Hello Everyone,
I haven't gotten a new letter yet, but I did hear through texting from Tasha that Ryan and the rest of the new recruits are currently in lock down due to the fact that someone from another platoon lost some navigation equipment worth $4000. The army has threatened to take away their graduation privledges and hold them at the base until June 13th. Ryan then said that they were looking at only receiving a 1 hr pass to see family, but they have since been told that graduation is on.
Tasha's dad who is retired Army thinks they are just using scare tactics with the recruites, and that everything will be fine.
Will keep you updated.
Kimberly
Friday, May 21, 2010
9 May 2010
Hey Mom,
We just finished a land Nav yesterday that started at 0100 and ended at 0800. I was crazy. Me, Davies, King and LaBlanc, were in a team and we ended up going off course and got lost in crazy wilderness jungle. LOL. I ploteed the course and it took us there, and we though we were in Vietnam. LOL. I pulled a huge beetle off King. Davies got cut on his left temporal lobe by a stick LOL, but we ended up finding our 4 points....getting 3 of them correct. We even helped a 2nd LT figure out where he was, cuz he was lost. I feel way bad*** for knowing my land navigation skills are better than a 2nd LT who was in training to be in a leadership position. I love Land Nav.
We were having so much fun. I had a good group with me. They didn't know how to plot or find anything on a map so I did it all, and everyone did the pace count and led us in the right direction. (Sort of)
Anyways, I better go prepare for our final week of training to start on Tues, which is FTX. Then we have 1 week of cleaning to do. Then the following week is graduation. YAY!!!!!
Anyways, write tons this week, and I will send a huge letter in 1 week.
I love you,
Love Always,
Ryan
We just finished a land Nav yesterday that started at 0100 and ended at 0800. I was crazy. Me, Davies, King and LaBlanc, were in a team and we ended up going off course and got lost in crazy wilderness jungle. LOL. I ploteed the course and it took us there, and we though we were in Vietnam. LOL. I pulled a huge beetle off King. Davies got cut on his left temporal lobe by a stick LOL, but we ended up finding our 4 points....getting 3 of them correct. We even helped a 2nd LT figure out where he was, cuz he was lost. I feel way bad*** for knowing my land navigation skills are better than a 2nd LT who was in training to be in a leadership position. I love Land Nav.
We were having so much fun. I had a good group with me. They didn't know how to plot or find anything on a map so I did it all, and everyone did the pace count and led us in the right direction. (Sort of)
Anyways, I better go prepare for our final week of training to start on Tues, which is FTX. Then we have 1 week of cleaning to do. Then the following week is graduation. YAY!!!!!
Anyways, write tons this week, and I will send a huge letter in 1 week.
I love you,
Love Always,
Ryan
Friday, April 30, 2010
30Apri2010
Okay everybody....in case you didn't get the message....Ryan got his call...after his two week break to get married, he (and we are assuming Tasha) will report to Alaska!! Unknown which base yet. There are three possiblities...Fort Wainwright...Fort Richardson or Ft. Greely. I will let you know when I know.
23Apr2010
Hey Everyone,
So I just got back from STT, which is training in movements and defensive fighting tactics. I called it a campout which it was. LOL. So we left Wednesday morning for AO Goodblood range. We got to the huge area whith tons of holes that have been dug up and filled back in over the years, and tons and tons, and I mean tons of fire ants. They covered just about every inch of land and I am not exagurating. It was bad. They taught us a movement called "wedge behind wedge platoon file." It looks like an upside down V, well, no, better, it's like an upsidedown checkmark. It's made of four people and then they put us into a giant file so we had to wedge teams and three gunner teams.
After they showed us the movement we went down into the tree line. The recon team went to scout the area, which I was apart of, and found where we would set up base camp for the next couple days. Then we waited and waited for the rest of the platoon to show up. When they showed up, we set up a triangle security perimeter where we were in two man teams all the way around and then, my favorite part, we had to dig all day. We had to use our tiny little itty bity shovels to dig what called a hastings. They look like box letter Y's, but instead it's a flippin awesome hole for a two man team and their packs. YESSSS!!!!!! What sucked more was that weith each two man team, one person had to post security while the other was digging and then we would switch when their side was done.
So all night we slept in these holes with 50% of our platoon on security, which is one person from each team posts security at a time while the other slept for one hour. We did that all night, which was cool because we used nigh vision optic scopes to see. It was so cool. So the first night wasn't too bad. Just sleeping outside witha loaded weapon is just a bit different. LOL. The 2nd day was way better. We got all our blank ammunition and and loaded everyone with 100 rounds. We didn't do much, but the other platoon were constantly moving their base, which was hilarious.
Drill Sergeant Ballejo was going to have us pull off an ambush on the other platoons, but Drill Sergeant Nun didn't have to have fun. So the whole day we were making sure our base was completely secured. Everyone's hasting was complete and everyone had whatevercover they wanted for the night. Well, none of our DS's were there and all day we heard the other platoons getting attacked. (because it was a defensive fighting practice) The Drill Sergeants were going to each platoon and attacking them with grenades and weapons, trying to breach everyone's security except ours. When it came time for chow (dinner), no one was telling us to pack up to go to chow, but all the other platoons did. So we kept working until 40 minutes later, when DS Asienbury came running down the hill telling us to come eat and just leave two guards. We we all ran to chow, and the drill sergeants said that no one got us because they didn't know where we were at, which was awesome because an ambush on the other platoons would have been sweet to pull.
We came back and finished, and the drill sergeants came over to tell us that they are going to get us good and hard all night. 3rd platoon finally came and set up their base in the woodline south of our position where we used to dig holes so we could take a crap. So 3rd platoon was sleeping in our poo which was flippin awesome. So 2100 hit
(9pm) and 33% of our platoon pasted security with a M240 at our 6 o'clock and 2 o'clock, and M4's and M249's all over the perimeter. No one attacked for the first hour, and I finally went to sleep. Not too much long after I went to sleep, 20 minutes later, everyone to my left yelled "contact" and a couple of grenades went off, and I immediately launch out of my hole, grabbed my helmet and threw it on, picked up my rifle and started firing because I had night vision and saw DS Cramer and Eisenbrey attacking us.
So the DS's were attacking us with M4Carbine Assualt rifles and greandes, and 10 of us were just unloading our ammunition on them. It went on for about two minutes and then ended. I went back to sleep and woke up 40 minutes later and Jackson started unloading the M240 Machine gun yelling, then greandes starting going off and I launched out again and started unloading more rounds, yelling and flying over hastings, shooting at this time. Half our platoon was up and we were all unloading magazine after magazine for 40 minutes, and Jackson was just blasting away. 3rd platoon, who was 30 yards away saw more DS's and they were even unloading as much ammo as we were.
It went on all night.
Ryan
Sorry everyone....This is where Ryan's letter ended. He started the letter right before his 36 hour family visit weekend, and was not able to finish it prior to seeing me. He put it in my purse and intended to finish it, but when I left, he forget to take it back.
So I just got back from STT, which is training in movements and defensive fighting tactics. I called it a campout which it was. LOL. So we left Wednesday morning for AO Goodblood range. We got to the huge area whith tons of holes that have been dug up and filled back in over the years, and tons and tons, and I mean tons of fire ants. They covered just about every inch of land and I am not exagurating. It was bad. They taught us a movement called "wedge behind wedge platoon file." It looks like an upside down V, well, no, better, it's like an upsidedown checkmark. It's made of four people and then they put us into a giant file so we had to wedge teams and three gunner teams.
After they showed us the movement we went down into the tree line. The recon team went to scout the area, which I was apart of, and found where we would set up base camp for the next couple days. Then we waited and waited for the rest of the platoon to show up. When they showed up, we set up a triangle security perimeter where we were in two man teams all the way around and then, my favorite part, we had to dig all day. We had to use our tiny little itty bity shovels to dig what called a hastings. They look like box letter Y's, but instead it's a flippin awesome hole for a two man team and their packs. YESSSS!!!!!! What sucked more was that weith each two man team, one person had to post security while the other was digging and then we would switch when their side was done.
So all night we slept in these holes with 50% of our platoon on security, which is one person from each team posts security at a time while the other slept for one hour. We did that all night, which was cool because we used nigh vision optic scopes to see. It was so cool. So the first night wasn't too bad. Just sleeping outside witha loaded weapon is just a bit different. LOL. The 2nd day was way better. We got all our blank ammunition and and loaded everyone with 100 rounds. We didn't do much, but the other platoon were constantly moving their base, which was hilarious.
Drill Sergeant Ballejo was going to have us pull off an ambush on the other platoons, but Drill Sergeant Nun didn't have to have fun. So the whole day we were making sure our base was completely secured. Everyone's hasting was complete and everyone had whatevercover they wanted for the night. Well, none of our DS's were there and all day we heard the other platoons getting attacked. (because it was a defensive fighting practice) The Drill Sergeants were going to each platoon and attacking them with grenades and weapons, trying to breach everyone's security except ours. When it came time for chow (dinner), no one was telling us to pack up to go to chow, but all the other platoons did. So we kept working until 40 minutes later, when DS Asienbury came running down the hill telling us to come eat and just leave two guards. We we all ran to chow, and the drill sergeants said that no one got us because they didn't know where we were at, which was awesome because an ambush on the other platoons would have been sweet to pull.
We came back and finished, and the drill sergeants came over to tell us that they are going to get us good and hard all night. 3rd platoon finally came and set up their base in the woodline south of our position where we used to dig holes so we could take a crap. So 3rd platoon was sleeping in our poo which was flippin awesome. So 2100 hit
(9pm) and 33% of our platoon pasted security with a M240 at our 6 o'clock and 2 o'clock, and M4's and M249's all over the perimeter. No one attacked for the first hour, and I finally went to sleep. Not too much long after I went to sleep, 20 minutes later, everyone to my left yelled "contact" and a couple of grenades went off, and I immediately launch out of my hole, grabbed my helmet and threw it on, picked up my rifle and started firing because I had night vision and saw DS Cramer and Eisenbrey attacking us.
So the DS's were attacking us with M4Carbine Assualt rifles and greandes, and 10 of us were just unloading our ammunition on them. It went on for about two minutes and then ended. I went back to sleep and woke up 40 minutes later and Jackson started unloading the M240 Machine gun yelling, then greandes starting going off and I launched out again and started unloading more rounds, yelling and flying over hastings, shooting at this time. Half our platoon was up and we were all unloading magazine after magazine for 40 minutes, and Jackson was just blasting away. 3rd platoon, who was 30 yards away saw more DS's and they were even unloading as much ammo as we were.
It went on all night.
Ryan
Sorry everyone....This is where Ryan's letter ended. He started the letter right before his 36 hour family visit weekend, and was not able to finish it prior to seeing me. He put it in my purse and intended to finish it, but when I left, he forget to take it back.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
18Apr2010
Hey Everyone,
Sorry I haven't written anything lately. No really anything going on, mainly because I am on profile once again, for my right knee. I'm pushing myself to the extreme and parts on my body are really stressed to the point where I had to go to sick call twice and be put on profile twice for 3 days. This time I can't run, jump, crawl, march, pull-ups, and can't carry my ruck sack or my assault pack or anything over 15 lbs, which is retarded.
All week we have been at the Eagle Talon course where we have been training in 2 man teams, 4 man groups called fire teams and yesterday was a live fire exercise in fire teams, moving in 2 man teams by having fire teams split up so 2 guys move at once while the other 2 compress enemy fire, and then switch so we may reach our destination. I heard it was awesome and fun...I could not participate cuz of my profile. :( However, I was put in charge of all the profiles all day to have them clean B Co Barracks. That was cool. DS Ballejo told everyone to listen LOL. First leadership position. As Alma would say in 37:6 "Be small and simple things are great things come to pass..." We got alot done too which was really good.
As everyone knows I had my 4 hr pass last Sunday which was amazing. Talking to Tasha and her voice got me to push harder. Also, I was so hungry that I had ordered a medium pizza to myself and ate all, but 1 piece because my buddy Marborough wanted a slice. I was very huntry LOL. I have also been taking photos while in the bay so I can add some to facebook and send them out.....so photos soon. :)
Getting ready for BMS (Battle March N Shoot). That is happening either tomorrow or Tuesday. We are loading up our assault packs and in 2 squads from each platoon at a time. We are marching 2 miles to a Malone Range and when we get there we have to shoot 23 out of 40 targets. So we are prepared to win 1 more plaque which BTW, we won the physical fitness test plaque again by 15 points. 4th platoon Warlords are on a role. This time I got 53 push ups, 42 sit ups and a 13:20 2 mile. I found a new technique for sit ups so now I do 67 sit ups. Timing myself again so I can see how many I can do now. So, the next APFT I should have close to a 300 point score :) I'm way excited. If I can score a 300 that would be a 1 hr pass every Sunday w/a 15 minute phone call. LOL. I want it so I can eat more pizza.
Okay, so here is an update on my contract. I'm trying to get my Ranger contract, which I need a 300 so we'll see what happens. About sniper school.....I hear it's extremely hard. 3 of us want to go now, and DS Huntley told us its very difficult. Training wise. I need a 300, and I can't actually do anything til I get to my unit, and I need a 110 composite score, which I'm getting ready to study for. I don't know if I should get my Ranger contract now, or wait, because that means short leave and 8-9 more weeks of training.
I am also looking at apache pilot, so I can have a higher rank and it's way easier to get the MOs that I want.
Anyways, before my 36 hr pass this coming weekend, we have a small FTX which we are calling our "Company Campout" cuz it lasts only 3 days. We start Wednesday and return Friday and we train in Fire Team and squad movements, defensive fighting position camp set ups, and squad attacks. So alot of fun this week. YES
We got our class A dress suits on Tuesday, and I look pretty flippin sexy in my class As. I can't wait to wear them this weekend. Im way excited about this. I have been wearing my Baret everyday cux I look good. LOL. Just wait til pictures. LOL
Anyways, I gotta go. Got some more BOM (Book of Mormon) reading to do. I am almost done. YAY! almost done with my goal.
Well, I love you all, and miss you tons.
See you all in about 5 weeks.
Love Always,
Ryan
Sorry I haven't written anything lately. No really anything going on, mainly because I am on profile once again, for my right knee. I'm pushing myself to the extreme and parts on my body are really stressed to the point where I had to go to sick call twice and be put on profile twice for 3 days. This time I can't run, jump, crawl, march, pull-ups, and can't carry my ruck sack or my assault pack or anything over 15 lbs, which is retarded.
All week we have been at the Eagle Talon course where we have been training in 2 man teams, 4 man groups called fire teams and yesterday was a live fire exercise in fire teams, moving in 2 man teams by having fire teams split up so 2 guys move at once while the other 2 compress enemy fire, and then switch so we may reach our destination. I heard it was awesome and fun...I could not participate cuz of my profile. :( However, I was put in charge of all the profiles all day to have them clean B Co Barracks. That was cool. DS Ballejo told everyone to listen LOL. First leadership position. As Alma would say in 37:6 "Be small and simple things are great things come to pass..." We got alot done too which was really good.
As everyone knows I had my 4 hr pass last Sunday which was amazing. Talking to Tasha and her voice got me to push harder. Also, I was so hungry that I had ordered a medium pizza to myself and ate all, but 1 piece because my buddy Marborough wanted a slice. I was very huntry LOL. I have also been taking photos while in the bay so I can add some to facebook and send them out.....so photos soon. :)
Getting ready for BMS (Battle March N Shoot). That is happening either tomorrow or Tuesday. We are loading up our assault packs and in 2 squads from each platoon at a time. We are marching 2 miles to a Malone Range and when we get there we have to shoot 23 out of 40 targets. So we are prepared to win 1 more plaque which BTW, we won the physical fitness test plaque again by 15 points. 4th platoon Warlords are on a role. This time I got 53 push ups, 42 sit ups and a 13:20 2 mile. I found a new technique for sit ups so now I do 67 sit ups. Timing myself again so I can see how many I can do now. So, the next APFT I should have close to a 300 point score :) I'm way excited. If I can score a 300 that would be a 1 hr pass every Sunday w/a 15 minute phone call. LOL. I want it so I can eat more pizza.
Okay, so here is an update on my contract. I'm trying to get my Ranger contract, which I need a 300 so we'll see what happens. About sniper school.....I hear it's extremely hard. 3 of us want to go now, and DS Huntley told us its very difficult. Training wise. I need a 300, and I can't actually do anything til I get to my unit, and I need a 110 composite score, which I'm getting ready to study for. I don't know if I should get my Ranger contract now, or wait, because that means short leave and 8-9 more weeks of training.
I am also looking at apache pilot, so I can have a higher rank and it's way easier to get the MOs that I want.
Anyways, before my 36 hr pass this coming weekend, we have a small FTX which we are calling our "Company Campout" cuz it lasts only 3 days. We start Wednesday and return Friday and we train in Fire Team and squad movements, defensive fighting position camp set ups, and squad attacks. So alot of fun this week. YES
We got our class A dress suits on Tuesday, and I look pretty flippin sexy in my class As. I can't wait to wear them this weekend. Im way excited about this. I have been wearing my Baret everyday cux I look good. LOL. Just wait til pictures. LOL
Anyways, I gotta go. Got some more BOM (Book of Mormon) reading to do. I am almost done. YAY! almost done with my goal.
Well, I love you all, and miss you tons.
See you all in about 5 weeks.
Love Always,
Ryan
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
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
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
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