Picking up right were the last letter left off, Dave went to sick call on Monday to have his ear infection re-evaluated. The doctor said it was still a little red, but that it would be alright. It wasn't...He went back to sick call on Sun and spent the enitre day there. Hopefully by now he is feeling better, but please keep him in your prayers.
Tuesday: They had to do some timed target shooting. They shot at 75, 175, and 300 Meters. He hit 27 out of 44, which is good.
Wednesday: MAC, Modern Army Combatives. He didn't enjoy this very much because they were all on a mat together, and there wasnt much room to really do the things they were learning, otherwise it would have been fun.
Thursday: pre-qualification. If they shot a 36+ they didn't have to do it again the next day. Sadly Dave only shot a 27 :(
Friday: Qualification Day. He shot a 29! 1 shot away from a Sharp-Shooter.
Saturday: bayonet training. Other than the "beastly heat" it would have been great. In the afternoon they had a class on combat opics and close quaters marksmanship. Dave says it was cool but sitting in a chair in the heat made him sleepy and he had a hard time staying awake. That night they got pizza. He really misses pizza and so was very happy to have some.
Sunday: Back in sick call.
That was his week in a nut shell. He says there is a lot more down time now than before, mostly because they are waiting in line to shoot or something. He is still really enjoying himself and once again aside from his ear doing quite well. So everyone knows I'm doing well too.
Please keep Dave in your prayers.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Monday, April 19, 2010
The missing letter
So I finaly got the letter that Dave sent to KY after I had left! I thought it had gotten lost but it showed up today. It was mailed March 31st and covers the week of the 22nd-27th. So pretend that this post was written a couple weeks ago when I had that 2 week break.
He starts off writing about his experience with the gas chamber. He isn't sure if his masked worked at all as his eyes began to water the moment he entered the room, and he started to cough. They had to pull the mask forward, say their name, clear the mask and seal it. It took Dave several times to say it so that his DS could hear him. Then they had to remove the mask and hold their mask in one hand and their rifle in the other. They also had to strap their helmet on. If you messed up you went through again. As Dave was walking out, He had the prompting to doublr check his chin strap. He did so and discovered that it wasn't done properly. He quickly fixed it and saved himself from having to go through again. He thanked God, and I do now. I love when he tells me about the little mircles.
Tuesday, if you recall, they went to the Eagle Tower, repelling. He really enjoyed that and didn't stuggle to much. For lunch he had his first MRE, he liked it alright, says it's not like my cooking, but edible.
Wednesday they did a "Confidence Course", an obsticle course. They did a number of different team building challenges. The only part he struggled with was the rope, his platoon got smoked at PT that morning and his arms hadn't recovered just yet. They continued this on Thursday. On his first time up the rope, he still struggled. When he cam back after lunch, he made it up just fine. His platoon won the challenge for the day! They earned 10 min of phone time (which they promptly lost for being late, talking in formation, and failing inspection on Sat).
Friday they had their 1st field training exercise. They learned about manuvering fire teams, bound and drop, and high and low crawl. They concluded that day with another obsticle course using these new skills. They won again!
Saturday they learned about land navigation. Dave rocked that. He said it was super easy for him.
That concludes his week, he mentions seeing pics at www.2-47panthers.org. I haven't checked that link yet but I know this link has pics. http://www.flickr.com/photos/247infantry.
He starts off writing about his experience with the gas chamber. He isn't sure if his masked worked at all as his eyes began to water the moment he entered the room, and he started to cough. They had to pull the mask forward, say their name, clear the mask and seal it. It took Dave several times to say it so that his DS could hear him. Then they had to remove the mask and hold their mask in one hand and their rifle in the other. They also had to strap their helmet on. If you messed up you went through again. As Dave was walking out, He had the prompting to doublr check his chin strap. He did so and discovered that it wasn't done properly. He quickly fixed it and saved himself from having to go through again. He thanked God, and I do now. I love when he tells me about the little mircles.
Tuesday, if you recall, they went to the Eagle Tower, repelling. He really enjoyed that and didn't stuggle to much. For lunch he had his first MRE, he liked it alright, says it's not like my cooking, but edible.
Wednesday they did a "Confidence Course", an obsticle course. They did a number of different team building challenges. The only part he struggled with was the rope, his platoon got smoked at PT that morning and his arms hadn't recovered just yet. They continued this on Thursday. On his first time up the rope, he still struggled. When he cam back after lunch, he made it up just fine. His platoon won the challenge for the day! They earned 10 min of phone time (which they promptly lost for being late, talking in formation, and failing inspection on Sat).
Friday they had their 1st field training exercise. They learned about manuvering fire teams, bound and drop, and high and low crawl. They concluded that day with another obsticle course using these new skills. They won again!
Saturday they learned about land navigation. Dave rocked that. He said it was super easy for him.
That concludes his week, he mentions seeing pics at www.2-47panthers.org. I haven't checked that link yet but I know this link has pics. http://www.flickr.com/photos/247infantry.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
What Dave did last week
So I got another letter yesturday all about what he did last week. I was so happy to hear from him again so soon.
Last week was mostly BRM (Basic Rifle Marksmanship). He said it was fun, for the most part. Monday they did electronic shooting simulation, to help with teaching the fundamentals. He passed on his first time! Tuesday was zeroing his weapon, that took 2 trys. Wedneday he went on to advanced rifle drills. He enjoyed that a lot. Thursday would have been more fun for him if it hadn't been raining all day long. He had to go out to the 300m range to shot, the rain let up a little by the time it was his turn and he did great. His DS said "Dead all day, Nigh." I guess thats good. The rain picked up almost imeaditly after he finished (a little blessing I'm sure) and he ahd to eat a soggy MRE for lunch. Friday he worked on learing how to breach a room. Sat they were back in the simulator, this time wearing balistic vests, ammo vests, and Kevlar helmets. The full gear made things a little harder for him. They had to get a min of 27 out of 44 shots. After 33 he only had 20, he quickly said a little prayer and nailed 9 of his last 11 shots (blessing #2). Also that was the day he gt to call me (blessing #3)! He didn't say anything about his ear infection, as he hadn't been to sick call again yet, I expect that in the next letter. Keep him in your prayers.
Last week was mostly BRM (Basic Rifle Marksmanship). He said it was fun, for the most part. Monday they did electronic shooting simulation, to help with teaching the fundamentals. He passed on his first time! Tuesday was zeroing his weapon, that took 2 trys. Wedneday he went on to advanced rifle drills. He enjoyed that a lot. Thursday would have been more fun for him if it hadn't been raining all day long. He had to go out to the 300m range to shot, the rain let up a little by the time it was his turn and he did great. His DS said "Dead all day, Nigh." I guess thats good. The rain picked up almost imeaditly after he finished (a little blessing I'm sure) and he ahd to eat a soggy MRE for lunch. Friday he worked on learing how to breach a room. Sat they were back in the simulator, this time wearing balistic vests, ammo vests, and Kevlar helmets. The full gear made things a little harder for him. They had to get a min of 27 out of 44 shots. After 33 he only had 20, he quickly said a little prayer and nailed 9 of his last 11 shots (blessing #2). Also that was the day he gt to call me (blessing #3)! He didn't say anything about his ear infection, as he hadn't been to sick call again yet, I expect that in the next letter. Keep him in your prayers.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
1 month down! 36 days to go!
Sorry for the long break here, I didn't get any news from Dave for quite some time. Not that he didn't write me, I just didn't get the letter(s). He mailed off a letter to my brothers in KY the ast week in March, but by the time it arrived I was in FL. They forwarded it on to my parents, but it didn't arrive there in time either. I left Friday for my sister's in north FL. Luckly she had that weeks letter (3/31-4/4)waiting for me! In his letter he says...
He had to go to sick call Thur, because of an ear infection. It was so bad it woke him up at night and his ear drum ruptured. He got a Px for anti-biotics, pain killers, and decongestants. He had to go back to sick call for re-eval on Friday, Mon, and again yesturday. Other than that he is heathy.
He loves getting mail, so keep it coming!
He has learned about first aide, IED's, rifle marksmanship, how to operate the comms systems, and land navagaton. They also did a team building obstical course. He says he would have enjoyed that more if his team had worked as a team (rather than one lid taking over and not listening to anyone else) and if he hadn't fallen in the water (following the kids advice that he knew wouldn't work, but not wanting to fight any more). The rest of the training is going well. He is really enjoying himself.
I got to talk to him on Sat! Our first phone call since 3/24. It was very exciting. We got to talk for about 12 min. He said his ear is doing better and I have another letter on it's way! He is working hard and having fun.
Now my turn....
As I said I'm now in northern FL at my sisters house. I will be here for the remander of Dave's Basic. My sister is having her 4th baby and I will be here to help out a little. I stay busy with my niece and nephews here. We haven't really done anything special, just day to day things.
We are both doing well, though we miss eachother terribly, but like I said only 36 days till Family Day!
He had to go to sick call Thur, because of an ear infection. It was so bad it woke him up at night and his ear drum ruptured. He got a Px for anti-biotics, pain killers, and decongestants. He had to go back to sick call for re-eval on Friday, Mon, and again yesturday. Other than that he is heathy.
He loves getting mail, so keep it coming!
He has learned about first aide, IED's, rifle marksmanship, how to operate the comms systems, and land navagaton. They also did a team building obstical course. He says he would have enjoyed that more if his team had worked as a team (rather than one lid taking over and not listening to anyone else) and if he hadn't fallen in the water (following the kids advice that he knew wouldn't work, but not wanting to fight any more). The rest of the training is going well. He is really enjoying himself.
I got to talk to him on Sat! Our first phone call since 3/24. It was very exciting. We got to talk for about 12 min. He said his ear is doing better and I have another letter on it's way! He is working hard and having fun.
Now my turn....
As I said I'm now in northern FL at my sisters house. I will be here for the remander of Dave's Basic. My sister is having her 4th baby and I will be here to help out a little. I stay busy with my niece and nephews here. We haven't really done anything special, just day to day things.
We are both doing well, though we miss eachother terribly, but like I said only 36 days till Family Day!
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