Gotta love that Milkshake!! Tell him there are some people mighty proud of him down here in Oklahoma! When you see him give him a BIG hug from me Julie, I'm glad you are getting to go.
Cat (Jim just reads the forum once in a while)
Our toys:
Sunline Travel Trailer
ProCraft Fish & Ski
Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly, trust in those Who cherish you.
I thoroughly enjoyed the letters. He's a lot busier than I was when I went to Basic back in 1982.
Eric
Eagle River, Alaska
U.S. Air Force (retired)
2005 Keystone Cougar 304BHS travel trailer
2008 Ram 2500 Mega Cab w/Cummins 6.7L and 6-speed automatic
Hi Julie,
Thanks for the updates. They are the best. Tell Aaron thanks for serving us! Best of luck with your travels/visit. You should be so proud. You have done well. Thanks!
RTJ49
1997 U320 Foretravel 450 Cummins
1998 Ford Explorer Our Foretravel
I really enjoy reading these letters. For all you that have someone in the military, I want you to know that this veteran army wife thinks they are all true heros.
2008 Holiday Rambler Alumascape 33CKT
2006 Ford 250,SC,6.0 PSD,LB,4x4
Patriot Guard Riders--standing for those
who stood for us
I just wanted to write and to let you know how much you taking the time to share Aarons letters with us is appreciated! I do not have anyone in the military in my family, but I do have a 21 yo son, and I could be you if he had chosen the military.
I am soooooo enjoying the letters. Thank you so much and please keep up the updates! You should be so proud to have raised such a wonderful son! I'm proud of him and I don't even know him!
thank you both and keep those letters coming!!
2004 Prowler 270FQS "MY PRECIOUS"
1998 Dodge Ram 1500 SLT quad 5.9L V8 360 tow package "Happiness is but a state of mind. Any time you want, you can cross the state line." We LOVE the RED WINGS! Go Wings! Our 2004 Prowler photos
Wake up was at 0400. the usual. We ran today. We ran 3 miles, but, we got in 2 lines, and as we were jogging, the last 2 people would have to sprint to the front. We had 86 people, so 43 on each side. It was a long run from the rear! I made it though. I am the only big guy who actually gives 110% at everything we do. I have gained the respect of most of the people here. That is cool. After PT, we got changed and took trans to the range. We got to shoot over 100 rounds today! 54 rounds on 2 firing periods. We had 10 practice and 44 targets. I hit 35 out of the 44. 27 was the minimum to pass. Tomorrow, we start to try and qualify. BRM has 40 targets that pop up. There are 6 different targets. 50m, 100m, 150m, 200m, 250m and 300m. Sometimes, two pop up at once. They only stay up for 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 seconds. Depending on its' range. You need 23 to qualify. 29-35 is sharpshooter and 36-40 is expert. We have three days to qualify. If you shoot expert the first day, you don't have to shoot the next two days. I really want to get expert. I think I will. Lunch was turkey and gravy, dinner was brats again. Can't complain. We have a 10km ruck march tomorrow morning at 0330 . . . not looking forward to it . . . oh well.
Tuesday: 2009-06-30
Wake up was at 0400. The usual. We had a 10k road march today at 0430. 10k! I was dreading it! We had to carry even more gear, too!! We had our 20 lb. ruck, 4 qts. of water, and our IBA (bulletproof vest), which weighs 25 lbs. We carried over 50 lbs. on our back, plus we wore our helmet and carried our weapon. We marched, we too a 5 minute break after 2miles. Then we finished it up without stopping. It wasn't nearly as bad as I though it was going to be. I think it was because it was in the morning. I still had energy, and it was somewhat cool out, 70 degrees. Anyway, we still had people falling out . . . We got to the range and we each shot 40 rounds, then we left! We were off the range by 1130! We took trans back to the barracks and ate chow there. It was nasty, but I still ate it all. Then we put our ACH, IBA and LBV on and went outside for 3 hours to practice BRM . . . it was the worst 3 hours I've had in two weeks . . . oh well. We had to come up with a motto today for our platoon. It had to rip on the other 2 platoons as well (Highlanders and Punishers). That's about it for today. Same stuff tomorrow. (Aaron included the "motto" for his platoon, but it is not fit for public consumption and as it is not something that they can use at graduation, they have to reword it. He will send me the new version, and I'll be happy to post it at that time.)
Wednesday: 2009-07-01
July 1st! It's freakin' July already!! Damn, going by really fast. Nothing to write about today. Exact same as yesterday, except we took trans to the range and had a 7km march back. It was harder than the 10km . . . Oh well. I really have nothing to write about today . . . Tomorrow is BRM qualification. Our only chance to qualify (hit 23/40 targets). I'm not worried. If we get 85% first time go, and 90% end of day go, we get to buy pizza and whoppers! I probably won't buy them though. I've lost 15 pounds and I wish to continue to lose weight.
Thursday: 2009/07/02
Wake up was at 0400. Today is qualifying day. We need to hit 23/40 to qualify. 23-29 is marksman. 30-35 is sharpshooter. 36-40 is expert. I shot a 32. That's good enough. I'm satisfied. I know I can do better though. I got a badge for it, too. It looks kind of like this:
It goes on my dress uniform. After we got back from the range and sat around all day. That's how the next 3 days will be. Gonna be a boring week to read about.
Friday: 2009/07/03
Sat around all day! Had a 15 min. phone call. That's it . . .
Saturday: 2009/07/04
Wake up at 0600. Chow at 0730. We sat around all day. Had a 30 min. phone call. Sat round some more. Then at 1945, we went to the festival/concert. We got to sit in back and watch everyone else walk around and dance with food and drinks. We marched there and we walked past a lot of civilians. I felt really good about myself. They played a lot of patriotic music. It made me feel very proud. That's it today.
Sunday: 2009/07/05
Wake up was at 0600, even after going to bed at 2400. The fireworks were pretty awesome last night. I never thought I'd get to do something like that in basic training. Oh, by the way, don't call this "Boot Camp." The Army does not have Boot Camp. This isn't a camp! It is "Basic Combat Training" or BCT. We do not have "boot camp." Just letting you know. Today was a normal Sunday. We sat in the barracks all day. Went to church at 1300. Had dinner at 1630. But!! Then, at 1900, the DS caught some privates chugging water in the latrine. They were chugging so much, they began to puke. Lemme tell you, this was the most pissed off I have ever seen this DS. We went outside in the gravel and did pushups for 20 mins while those people stood there and ready about why chugging too much water is bad for you, and how it can be lethal. Then we went inside and had a serious down to earth talk about a lot of stuff. That's it for today and this week. Next week is looking to go a lot faster and be a lot more exciting.
Monday: Advanced Rifle Marksmanship (ARM)
Tuesday: ARM 2, 3, 4
Wednesday: Communications
Thursday: Gas Chamber
Friday: Night fire
Saturday: U.S. Weapons (.50 cal, M249 saw, M240B, grenades, AT4, M203!! Gonna be awesome.)
He is right of course, it is the Navy that has boot camp. I went to BCT at Ft. Jackson SC in June of 1965, and Boot Camp at Great Lakes in January of 1968. The two events were not comparable, BCT was an all encompassing experience, while Boot Camp was pretty much an exercise in learning that the British Navy had invented chicken manure, and the U. S. Navy had picked up on it, improved it, and taken it to new depths of trivial nonsense.
I am pleased to see that Aaron is taking all of this in stride and thriving on it. His marksmanship is excellent.
Great to read Aaron's letters -- Matt arrived at reception on July 1st. We got 2 letters the first week he was there and got our first phone call yesterday - he's been gone 2 weeks tomorrow. It was wonderful to hear his voice and we should have his address this week, so I can send off all the letters from friends & family that we have collected.
He started OSUT (BCT & AIT all in one) last Wednesday (July 8th). So he should graduate in 19 weeks and 1 day.
Stacie & Bryan
son (18) & daughter (15)
2 Golden Retrievers - Sampson & Delilah
04 Lariat Supercrew 4x4,5.4,3.73, Edge tuner, flowmaster duals
06 Trail Bay 31BHS.
05 KIA Sorento EX for the goldens.
Sounds like he is doing good, I am a Recruit Division Commander for the U.S. Navy (equal to an Army Drill Sergeant). I am actually finishing up here after 3 years and training 9 divisions approx. 792 civilians into sailors, I am off to Iraq for a year and then no idea where I am going after that. One thing I always teach my recruits is that after bootcamp it is not over, bootcamp is just the start and as long as he does not forget that he will do fine.
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