Josh's formal AIT training ended last week!
All of his weapons, tactical and military law training will culminate in his final FTX, they deploy first thing on Monday morning. The word from MP's and even the DS's is that this next week will be the most fun that they have in their training experience at Fort Leonard Wood. This time, no ruck march but they will spend alot of time in the Humvee's and work through real life scenarios with an emphasis on things they will encounter on a deployment. Josh spent some time last week taking and setting up equipment on site, they won't be in tents this time but in wooden huts on the training facility.
Yesterday was his final PT test...which he passed with flying colors...there are a few who did not...this is the last test to ensure that he will graduate on time. Sept 16th...(I can hardly wait to see my boy!)
Some of the training highlights since my last update have included MOUT (Military Ops Urban Training), grenade launchers (Josh's exact words were big ass grenade launcher) final written exams, and some misc weapons training...it's probably really hard to top big ass grenade launchers...he said this was more fun than the day that he got to shoot three different types of machine guns...He was also fitted for his class A uniform...he told me next time I see him, this is what he will be wearing...did I mention that I can hardly wait to see him?
We talked about his duty station in Fort Drum NY, he is contemplating trading in his Silverado for a 4WD vehicle...they don't get just a dusting of snow...they get lots of snow...in fact...they send soldiers from Alaska to Fort Drum for cold weather training...now, what does that say?
The best part about Fort Drum of course is that he will be with his buddy Trent in the Spring when he returns from Afghanistan. Interesting to note that Trent left Konduz last week for Phoenix, he's on leave, it will take him 3-5 days to get home and he will be here for about two weeks. Ironically, he will miss Josh by only one or two days...
We had a great chat and we did talk about deployment a little bit...From my perspective, this is scary and nerve wracking. Granted he has not been deployed yet but, this is what the training has been all about. He has had the opportunity to talk to other soldiers that have been to the middle east and their experiences have been varied. Their best advice is deployment is what you make it. It goes back to attitude being such a decisive factor in the outcome of any situation...
Thanks for reading and supporting our family in this new and exciting adventure...stay tuned...
PS...If you are sending Josh any snail mail...final mailings must be sent by Sept 1st to ensure he gets it before graduation...
PSS...did I mention that I can hardly wait to see him??
Good morning all...This is a quick blog update, here is a link to the continuing story of the 10th Mountain Division based out of Fort Drum NY. As you may recall from an earlier post Josh's friend Trent is serving there and Josh will report to Fort Drum in October. If you support our troops, please take a look...
Thankshttp://atwar.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/18/a-soldier-lost-and-remembered/
Josh will graduate in one month! We can hardly wait to see him...When he gets to Fort Drum in October he will be wearing the patch at the left on his MP uniform...Today Josh was on pass at the Missouri State Fair. They took a two hour bus ride from Fort Leonard Wood to Sedalia, MO to attend a military appreciation ceremony at the Fair. 100 soldiers were chosen to attend and Josh was one of them. I think this was the Army equivalent to time off for good behavior. The ceremony was complete with a couple of generals and the Governor of Missouri. If you saw his Facebook posting this morning he said he was off to ride the ferris wheel and have him some fatty cakes...when I spoke to him he hadn't done a ride yet but had ingested a few deep fried delights one in particular that was heavily dusted in powdered sugar...His training is going very well, this week they did detainee ops which focuses on the handling of prisoners, transporting, monitoring and the like. Again like last week, they played both roles so he got to be the good guy and the bad guy...the instructors don't encourage them to be mouthy and disrespectful but if someone decides that to be their course of action, they were allowed to spray them with water. So Josh did in fact get to spray a fellow soldier for being out of line, I only hope that it was one of the guys that has been driving him crazy since day one!The Army term that I learned this week: Death before dismount...unique to MP's it means they are so stubborn they'll stay in their air conditioned humvees and get shot before they dismount and roll out on foot...
HOOAH!
Life at Fort Leonard Wood seems to be humming right along...the DS's are easing up a bit although there are still some "characters" in the platoon that cause heartburn from time to time...Actually, Josh has another name for them...I'm trying to keep my blog family friendly...Love the picture this week...actually it's the photo he sent Alyssa and she posted on Facebook. I get the "Army Strong" grimace in the official photos, but a mom always likes to see her bundle of joy with a smile...The main training focus this week was the mock patrols. Josh and a Battle Buddy drive a FLW patrol car through the base and respond to scenario calls. He did some traffic stops and a couple of domestic violence calls. This part of training he has proclaimed "very cool." The DS's and Trainers don't ride in the cars with them anymore, they are on scene with critiques and suggestions... They also get to participate in these scenarios as the subjects. For example Josh went through an interview as a soldier who was suspected of domestic violence against his "wife". It makes sense that they cover both sides of the policing process...They spent one day in a finance class...there are so many programs available to members of the Armed Forces it took a day to explain some of the finer points, Josh said he got alot of value out of the day. Josh will graduate Sept 16th and come home with us on Sept 17th. He has a home town recruiting obligation until Sept 29th. He reports for duty in Fort Drum NY on Oct 24th. It depends on how much leave he has at the end of recruitment that will determine when he flies to Fort Drum. I was curious, if he shows up in NY early...what would he be doing? The answer was Army busy work...I have learned a few things about the Army and busy work seems to be a hallmark of Army life...
Last week (7/25/10) I did not make a posting...there was a failed barracks inspection and no pass to make phone calls on Sunday. Have I been spolied with weekly phone calls? Yes, I most certainly have!Flash forward to this week...Josh called this morning at 6:22am...waking me from my food coma as I have eaten my way through the Great Northwest on vacation...He sounded very chipper on this day, he had an early pass...Over the past couple of weeks, they have finished the "Death by PowerPoint" portion of MP training, and survived. They are learning all kinds of arrest and patrol techniques. Sounds to me like the highlight has been the vehicular obstacle course that they run at about 50 mph...he got to drive like Jack Bauer, something he has always wanted to do. The next part of training will be mock patrols throughout the base in official Fort Leonard Wood patrol vehicles.They are done with all ofthe weapons part of training and are focused on the hands on part of being an MP. All the training will culminate a few weeks in his final FTX.Graduation has been confirmed in a letter from the commander as Sept 16th. We will all fly back to Phoenix on Sept 17th. Part of his contract includes a home town recruiting obligation that will keep him with us for 3-4 weeks...Then, on Oct 24th he will report to his permanent duty station, Fort Drum NY. Located close to the Canadian border (in case Canada attacks I suppose) in upstate NY. Winters are brutal, so it is this moms hope that the Army provides long underwear and mittens. The best part about this assignment is that he will be stationed with his buddy Trent who is currently serving in Afghanistan...Josh will be part of the 10th Mountain Division...deployment will be from this unit...
Josh's formal AIT training ended last week! 
