It's going to be a short entry today but a very important one none-the-less. I was sitting at my computer just reading up on travel sites like travbuddy.com and lonely planet's Thorn Tree forum, and I really felt like I needed to go scuba diving soon. Then almost instantly I remembered I only had until June to do. So that began the whole thought process of planning a dive trip.
As I went through possible time frames for this trip, I realized I had to do it in April. Why? Because the first two weeks of May is block leave; meanwhile I'll take my leave in the middle of May for my sister's graduation. I can't do it in June because that's when we're leaving. Then I remembered our Brigade Commander, COL Kandarian, telling everyone to get ready for a bunch of 3 and 4 day weekends this and next month. Mind you, this thought process took about 5 seconds in my head.
So I figure that's PERFECT! Now, I have to choose where to go. Originally I thought of Guatemala cause its closer. But it turns out the tickets for Central America are pretty much all the same price. Now I've boiled it down to either Costa Rica or Panama.
The trip itself will probably cost a grand total of $1000 (including ticket, hostels, food, and activities). That's a lot more than I can afford right now but that's why we have credit cards! I figure I'll be making enough money to pay it back while I'm deployed in frickin Afghanistan. Might as well enjoy my time here before a year of suck.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Another day...
14 days left before I head back to Clarksville. I've only been here for one week and I'm already counting down the days till I get back home. Makes me wonder how bad I'm going to take it in Afghanistan.. Hopefully it'll be busy and somewhat exciting and I won't have to worry about too much boredom. haha.. I just realized that I referred to Clarksville as home. But I guess it's fitting because I haven't lived in Guam for 6 years and San Francisco for 2 years. That's the problem with the Army. No true stabilization.
On the other hand, I'm hoping Fort Bragg, North Carolina will be my home for 3 years when I get back from OEF. I just got an email today saying that Year Group 08 officers were now eligible to begin submitting packets for Special Forces, Civil Affairs, and Psychological Operations. I'm planning to submit a packet in May. Spent a good portion of my time today working on my Volunteer Statement (Special Operations is all volunteers) and my Resume. I will get it read by a few people but I think it sounds pretty good. They gave a sample of general topics (i.e Career highlights, Hobbies, etc) and I basically used it; I just put together a better presentation =) With that said, I'm torn between Civil Affairs and PSYOPs. On the one hand, I love and completely support the CA mission. However, it is a lot of non-lethal stuff and it's basically handing out money and candy. I figure, while I'm in the Army, I should do something more "kinetic" and actually take the fight to the enemy which I believe PSYOP does more often that not. I recently added an old ROTC instructor to my facebook account since he was in PSYOPs. I asked him a few questions and now I'm anxiously awaiting his answer.
A month ago, I was completely prepared to go CA. However, I talked to my squadron commander recently, who was with Delta Force for the last 7 years, and he told me he'd like to take me as an S1 over to the Delta community. I told him I was planning on switching to CA and he told me they never had CA attached to them. If CA Officers don't get attached to Delta or even SF, and PSYOPs did, then I seriously want to reconsider going CA. I believe I can still get a job with UNICEF or the State Department by going PSYOP and not just CA. I would love to experience working with SF or better yet, Delta Force! Working in the personnel section has really turned me off.
With that said, 13 more days to go!
P.S. The first post was supposed to get on yesterday.. Only the second day and I'm already messing this up!!
On the other hand, I'm hoping Fort Bragg, North Carolina will be my home for 3 years when I get back from OEF. I just got an email today saying that Year Group 08 officers were now eligible to begin submitting packets for Special Forces, Civil Affairs, and Psychological Operations. I'm planning to submit a packet in May. Spent a good portion of my time today working on my Volunteer Statement (Special Operations is all volunteers) and my Resume. I will get it read by a few people but I think it sounds pretty good. They gave a sample of general topics (i.e Career highlights, Hobbies, etc) and I basically used it; I just put together a better presentation =) With that said, I'm torn between Civil Affairs and PSYOPs. On the one hand, I love and completely support the CA mission. However, it is a lot of non-lethal stuff and it's basically handing out money and candy. I figure, while I'm in the Army, I should do something more "kinetic" and actually take the fight to the enemy which I believe PSYOP does more often that not. I recently added an old ROTC instructor to my facebook account since he was in PSYOPs. I asked him a few questions and now I'm anxiously awaiting his answer.
A month ago, I was completely prepared to go CA. However, I talked to my squadron commander recently, who was with Delta Force for the last 7 years, and he told me he'd like to take me as an S1 over to the Delta community. I told him I was planning on switching to CA and he told me they never had CA attached to them. If CA Officers don't get attached to Delta or even SF, and PSYOPs did, then I seriously want to reconsider going CA. I believe I can still get a job with UNICEF or the State Department by going PSYOP and not just CA. I would love to experience working with SF or better yet, Delta Force! Working in the personnel section has really turned me off.
With that said, 13 more days to go!
P.S. The first post was supposed to get on yesterday.. Only the second day and I'm already messing this up!!
3 Months Into it...
Boredom can drive a man to do a lot of things. Sometimes it's something stupid, sometimes it's something meaningful. I guess starting this journal documenting my time serving with a historical Army unit can be classified as both. Stupid in the sense that journals have traditionally not been my "thing". I admittedly went through the whole Xanga phase during parts of high school but they were mostly adolescent ramblings and the phase eventually died off. On the other hand, it may prove to be meaningful in the sense that (if I'm able to consistently update this journal), I would have a relatively accurate account of my thoughts and of my experiences during my service with the 101st Airborne Division.
So let me begin by saying that I've been assigned to 1st Squadron, 75th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) since December 2009. I had just got back from a year long tour in South Korea and I was very eager to begin preparing for deployment to a war zone and embark on a journey that not many people experience, especially amongst my generation. After some time working at Fort Campbell, we moved down to Fort Polk, Louisiana on 1 March 2010 for training at the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC). This is the final exercise/large scale training event before we head overseas to southern Afghanistan in June 2010.
So that's where I am currently. Just got out of an 8pm meeting and I'm about ready to hit the sack.
But before I go, here's my resolution for the next 12 months, give or take a few. I'm determined to update as often as I can with both minuscule and significant events. I'd like to document as much as possible. If I'm able to, I will definitely include pictures of not only Army related material but also trips I take before and during deployment and any other meaningful aspects of my life. But at the same time, I'd like to put in an alibi here: The area we are going to in southern Afghanistan, near the city of Kandahar, will not be built up. We are not replacing any American or other Coalition force. We will be the first guys on the ground there. Naturally, internet connection may or may not be readily available but hopefully I will still be able to post somewhat consistently. And with that said, cheers! to a very long, arduous, dangerous, but memorable year.
So let me begin by saying that I've been assigned to 1st Squadron, 75th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) since December 2009. I had just got back from a year long tour in South Korea and I was very eager to begin preparing for deployment to a war zone and embark on a journey that not many people experience, especially amongst my generation. After some time working at Fort Campbell, we moved down to Fort Polk, Louisiana on 1 March 2010 for training at the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC). This is the final exercise/large scale training event before we head overseas to southern Afghanistan in June 2010.
So that's where I am currently. Just got out of an 8pm meeting and I'm about ready to hit the sack.
But before I go, here's my resolution for the next 12 months, give or take a few. I'm determined to update as often as I can with both minuscule and significant events. I'd like to document as much as possible. If I'm able to, I will definitely include pictures of not only Army related material but also trips I take before and during deployment and any other meaningful aspects of my life. But at the same time, I'd like to put in an alibi here: The area we are going to in southern Afghanistan, near the city of Kandahar, will not be built up. We are not replacing any American or other Coalition force. We will be the first guys on the ground there. Naturally, internet connection may or may not be readily available but hopefully I will still be able to post somewhat consistently. And with that said, cheers! to a very long, arduous, dangerous, but memorable year.
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