October 2006
Week 3 Update
Three weeks down, 11 more to go!
This week they spent mostly in the classroom. Thursday they finally got out of the class. They had a platoon run and a team obstacle challenge course. He said it was really nice to not spend the entire day in class. Too bad it poured most of the day!! To finish the day off, they had two guys mess up during study time earning the company two smokings & loss of phone priviliges. Today they had a class on the law of warfare which Jim said was really interesting. That class and a leadership class were the two most interesting this week.
Jim was squad leader this week. They have four times they will perform as squad leader–two while in the field, two in garrison (meaning, the rest of the time). They have to pass 50% of their time. He passed this week, so he only needs to pass one more. Seems to me that 50% isn’t much for preparing these guys to someday lead soldiers into war!! His roommate was squad leader last week and, on his last day, forgot to lock his locker…failing his week!! He had done everything else correct and failed because of that. Ouch! And to add insult to injury, he is losing his pass this weekend!!!
Because of the two incidents last night, their weekend pass has been revised. Initially they were going to get a pass from Saturday morning to Sunday afternoon. Now they have a pass starting Saturday morning but have to check in at 8am, 10am, 12pm, 2pm, 4pm and 6pm. THEN they don’t have to be back until Sunday afternoon. We’re looking forward to having him home overnight!!
ETA: I talked to Jim last night. They are going to be out in the field all week for land navigation. They won’t have their phones, so I won’t talk to him again until the weekend.
Weekend Update
We suffered a computer crash over the weekend and I lost all e-mails. If you’ve emailed me in the last week or so and I have yet to respond, please resend the e-mail!
As it turns out, Jim’s Saturday pass was cancelled. :( This morning he called to say they WERE getting a Sunday pass still!! We had a quiet day at home. Jim watched football, Elizabeth & I baked and decorated cookies and Jim & E spent a lot of time playing Legos, train and with the dollies. Elizabeth showed off her new words (rai–rain, pi–spider for “Itsy Bitsy Spider” song) and tested Jim’s knowledge of of children’s songs. 
All too soon he needed to leave again. Next weekend they have another possible Saturday-Sunday pass. They have a 4-day pass over Veteran’s Day–can’t wait!!
Quick Visit
Sunday morning Jim called to say he had a two-hour on-post pass!! Elizabeth & I got ready and then scurried to post. We had about an hour to visit by the time we got there and then time for him to get back to school. Still, an hour is an hour! Elizabeth went right into his arms and cuddled with him when we got there.He needed to get his haircut and buy a new watch and I wanted to get a few things at the commissary. We did all of that and then sat outside while Elizabeth played.
There’s a possibility he will get a Saturday-to-Sunday pass this weekend, so the trip to IN might be postponed.
Veteran Talk & Water Survival
I talked to Jim last night. He had enjoyed (?!) the day, so he sounded pretty upbeat. A veteran officer came to talk to them. He had served as an officer in World War 2, Korea & Vietnam.
After lunch they took their water survival test. It was a pass/fail for points towards graduation. If you failed, you just didn’t get those points. There were three parts to the test:
1) Jump into the water in full uniform and with some add’l gear. Then swim 15m while keeping your rifle out of the water.
2) Jump off the 3m board, blindfolded with fear & uniform and then swim to the side.
3) Jump into the pool with uniform & gear, take off your uniform & gear while underwater and then come up without it.
He said the swim was easier than he thought. He was nervous on the 3m but said it was better than actually having to look down as you do it! And that the removing of the gear/uniform was easier than he expected.