Preparations

Okay, so we are slackers and have not posted here in over a year... Well, most of you know it has been a busy one.  So we will skip to the present instead of recapping everything.

After having a bunch of knee problems and other issues that prevented Chris from taking and/or passing a PT test since we have been at Ft. Carson, he did it!  He passed!  His direct supervisor was thrilled and put in the papers for Chris to get a raise and promotion.  Yay!  Soon Chris will be an E-4 also known as Specialist.  

In preparation for his unit to be deployed to Afghanistan last week Chris was gone on a Field Training Exercise (FTX).  It was held somewhere on Ft. Carson, but he didn't get to come home at night.  That kind of sucked.  While he was on the FTX he did a bunch of weapon training.  When he gets deployed Chris will be carrying a M249 SAW.  

Shooting at targets 100, 200, 300, and 400 meters away Chris got 10 out of 11 targets.  The best in his company with his weapon.  The SAW is heavier and holds more ammo than the M16s that most of his unit will be carrying.  When he came home on Friday he was all banged up.  He looked like he was developing cheetah spots.  Also while on the FTX Chris drove a military Hummer.  He is one of a handful of guys that now have both a military and civilian driver's license. 

Here is a picture of a soldier with a M249 SAW.  I will ask Chris to try and get a pic of him on his next FTX later this month.

Status Update

Just thought I would post a little status update about AIT.
Chris is doing wonderful in his classes. Each week they go over a new section/area then on Wednesdays they take a test over the section they have just covered. Chris has gotten A's on all of these tests! He is doing so well! I am so proud of him. He has really put his mind to it and kicked some butt. :) He is also doing really great with the Physical Training. His normal PT time is at 7:00pm Monday thru Friday, but because it has been stormy or just plain too hot they haven't been having it regularly, but Chris has joined up with a group of guys that go running every night at 5:00pm. :) He has been running 2.2 miles in 15:30 minutes and doing extra pushups and situps. This is a terrific improvement from when he started basic and was running 2 miles in 20 minutes! Way to Go Chris!
Chris should get to phase up to 5+ soon. He has to complete that before he is done with AIT.
After AIT we have until September 16th (i think) to move to Fort Carson, CO. Because of this little break in between we are going to go visit some family. :)

That's all the info for right now. I will post some pics of Chris after I get back from visiting him next week! :D

Goodish news

Well, Chris told me today that he found out some goodish news. A reliable source told him that you have to be at your first post after AIT for at a minium of 6 months before you are deployable. :) It doesn't mean deployment is out of the question, but at least it gives me some time to spend with Chris. HOORAY!

I hate Rumors!

Okay, here is the update on Chris. He is doing Great! He has past all of his section tests so far and he is a phase 5. This means on the weekends he is allowed to leave base on Saturday and he doesn't have to do as many formations. He hopes to be able to phase up again soon.
Now to those rumors:
Rumor #1. Most of Chris's company will be on a striker team.
Rumor #2. A Striker is a vehicle that is well armored, has weapons, and is full of computer technology.
Rumor #3. Some members of the Striker team will be on the Striker. Most won't be.
And now for the worst Rumor...
Rumor #4. The Striker teams will be deployed in January to Iraq.

Again, these are just rumors and we hope to dispel most of them soon. Keep Chris in your prayers please.

1 down... 1 to go...

During AIT (Advanced Individual Training) Chris has to pass certain verbal and written tests, two PT (Physical Training) tests, and each section of his classes. He must pass all of these before he will get his station assignment and graduate from AIT. During boot camp the PT test required a 17:30 2 mile run... now the requirement is 16:45 for the two mile run.
Chris got 16:24 2 mile run, 50 pushups, and 54 situps! So now he only has to pass this once more before the end of his classes. 1 Down... 1 to go!

Some time during this week he should be able to test for Phase 5! He has already passed the locker inspection and the class a inspections, he just has to do a verbal test to receive the Phase 5 patch. :)

As I was looking at a cd of pictures taken by some of the Drill Sergents during Boot Camp I found some of Chris... I thought you might enjoy these.
The last two were taken as they were coming out of the Tear Gas Chamber. Poor Chris! He is the one in the middle being sick. :(