Dear All:
I hope you’ve been receiving all of my letters and have enjoyed the stories so far. We haven’t been given a phone call in a while, and no one is sure when the next will be, but I hope everyone is safe and well.
We got haircuts for the first time since the first day this week ($6.50 gets you a 30 second shave) and we feel like soldiers again. We had our first substantial road march on Saturday (almost 6 miles round trip with a 40-pound ruck sack, body armor, and helmet) which led us out to our land navigation drill. It was our first outdoor exercise—and it went bad…really bad. We had teams of 4, and were given 2.5 hours to locate 5 points with our compass and map. I know what I’m doing, but since I’m the APG, I’m out in front of our formation, and when the Sergeant asked us to file back in, I was left without a choice but to team up with the “stragglers”. That’s the term we use for the few soldiers who always end up in the back of the formation, can’t march in time, and have generally bad attitudes and no motivation. We ended up with a “no-go”/0 out of 5 (the first thing I’ve failed so far). I was disappointed, but given the situation, not surprised.
Today was a good day, and I don’t even mind this 0000-0100 Fire Guard shift because our wake up call on Sunday, and because of the holiday, Monday, is 0600. So we’re getting plenty of sleep. At mass, the priest has all of the soldiers graduating each week come forward for a special prayer. Even though we have 8 more weeks it seems close.
I was asked to create a PowerPoint presentation for Drill Sergeant this week (one of the many “technical tasks” I get because I can somewhat navigate around a computer) and he talked to me a little bit about my future. He’s infantry, 10th Mountain Division, and spent 5 years in Afghanistan, and was interested in what branch I was considering. I told him that I wanted to bounce around a little to expand my education and training, but wanted to start in either military intelligence or armor, and ultimately end up in JAG. He understood my sense of service from the combat side, but reminded me that if I put myself in the position to keep soldiers out of harm’s way, that is just as important as firing the weapons myself. Then he started talking about the logistics branch. It’s completely different from supply, and works closely with intelligence as an advanced planning sector for troop deployment, relief, relocation, strength, training and equipment. It essentially dictates where everything should be places, and when, on the battlefield and in terms of the US Army as a whole. As a junior officer I’d be working for Generals and Colonels disseminating information and preparing documents and presentations for them to make decisions. I’d be responsible for moving thousands of people and millions of dollars in equipment. He made a point to note how well that translates into a civilian résumé. It sounded really interesting, so I’ll look into that more.
Since I have the time, I’ll tell you a little bit about what it’s like moving around from Point A to Point B during boot camp. For example, let’s say we have to go to lunch. We report to our CTA (company training area) and fall into formation (we have four ranks of 15 soldiers) w/ myself (APG), Mungo (PG), and “Little Rod” (Luis Rodriguez, the 5’1” pirate who carries our guide-on/flag) at the front. We’re given instructions (usually given 10 minutes to utilize the latrine and change from our PT clothes into our ACUs) then told to fall out. There is an orderly mad dash to run up the stairs. Of course, some one won’t make it back into formation on time (usually because they had to use the bathroom for more than 3 minutes and our platoon gets smoked. The Drill Sergeant (DS) will yell something like “the front leaning rest position! Move!”). And that is our cue to drop, put the weapons on our hands and start doing push-ups. When he says “down”, we reply “attention to detail!” and when he says “up” we yell “motivation is the key!” This goes on until “he gets tired”. There are a million different variations of getting smoked like this. We could be required to put the weapon over our heads and do the military press on a 4-count movement until he hits a ridiculously high and random number like, say 219. That’s happened. Or we’ll have to do mountain climbers or flutter kicks or jumping jacks until we can do them exactly in unison with everyone sounding off (which never happens).
On average I’d say we get smoked at least twice a day but as we get further along, it becomes more individualized, which is good for my back, but bad for the few who decide to be “that guy”.
Also, I went to “sick call” today (another classic military adventure of a 15 minute clinic visit that turned into a 4 hour waiting game). But I got to watch some SportsCenter (how about A-Rod and Michael Phelps?!) so that was nice. In the end I got Return to Duty status so I won’t miss anything, was given some cough drops, Mucinex, Tylenol, and Tessalon. Not bad, and I figure I’ll have this cold kicked in a few days.
Other than all of that, I’m doing really well and getting more acclimated to the environment all the time. Hope everything is well.
Love, Nick
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Getting "Real"
Dear All:
Yes it’s another Fire Guard shift. It’s just after 0300 so I have another chance to write you. We’ve had another action packed week. Unfortunately, my cold has gotten worse and I’ve developed a pretty nasty cough (everyone is my bay is sick now), so I haven’t able to enjoy it at 100% I’ve told myself that if I can’t kick it by Sunday, I’ll go to the infirmary (Sunday is a good day b/c I won’t miss training).
On Monday we had our first full PT test. I passed all of the events which put me in the top 20% in our company (yes 80% of the soldiers here are still that out of shape). But to be competitive for OCS, I want to score 100% on everything by the end of basic. I led my Platoon in push-ups with 67 (of the 75 possible), had 58 sit-ups (I need 80) and ran the 2-mile in 14:15 (not the fastest time in the world, but I know that I can get the 13:00 need to ace it).
Tuesday was a full day of outdoor field classes and a wake-up call for most. The first half was spent setting up and conducting searches, containment, vehicle extraction and initial interrogation of enemy combatant, as well as escalation of force (EOF) and rule of engagement (ROE) briefings. My squad acted as the enemy for an exercise that troops to escort prisoners into the initial holding facility at a COP (combat outpost) before processing and transportation to the FOB (forward operating base). It’s cool stuff in the fact beginning to learn some tactical concepts (Basic in general has been retailored with a combat focus because of the wars, and all of our Drill Sergeant have been deployed), but at the same time having to put my hands on my head, hooded so I can’t see, searched, put my hands my knees and left the corner of the holding pen made me realize just how real all of this is.
And speaking of “real”…the second half of Tuesday was spent on instruction regarding casualty treatment. There was a disclaimer about how our knowledge is to be used for military use only, but learned how to apply tourniquets , dress wounds, perform CPR, treat shock—and most importantly—the procedure for inserting and IV.
Which brings us to Wednesday (the day our Drill Sergeants hate the most because of how freaked out everyone gets). We have to start IVs on our “battle buddies” and (even worse) let them start IVs on us. I lucked out and teamed with one of my good friends her. Dominic Bontaglio (we call him “Bonnie”) sleeps in the bunk next to me. He’s 19, from Bah-ston (yeah his accent is great) but he could easily pass for 23. He is as confident as I am, so I knew we’d be ok. Of course, after only about 3 hours of instruction ( and 5 min. per soldier to practice on a dummy arm) we were all a little nervous. But I’m proud to say I did it. Bonnie and I both needed 2 shots at it (his first try found him removing the needle instead of advancing the catheter)(which caused a little bleeding), and my first try didn’t penetrate enough so that when I dropped the needle to insert the catheter, I was basically “opening a door” in his vein and we had a little squirt. But it wasn’t so bad and since so many of my friends are doctors, I feel like I’ve now equaled them in medical knowledge.
But the excitement this week didn’t end there. This morning we had our first AGR run (ability group run). I was in “A” group, so I spent about 40 mins this morning (0500) sprinting my ass off to keep up with the group. Then we had to change, pack our ruck sack, and march about 2 miles to Eagle Tower. That was the mission of the day. All soldiers in the Echo Company were required to rappel down a 4-story wooden tower (no nets) harnessed in only by a “Swiss Seat” (which you tie yourself out of a single piece of rope). And I’ll be totally honest with you, when I got to the top of the ladder and went over onto the platform (and felt it sway in the wind) I was freaked out. But once I stepped out onto the ledge and leaned back (and felt just how supported I was) it was a whole different story. I made it down in 3 jumps, yelling our motto (“Titans, Warriors til the end!”) at each stop. I’m not saying I’ll ever do it again, but it was fun, and I know I could.
We had MREs for lunch—and they were delicious. I had beef stew with cheese and crackers, a protein bar, Reece’s Pieces and Strawberry milkshake. Not exactly the same as the ones that Dad used to have huh?
And of course, the best news is that Monday is President’s Day, which means we get back-to-back Sundays (so hopefully I’ll have a chance to write more soon). Hope all is well.
Love, Nick
Yes it’s another Fire Guard shift. It’s just after 0300 so I have another chance to write you. We’ve had another action packed week. Unfortunately, my cold has gotten worse and I’ve developed a pretty nasty cough (everyone is my bay is sick now), so I haven’t able to enjoy it at 100% I’ve told myself that if I can’t kick it by Sunday, I’ll go to the infirmary (Sunday is a good day b/c I won’t miss training).
On Monday we had our first full PT test. I passed all of the events which put me in the top 20% in our company (yes 80% of the soldiers here are still that out of shape). But to be competitive for OCS, I want to score 100% on everything by the end of basic. I led my Platoon in push-ups with 67 (of the 75 possible), had 58 sit-ups (I need 80) and ran the 2-mile in 14:15 (not the fastest time in the world, but I know that I can get the 13:00 need to ace it).
Tuesday was a full day of outdoor field classes and a wake-up call for most. The first half was spent setting up and conducting searches, containment, vehicle extraction and initial interrogation of enemy combatant, as well as escalation of force (EOF) and rule of engagement (ROE) briefings. My squad acted as the enemy for an exercise that troops to escort prisoners into the initial holding facility at a COP (combat outpost) before processing and transportation to the FOB (forward operating base). It’s cool stuff in the fact beginning to learn some tactical concepts (Basic in general has been retailored with a combat focus because of the wars, and all of our Drill Sergeant have been deployed), but at the same time having to put my hands on my head, hooded so I can’t see, searched, put my hands my knees and left the corner of the holding pen made me realize just how real all of this is.
And speaking of “real”…the second half of Tuesday was spent on instruction regarding casualty treatment. There was a disclaimer about how our knowledge is to be used for military use only, but learned how to apply tourniquets , dress wounds, perform CPR, treat shock—and most importantly—the procedure for inserting and IV.
Which brings us to Wednesday (the day our Drill Sergeants hate the most because of how freaked out everyone gets). We have to start IVs on our “battle buddies” and (even worse) let them start IVs on us. I lucked out and teamed with one of my good friends her. Dominic Bontaglio (we call him “Bonnie”) sleeps in the bunk next to me. He’s 19, from Bah-ston (yeah his accent is great) but he could easily pass for 23. He is as confident as I am, so I knew we’d be ok. Of course, after only about 3 hours of instruction ( and 5 min. per soldier to practice on a dummy arm) we were all a little nervous. But I’m proud to say I did it. Bonnie and I both needed 2 shots at it (his first try found him removing the needle instead of advancing the catheter)(which caused a little bleeding), and my first try didn’t penetrate enough so that when I dropped the needle to insert the catheter, I was basically “opening a door” in his vein and we had a little squirt. But it wasn’t so bad and since so many of my friends are doctors, I feel like I’ve now equaled them in medical knowledge.
But the excitement this week didn’t end there. This morning we had our first AGR run (ability group run). I was in “A” group, so I spent about 40 mins this morning (0500) sprinting my ass off to keep up with the group. Then we had to change, pack our ruck sack, and march about 2 miles to Eagle Tower. That was the mission of the day. All soldiers in the Echo Company were required to rappel down a 4-story wooden tower (no nets) harnessed in only by a “Swiss Seat” (which you tie yourself out of a single piece of rope). And I’ll be totally honest with you, when I got to the top of the ladder and went over onto the platform (and felt it sway in the wind) I was freaked out. But once I stepped out onto the ledge and leaned back (and felt just how supported I was) it was a whole different story. I made it down in 3 jumps, yelling our motto (“Titans, Warriors til the end!”) at each stop. I’m not saying I’ll ever do it again, but it was fun, and I know I could.
We had MREs for lunch—and they were delicious. I had beef stew with cheese and crackers, a protein bar, Reece’s Pieces and Strawberry milkshake. Not exactly the same as the ones that Dad used to have huh?
And of course, the best news is that Monday is President’s Day, which means we get back-to-back Sundays (so hopefully I’ll have a chance to write more soon). Hope all is well.
Love, Nick
Monday, February 16, 2009
Overcoming Fears
Dear All,
I can’t believe tomorrow is Sunday! This week has flown by and I’m still shocked at how quickly they’ve thrown us into the deep end. There have been a lot of really exciting things to have happened this week. I was officially appointed APG (Assistant Platoon Guide), and was given an SFC rank badge to wear on my sleeve as 2nd in command of the Platoon (which meant a lot to me because that was Dad’s rank).
I officially overcame my fear of heights on the Confidence Course when I was forced to climb to the top of a ladder made of telephone poles and then go over and come down the other side. Honestly, if it were voluntary there’s no way I would have done it!
We’ve also had our first share of classes, including: evaluating a casualty, law of land warfare, uniform code of military justice (which was right up my alley), and we also began our MAC (modern army combatives) training this week (basically MMA for the army).
And today was one of the highlights because we got to fight with the Pugil Sticks. There’s nothing like releasing some frustration than by strapping on a football helmet and beating a kid’s brains in for 3 minutes with a giant Q-tip. I had an even match and we both got in some good shots, but I’ve never been more exhausted that I was when the round was over.
Our Platoon won the middle and heavyweight divisions in the Company Challenge, so we finally get to put our names on the Victory Board (we came in last in both the Obstacle Course and Confidence Course competitions). That was a big morale boost. Our Platoon name is the “Titans” and we were chanting liens from “Remember the Titans” all the way to the chow hall.
Of course everyone is looking forward to tomorrow since wakeup is not until 0600 (definitely considered sleeping in), and we don’t have to carry our weapons. We also get to go to church, and the saying is true: everyone does find God in the military. It’s a good way to refocus for the week to come.
I hope everything is going well at home. It’s starting to warm up here; I hope the same is true for STL. It must have been great watching the Super Bowl on the new TV, Dad. I’ve occasionally caught glimpses of a TV when working with the Drill Sergeants in their office, but otherwise I’ve been totally cut off from the outside world. Fortunately, I’ve been busy enough not to notice.
Thanks for writing the letters, it’s nice to hear from home and it’s always a good feeling when they do mail call. I’ll write more soon – I can’t wait to get a chance to tell you about the guys in my platoon.
Love, Nick
I can’t believe tomorrow is Sunday! This week has flown by and I’m still shocked at how quickly they’ve thrown us into the deep end. There have been a lot of really exciting things to have happened this week. I was officially appointed APG (Assistant Platoon Guide), and was given an SFC rank badge to wear on my sleeve as 2nd in command of the Platoon (which meant a lot to me because that was Dad’s rank).
I officially overcame my fear of heights on the Confidence Course when I was forced to climb to the top of a ladder made of telephone poles and then go over and come down the other side. Honestly, if it were voluntary there’s no way I would have done it!
We’ve also had our first share of classes, including: evaluating a casualty, law of land warfare, uniform code of military justice (which was right up my alley), and we also began our MAC (modern army combatives) training this week (basically MMA for the army).
And today was one of the highlights because we got to fight with the Pugil Sticks. There’s nothing like releasing some frustration than by strapping on a football helmet and beating a kid’s brains in for 3 minutes with a giant Q-tip. I had an even match and we both got in some good shots, but I’ve never been more exhausted that I was when the round was over.
Our Platoon won the middle and heavyweight divisions in the Company Challenge, so we finally get to put our names on the Victory Board (we came in last in both the Obstacle Course and Confidence Course competitions). That was a big morale boost. Our Platoon name is the “Titans” and we were chanting liens from “Remember the Titans” all the way to the chow hall.
Of course everyone is looking forward to tomorrow since wakeup is not until 0600 (definitely considered sleeping in), and we don’t have to carry our weapons. We also get to go to church, and the saying is true: everyone does find God in the military. It’s a good way to refocus for the week to come.
I hope everything is going well at home. It’s starting to warm up here; I hope the same is true for STL. It must have been great watching the Super Bowl on the new TV, Dad. I’ve occasionally caught glimpses of a TV when working with the Drill Sergeants in their office, but otherwise I’ve been totally cut off from the outside world. Fortunately, I’ve been busy enough not to notice.
Thanks for writing the letters, it’s nice to hear from home and it’s always a good feeling when they do mail call. I’ll write more soon – I can’t wait to get a chance to tell you about the guys in my platoon.
Love, Nick
The Gas Chamber
Dear All:
It’s officially the last day of my first full week of Basic Training. If nothing else I can tell you that it will go by much faster than a semester of law school. Already the last few days have held some new and exciting challenges that I didn’t expect to come so soon. Yesterday we had our first road march. It was only about a mile, but it was fun to stretch our legs and yell out some cadence. It brought us to the obstacle course (you know, the one with the walls to jump over and the barbed wire to crawl under that you see on the commercials). And it pitted our 2nd Platoon (the Titans) against the other 3 platoons in Echo Company for the best time. So far in Basic our platoon has been huge underdogs and gets picked on by the Drill Sergeants running the other squads. It doesn’t help that our guys consistently do dumb things like having your weapon on “burst” when you enter the Chow hall or always having the highest percentage of soldiers to get sleeping during classroom sessions. Even as their APG (assistant platoon guide) I can only do so much. But we’ve got quite the spirit (we adopted the aura from the team from “Remember the Titans”) and that makes things a lot more fun. Still we ended up 3rd runner up (only off the lead by 20 seconds) but it some of the soldier a while to realize that meant we were last. For me, it was good to realize how far we have to go over the next 9 weeks.
Then today we were bused off to the gas chamber. Let me set the record straight and say that walking into a 10x10 room full of tear gas is a terrible idea. However, the purpose of the exercise was to develop confidence and to show us just how much trust we should be putting in our gear. And let me tell you, I am converted. I will believe and trust anything the Army tells me because that gas mask worked. They lined us up by Platoon with our masks sealed and escorted us inside. Then after showing how they held up, we had to remove our masks, place our helmets on, buckle them, place your hand on the soldier in front of you and wait for the command to leave. It was the equivalent of pouring Tabasco sauce on pepper, lighting it on fire, and pouring it down you throat with a funnel. You’ll never hear any group cough, gag and cling to life than we did today. And everyone having a cold didn’t help since it cleared out our sinuses. I know for a fact my Drill Sgt. had a great time snapping a few pictures of my snot-covered face. But at the end, I survived. I have stepped, willingly, into a gas chamber. What else should I be afraid of?
Tommorrow Tomorrow (sorry, it too late to spell) is the Leadership course—an obstacle course that requires teamwork and direction to complete. It should be fun, but I hope it’s not as cold as it was today. Other than that, things are going well. We’re still getting smoked regularly because a few soldiers still aren’t catching on (we couldn’t successfully complete a “shower drill” today in which our 60-man platoon must be showered and dressed (there are 8 showers) in 20 minutes). So we spent the 7-minutes we were over by doing flutter-kicks, naked, on the floor of our bay. So I guess you can say there’s a little bit of everything here in training.
I hope everything is going well at home. Getting mail is a good feeling. Talk to you guys soon.
Love,
Nick
It’s officially the last day of my first full week of Basic Training. If nothing else I can tell you that it will go by much faster than a semester of law school. Already the last few days have held some new and exciting challenges that I didn’t expect to come so soon. Yesterday we had our first road march. It was only about a mile, but it was fun to stretch our legs and yell out some cadence. It brought us to the obstacle course (you know, the one with the walls to jump over and the barbed wire to crawl under that you see on the commercials). And it pitted our 2nd Platoon (the Titans) against the other 3 platoons in Echo Company for the best time. So far in Basic our platoon has been huge underdogs and gets picked on by the Drill Sergeants running the other squads. It doesn’t help that our guys consistently do dumb things like having your weapon on “burst” when you enter the Chow hall or always having the highest percentage of soldiers to get sleeping during classroom sessions. Even as their APG (assistant platoon guide) I can only do so much. But we’ve got quite the spirit (we adopted the aura from the team from “Remember the Titans”) and that makes things a lot more fun. Still we ended up 3rd runner up (only off the lead by 20 seconds) but it some of the soldier a while to realize that meant we were last. For me, it was good to realize how far we have to go over the next 9 weeks.
Then today we were bused off to the gas chamber. Let me set the record straight and say that walking into a 10x10 room full of tear gas is a terrible idea. However, the purpose of the exercise was to develop confidence and to show us just how much trust we should be putting in our gear. And let me tell you, I am converted. I will believe and trust anything the Army tells me because that gas mask worked. They lined us up by Platoon with our masks sealed and escorted us inside. Then after showing how they held up, we had to remove our masks, place our helmets on, buckle them, place your hand on the soldier in front of you and wait for the command to leave. It was the equivalent of pouring Tabasco sauce on pepper, lighting it on fire, and pouring it down you throat with a funnel. You’ll never hear any group cough, gag and cling to life than we did today. And everyone having a cold didn’t help since it cleared out our sinuses. I know for a fact my Drill Sgt. had a great time snapping a few pictures of my snot-covered face. But at the end, I survived. I have stepped, willingly, into a gas chamber. What else should I be afraid of?
Tommorrow Tomorrow (sorry, it too late to spell) is the Leadership course—an obstacle course that requires teamwork and direction to complete. It should be fun, but I hope it’s not as cold as it was today. Other than that, things are going well. We’re still getting smoked regularly because a few soldiers still aren’t catching on (we couldn’t successfully complete a “shower drill” today in which our 60-man platoon must be showered and dressed (there are 8 showers) in 20 minutes). So we spent the 7-minutes we were over by doing flutter-kicks, naked, on the floor of our bay. So I guess you can say there’s a little bit of everything here in training.
I hope everything is going well at home. Getting mail is a good feeling. Talk to you guys soon.
Love,
Nick
Smoked
Dear All,
Well, it’s another day and another fire guard shift. I only have duty from 2300 to 0000, so it’s not so bad. At least I can put together a few hours of sleep before our 0430 wake-up. Everything is still going well. I’m shaking my cold, so that’s a plus. The weather is still chilly overnight (our morning), but warms up in the afternoon. We’re so busy that the days are flying by. Today we were issued our gas masks (which means that day is coming soon), and had our first classroom instruction on land navigation. So far, I’m picking up all of the concepts really easily. The hardest thing for me has been learning not to think. I realized early on that, as a private in the Army, life is simple; too simple. And you only succeed if you do exactly what they say, and I mean literally. If they tell you that you are going to exit through a certain door and to open it, you are only supposed to open it. Don’t exit. You will do that when they tell you to.
Of course, not everyone has grasped that as firmly as I have, and our Platoon has been “smoked” plenty for it. The first 3-4 weeks are “Red Phase”, which is the soldier’s wake-up call to Army life. You have to be everywhere 10 minutes early, and follow specific rules….specifically. If you don’t (and by “you” I mean anyone in your Platoon), the Drill Sergeants are like (as they like to say) Milton Bradley and Parker Bros. combined they have games to keep us “entertained” all day. Needless to say, I’m getting in shape. There are 3 drill sergeants assigned to my Platoon. Acosta looks like the Hispanic Adam Sandler, Morrisette is the black version of Ivan Drago from Rocky IV, and Guerra is the “good cop”. They are fair, but they hold us to a high standard – which is good, and I’m looking forward to week 4 when they start peeling off the weak links.
I’ll write more again when we have the chance, but free time is limited. I almost got a phone call the other night…so stay tuned because I may be able to call home soon. I hope all is well at home. I heard the Steelers won – hopefully there were some good commercials.
Talk to you soon, Nick.
Well, it’s another day and another fire guard shift. I only have duty from 2300 to 0000, so it’s not so bad. At least I can put together a few hours of sleep before our 0430 wake-up. Everything is still going well. I’m shaking my cold, so that’s a plus. The weather is still chilly overnight (our morning), but warms up in the afternoon. We’re so busy that the days are flying by. Today we were issued our gas masks (which means that day is coming soon), and had our first classroom instruction on land navigation. So far, I’m picking up all of the concepts really easily. The hardest thing for me has been learning not to think. I realized early on that, as a private in the Army, life is simple; too simple. And you only succeed if you do exactly what they say, and I mean literally. If they tell you that you are going to exit through a certain door and to open it, you are only supposed to open it. Don’t exit. You will do that when they tell you to.
Of course, not everyone has grasped that as firmly as I have, and our Platoon has been “smoked” plenty for it. The first 3-4 weeks are “Red Phase”, which is the soldier’s wake-up call to Army life. You have to be everywhere 10 minutes early, and follow specific rules….specifically. If you don’t (and by “you” I mean anyone in your Platoon), the Drill Sergeants are like (as they like to say) Milton Bradley and Parker Bros. combined they have games to keep us “entertained” all day. Needless to say, I’m getting in shape. There are 3 drill sergeants assigned to my Platoon. Acosta looks like the Hispanic Adam Sandler, Morrisette is the black version of Ivan Drago from Rocky IV, and Guerra is the “good cop”. They are fair, but they hold us to a high standard – which is good, and I’m looking forward to week 4 when they start peeling off the weak links.
I’ll write more again when we have the chance, but free time is limited. I almost got a phone call the other night…so stay tuned because I may be able to call home soon. I hope all is well at home. I heard the Steelers won – hopefully there were some good commercials.
Talk to you soon, Nick.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Finally "Down Range"
February 01, 2009
Dear All:
Well guys, I finally made it to basic training. After a little over a week of sitting in lines and listening to briefings and collecting my gear in reception (it was starting to make people insane), we were shipped “down range” to our training center. That was Thursday morning. It’s now 0415 on Sunday and I am on fire guard duty (again). But I don’t mind since it at least gives me a chance to write.
So far, things have been really good. I was appointed (APG) Assistant Platoon Guide, which means I am second in command of our 60-man Platoon. I also scored the most push-ups in our Platoon (2nd Platoon, Echo Company) during the first of 4 PT tests we will have to complete.
Here are some other interesting highlights: We were issued our weapons (a well-worn M-16) on our first full day. It’s cool, but we have to have them with us at all times, so it’s kind of a pain in the ass. Speaking of which, the hardest thing so far has been regulating my bathroom use. We get plenty of latrine breaks (which is good because they force us to drink a ton of water and have issued us Camelbaks), but they are rarely over 3 minutes for the entire Platoon. Needless to say, I’ve worked out a system so I can go after “lights out”. I’ve also mastered the fine art of taking many different kinds of food, from any meal, and turning it into a sandwich. At the mess hall, when the last member of the Platoon sits down, we have exactly 7 minutes to finish and be back in formation. Every morning I put my eggs, sausage, and a small box of corn flakes between 2 waffles. My dinner was a boneless pork chop, asparagus, and a salad…on wheat. There just isn’t time for anything else.
I have a cold, but everyone else does too. The combination of the schedule, the weather, and everyone passing germs makes for that to be the norm. But other than that, I’m handling everything really well and feeling good about my decision.
I hope everything is going well at home. Please write whenever you have time, and I promise to do the same. In the meantime, I’ll be spending my days marching in formation, doing PT, screaming our Army chants, creeds, and cadences, and looking forward to completing my training.
Love,
Nick
Dear All:
Well guys, I finally made it to basic training. After a little over a week of sitting in lines and listening to briefings and collecting my gear in reception (it was starting to make people insane), we were shipped “down range” to our training center. That was Thursday morning. It’s now 0415 on Sunday and I am on fire guard duty (again). But I don’t mind since it at least gives me a chance to write.
So far, things have been really good. I was appointed (APG) Assistant Platoon Guide, which means I am second in command of our 60-man Platoon. I also scored the most push-ups in our Platoon (2nd Platoon, Echo Company) during the first of 4 PT tests we will have to complete.
Here are some other interesting highlights: We were issued our weapons (a well-worn M-16) on our first full day. It’s cool, but we have to have them with us at all times, so it’s kind of a pain in the ass. Speaking of which, the hardest thing so far has been regulating my bathroom use. We get plenty of latrine breaks (which is good because they force us to drink a ton of water and have issued us Camelbaks), but they are rarely over 3 minutes for the entire Platoon. Needless to say, I’ve worked out a system so I can go after “lights out”. I’ve also mastered the fine art of taking many different kinds of food, from any meal, and turning it into a sandwich. At the mess hall, when the last member of the Platoon sits down, we have exactly 7 minutes to finish and be back in formation. Every morning I put my eggs, sausage, and a small box of corn flakes between 2 waffles. My dinner was a boneless pork chop, asparagus, and a salad…on wheat. There just isn’t time for anything else.
I have a cold, but everyone else does too. The combination of the schedule, the weather, and everyone passing germs makes for that to be the norm. But other than that, I’m handling everything really well and feeling good about my decision.
I hope everything is going well at home. Please write whenever you have time, and I promise to do the same. In the meantime, I’ll be spending my days marching in formation, doing PT, screaming our Army chants, creeds, and cadences, and looking forward to completing my training.
Love,
Nick
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Mailing Address
January 29, 2009
Dear All:
It’s 0312 on Tuesday morning and I have a few minutes before morning formation to write you. Things are going well, but our platoon is getting anxious from all the waiting we do at reception, and we are ready to go “down range” and begin Basic. We are scheduled to ship out on Thursday. I’m doing well so far (getting used to the pressures and schedule more every day). And, there is even a Stewart, a Boyd, and a Perry in my Platoon, so it doesn’t feel like I’m quite so far from home.
But the real reason I am writing is because I now have a mailing address:
SPC Bono, Dominic J.
E CO 2nd Battalion 47th Infantry
RN 209
5375 Hanson Drive
Fort Benning, GA 31905-4930
Please use this address exactly when sending mail. And please do not send any mail until at least next Monday (from this date) to ensure that I am already moved to my new locations.
Hope everything is well at home. I love and miss you. I’ll write again as soon as I can.
Love,
Nick
Dear All:
It’s 0312 on Tuesday morning and I have a few minutes before morning formation to write you. Things are going well, but our platoon is getting anxious from all the waiting we do at reception, and we are ready to go “down range” and begin Basic. We are scheduled to ship out on Thursday. I’m doing well so far (getting used to the pressures and schedule more every day). And, there is even a Stewart, a Boyd, and a Perry in my Platoon, so it doesn’t feel like I’m quite so far from home.
But the real reason I am writing is because I now have a mailing address:
SPC Bono, Dominic J.
E CO 2nd Battalion 47th Infantry
RN 209
5375 Hanson Drive
Fort Benning, GA 31905-4930
Please use this address exactly when sending mail. And please do not send any mail until at least next Monday (from this date) to ensure that I am already moved to my new locations.
Hope everything is well at home. I love and miss you. I’ll write again as soon as I can.
Love,
Nick
Saturday, January 24, 2009
First Letter Home
January 24, 2009
Dear All:
I’m writing this at 8:35 p.m. (2035 hrs) on Saturday night, but I’m not sure when it will get mailed. First, Happy Birthday Mom! I love you and hope you had a great day.
I’ll write as often as I can, but free time is limited and the time we do have is usually taken up with things (like shaving and going to the bathroom). I’ve been in reception all this week and will head Basic Training this coming Thursday. That’s where the real work will begin. In the meantime, I’ve been settling in the routine (wake up at 0330 and lights out at 2100), taking care of the guys in my platoon (90202 BA) (I’m the assistant platoon guard of our bay—an old, very large and very wise black man named Mungo is the bay leader). It’s been busy, but most of the time is spent waiting in line. I’ve never stood up for so long (4+ hours at a time in some cases).
Some other highlights include having only 5 minutes to eat meals so that everything on your plate turns in a sandwich, getting a shot in the ass that left everyone sore for 2 days, and laughing about all of it.
But I’m safe, and I’m surviving. I’ll try to write more soon. Hope all is well.
Love,
Nick
Dear All:
I’m writing this at 8:35 p.m. (2035 hrs) on Saturday night, but I’m not sure when it will get mailed. First, Happy Birthday Mom! I love you and hope you had a great day.
I’ll write as often as I can, but free time is limited and the time we do have is usually taken up with things (like shaving and going to the bathroom). I’ve been in reception all this week and will head Basic Training this coming Thursday. That’s where the real work will begin. In the meantime, I’ve been settling in the routine (wake up at 0330 and lights out at 2100), taking care of the guys in my platoon (90202 BA) (I’m the assistant platoon guard of our bay—an old, very large and very wise black man named Mungo is the bay leader). It’s been busy, but most of the time is spent waiting in line. I’ve never stood up for so long (4+ hours at a time in some cases).
Some other highlights include having only 5 minutes to eat meals so that everything on your plate turns in a sandwich, getting a shot in the ass that left everyone sore for 2 days, and laughing about all of it.
But I’m safe, and I’m surviving. I’ll try to write more soon. Hope all is well.
Love,
Nick
Thursday, January 15, 2009
My New Ship Date?
You probably didn't expect a post from me this soon after my departure. Of course, I expected to be in Georgia right now, undergoing my reception. I suppose we can't always get what we want.
Fortunately for you, you get a great story to start off my trip. Before BCT (Basic Combat Training) even begins, I get a firsthand practical lesson in the military's "Hurry Up and Wait" policy. And, since I'll have to get used to it, I don't mind getting a head start.
My wakeup call came at 0400 hours, and I was shuttled to the federal building for processing and shipment at 0500 hours. Of course, I wasn't in the system yet (I was worried about my documentation getting from OKC - where I originally processed and did all of my MEPS work - to STL in the first place, and this confirmed my fears). I had to wait for a special "records liason" to show up at 0830. By then, he realized that they had all of the paperwork, but that they forgot to read a note attached to my medical records ordering them to "take ownership"/aka, register them in the STL database, so that i could be processed and shipped.
And, since the inspection team designated to check my height and weight left at 0900 hours, there wouldn't be enough time for me to get finished and make my 1200 flight to GA.
Long story a little bit longer, after waiting around for 5 hours, I was informed that my ship date would have to be rescheduled for Tuesday, January 20th. Before long, events like these will become so commonplace that I won't even think to write them down, let alone be affected by them. Until that day, I'll find solace knowing that tax payers are fronting the bill so that I can spend two nights in the Drury Inn downtown instead of just one.
Fortunately for you, you get a great story to start off my trip. Before BCT (Basic Combat Training) even begins, I get a firsthand practical lesson in the military's "Hurry Up and Wait" policy. And, since I'll have to get used to it, I don't mind getting a head start.
My wakeup call came at 0400 hours, and I was shuttled to the federal building for processing and shipment at 0500 hours. Of course, I wasn't in the system yet (I was worried about my documentation getting from OKC - where I originally processed and did all of my MEPS work - to STL in the first place, and this confirmed my fears). I had to wait for a special "records liason" to show up at 0830. By then, he realized that they had all of the paperwork, but that they forgot to read a note attached to my medical records ordering them to "take ownership"/aka, register them in the STL database, so that i could be processed and shipped.
And, since the inspection team designated to check my height and weight left at 0900 hours, there wouldn't be enough time for me to get finished and make my 1200 flight to GA.
Long story a little bit longer, after waiting around for 5 hours, I was informed that my ship date would have to be rescheduled for Tuesday, January 20th. Before long, events like these will become so commonplace that I won't even think to write them down, let alone be affected by them. Until that day, I'll find solace knowing that tax payers are fronting the bill so that I can spend two nights in the Drury Inn downtown instead of just one.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Contact Information
As you know, I won't have access to a phone, email or television for the majority of my training. However, in case of an emergency (or in the off chance that you ran into Molly Sims and she's been dying to get in touch with me), I'll direct you to the following contact information:
Permanent Home Mailing Address:
2280 Wincanton Road
St. Louis, MO 63129
Permanent Home Phone:
(314) 846-8751
Email:
jkbono@sbcglobal.net
dbono101@yahoo.com
dominic.bono@us.army.mil
And, of course, once I do get my mailing address, phone, or any other options for communication I'll post them right away. And I was serious about that Molly Sims thing; if she asks, it's perfectly fine for her to call or write.
Permanent Home Mailing Address:
2280 Wincanton Road
St. Louis, MO 63129
Permanent Home Phone:
(314) 846-8751
Email:
jkbono@sbcglobal.net
dbono101@yahoo.com
dominic.bono@us.army.mil
And, of course, once I do get my mailing address, phone, or any other options for communication I'll post them right away. And I was serious about that Molly Sims thing; if she asks, it's perfectly fine for her to call or write.
My Packing List
One of the biggest questions I've been asked as I get ready to ship tomorrow has been, "What are you allowed to bring?". The easy answer is, "Not much." Below is the official packing list as provided to me by the Army. As you can see, it's the definition of a fresh start.
http://www.futuresoldiers.com/downloads/mso1F4.pdf
On the bright side, at least I won't have to pay all of those baggage charges at the airport...
http://www.futuresoldiers.com/downloads/mso1F4.pdf
On the bright side, at least I won't have to pay all of those baggage charges at the airport...
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
The Personal Statement
I thought that before I even begin talking about my journey, my experiences and my life as a soldier in the U.S. Army, I should give some perspective on why I'm doing this. I could wax philosophical about the role of each citizen in a democratic republic. I could delve into my own personal values and beliefs. I could even even compare the details of my personality as it relates to the life I've chosen. But if I did any of those things all you'd be left with is a boring display of my writing ability.
The fact is, people join the military for thousands of different reasons, yet the end result is always service at a price, and at its most selfless. This I know. And at this point, that is all I know. Three days before my "ship date" and I am as green as they come. But that self-awareness will do me well as an officer.
And so, to answer the question of "Why?", I'll tell you exactly what I was required to tell them. As a part of my application for approval to become an Officer Candidate I had to provide a one-page personal statement. It was challenging because this duty, and this obligation is something I've carried with me for many years; and it's matured as I have. To limit those reasons to a few paragraphs was difficult. But I did it with one idea in mind, and it was a train of logic inspired by Thomas Jefferson.
Jefferson was a revolutionary even in times of peace. If you know anything about his mindset, he firmly believed in the inevitable corruption that power breeds, and he felt it was necessary to overthrow entire governments whenever they abandoned the will of the people for their own gains. And he combined that thinking with the elitism of his day. He believed that in the times of the greatest hardship, with the greatest need, and involving the most difficult obstacles, the best and brightest and bravest had a duty to come forward for the benefit of all people. At no time have I ever been so proud to think that there aren't many who are better than me at any one thing, but at the same time, I believe that I have been blessed with so many gifts and opportunities that I have an obligation to step forward, to serve, and to sacrifice for a greater good. And the time is now.
Here is my personal statement:
I am compelled to serve, sacrifice and persevere to ensure the guarantees of freedom and liberty, and to be part of something bigger than my own self. That is a strong statement, but a true one as well. Describing my sense of duty, the calling I have found in military service and the honor I know will come from this commitment to my country is cliché, but there is truth in every such saying. My achievements and education afford me the possibility of success down any path I pursue, yet this is the direction I know I must follow to find satisfaction in my life’s work.
I have earned honors in all levels of academia, and have been in positions of leadership in an array of organizations, but I am more than my resume. For me, being an effective Officer is more than merely holding a higher rank and status. I am applying for this position because I want to earn the opportunity to set an example, with the knowledge that I am resolute in my loyalty to the individuals depending on me to serve them. The commitment to serve this country as an Officer in the United States Army is not one to be made lightly. It is the kind that changes a citizen into a soldier and transitions an individual into a leader of others. More than the pledge of time or personal risk is the awesome responsibility that comes with every commission. Each day the safety and general welfare of many rely on the actions and decisions of a few.
I want to make the point clear that I am not only aware of this responsibility, but feel confident and ready to be accountable on this level. This has been my dream, and I have prepared myself for this role, both on paper and in my heart.
Respectfully,
Dominic John Bono
The fact is, people join the military for thousands of different reasons, yet the end result is always service at a price, and at its most selfless. This I know. And at this point, that is all I know. Three days before my "ship date" and I am as green as they come. But that self-awareness will do me well as an officer.
And so, to answer the question of "Why?", I'll tell you exactly what I was required to tell them. As a part of my application for approval to become an Officer Candidate I had to provide a one-page personal statement. It was challenging because this duty, and this obligation is something I've carried with me for many years; and it's matured as I have. To limit those reasons to a few paragraphs was difficult. But I did it with one idea in mind, and it was a train of logic inspired by Thomas Jefferson.
Jefferson was a revolutionary even in times of peace. If you know anything about his mindset, he firmly believed in the inevitable corruption that power breeds, and he felt it was necessary to overthrow entire governments whenever they abandoned the will of the people for their own gains. And he combined that thinking with the elitism of his day. He believed that in the times of the greatest hardship, with the greatest need, and involving the most difficult obstacles, the best and brightest and bravest had a duty to come forward for the benefit of all people. At no time have I ever been so proud to think that there aren't many who are better than me at any one thing, but at the same time, I believe that I have been blessed with so many gifts and opportunities that I have an obligation to step forward, to serve, and to sacrifice for a greater good. And the time is now.
Here is my personal statement:
I am compelled to serve, sacrifice and persevere to ensure the guarantees of freedom and liberty, and to be part of something bigger than my own self. That is a strong statement, but a true one as well. Describing my sense of duty, the calling I have found in military service and the honor I know will come from this commitment to my country is cliché, but there is truth in every such saying. My achievements and education afford me the possibility of success down any path I pursue, yet this is the direction I know I must follow to find satisfaction in my life’s work.
I have earned honors in all levels of academia, and have been in positions of leadership in an array of organizations, but I am more than my resume. For me, being an effective Officer is more than merely holding a higher rank and status. I am applying for this position because I want to earn the opportunity to set an example, with the knowledge that I am resolute in my loyalty to the individuals depending on me to serve them. The commitment to serve this country as an Officer in the United States Army is not one to be made lightly. It is the kind that changes a citizen into a soldier and transitions an individual into a leader of others. More than the pledge of time or personal risk is the awesome responsibility that comes with every commission. Each day the safety and general welfare of many rely on the actions and decisions of a few.
I want to make the point clear that I am not only aware of this responsibility, but feel confident and ready to be accountable on this level. This has been my dream, and I have prepared myself for this role, both on paper and in my heart.
Respectfully,
Dominic John Bono
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