Week Two:
This week has been a great week with many more to come. I have spent the week in the Combat Life Saving course, I hope I never have to use the skills that I learned this week. Below are three links to videos that were shoot during the class. Please turn up your volume to view them.
Today I graduated from the class and now if the need arises I may be able to save one of my fellow military members life. We were taught in the class that we can't save everyone, however we have been taught the skills needed to try.
Tomorrow I start the next course of instruction which is Civil Affairs.
Bob out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRluMkieQ58
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9gHWdwnczQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c38tlHihlfw
Friday, August 6, 2010
Saturday, July 31, 2010
FIRST WEEK OF DEPLOYMENT
Spent the last week in Gulfport, MS processing from the Reserves to Active duty. During the week I met four of my training team members three OS Senior Chiefs and one OS Chief:
Darnell – we have known each other since 2005, we served together at Wing Five in Brunswick. He is from Delaware and enjoys eat soft shell crap sandwiches. He also is a Shriner; he does wear the funny hat.
Tim – he served with Mo and Doug in Afghanistan, Mo and Doug are from NOSC Chicago. He is a funny guy, always talking like Forest Gump and he is a Shriner that wears the funny hat. He is from ALABAMA.
Martin – he served with Kirk, Josh & Pat in Kuwait, they are also from NOSC Chicago. This is his fifth deployment to the Sand Box, he is what we call in a professional Reservist. He is from Toledo.
Andy – currently we have no connections however we have only had a week to talk and who knows what we will find out about each other over the next 3 months. Andy reminds me of Fonzie from Happy Days; he walks and talks with coolness. He even combs his hair just like him. He is from Va. Beach, VA.
The process was simply and drawn out a bit, a lot of hurry up and wait.
The best brief of the week was giving by Chaplin Mema (that is not here real name however she said it’s here nick name so I’m using it). She entered in the Navy at the age of 46 years old, WOW! She has been in for six years and before the Navy she was a Baptist Minister for 21 years. She was a trip.
The other unique experience was being fitted for a gas mask. The technician sized my head and placed the mask on my head. He then placed a clear tent over my head and started pumping air into the tent. I had to conduct five different breathing exercises so he could determine if the mask was leaking CO2. I passed with flying colors.
On Thursday Tim, Darnell and I went on a lunch adventure. I was able to track down a local specialty; Mississippi Hot Tamales. Margaret and I stopped at a restaurant in Paducah, KY some years ago that got their start in Mississippi making Tamales. So I asked one of the workers at the hotel if he knew where the best Tamales were in the area, he directed me to Doris’ Hot Tamales in D’lberville 20 mins away from the hotel. WOW, they were AWASOME! Attached is video of the joint. Doris passed away a couple of years ago so we did not get the pleasure of meeting her. Her son RJ is keeping the family tradition going and he is doing a great job. They have been making Tamales since 1946. I have attached a video for your enjoyment. This place is a must if you’re in the area of Gulfport or Biloxi.
In addition, on Thursday most of us had to get a Smallpox vaccination. The vaccination is now only good for 10 years according to the Navy. If you were born before 1970 more than likely you got one. The best way to describe this event was to film it, enjoy. The movie is under it's own posting due to it's size.
Yesterday we completed the entire process. We have been issued our Army uniforms and depart at 0600 on Sunday morning for Philadelphia. We will catch a bus to go Fort Dix to start Combat Training, we can’t wait.
Today we are going to see a piece of our Naval History in Mobile, AL, the USS Alabama. I will post again soon. Bob out!
Darnell – we have known each other since 2005, we served together at Wing Five in Brunswick. He is from Delaware and enjoys eat soft shell crap sandwiches. He also is a Shriner; he does wear the funny hat.
Tim – he served with Mo and Doug in Afghanistan, Mo and Doug are from NOSC Chicago. He is a funny guy, always talking like Forest Gump and he is a Shriner that wears the funny hat. He is from ALABAMA.
Martin – he served with Kirk, Josh & Pat in Kuwait, they are also from NOSC Chicago. This is his fifth deployment to the Sand Box, he is what we call in a professional Reservist. He is from Toledo.
Andy – currently we have no connections however we have only had a week to talk and who knows what we will find out about each other over the next 3 months. Andy reminds me of Fonzie from Happy Days; he walks and talks with coolness. He even combs his hair just like him. He is from Va. Beach, VA.
The process was simply and drawn out a bit, a lot of hurry up and wait.
The best brief of the week was giving by Chaplin Mema (that is not here real name however she said it’s here nick name so I’m using it). She entered in the Navy at the age of 46 years old, WOW! She has been in for six years and before the Navy she was a Baptist Minister for 21 years. She was a trip.
The other unique experience was being fitted for a gas mask. The technician sized my head and placed the mask on my head. He then placed a clear tent over my head and started pumping air into the tent. I had to conduct five different breathing exercises so he could determine if the mask was leaking CO2. I passed with flying colors.
On Thursday Tim, Darnell and I went on a lunch adventure. I was able to track down a local specialty; Mississippi Hot Tamales. Margaret and I stopped at a restaurant in Paducah, KY some years ago that got their start in Mississippi making Tamales. So I asked one of the workers at the hotel if he knew where the best Tamales were in the area, he directed me to Doris’ Hot Tamales in D’lberville 20 mins away from the hotel. WOW, they were AWASOME! Attached is video of the joint. Doris passed away a couple of years ago so we did not get the pleasure of meeting her. Her son RJ is keeping the family tradition going and he is doing a great job. They have been making Tamales since 1946. I have attached a video for your enjoyment. This place is a must if you’re in the area of Gulfport or Biloxi.
In addition, on Thursday most of us had to get a Smallpox vaccination. The vaccination is now only good for 10 years according to the Navy. If you were born before 1970 more than likely you got one. The best way to describe this event was to film it, enjoy. The movie is under it's own posting due to it's size.
Yesterday we completed the entire process. We have been issued our Army uniforms and depart at 0600 on Sunday morning for Philadelphia. We will catch a bus to go Fort Dix to start Combat Training, we can’t wait.
Today we are going to see a piece of our Naval History in Mobile, AL, the USS Alabama. I will post again soon. Bob out!
Sunday, May 9, 2010
WAR
Below is a common theme that I'm going to use for the blog, I think this will help keep the blog focused.
WAR= Worry, Anxiety, & Reality
Worry; how is my family going to get along without me.
Anxiety; is my body going to be able to handle the Combat Training. I'm more scared of that then going to Iraq. Don't get me wrong I'm scared of going to Iraq, anyone who tells you they are not is not alive.
Reality; WOW. I'm really going to do this. Excitement has set in. I'm ready for this and I'm going to make a difference and leave this mission better than I found it. I'm going to be able to LEAD men & women in an combat environment. This is great stuff. Men have written about this from the beginning of time and I'm going to get to live it.
WAR= Worry, Anxiety, & Reality
Worry; how is my family going to get along without me.
Anxiety; is my body going to be able to handle the Combat Training. I'm more scared of that then going to Iraq. Don't get me wrong I'm scared of going to Iraq, anyone who tells you they are not is not alive.
Reality; WOW. I'm really going to do this. Excitement has set in. I'm ready for this and I'm going to make a difference and leave this mission better than I found it. I'm going to be able to LEAD men & women in an combat environment. This is great stuff. Men have written about this from the beginning of time and I'm going to get to live it.
First month of notification:
For the past month I have been getting this 45 year old body into Combat Ready Shape. I will be attending Combat Training during the month of August and I will be more than ready for what ever the Army has to throw at me.
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