Once a week....can he sustain this?

Enjoy....

Video time...

Another video created by our in-house photo and video guy.  Enjoy.

Where do I start?

So, it has been awhile since I have written anything and much has happened.  I have written this a few times and have just kept adding to the list for when I was able to complete something.  It took me getting sick (my allergies got the best of me) and being restricted to barracks that provided enough time to straighten out my thoughts and put them on paper. 

First off, we are all finally together here in wonderful Camp Atterbury, Indiana; both the CA team, and the other parts of the PRT.  It has been a crazy trek to get here, but it has finally happened.  We have all finished our language training and I again confirmed that I was destine to only speak one language; Immersion is the only way for me (and it sounds like the others too; except SPC Archuleta and SGT Carlson who picked it up pretty well).  I/we have (re)learned quite few phrases and have a good handle on the customs (again), just waiting to get in country and use them. We are working on more language training as the weeks progress, so we should be in better shape when we get in country.

We then moved on to what could really be considered continuing education for Civil Affairs.  More culture and history followed by an introduction to all of the civilian run (government and non-government) players on the battlefield and how they are operating.  For me, it was really good to get an update on the current operational environment and ask questions of the guys that are directly in contact or have recently returned from Afghanistan.  It was a bit frustrating to have to sit through with those that are hearing this for the first time and assume that they were the first one to ‘get it’ and felt the need to share with the class their ‘revelation’ as if they are now an expert. So is the life of a CA Operator.  We are used to it and are ready to answer questions when they arrive.

Shooting time!!!  This is when we all put in long days and really don’t care.  The whole team did very well.  The infantry guys were impressed and that means a lot.  Don’t take that as a slight on them, they are a very close knit group, and we need to prove ourselves to them.  SPC Archuleta smoked the M203 Grenade Launcher, so she got big props from the heavy weapons infantry squad we will be working with over the next year. We (CA) have qualified day and night on pistols, rifles, and some variation of a machine gun. This ends up being the highlight of our training since we don’t get a lot of time on drill weekends. I say that not having done any of the training that is “CA centric” (another one we ironically don’t get a lot of either) that is on the schedule.  It will all be fun in the end, and we will never turn down an opportunity to practice with no consequences other than a group laugh.

Tonight as I finish this up, our personal protectors of our freedom of movement will have to redo a task that will keep them from getting very little sleep in the next 48 hours.  It is a bummer that a silly misunderstanding discovered late has caused so much turmoil, but our guys just ‘rucked up’ and will get it done.  Good luck boys, shoot straight and stay warm.

CPT Love

FYI - For those that follow me on FB, I have made a change to my profile name.

It isn't a lot, but it's something....

This was created by our assigned Public Affairs Team.  it is a bit more than our first week; let's call it our first week of ranges.  I am keeping a running log of what we have been doing, but need still need to sit and line it all up and write something coherent.  The mood will not be lost....

CPT Love