so, I feel like a complete dweeb cause it has taken me quite a while to figure this thing out and it seems as though DAD got it before I did. sad. Katie, I had no idea you had that much of a time difference. It's been really good getting to talk to you so much, and everyone here has been asking about you non stop. Will you send me the link for the dog tags cause a few of my friends want to wear them. Also, what's your address up there? Anyway, I just cleaned my room (guys you should be proud) and now I'm going to keep running errands but hopefully I'll be able to keep up with this stuff now. I loooooooooooooove you Katie!!!!!

thanks-

thanks for the info, it has been greek to me!

dictionary

This is the dictionary carrie requested, its a start. if there is something you dont know jsut ask and i will add it on here. I will also add as I think of more!
Nco= non commissioned officer, SGTs ( e-5 and up)
Specialist= me, e-4 last rank before sgt. Above private
Team leader- e-5 over 2-3 people
Squad leader- e-6 over 10ish people
Platoon sgt- e-7 over 40ish people
Xo- officer.. does paperwork
Commander- capt graham, in charge of the whole company
Iba- bullet proof vest, 20ish pounds
M4- rifle
M9, 9 mil, hand gun, beretta, ect. – our handguns.. mps always have one
SAW- squad automatic weapon, its similar to the m4 but much bigger and automatic.. a 23 lb. machine gun
Ach- army combat helmet.. helmet
Iba- something ballistic armor maybe? I don’t really know what it stands for but its our bullet proof vests
Bay/ barracks- where we live
Defac- dining facility
Hmmwv- pronounced hum-v, our trucks fit 3-4
Mrap- m-rap more armored truck, fits like 10 people. We may have these in Iraq
Pt- physical training.. blahhhh
FOB- forward operating base, where we will live in Iraq pronounced as a word. People who only work on FOBs and don’t run any missions are considered fobbits
Rank- private, private, private first class, specialist (me), sergeant, staff sergeant, sergeant first class, 1st sergeant, sergeant major
Officers- 2nd lt, 1st lt, captain, major, lt. colonel, colonel, generals…

so this is the M16 rifle with the 203 attached ( the tube thingy my left hand is on). It is a grenade launcher, that's why it is angled up so high I'm aiming like 300 meters away. I know, i look tough! by the way, that snow right there is up past my boots so about 8 inches.

Yesterday we did the HEAT trainer. It simulated a HMMWV (humvee) rollover. I thought it was going to be really bad but it was actually kinda cool. We got flipped over and had to unbuckle our seat belts (which obviously made us fall into the ceiling/ floor). We had to disengage the combat lock and then open the door up and crawl out. It was very disoreinting (not sure that is a word but oh well you will be strong!). We are going to actually shoot on Friday or Saturday so we will be out in the cold from then on basically, right now is all classroom for the most part. Have a good one.

Pictures

We want more pictures!! We want to see all of that ice and snow.

We are proud of you.

the beginning

tues jan 6, 2008
So we got to Ft. Mccoy on Sunday. When we landed in Minnesota we thought it was cold (-2) with the sun out. hahahaha we didn't realize what cold was until Monday morning. Monday it was -10 at 5 am when we got up. We had to walk over to chow and stand in line and then stand in formation. Probably very high up on my list of most miserable moments. I lost feeling in my toes for over an hour after we were inside. Later that day we were able to go get some gear issued to us including cold weather gear. It's really nice stuff, i have a 2 thin long john shirts, 1 thick long john shirt, 1 cold weather top, 1 wet weather top, 1 cold/ wet weather top, one cold weather jacket, and then one " oh my god its so cold I will die in 10 minutes of being outside" jacket. (for real it looks like the little kid from christmas story or whatever that is.
Today it was 2 above so it was pretty warm actually. We are basically doing classes all day today, tonight we are doing a simulator for if a HMMWV (humvee, or trucks) flips over. We experience what it would be like trying to get out because the trucks are so armored that the doors weigh 480 pounds. Things arent bad yet, we can't do pt because there is like 10 inches of snow on the ground and the sidewalks are still pretty icy. Kinda fun to watch everyone bust it. We aren't getting much sleep, hopefully that will change really soon. Bout to head back to class for the day.

BTW dad your socks are saving my life.