I had originally planned on continuing my journal entries through AIT and on if I could, however, upon arriving at AIT, I soon found out that most of the classes here are classified. So basically that’s the end of my entries. Feel free to ask about AIT and whatever you want, I’ll try to find a way to answer your questions!
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Feb 6 (Sat) - Day 77 – 2300
We got up around 0400, but didn’t actually leave until 1200. Then, we drove about 15 min away from base, and got right onto the runway where our private plane was waiting. When we got out, we loaded right onto the plane, which was kind of cool. I felt like a VIP. The planes were commercial planes, but with only military personnel on board. Once we got on the plane, we flew to Dallas, TX and stopped to get fuel and change the crew. After sitting there for about an hour, we flew to Tucson, AZ. Then we sat and waited on our buses for a second plane to get there.
After about an hour long drive, we finally got to Ft. Huachuca around 2000 hours local time (HLT) (it was 2200 EST though), and proceeded to fill out a lot of paperwork until about 2300 HLT. Then we got to our bays, which have about 35 guys in them, and we unpacked until about 0130 or so. Yeah, it was a long day.
Feb 5 (Fri) - Day 76 – 2130
Graduation!!! We got up and sat around for a while, then got bussed over to where we were having graduation. The ceremony was pretty cool, and it was really short. After that, we started marching back to the company. It started raining pretty good about halfway there, so we started running back in formation. Finally we were released, and my parents and brother and sister came and got me. We didn’t do very much, but I spent a lot of money and wasted time. We went to Applebees for dinner, which was really good, and a great way to end my time with my family. Now I have about 12 more hours until I leave Ft. Jackson. I can’t wait.
Feb 4 (Thurs) - Day 75 – 2200
The morning was really cold, and I would know since I stood out in the woodline with about 1200 other soldiers for almost three hours waiting for family day to start. After all that waiting, the DSs popped a whole bunch of smoke grenades and we all ran out onto the field yelling and screaming. Then we got formed up and our families came and got us. I spent the rest of the day with my family not really doing anything (since we weren’t allowed to leave post) but it was awesome to see them again. Tomorrow is finally graduation, and I can’t wait to get done with this! I have to stay one more day though, because I don’t ship out to AIT until Saturday.
Feb 3 (Wed) - Day 74 – 2000
Nothing but a lot of frustration today. We got our phones, then they got taken away. We almost got smoked as a company because one person was talking in line for dinner. But we did get some info about going to AIT. I’ll be taking a charter bus to the airport, and then there’s a very good chance I’ll be flying in a government plane (like with the air force) but only a small chance that I’ll fly commercial. Either way is fine with me I guess. I also packed most of my stuff, I’m just waiting to get a garment bag and a bigger backpack. Tomorrow is family day so that’s pretty cool. The morning should suck though, we’ll just practice something for a while…
Feb 2 (Tues) - Day 73 – 1800
This morning we got to sleep in until 0600 and sit around until breakfast. Then we started outprocessing, which consisted of us looking over a lot of paperwork and then turning it back in. That’s it. Right after lunch, we ran through a graduation ceremony in the Solomon Center (our main gym) in case of rain or whatever. After that, we turned our weapons in!!! I feel so free! I was really getting sick of cleaning that thing all the freaking time, let alone having to carry it everywhere. Now I’m just sitting here deciding what to pack now and what to leave for later. One more day… and actually, we get our personal bags and phones tomorrow sometime, so it won’t even be a full day.
Feb 1 (Mon) - Day 72 – 1900
We did our inventory over again today. We drug all of our equipment out and set it up all nice and neat. Then we sat there. For several hours we just had to wait. The only redeeming thing was the DS put a radio on and it was on a rock station, so that was awesome. After lunch, we started putting everything away, but then the captain came in so we had to pull everything back out. That was annoying, but eventually we finished.
After that we bought our pictures of ourselves. It was super lame though, the took one picture of us in reception and photoshopped our PCs (patrol caps, like a hat) on, and then cut our faces out and put them in our Class A uniform. It looked terrible. That’s it for today.
Jan 31 (Sun) - Day 71 (Week 11) – 1730
Went to church again this morning. Then we sat around all day, and part of the time we cleaned the bay. In the afternoon we got our t-shirts that we ordered before victory forge. I got our platoon shirt and one other shirt. Right after that we got our phones for like 15 min. it’s kind of annoying that we never got our phones for very long, but it’s almost over. Three more days to go.
Jan 30 (Sat) - Day 70 – 1800
Literally all I did today was clean my weapon. It was so boring. I gave up a few hours after lunch and tried writing more of a story I’m working on, and that helped pass the time, but it’s been a very slow day. I’m getting more restless each day, but I’m trying to do what I need to so I don’t get smoked. Tomorrow is Sunday so hopefully we’ll get our phones. That’s really all I’m looking forward to for tomorrow, lolzor.
Oh, and I’m really upset right now. The winter X Games are going on right now and I’m missing them. Also the Pro Bowl is tomorrow and I doubt I’ll be able to watch it. I just hope I get a chance to see the Superbowl.
Jan 29 (Fri) - Day 69 – 1730
Well yesterday we turned in all of our equipment that was issued to us, and today we got to clean all of it and double check the numbers. I’m glad to finally get rid of that stuff. Now if only we could get rid of these rifles…
Anyway, I did a lot of work today and I’m exhausted now. Every day brings family day and (gasp) graduation closer, but it still seems so far away. I hope the next few days go by quickly, but I don’t really know what we’re doing. Whatever we do, I’m sure it won’t be that exciting though, haha.
Jan 28 (Thurs) - Day 68 (Red, White, and Blue Phase) - 2030
Victory forge is finally over! We woke up this morning to freezing cold temperatures. No joke, it sucked. We waited around for a while until almost lunch time, and finally came back to the company this afternoon. We turned in all of our equipment today, which is a huge relief. All we have left is our weapons now. Tonight we had our rite of passage ceremony. It was cool, the whole battalion was there and we put on our berets and shook the DSs’ and the company commander’s hands. But then when we got back to the company they smoked us. Just as a hazing kind of thing though, we didn’t do anything wrong. Well, basic is almost over now, less than a week left. Hopefully no one does anything too stupid…
Jan 27 (Wed) - Day 67 - 2030
I’m writing this the day after because we had a night mission and got back late, so I didn’t have time. This day started and ended great. The middle sucked though.
In the morning, we learned about recon missions and smoke grenades, then did and exercise with recon. I got to be the OPFOR team (opposing forces) so we got out of uniform and got to hang out in the woods all morning. That was a lot of fun, to be able just to walk around and relax finally. When that was done, we started marching back, but got lost, so our short march got a little longer. Anyway, the day crept on until after dinner chow. My squad got ready for OPFOR again. We went out into the woods and set up an ambush for the other half of the platoon.
When they came it was crazy. People were shooting everywhere, and I was up on a roof in the village, unloading all 80 of my blank rounds. (the guys coming in only had like 20, lolzor).
On the way back to the FOB, I was thinking about how cool this whole thing was. We were marching back at night, with moonlight as the only source of light, wearing our pt hats and whatever. It was cool. I felt like I was in special forces (SF) or something.
Jan 26 (Tues) - Day 66 – 1900
Today freaking sucked. We got up and it was freezing cold first off. Then we rode buses over to a range. There, we marched around a circle that was about 2 miles, and when we got back, we got smoked bad while we waited in line. There were around 170 of us, and they took 10 at a time while the rest of us were getting totally pwn3d by the DSs. Then, after about 1 ½ or 2 hours they took us on a march again. By this time there were about 50 of us. I went soon after the 2nd march and they made us run over to get our magazines, then run over to our firing lanes. Then we had to shoot 10 rounds standing behind a barrier, 10 shots kneeling behind the barrier, and 10 shots in prone behind the barrier. The whole point of this range was to simulate combat. I feel like I just got out of combat. Everything hurts… After everyone went, we came back to the company to take showers. We’re staying here for the night and then going back to the FOB (forward operating base) tomorrow morning. We’re getting so close to the end now, it’s great. I can’t wait to get out of here.
Jan 25 (Mon) - Day 65 – 1900
Specialist Johnson, you’re fired. Yes, I got fired today as squad leader. Not for one big reason, but a bunch of little things. The last straw was people forgetting their eyepro. Anyway, today sucked. The land nav was super easy, and not even fun. The rest of the day was kind of land nav but with stations at each point.
Then we have the marches. The first one hurt, but I got through it ok, even though it was mostly uphill. The march back was downright awful. Both were only about three miles, and somehow both were mostly uphill. The way back had some huge hills, and I almost passed out by the end. I made it though, so I’m still alive. My feet really hurt now though. I hear that we have one more march for two miles, and that’s the last one though. I sure hope so…
Jan 24 (Sun) - Day 64 (Week 10) - 1800
Well, today was pretty fun. We ended up not marching at all, so that was really nice. Basically we did the same thing as the 3 day, only less DS involvement. We did some MOUT, reaction to fire and flanking, and ECP stuff. It wasn’t too bad overall, but my feet did hurt a little. Tomorrow we get up around 0200and have night then day land nav. we’re supposed to march this time, and I heard it’ll be a little longer than the other march, which really sucks. Hopefully that will be our last march.
Jan 23 (Sat) - Day 63 - 1900
We started our march at 0430 and went until 0710. It sucked. I think we marched for about 7 miles, but I got really bad blisters on both feet. They hurt really bad, and what’s worse, I think we’re marching another three miles to MOUT training tomorrow, and then three miles back again, then another march early Monday morning. Victory forge shouldn’t be bad at all, and might even be fun if these blisters aren’t too bad.
After our march today we did a lot of standing around and then we did our convoy live fire at Anzio range. We loaded up four humvees, and drove down a road. When a simulated IED went off, we got out and moved in a line, bounding towards the enemy. It was kind of fun, but sitting in the humvees was really cool.
I’m not sure what’s up for the next few days, but hopefully I can recover from that march today, and I know it will go by fast.
Jan 22 (Fri) - Day 62 - 1900
Ok, another short entry tonight. I have fireguard from 2300 – 0100 and we have to get up around 0230. We have a five mile march in the morning, so it should be a fun day…
Tomorrow we start victory forge, so we’re getting close to the end!
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Jan 21 (Thurs) - Day 61 - 1900
Ok, so I totally forgot what we did today, that’s how boring it was. We did a platoon run again, but this time the last person had to run to the front, then the next last person had to run to the front, and so on and so on…
After that, we just did some little random stuff all day. One guy in our platoon got an article 15 (a form of punishment) today, and the whole company was there to watch the proceedings. It wasn’t too bad, but it would still really suck.
Ok, apparently we have to pack for victory forge tonight, so I have to do that now.
Jan 20 (Wed) - Day 60 - 1900
Flashback to day two in reception. Waiting in lines all day just for a few items of clothing. No, wait… that really happened again!
We got fitted for our Class A’s today, which is just our dress uniforms. They’re pretty cool, but the process took too long. We started after breakfast, about 0700, and didn’t end until after 1600. It took all day. So that’s about it. Two weeks left.
Jan 19 (Tues) - Day 59 - 2000
Wow, another boring day. Who would have guessed? And the rest of the week looks to be the same…
Anyway, we sat around all morning for an inspection that didn’t happen until after lunch. Then we failed the inspection. Big surprise. So we got smoked. During the smoking, the DS picked new leadership. (Un)fortunately, she picked me to be the new 1st SL.i’m not happy about it, but I’ll make the best of it.
So… because of that, we did a lot of marching to get used to the new leadership. I don’t know, I guess I’ll be ok, but there’s a good chance I’ll be fired pretty soon.
Jan 18 (Mon) - Day 58 - 1700
Yup. Today was boring. We didn’t do anything but clean all morning, and then drill and ceremony (DNC) for a little while in the afternoon. Apparently our DNC competition is tomorrow. One interesting thing about today is that we didn’t eat lunch until around 1300, and then we ate dinner at 1630. Luckily lunch sucked though, so I was actually hungry for dinner. Well, I’m off to clean now for the inspection and whatever tomorrow.
Jan 17 (Sun) - Day 57 (Week 9) - 1830
Nothing all day. We did get our phones today for 30 min, which was cool, especially since we were told that we wouldn’t get them back until family day.
I also cleaned my LBV a little bit, and colored in the buttons and stuff for the inspection we’re having on Tuesday. Tomorrow will probably be boring since it’s MLK day and we have no training.
Jan 16 (Sat) - Day 56 - 1600
The whole morning was dedicated to combatives and the tournament. It was pretty cool to watch, but some of the matches kind of sucked. As for the rest of the day… just boring stuff. Cleaning our lockers, filling out some forms, whatever. That’s about it.
Jan 15 (Fri) - Day 55 - 1900
This morning we did EST again, but this time it was a night fire exercise. That means we got to use night vision. It was really cool.
After that we just did more combatives, because tomorrow is the combatives tournament. I’m not in it, but it should be cool to watch.
Jan 14 (Thurs) - Day 54 - 2130
It’s been a long day… It started out with the PT test. I was a little nervous, but I actually did really well. I got 49 pushups, 60 situps, and ran my 2 miles in 16:10. To got 70 pts 73 pts, and 64 pts for a total of 207. Very nice.
Right after that, we took our CLS test, which was a joke as usual. Then tonight we did NIC at night, AKA’d as the night infiltration course. We low crawled through the sand while they shot a few .50 cal machine guns a few feet over our heads. It was intense, but I tuned out the big guns, pretty quickly and focused on getting down the course. It was really tiring, but I finally made it through.
I think the only big thing we have left now is victory forge (the 7 day FTX), which starts, I think, at the end of next week. Just three more weeks until graduation…
Jan 13 (Wed) - Day 53 - 1900
FRAG OUT!! Yeah, that’s right. I threw live grenades today. We started throwing two practice grenades to make sure we wouldn’t kill ourselves. Then once everyone did that, we moved down range and threw two live grenades. It actually went pretty fast for having about 240 soldiers. One thing that surprised me was how loud they were. It’s not like Halo with a little bang; it’s a loud BOOM! Even with earpro in. I was slightly disappointed because it went so fast though. I was in line ready to go, holding my two grenades, and I ran out to the pit, threw one grenade, then threw the other grenade, and ran back inside. Ok, so it wasn’t that fast, but it sure felt like it. In other news, our PT test is tomorrow morning. It’s really important, so I need to pass it. I’m feeling really confident though, so now I just need to do it!
Jan 12 (Tues) - Day 52 - 1930
Today started out alright, but ended up pretty rough. Apparently someone got caught dipping today, so everyone started freaking out. We had an amnesty period to turn anything in that we shouldn’t have. All of the DS got really mad that so many people had so much contraband, and I think all of the platoons got their flag rolled up. Tomorrow we throw grenades, and Thursday we have our final PT test. I’m getting more and more frustrated every day with all of the incompetence around here…
Jan 11 (Mon) - Day 51 – 2030
Well, I survived! It was actually pretty boring all day. When I actually did go, the mast dangerous part was halfway through, then the bullets were flying past about 20 feet away from me. Other than that, it was just really tiring.
Jan 10 (Sun) - Day 50 (Week 8) – 1745
Basically another nothing day. We got our phones today, but even though we’re in blue phase, we only got them for 45 min or so. We seriously did just sit around on personal time all day though. Then tonight after dinner we turned out promasks back in. Those were our gas masks. So hopefully we won’t get gassed again… Up for tomorrow, we’re doing the most dangerous part of all of basic. We’re bounding with live rounds. That means one person runs up then starts shooting, providing cover fire while the other guy runs up too. As long as I don’t get shot I’ll be fine, lolz.
Jan 9 (Sat) - Day 49 – 1700
We got up and did a company run this morning, but it was freaking cold. Basically today was just sitting around all day. We learned more CLS (combat life saver) stuff, and watched some of my DSs videos from Iraq. Those were pretty cool. Other than that, we’re on personal time for a while tonight, so I’m going to try to write some on a short story I’m working on. I think I can finish it by graduation, and then I’ll put it online, or publish it for millions.
Oh, and somehow I forgot the best news of the day. We phase changed to blue phase today! Before, we were in white phase and our flag was rolled up for the whole time. Now our flag is unrolled and we’re in blue phase. Heck yes.
Jan 8 (Fri) - Day 48 – 1900
Basically today was the same thing as yesterday. The groups that didn’t go yesterday went today, so not much new to say. It was a lot colder today though, but not bad with everything on. I’m hoping it warms up by Wednesday though, because we have our pt test then, and running in the cold sucks.
Jan 7 (Thurs) - Day 47 – 1900
Today we started our 3-day FTX (field training exercise), but because of the cold, we’re not spending the nights out in the field. I think that’s lame, but I’m not complaining much, since I get to sleep in the warm indoors.
Today was pretty awesome. We went to four different stations, learning about IEDs and what to do if you encounter one, more MOUT, or clearing rooms, ECPs and TCPS (entrance control points and traffic control points) which is just searching people in their cars, and then reacting to fire, or what to do if your squad is walking and gets fired at. Overall it was pretty cool. Now we have two more days of this, and I have no idea what we’ll be doing. 4 weeks left today.
Jan 6 (Wed) - Day 46 – 1800
The big guns… they were awesome. I think the .50 cal was the coolest one for me. It was really loud and powerful – I want one. After we shot everything they did some demonstrations of things like a real grenade in the grenade launcher, two anti tank rockets from the AT4m and… a claymore mine. The grenades were cool, but the rockets were awesome. It was so loud when it shot and when it exploded. The claymore mine though… wow. It was definitely the coolest part of the day. They set it off and there was a bright flash and smoke, then a split second later a loud boom. It was so loud and shook the ground so much that it set off a car alarm a few hundred meters away.
One bad thing about today though was the cold. We were outside from 0830 – 1500 and it was cold. Other than that though, it was a good day.
Jan 5 (Tues) - Day 45 – 1900
Today started how I thought yesterday would. We did pt, which turned into getting smoked for an hour. Since I worked out last night, I’m really sore right now.
This afternoon we got haircuts, so my head is really cold right now. After that we have classes with the DSs. We got to learn about US weapons, like the .50 cal machine gun (which is huge by the way), the M240B (SAW), the M249, and the grenade launcher attachment for the M16. And tomorrow… we get to shoot all of them! I’m a little intimidated by the weapons, but it should be a lot of fun.
One other thing. I decided to do laundry again, but after my last two failed attempts, I’m a little hesitant. Hopefully it will work this time… ok, I just got it back, and its mostly dry! It’s amazing!
Jan 4 (Mon) - Day 44 – 1830
I think today may be the slowest day we’ve ever had. We got up and waited in line for a piss test starting at about 5:30. That went on all day, so we just sat around doing nothing. A quick side note – since I “lost” my pt pants before, I tried to get a pair during exodus. I ordered some online, but they never came. Then when we came down yesterday, we stopped at a US Patriot store here in Columbia. Apparently, the winter pts are backordered everywhere, so that’ why I never got mine. Also, all they had in stock at the store was extra small pants. So… it was either freeze in shorts or wear XS pants. Hahaha, I got them on, but it was super tight. I got made fun of by the DSs and the 1st sergeant, and eventually traded with a female for a small size. Hopefully tomorrow I can go get a real pair, at least a medium, but that depends on the DS.
Jan 3 (Sun) - Day 43 (Week 7) – 1945
Well we left the house around 10:30 this morning to drive down here. My mom and my brother dripped me off around 5:30 – 6:00. I got signed in and made it back to my bay, and now I’m sitting here, bored, and really not wanting be here. Not many people are here yet, so everything is empty. I’m hoping thing aren’t too crazy tomorrow, but we’ll probably get smoked for a while, and who knows what else. I feel like its day 1 all over again because of how much I don’t want to be here and how much I miss my family and everyone. Thankfully I only have 4 weeks left here, so that’s not bad at all.
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