It has been almost a week since I returned from my 8 day FTX. It took me that long to recover *just kidding*. This time, the weather cooperated (mid 60’s to low 80’s!!!) and we seemed to have a bit more time to sleep.

Speaking of sleep, I will tell you that I don’t miss sleeping with Jason…my M16A2 that I was assigned. I named it after my favorite action star Jason Statham (I was not the only one that named my weapon…I was in a tent full of chicks, so we all decided to have fun with it). You have to understand that you don’t go anywhere without your weapon. Eating chow - have your weapon. Washing your face - have your weapon. Using the port-a-john - have your weapon. I was all too happy to turn Jason in when it was over.

So what was the most "memorable" moment of this FTX? Other than getting a shower day (you don’t realize how much you miss soap until you can’t use it regularly…), we had the dreaded gas chamber.

I cannot fully describe to you how much it sucked. It is something that one must experience to fully understand. Once I was instructed to remove my mask, I was barely able to say where I was from and my social before the choking fit set in. Someone got a photo of me coming out and it will be just a matter of time before I end up on someone’s blog out there with snot coming out of my nose and tears in my eyes. There were 2 psychos in my class that went through 5 times! Crazy thing about all this is that the gas was only at 40% strength! Needless to say, I was happy when that was over.

After 9 years of work, I decided to retire my boots that I was issued in Basic Combat Training. These boots got me through BCT, AIT, PLDC, BNCOC and numerous field related training classes at WRAIR. They were very comfy, but also very worn. They didn’t attempt to shine anymore nor did they accept Kiwi. Someone referred to it as a Hershey bar because of all the brown showing. I’m not really sure if I could throw them away just yet, but I do know that I can’t wear them outside of paintball anymore.

Will I ever get used to the field? Doubt it. Will I put up with it to get the job done? Absolutely. As I learn more about my new role in the military, there will be more playing in the dirt in my future.

On Friday, I returned from a 3 day field training exercise (FTX). This has to be my least favorite part of any military training that I do. Field chow, MRE’s, port-a-johns, cots and bath-by-baby wipe are not appealing to me at all, but I gotta do it to complete the course. It wouldn’t suck so bad if it was a bit warmer - Friday’s morning temp was 15 degrees at 0500 hours…and we had PT!

On Tuesday, we are going back to the field for 8 *lovely* days…can you tell how excited I am? The only saving grace this time is that we get a shower day in the middle and it is supposed to be much warmer this week.

Here is a picture of my battle buddy 2LT Martin and I in our field quarters:

BTW…I created this post with Windows Live Writer and I must say it is awesome!!! If you have a blog, get this program!

(Rank images from US Army Info Site.)

Nadia was recently chosen to receive her commission. After being an enlisted soldier for the better part of nine years, she will become a 2nd Lieutenant! Above is my expertly crafted image, showing the transition from her three Sergeant stripes to her single shiny gold bar.

The morning after she receives her bar, which is later this week, she’s gonna hit the road for a long drive to San Antonio. She’ll be leaving me along here with the cats for five months. During that time, I will be packing up our stuff.

We are moving! Maryland has been our home for the past eight years, and soon we will come to call Colorado home. We will embark on our 1,661 mile drive sometime in mid-May.