL. Felt good. 4th round, I went up against the biggest D.S.....D.S. Revock. I saw his right punch coming, so I moved and he nailed my left arm hard. So now I have a crazy bruised arm that hurts bad. LOL. Hope you enjoyed that.

Anyway, things are amazing here.

Love always,

Ryan

P.S. Send letters people :( I feel unloved.

Make sure the envelope looks exactly like my example envelope. Otherwise they won't give me my mail. (if you need a copy of the envelope, let me - Kimberly - know, and I'll get you a copy)

Hello!

Okay, this is a new thing for me, but I thought it might be a great place to keep all of Ryan's letters from his military service.

As I get photos, I will post those as well. And what the heck, I just might add a ton of other stuff just to talk! You all know how I love to talk.

I hope you enjoy!

MWAH!

Kimberly