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
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
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
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
Saturday, March 13, 2010
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
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
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
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
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
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
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)
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
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
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