My latest from Sam
I'll skip the personal stuff...I know you just want the Sam stuff!
24 Nov 2006
Can you find out what percentage of Active Duty soldiers have been deployed? We hear all the time that, regardless of MOS, 95% of us will spend some time in the sandbox. That may just be a scare tactic to make us focus on training. Regardless, I know Don and I are mentally prepared for most eventualities. Some of these kids are all gung ho to get over there and start kicking ass. Others are quite convinced that they won't ever see any more action that an electronic stapler. Our Platoon Guide is a full-time police officer, and she's astonished at the difference in the attitudes and cameraderie between here and the Police Academy. One big difference is how hard it is to get accepted in the police academy. Another is that anybody who screws around or is disrespectful during training is thrown out on their ear. Their are several here with major issues, who would not have passed the most rudimentary psych screening to get in.
I'm delighted that Rob is behind you on your career change. I'm astonished when people ask what Don thinks about my joining the Army, like there was any way I could handle all this without his full support and cooperation. We do have some getting Dear Jane letters.
Yes, anyone can come to graduation and Family Day. You can read more about those on the Fort Jackson website. Graduation should be outside, in the cold, however, unless it's raining, so you'll have to pack your warmest panties.
I'll be home for Exodus on the evening of 17th Dec. and have to be back here on 3 Jan. It would rock for us both if you could visit HSV over the holidays.
Sometimes I'm astonished that I've already been in BCT for 2 whole weeks. Other times, I'm blown away by how much there is left to learn. I'm afraid this ole' bod would not cut Airborne training - I'm really pushing myself to keep up. During PT, or when we're getting smoked, they don't sort us by age groups and cut the old people any slack, even if our PT test requirements are lower than the youngsters.
Would you do me a huge favor? I would love you forever if you would send me a shoe box full of cough drops (Walmart brand, plain or cherry, nothing fancy). I don't know what incentive to offer that you couldn't already have the the asking. We're supposed to be able to buy those at the PX, but they're always out. I don't know why they don't stock enough of the stuff we are told to buy plenty of, like bungee cords, pantiliners and I can't remember what else. We're not allowed loose in the big PX, just some little mini troop stores. They did take back my defective flashlight, even though one DS tried to tell me that I couldn't exchange it after I'd written my name on it.
How's Boss Os doing? Anything else interesting happening in the world of Chickenshack or GHS Alumni?
My Fireguard shift is almost over. My insomnia patterns have really helped me cope with Fireguard every 3rd night.
If you have time, could you send me some pix of your brood and the Goddesses?
24 Nov 2006
Can you find out what percentage of Active Duty soldiers have been deployed? We hear all the time that, regardless of MOS, 95% of us will spend some time in the sandbox. That may just be a scare tactic to make us focus on training. Regardless, I know Don and I are mentally prepared for most eventualities. Some of these kids are all gung ho to get over there and start kicking ass. Others are quite convinced that they won't ever see any more action that an electronic stapler. Our Platoon Guide is a full-time police officer, and she's astonished at the difference in the attitudes and cameraderie between here and the Police Academy. One big difference is how hard it is to get accepted in the police academy. Another is that anybody who screws around or is disrespectful during training is thrown out on their ear. Their are several here with major issues, who would not have passed the most rudimentary psych screening to get in.
I'm delighted that Rob is behind you on your career change. I'm astonished when people ask what Don thinks about my joining the Army, like there was any way I could handle all this without his full support and cooperation. We do have some getting Dear Jane letters.
Yes, anyone can come to graduation and Family Day. You can read more about those on the Fort Jackson website. Graduation should be outside, in the cold, however, unless it's raining, so you'll have to pack your warmest panties.
I'll be home for Exodus on the evening of 17th Dec. and have to be back here on 3 Jan. It would rock for us both if you could visit HSV over the holidays.Sometimes I'm astonished that I've already been in BCT for 2 whole weeks. Other times, I'm blown away by how much there is left to learn. I'm afraid this ole' bod would not cut Airborne training - I'm really pushing myself to keep up. During PT, or when we're getting smoked, they don't sort us by age groups and cut the old people any slack, even if our PT test requirements are lower than the youngsters.
Would you do me a huge favor? I would love you forever if you would send me a shoe box full of cough drops (Walmart brand, plain or cherry, nothing fancy). I don't know what incentive to offer that you couldn't already have the the asking. We're supposed to be able to buy those at the PX, but they're always out. I don't know why they don't stock enough of the stuff we are told to buy plenty of, like bungee cords, pantiliners and I can't remember what else. We're not allowed loose in the big PX, just some little mini troop stores. They did take back my defective flashlight, even though one DS tried to tell me that I couldn't exchange it after I'd written my name on it.
How's Boss Os doing? Anything else interesting happening in the world of Chickenshack or GHS Alumni?
My Fireguard shift is almost over. My insomnia patterns have really helped me cope with Fireguard every 3rd night.
If you have time, could you send me some pix of your brood and the Goddesses?
posted by Biscuit | 12/03/2006 01:08:00 PM
2 Comments:
Now who would have thought that insomnia would help with BCT. Go figure. :)
As far as the question of what is the percentage of troops deployed over seas, I looked it up and found a web site that says statistically, "...27.1 percent of all US troops were stationed abroad from 2003-2004."
http://tinyurl.com/ynarsv
It probably depends on what the MOS is, but if it's related to combat or combat support, then the 95% estimate is probably pretty accurate. A deployment of 12-18 months is pretty normal.
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