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.