Jab Thrust Perry Right!

Day 36 11 July 02 Thursday

Today didn't start off so good. Morning formation. Wow. People were still getting out there at 0530. Everyone got smoked for 10 min. Now 10 min may not seem like a long time but try doing push-ups the whole time. The thing that I did not understand is what takes them so long. I mean, my bay had fire guard from 0400-0500 which means that I must remain in that uniform (P.T. clothes, LBE, kevlar & promask) until 0500. Only then can I put on my BDU uniform, shave, brush my teeth, get my ruck sack, head downstairs and outside, ground my ruck sack, run 2 blocks to the mail box, drop my mail and run back all in under 20 min. If I can do all that, why can't people do all that same stuff when they get up at 0430? They have 45 min and are still late.

Well, today we had qualifications with a bayonett. We went through a course consisting of bodies made of tires, barbed wire, low and high walls. It was tiring especially at the very end as the last 3 or 4 bodies were set up on a steep hill. It took ever last ounce of strength to get up. I did qualify, so I did not have to do the course again like some guys had to do. That must have been tiring! We had 3 classes today on first aide; hymlick, restoring breathing etc. It was really easy with all the background I have with CPR and first aide in general. Too easy. Things are getting better. We didn't get P.T.'ed tonight simply because we sounded off really well today. The weeks are flying by. It is Friday tomorrow and that means its almost the end of week four. I've been gone from home for over a month and it isn't all that bad. Just an extended vacation away from my family. Now don't get me wrong, I love my family and would take a bullet for any of them but it is still nice to get away. We get to go to bed early tonight so I want to take advantage of it now. Oh, one more thing, it's the 10 month anniversary of 9/11. I can't believe it has been almost a year since that day. I still remember finding out about it and where I was; Mr. Kugel's class, 2nd hour, Tuesday (mass day) sitting in the front seat on the right side, second one in. Rachel was on my right and we were talking to Mr. Kugel. Over the PA Mr. Maza announced it and we said a decade of the Rosary. Well, I really should get going. Peace.