Ft Jackson Days 5 and 6

I missed a post yesterday. We got off at 5:45, I was beside myself for getting off so early, that I rushed over to grab a washer to do some laundry. We have about 100 guys in our barracks, and 6 washers and dryers. With so little time when we get off in the evenings, they get filled up pretty quick. We spent Friday morning at the range going over Heavy weapons, and practicing Close Combat procedures, the afternoon was spent in classroom instructions. Not a bad day overall.

This morning, Saturday, we started PT, (Physical Training), at 5:30. They PT's the crap out of us. We did the normal Army PT exercises, and then we had to run around in a circle, clapping our hands, stopping to do push ups, sit ups, what ever the Drill Instructors would come up with. This wore me out, and it wasn't even 7:00 AM yet. When this was done, we had classroom instruction until noon, and then had the afternoon, and Sunday off. I can even sleep past 5 AM tomorrow, and spend more than 5 minutes eating my dinner, And, take a shower!!!!

So with a little time off, I am posting some pictures that I have taken the past week, not much, but will give you an idea where I'm living.

Next week should be not too bad, no more qualification to do, just various types of instructions.






This is the Plane that flew us from San Diego to Columbia SC last Saturday from the North Island Naval Air Station. The flight took about 4 hours.









This pretty much what Camp McCrady at Ft Jackson looks like.













This the open bay barracks that I'm staying in.













This is what it looks like inside.














My Locker.

Me in front of my locker.

Me holding all the body armor that I have lug around everywhere I go.

Ft Jackson Day 4

What a day, I got to sleep in to 5:00 am, Woo Hooooo!! But I did have to get up to stand a weapons watch in the barracks from 2:00 AM to 3:00 AM, never really did get back to sleep. Up at 5:00 AM and out the range again. Today was the M16 Qualification. You are given 3 clips, one with 20 rounds, and 2 with 10 rounds. You begin with shooting the 20 rounds from a supported prone position, 10 from unsupported, and 10 from kneeling. You are shooting at pop-targets at 50 meters, 100, 150, 200, 250 and 300 meters. The closer the targets the shorter the time that they stay up. With the 40 rounds that you are given, you have to hit at least 23 targets in the various positions. I hit 31. That should give me a Sharpshooter qualification, and I should get a Marksmen qualification from yesterdays Grouping and Zeroing. I finished the first time through the range, so once again I got to sit around and watch everyone else qualify. Priceless!!!! This takes some pressure off, as this ends my weapon qualification. The rest of my time here is just training, nothing that requires qualifications. I should be in bed by 9 tonight for a Gooooood night's sleep.

Tomorrow we are going to another range, for "Close Combat" training scenarios, mainly just to go through it. I am finding that the Army is a one stop shop for training. That is, everyone will get the same training, whether they need it or not. Much of the training that I will get next week, will be stuff that I will never use again, but that is how the Army works. The term here is that we are in the "Narmy". Next Monday, we will get to shoot Heavy Weapons, which will include the 50 Cal machine gun, and the "SAW", which is a high speed machine gun. Should be lots of fun!!!!

I should find out next week my travel arrangement to Kuwait, and then to Baghdad. I will let you know as soon as I know. There is a rumor that we may get liberty this Sunday, which would be nice, but you never know.

Well so far, this 51 year old his holding his own here at Ft Jackson. The worst has been wearing the 60 lbs of body armor all day, and marching around in it. I'm starting to get used to it somewhat, as the last several days don't seem as bad as the beginning of the week, but it is still tiring, and wearing on the back and shoulders. Off to bed, more tomorrow.

Ft Jackson Day 3

My day started at 4:30 AM, we had to be ready to go at 5:15 AM to the shooting range, where we spent the better part of the day. To make a long story short, we were doing "Grouping and Zeroing" qualifications today. You groups your shots together, and then adjust the weapon so that you are shooting these groups in the middle of the rifle site, and the targets. I grouped and zeroed in 12 shots, which is not bad. I was the first one done in my group this morning. This is also good, because I got to sit in the bleachers and watch everyone else, complete their grouping and zeroing. Nice!!!

If you go to the beginning of my blog, you will see some pictures of my friends Tony and Bill, who took me out shooting, and helped me work on this, which helped me out quit a bit. Thanks Guys!!!

After lunch, we went to another range, where their were a variety of pop up targets, which you had to shoot at varying distances. Today was practice, tomorrow will be the qualifications. If I qualify tomorrow I will be done with the shooting portion of my training. We'll see how it goes. Not everyone qualifies on the first day, and it is not uncommon to take several days for this. Again, it would be good to get this over and done with.

A long day today, I did not get back to my barracks till 7:30 PM. Up again tomorrow at 5:00AM so am heading off to bed.

Ft Jackson Day 2

Day 2 began at 5:45 with PT, (Physical Training), for about 1/2 hour. After that, we went for a 1 mile run, and then marched over to eat breakfast. We then gathered our body armor, (60 lbs worth), put everything on and marched about 1 mile to an area where M16 computer simulators are located. When not in the simulator, we learned how to disassemble, and reassemble the M16. I know more about M16 than I ever wanted to. In the simulators, we went through a process called "Grouping and Zeroing" the weapon. At the end of the day we marched, in 80 degree heat, with body armor, back to the barracks for dinner. Another very long day. Tomorrow will be spent at the main range on Ft Jackson perfroming live fire, "Grouping and Zeroing". We will probably spend all day there. I will cut this short, as we have to be up and ready to go in full gear at 5:15, so I'm going to bed. More tomorrow when I get back.

Ft Jackson Day 1

This is Monday at Ft Jackson. We actually arrived here Saturday night from San Diego, but the Internet was down over the weekend and was just fixed today, so I was unable to post anything till today. We began with numerous Briefs on Sunday. Today we went to the Main post on Ft Jackson and got 3 sea bags of stuff, heavy stuff that I had to carry around . . . everywhere. We were issued our weapons, I received my M16, my uniforms should be tailored and here by tomorrow night. We spent the day going thorough all the stuff the we received, told what is was and what it was for. This was followed by weapon familiarization, and PT, ( physical training), and marching. A very long day. Tomorrow begins at 5:45 with more PT, and then a Mile run. Followed by breakfast, and more weapons training. I beleive that we are suppose to be on an M16 Simulator, should be interesting, I will let you know. It's getting late, but wanted to get this post out and let you know that I have made it here, and am very busy. More tomorrow as I see how the schedule for the week is shaping up.

NMPS San Diego Day 5

Here it is my last day in San Diego. We checked in this morning and were told that we would be flying to South Carolina Sat Morning. Sunday, the 2 weeks of Army Training will begin. I am ready to go and get this started, it will be an interesting 2 weeks, we'll see how it goes, I will let you know. I should be finishing up at Ft Jackson on Easter weekend, and will then travel to Kuwait for further training.

I am spending the rest of the day packing my bags, so that I can relax a bit tonight. I will come back through San Diego on my way back home this fall. That trip will be much more relaxing than this one. I am looking forward to it!!





I will have access to the internet at Ft Jackson, and will be able to update this blog. The days will be long, I am told, but I will let you know how it is going, and how I am holding up.

NMPS San Diego Day 4

This was a day off for us, we just hung around the naval base, no car to go any where else, but used the time to double check paperwork, and go through what clothes I can send home tomorrow. We check in tomorrow morning where we will probably be told the schedule for Sat, when we fly to Ft Jackson SC. It sounded like we would be leaving in the afternoon. Should not go too long in the morning, so should have most of the day to pack and hang out a bit. I will sending home my Navy uniform and a some sweats, to make a bit of room in my luggage. I have a friend that has been going through Ft Jackson the past two weeks, who says he has 3 sea bags of "stuff", which he now has to haul around with the other bags that he brought with him. This is what is waiting for me next week, I can hardly wait. I am a bit anxious about next week, but am sure I will do fine as will everyone else that I am going with. I will let you know.

NMPS San Diego Day 3

The day began back at Medical where I had to start the day with another shot, a Typhoid shot, which can tend to hurt a bit. After this I sat around for a while waiting for my medical record to be reviewed and signed off. Finally it happened, I then received a new set of dog tags, and I was released for the rest of the day to take care of administrative and personal issues. I have included a couple of pictures, one is the visitor quarters where I am staying, the second is a Navy Ship down by the docks.

The Naval Base here is made up of two sections called the "Dry Side", and the "Wet Side". The visitor quarters where I am staying is on the Dry Side, there is a walk way over a road way, and railroad tracks which goes over to the Wet Side. We set out to find the Post Office on the Wet Side so that we can mail our uniforms home on Friday. We will be receiving new Desert Uniforms at Ft Jackson, and will not need the Navy Uniforms any more. I don't have much space in my luggage, as I am trying to pack as light as I can, as anything I take with me at this point I will have to carry with me to Iraq. Sending my Navy Uniform home will make room for other things to take with me to Iraq.








Donnelly Hall "Dry Side"












Navy Docks "Wet Side"

NMPS San Diego Day 2

Another busy day, but much was accomplished. Spent the morning going through dental, no problems there, spent most of the afternoon at medical, and still did not get done. Will need to go back in the morning to get another shot, and then should be done with medical and dental. Verified some details to get my Navy Pay started, Very important!!!! The staff here is very good, they have all been very helpful in assisting you with the mounds of paperwork that need to be completed and turned in.

Not exactly sure what is in store for tomorrow, but will let you know. The week is growing short, and we all will be heading to FT Jackson at the end of the week. Then the work will really beign, 2 weeks of Army training. We will see how hard this will be on a 51 year old. More tomorrow.

NMPS San Diego Day 1

We checked in today at NMPS San Diego, where will spend the next week processing in. I have a nice room, and even have wifi in my building, so am taking advantage of the Internet and using my laptop for the next week. We spent the day filling out many forms, received many briefing on a variety of different subjects. Over the next several days, our Medical, and Dental records will be reviewed and we will be cleared to proceed to FT Jackson SC for 2 weeks of Army Training. I have spent tonight completing several online courses, and am ready go get some sleep. The next several days should go pretty smooth, if my records are in good shape. I met the rest of my team that I will be traveling with, all good guys, and am looking forward to working with them.

In San Diego

I arrived in San Diego today. It was a tough day for my family, it was very hard to say good bye at the airport . . . . . My Wife and daughters are the greatest!!!! This was very hard on all of us.

We arrived in San Diego and made out way to the USO, where we waited for the Navy Duty Driver from the US Naval Station to give us a ride to the base to get checked in. I will get a better picture of the rest of my week and will let you know how the process goes. My records should be in good shape, there will probably be some additional shots that I will need to get during the week, but I'm anticipating that everything should go fairly smoothly. It was cool here today, low clouds with misting rain. I left my coat at home, as I did not want to carry so much with me. Was a little cool. More tomorrow

I'm in the Navy

Well, I'm in the Navy.

I spent most to the day at the Reserve Center filling out some forms, and getting others stamped. I was told initially it would only take couple of hours, but it turned out to be the better part of the day, can you imagine?? There those additional forms that we were not told about, but at the end of the day we had been transferred to the Active Duty Navy.

Only one more day left before I leave, lots to do, did I mentioned that we will be selling our house while I'm gone, or rather my wife will be selling our house while I am gone. I have been off work the past several weeks, trying to get a great many things done, and have been making good progress, mostly the big thing that needed to be done before we put it on the market, cleaning out the basement, garage sales, moving thing to a storage unit . . . . . . It's been pretty busy

Next week I will be in San Diego, and the following weekend I will be off to FT Jackson in South Carolina, lots of fun, I can hardly wait. A friend of mine started there this past week, he's been pretty busy and pretty tired. I will let you know what I 'm doing and how it goes.

Tax Time!!!!

Well, My taxes are finally done!!! Did my daughters also, we're all good for another year. Got the School Loans for College this fall completed too. Everyone can go to school while Dad is away. Have spent most of today tying up loose ends, and am working on my packing. Whatever I forget I will buy along the way. It seems that that are Exchange stores most everywhere along the way, in Kuwait, and numerous in Baghdad. One of my daughters called from College, the hot water heater is leaking, so am working with her to get that fixed before I leave, there's always something.

Motor Cycles and Tattoos

Well the end of another week, not much time left to go before I head out. It was another busy weekend of Garage Sales, and with the nice weather, I pulled out my motorcycle for a ride. I will miss the whole motorcycle riding season. What a bummer! It was nice weather for a ride though. Not too much traffic for the Garage Sale, everyone must have been out enjoying the weekend.

My wife had an open house this past Sat night, a going away party for me. My friends for work, her friends from work, family and neighbors were all here. It was a night of Beer, Hot Dogs, and Chili!! Much fun, everyone had a good time. I really appreciated everyone coming over. It is times like this, where you realize how truly blessed you are to have as many friends that you do, and to have their support for the whole family at times like this. Thanks everyone!!




So one of my daughters decided to get a tattoo since I am being mobilized and sent overseas. Since I'm in the navy, she decided to get an anchor, on her ankle, not exactly the kind of anchor I would get, but an anchor non the less. She was very proud of this.

This will be a busy week of getting things done around the house and getting packed ready to leave. I have been talking to my friends that have already been mobilized, and am getting a good idea of what and what not to take. I plan on packing light, taking just enough personal items to get me there, and will stock up when I arrive. I am pre-packing some boxes with book, dvd's and things, so that when I get an address, my wife can send these off to me, and see how long it will take to get things over there. I will post my address once I get settled in.

What a Busy Weekend . . .

Well this week is a continuation of the weekend. We have been clearing out the basement, and had a garage sale on Saturday and Sunday. Sold some things, and dumped somethings in the trash. Actually made a pretty good dent. Will try again next weekend again. My youngest daughter came home on Saturday for Spring Break this coming week. Nice of her to spend some time at home with us.

So yesterday and today have been fast and furious. I have been finishing up Taxes, and setting up the bills to be paid online. Most of this type of paperwork should be done by tomorrow. There are a few more things to pick up and fix up around the house, as well as taking alook at what I will need to pack and take with me. There never seems to be enough time to get everything done.

A Day Out With The Boys . . .

My friends Tony and Bill took me out this past weekend for some training at the local Rifle Range, in preparation for my upcoming deployment.






Bill coached me on the finer point of Weapons Handling and Safety,







The proper stance for pistol's









and last, prone firing.






I really appreciated Tony and Bill spending time with me at the range, Good Friends!!!


Well time is growing short, there are many other projects that need be completed before I leave, more later!