The training I went to at Fort Dix wasn't too bad. For one, it was all Air Force. Two any place you can play paintball and laser tag, and call it training, can't be that bad. Sure there was a lot of classroom stuff. We learned how to do things like walk outside, clear buildings and towns, and what to do in convoys. I also learned that being point man in the Bravo fire team sucks. I was that guy every time. I didn't survive past the stairs any time we cleared buildings.
I was in charge of a squad when we did a field exercise involving wounded people and an obstacle course. I didn't do too bad with it except for the Alfa fire team was a bit too eager and got a bit ahead. The Cadre decided to kill me off to see what the squad could do. It was cute, the two smallest females grabbed my hands and drug me, in full battle rattle, down a trail until one of our guys came back and lifted me into a fireman's carry to get me to the evac point.
Maybe it was the not being at work doing what it is I normally do. Or maybe it was the not being at work thing, but apparently I wasn't my normal self. The squadron leader for Alfa One, my squad, said that I was a pretty calm and laid back. That could be true I guess.
On the last day of training before we got split into AFSC specific classes I did have a run-in with a certain Light Colonel of Alfa Two. We shall refer to them as Alfa Douche from here out. I cleared my weapon in one room and while I was waiting to take it to the window I was told, by the Cadre, to take it to a different one and turn it in. I went to the other window in the hallway and was about to turn it in when I hear "That weapon needs to be cleared first." I turn around and look up and down the long ass line. Wouldn't you know the Alfa Douche commander was in that line. Here's how the conversation went.
ADC "You need to get that weapon cleared."
I look down the line as he points to where it ends, "I've already cleared it in the other room. I was told to turn it in out here."
"You should have turned it in there then."
"I was going to but I was told to do that here."
"Then you can wait and get it cleared out here."
"Whatever." I turn to put the weapon into the window for the guy waiting.
"That is a negative on the whatever!" (yes, this guy is much hhoooaa)
I turn around to tell him, one more time, that the guys in charge told me to do this when my squadron commander interupts.
MSC "He was told by the Cadre to turn it in there and that's what he's going to do."
I got quite the dirty look from the Douche commander.
I went outside and was asked about what happened. I told the story and then the class commander, a full bird, asked who said that. Well, Alpha Douche commander of course. He got quite the chuckle out of that one and agreed.
Nothing ever came of it, so oh well.
I did make it to see John, Juliette and their baby. That was fun.
Also made it to New York Friday after class, we got out at 11 that morning. That's a nice place. Seen the Statue of Liberty from pretty far away. We also found Ground Zero. That was pretty cool. There is a memorial type building near there that has been open for a month. It had all kinds of quotes and stories and pictures. There where also pieces and things from the wreckage and personal items. It was kinda crazy. Outside by the subway there where more pictures. I have pics but the camera seems to be packed away so I'll put them up this weekend.
The girl I was with and I took quite the tour of Soho. Yeah, I apparently kept turning when I should have kept going straight. I wonder how people can get mugged in the alleys of New York because I didn't see any alleys to get mugged in, strangest thing. The taxi ride from Soho to Times Square was pretty cool with all the honking and everyone cutting everyone off. I could never drive there. Speaking of taxis, I damn near got hit by one. No shit, there I was, crossing the street when she yells my name. I look up and see that I am in the way of a taxi that, although is still on the other side of the intersection, is not slowing down. I kinda look at it then decide to step back out of its way. Yeah, I'm not too sure but I think he pretty much ran that light.
Yeah, I know where I'm going now and yeah, it's in Iraq. It is also a one man shop. That means I'll be doing it all while I'm there.
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