Posted on 09/06/2008 9:51:46 PM PDT by streetpreacher
I wasn't going to mention it but I am leaving for Fort Jackson, S.C. on the 10th to begin Basic Training. I am leaving behind my wife and 9-year-old son. Please pray for me to be strong, and for them as well.
My MOS is 56M, Chaplain's Assistant, so I guess I will be able to change the "street" preacher moniker soon.
Maybe I will be able to post once I make it to AIT.
Very excited to have this opportunity to serve.
Be safe and be proud that you are serving with the best in the history of America -- I know that that is how history will record you few who served and saved the entire world.
"In my view, the stakes are much higher in the war on terror than in anything we've faced since World War II, and probably World War II as well," Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Richard Myers (retired).
God bless you, streetpreacher, and may He anoint your words and deeds in the service of our armed forces.
May the sight of you always bring comfort and cheer, helping good men and women to honor their oath of service and to have faith in God in the face of mortal danger.
And may your wife and son be safe in your absence and have all of their needs provided for by Him who owns the cattle on a thousand hills.
Keep your head down.
Keep your eyes and ears open.
may God protect you.
You’ll make it. Don’t worry.
One thing to keep you sane is to remember that the Drill Instructor takes off that hat at the end of the day and goes home to a wife and kids a normal, everyday man.
In short, “The DI” is a role. In most cases what you will see is an act. Just smile and do the job. Keep this truth to yourself. You’ll be fine.
Here’s my advice to you, having survived Basic Training & AIT at Ft. Jackson, SC. I went in 1979. I was in the first co-ed training platoon. It was ever-so-fun, LOL!
Fall is a WONDERFUL time to be going to SC. It’s not going to be too hot and humid.
Keep your head down; blend in. Do as you are told and keep your mouth shut unless you’re saying, “YES, DRILL SERGEANT!” They’re really not trying to kill you, even if it feels like they are.
Tell your wife and kid to write to you every day and twice on Sundays. Getting mail will be the highlight of your day/week.
Drink a lot of water, and if you haven’t been doing any running up until now, DON’T start now or you’ll cripple yourself. Let THEM break you in on the physical stuff. They know what they’re doing.
And by all means, please let me know if they still serve cold beer in vending machines in the Day Rooms, LOL!
God Bless You! Best Of Luck!
Joining in prayer for you and the family.
May God go with you as you do His work for our military!
Carolyn
God Bless and Keep You!
I join in prayer for you!
Don’t let that DI push you around. Stand up to him.
And get your wife to send you pictures of herself in a bathing suit. Lots of perfume and flowery stuff on the envelope. And candy. Lots of candy.
Will Do.
Acts 21: 13, 14, Our Prayers will be with you,nothing more rewarding to serve your Master and Your Country.
Just wanted to give everyone an update. I am in a physical therapy unit at Fort Jackson called P.T.R.P. (Physical Training Recovery Program). I had multiple stress injuries from road marches (several miles long) wearing an IVA (armor vest), assualt pack and gear, as well as from running everywhere, including up and down stairs. I’ll probably be here for at least a couple of months if not longer until I am able to train again. I have to be able to pass the APFT (Army Physical Fitness Test) before I am released to finish training. I see the therapist on Friday, Oct. 31 and he may recommend me for Con Leave for two weeks up to 45 days (I think 30 days is the norm). If so, I will get to come home for a little while.
While I am in P.T.R.P., I get to use the internet, watch television and use a cell phone on weekends.
I got to fire the M249 SAW, M203, and modified AT4(it shot out dummy rounds and not an actual rocket). One rocket for the AT4 costs $1,500 so that explains why we didn’t fire the actual AT4. The AT4 is a fire and forget weapon, one time use anti tank weapon. It wasn’t that difficult to fire and it’s virtually recoilless.
We got to fire 25 rounds from the fully atuomatic SAW.
The M203 attaches to the M16 or M4 carbine. It’s a grenade launcher. We shot 2 “paintball” grenades at old disabled tanks downrange. Not much recoil with the M203, but you had to really arch the weapon to fire a long distance.
The four best shooters in the company (all experts) were all allowed to fire their weapons of choice, according to their score which we were able to watch. Two of them fired the M203 grenaded launcher and the best two shooters were able to fire the AT4 rocket launcher at old tanks. It was a heck of an explosion. The back blast from the weapon was almost as loud as the actual explosion down range. A beautiful sight indeed.
We watched a demonstration of a live claymore mine. We had tons of bags of ice that was supposed to be placed in the tanks of water we drank from. Instead we voted to drink the water without the ice and blow them to kingdom come.
All in all, it’s been pretty fun except for the smokings (actually those can be pretty fun at times too).
I’ll try to keep in touch as time allows.
Your friend,
Street
Count Cadence, Delay Cadence
Count Cadence
Delay Cadence
Skip Cadence
Count
(”One!”) Airborne Soldier
(”Two!”) Better do your best
(”Three!”) Before you find my boot
(”Four!”) Buried in your chest.
(”One!”) Hit it
(”Two!”) Hit it
(”Three!”) Hit it
(”Four!”) Hit it
One, two, three, four we’re not the d**n Marine Corps
We like it here, we love it here we’ve finally found a home
(a what) a home (a what) a home
A home away from home. YEAH!
Sorry to hear about your getting “dropped back” in training, but it sounds like you’ve had a helluva month and a half. Good on ya, amigo!
Good Luck and may God watch over you where ever you go!
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