Finally ready to start!!

We are finally ready to get to the good stuff, the training. We are done with the inprocessing and ready to get on with the real mission. The fun thing is the last week will be spend outprocessing and turning in the equipment we spent a week picking up. So a 12 week course only really has about 10 1/2 weeks of content.

Tomorrow is the obstacle course, check it out here under obstacle course. This is nice map with all the prominent points of Ft. Benning marked on it.

Map of Ft. Benning


First Losses
We lost at least 2 people from the class today. One from our platoon and another candidate. Both were due to security clearance problems. The one from our platoon was a great guy, he will likely come back in the next class and I know he will do well and be a great asset to his platoon there. They (his recruiter) evidently tried to pass off his old expired security clearance instead of applying for a new one.

We likely lost another to a twisted ankle. He was being carried down the stairs and taken to the hospital when I came back from chow today. Another great candidate that will likely have to recycle through no fault of his own.

Speaking of chow, this weekend if I get time I am going to go out to eat and sit down to taste the food. I remember why Army food is so salty and spicy now. You have to eat so quickly there isn't time to taste it. We have 1/2hr in the chow hall, during that time we have to get 144 people through. That means the last people are likely going to have less than 10mins to eat, or they might have even less if we aren't assembled and ready to go at our alloted time. Unlike most occupations in the Army the boss eats last. The student commanders have to make sure everyone is eating before they are even allowed to start.

I'm hoping for good luck tomorrow, it's not going to be the best day to do the obstacle course since there is a high chance of thunderstorms and temps in the upper 30's all day. It could be a miserable experience but the main thing is to not get injured, each cycle it is common to lose one or more candidates on the obstacle course so safety is the key word.