Real talk

 Yesterday we got to the field!

Started the morning with the Army Physical Fitness Test at 0415. I didn't have to take it for whatever reason (welcome to the Army), but a bunch of 6th Platoon went out to cheer on our compatriots.

The rest of the morning we had classes on land navigation. Later this week, we're going to have to navigate at night to various points in the woods using a compass and a topographical map. Boom.

Then someone gave me a rifle. WHAT.

That I have to carry everywhere with me. Everywhere. As in....everywhere. Yes, to meals. And to the bathroom. Did I mention our bathrooms in the field are portapotties? What fun!

We got to the field, which is a bit outside San Antonio (with views of George Strait's house). It's a fenced in area with multiple tent buildings. We sleep in tents that have 25-30 cots per tent. They are the exact same cots I slept on during encampment in Civil Air Patrol. I am glad the Army is consistent. 

This morning we got up at 4am for formation and breakfast before heading out to practice land navigation. I actually really enjoyed that. We were given grid coordinates of 6 points in the area surrounding our TTB (Tactical Training Base). In pairs, we had to plot the points on a topographical map and determine azimiths and distances between the points. Then we headed out with our battle buddy to navigate between the points! It really was great fun, the views were awesome, and my battle and I did a great job, so it was a nice confidence booster in advance of our test on Friday. 

We also learned all about our M16s - how to clear them, disassemble and assemble them, clean them and shoot them! Boom. Literally. Tomorrow we head to the range to zero them in. Apparently, as the 6th and last platoon, we go last so....should be a lot of hurry up and wait. 

Also, I'm already tired of carrying my rifle. 

Lazy Saturday

...and by lazy, I mean lazy after the 0630 PT.

We took it pretty easy the rest of the day. My Uncle Mike came down from Austin to take us off post to see some sights (= delicious food) and fill us in on the true story of the Alamo. It was great to see him and catch up. And to show my roommate Heather a real live Texan

Me and Heather at the restaurant with Uncle Mike

Afterwards, we took it easy the rest of the afternoon and I was able to catch my brother Paul's ultimate frisbee game on ESPN3. It was pretty cool to hear an ESPN sports announcer call his name!

Number 99 killing it for Ring of Fire

 We hoofed it over to the commissary that evening to get some snacks, since we didn't feel up to eating a full dinner after the huge lunch we'd had. We picked up some things for our field training exercise, which begins tomorrow. Things are about to get real.

We hung out with our little crew that evening around the hotel and called it a relatively early night. Not clear how much sleep we're going to get when we're out in the field, so we didn't want to start off in any kind of sleep debt. I somehow managed to volunteer myself to help pace the 2-mile run for another officer in my squad who has to take the Army Physical Fitness test at 0430 tomorrow morning (only those officers going directly to active duty after BOLC have to take it. Since I'm going back to school, I'm excused). Not quite sure what made me think THAT was a good idea.

We have a bunch of inspections this afternoon to make sure we're ready for the field, so need to spend the morning getting last minute supplies (dental floss is REQUIRED? Seems silly) and packing up our gear. Then mentally preparing to stand around in the heat in full uniform and gear for 7 hours. Can't wait!

P.S. There was some concern among the crew that I had nec fasc from a bug bite that was making my arm swell up like crazy. Great news -- no nec fasc:

Yes, they drew a circle around the erythema  last night to track it. 

Random thoughts

Whenever we go anywhere on post in groups of three or more, we have to march. So naturally we just try to always walk in pairs. We've also developed a "fake march" in which from afar it looks like we're marching, but we're actually still chatting. Not the most professional thing I've ever done, but let's be honest 1) three people marching in formation is silly 2) I like to think it's better for esprit de corps to capitalize on getting to know your platoon mates in those 20-ish minute walks to the dining facility.

Someone messed up and bypassed the chain of command, so all passes were cancelled for the weekend. Which means you can't go farther than 50 miles away from San Antonio. Which is fine, but I feel bad for anyone who had plans and now has to cancel them.

At our inspection on Friday afteroon, some people didn't have the extra patches for their ACU's that they were told to bring with them, so we had to have ANOTHER inspection Saturday morning. Not the worst thing in the world, but not the most fun thing either to spend all the time getting your uniform together and gearing up to go stand out in the sun.

MEDCOM (medical command) patch -- not sure why people didn't bring this. Silly

Long weekend at BOLC

Not a lot has been going on as we're on a four day weekend for Independence Day.

San Antonio fireworks! God Bless America

Thursday night, we headed over to the San Antonio city official Fourth of July celebration and caught some dinner at Mi Guadalajara Restaurant, which had some game changing Tex-Mex and rock bottom Texas prices. Obviously, being the Army officers that we are, we had to get some cigars before getting into the fireworks. ["Guys, is everyone just jones-ing for some kind of vice since we can't drink?" "Yes."] Don't worry, we got the Sam Houston brand. We watched the fireworks from the side of a highway actually, so probably looked a little bit more rebellious, smoking cigars and loitering on the side of the street, than the future doctors of the United States Army that we are.

Sam Houston cigars. Extremely mediocre

For some reason, we decided watching the movie Side Effects (highly recommend) until 1:30am before we had 0630 PT was a good idea.

Yesterday we had morning PT, a mandatory platoon meeting to iron some details out, and an inspection in full ACU's with some of our field gear in the heat of the afternoon. The roommate and I hoofed it over to the commissary and clothing and sales afterwards to try to break in our boots, and conveniently, starting breaking in our hot weather tolerance as well.

Me and the roommate before the PCI (pre-combat inspection), in ACU's and with MOLLE vests and assault packs. Looking real hooah

Before inspection, the roommate and our little crew went to the driving range (we're Army officers and future doctors, we basically had to) and did some damage there. We had some distance and accuracy competitions, and I'm proud to report to my Pops that I won one round.

Last night we laid pretty low, got some sushi and froyo out in town, but then went to sleep pretty early (the whole staying up late and getting up for PT early was starting to catch up with us).

My uncle is coming down from Austin today, so I think we're going to see some of San Antonio with a real live Texan!

Let Freedom Ring - Independence Day 2013

First Fourth of July on active duty and it's a great day to be a soldier! At least that's what I tried to tell myself and everyone else at the 0700 PT (physical training) session this morning. Which was actually really fun. And voluntary. Singing in large groups while running is impressively fun. I think my platoon is pretty great. We definitely looked kinda highspeed at breakfast when it was clear we'd be working out all morning while everyone else slept in.

Last night we went to the Riverwalk in downtown San Antonio. It's really touristy and overpriced, but actually a really cute area -- basically tons of restaurants and bars with a nice walking path on both sides of....a river. Keepin it simple when they name things in Texas. We sadly are dry for the whole month as I mentioned before, so couldn't enjoy the night with anything other than virgin margaritas and pina coladas, but still had a really great time. Lots of laughing ourselves literally to tears. One of my platoon buddies is also applying in general surgery this fall, so it's awesome to finally talk to someone with all the same questions and concerns I have. We're overlapping in our time at Walter Reed, so that should be really fun.

Also, this great pic from yesterday: girls in Kevlar.

This morning after voluntary PT and breakfast, the roommate (above!) and I went for a run in the hot humid mid-morning weather. Definitely something we felt good about in retrospect, but was pretty rough going. I wouldn't be surprised if we only did about 4 miles in 40-45 minutes.

Ft Sam Houston theater. Took a lot of water breaks on the run, so had a chance to snap a pic of this sweet  building.  Unfortunately, there was no information on movies/times/etc, so unclear if it's actually a viable social option. But IS nice to look at. 

BUT then we went off-post with some guys in our platoon to get some DELICIOUS Texas brisket for lunch. And maybe Dairy Queen ice cream.

Pretty soon we're going to head out to one of San Antonio's public parks where they're having some big festival and fireworks. It's not the Fourth without fireworks.

#America

Pic o' the day - BOLC Day 3

Not a terribly awesome pic aesthetically but -- dog tags! Kevlar helmet! Duffel bag full of FTX gear!

On the plus side we get a four day weekend? Except for Sunday when we have to have a gear inspection and truck load in preparation for going to the field on Monday #realtalk

Officially don't have to take the physical fitness test. Not too upset about that since it's scheduled for 0430 Monday morning before we go to the field. Sounds like a tough way to start the week.

Our platoons are organized by last name, so I'm in the 6th (and last) Platoon. Within platoons, we're split into four squads, also by last name. Then within squads, we're organized by height when in formation, and with lots of bros around these parts, I'm in the last four people. So am literally in the last four people of the company of over 300 soldiers. Should make for some long waits in the coming weeks. HOOAH

BOLC Day 2

Everyone loves marching before sunrise. A good HOOAH morning at 0430. Which meant leaving our rooms at 0405. Unfortunately, I forgot that 0430 really means 0420 because 10 minutes early is on time in the Army. So rolling in at 0421 and thinking I was early and super highspeed turned into me getting yelled it. Which everyone also loves before sunrise. Oops. Good thing I wasn't wearing a uniform with my name on it (#strategicthinking).

Met some former West Pointers at breakfast who are both HPSP, one of whom wants to go into general surgery as well so we nerded out/bonded over that.

More briefings. More paperwork.

Then more briefings.

And more.

Got issued compasses for our land navigation course next week out in the field. Actually pretty excited about that even though one of the courses is at night and frankly, after 5 years in cities, I'm a little afraid of the woods at night.

Apparently we don't have to take the Army Physical Fitness Test if we're HPSP. In fact, we're not allowed to as they don't have enough scorers to accomodate all of us. Soooooooo....I practiced all those push-ups for nothing! Except for the strength, good health, and general feeling of accomplishment I suppose.

Placed an order for dog tags today? So they can identify my body? Also turned in a form giving my Pops permission to dispose of my body as he sees fit should something terrible befall me. Don't worry, Pops, I got the $400,000 life insurance and the government will additionally supply you with a $100,000 "death grautuity" within 72 hours of my untimely demise that is tax-free. Bit of a morbid afternoon, at the end of it.

Finally, my roommate is awesome, which is a huge relief. We've discussed plans to drink virgin margaritas and people/firewalk watch on the Riverwalk on the Fourth of July. [no pressure, but you have a four-day weekend three days after arriving. Better make friends fast!]. Importantly, she was equally excited about this as well. So hopefully that (and pictures attesting to it) will happen sometime this month.