Yesterday the final box was checked on the list of requirements that must be completed in order to graduate from OCS. Scoring 271 on the point scale out of a possible 300 secured my place on stage for graduation on April 8th. Looking back at all of the training and academics the hardest most emotionally challenging aspect of OCS as I have stated before being away from my wife after being married only a month. Rebecca has endured the challenge as well and the result is we now have an even stronger relationship. After graduation I go on to Infantry Officer School along with the possibility of attending Airborne and Ranger schools. Considering everything I decided it would be best for us to be together again as soon as possible so I'm moving Rebecca to Fort Benning. I may only get to see her on the weekends while in Infantry School but anytime is better than no time at all. I love her....
On April 8th I will be referred to in the enlisted world simply as Sir. Being greeted as Sir is the tradition showing respect to an officer and I plan to do my best to deserve such. My new career starts and only God knows where it will take me but I'm sure everything will be great with my wife by my side. I hope that I can inspire someone some day to do what I have done and not give up on a dream.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Friday, March 19, 2010
The Field Comes to an End.
After 3 weeks of enduring nature and its unforgiving rain I can gladly say its over. The Army of course has a phrase for when you are cold, wet/muddy, and tired. Repeatedly we are told to "Embrace the Suck." That short phrase encompasses everything bad that can/does happen while in the field. In reality things are never as bad as they seem and honestly the grueling part was not being able to talk to my wife nightly and hearing about her day. Listening to her tell me the happenings of her day makes me feel close to her even when I'm states away.
My adventures this week included me being the bad guy during 3 missions for other groups of people to have their leadership evaluated. One thing that I have learned is that when you fake getting killed make sure you die face down so the rain doesn't pelt your face.... yeah noone gave me that hint before.
Now with plenty of stories to share I can proudly say I have just 3 short weeks before I enter the ranks of the Army Officer. If you would have told me 4 years ago while I was just a PFC that I would be back at the same base training to become a 2nd Lt. I would have never believed it. At the time it was just a far off dream I had that probably would never get fulfilled.
After doing a self assessment over the past 3 years I can definately say there were many hardships and experiences good/bad but through it all my unyeilding determination and help from God (things fell into place exactly how/when they needed to for things to work out) I made it to the biggest career goal I had.
I do hate that some of my relatives that served in the military passed away years before and will not be able to witness such a defining moment. I really do believe they would be proud of me.
Now...I get to relax and unwind until next time. Enjoy life and be happy!
Friday, March 12, 2010
EVOL
Well for two weeks I've been in the "field" (fancy Army term for camping). In the 4 years I've been in the Army this field time was definately the most precipitation filled one yet. The only day it didn't rain was the day we arrived. After the first day I felt like Forest Gump as he described the rain in Vietnam.
I'm by no means complaining about the experience simply because its my chosen profession and I know theres going to be more field time in my career as an Infantry Officer. The whole point of us being out in the field was for us to hone our leadership skills and then be judged on how well we execute select missions using the techniques and tactics we learned. Aside from the rain the entire experience though tiring was very fun. In one particular mission the Officer Candidate that was selected to plan my mission totally botched it and I had 5 minutes to formulate a new plan which the other Candidate had 30 minutes to do. Stressed and trying to recover from the feeling I was set up for failure I pressed on with the quick plan I created. I somehow managed to accomplish the mission within the time alotted and had my men well concelealed from the enemy to the point we effectively ambushed them. I earned a generous amount of respect from the other 9 people in my squad because they admitted themselves that given the situation I was in, they would not have been able to do the mission successfully. After being outside in the rain from 6 am until 530 pm and having completed two missions with a graded leadership position I felt I had accomplished something regardless of how tired and broken I felt physically. The requirement is that an Officer Candidate get 2 satisfactory leadership evaluations out of a total of 4. With that said I have already passed this phase of OCS and now all thats left is 1 final Military History Exam followed by a PT test before graduation. Excitement is running through my veins in anticipation of it all especially seeing my wonderful wife again.
While away from the garrison area for 6 days I had no contact with my wife. Those 6 days allowed me to see even more clearly just how much I love my wife. While enduring "the suck" (nasty conditions that make you wish you were somewhere else) all I could think of was being back home with my wife and the warmth she provides me both physically and emotionally. Concentrating on being with her again helped me endure the cold wet mud and focus on getting the task at hand completed. I hope that everyone gets to experience that atleast once in their life while away from their wife. Rebecca provides me true inspiration even when we are cut off from each other simply because we are bonded together by intense LOVE.
Getting away from the emotional aspects of it all, there is something I have been pondering since I joined the Army. There are two terms that are used frequently when grading a soldier on a required task. Those terms are "GO" and "NO GO". I can only begin to imagine two cave men coming up to a fork in the road and saying "GO....NO GO??" I honestly do not see how those two terms could ever replace the two common words PASS and FAIL to guage performance of a required task. I suppose some mysteries will never be solved.
Now that I've jumped all over the place with this blog its time for me to find my nice stiff bunk and lay down for a good nights sleep so that I can be ready for another 4 days in the field next week. Be safe and have fun!
I'm by no means complaining about the experience simply because its my chosen profession and I know theres going to be more field time in my career as an Infantry Officer. The whole point of us being out in the field was for us to hone our leadership skills and then be judged on how well we execute select missions using the techniques and tactics we learned. Aside from the rain the entire experience though tiring was very fun. In one particular mission the Officer Candidate that was selected to plan my mission totally botched it and I had 5 minutes to formulate a new plan which the other Candidate had 30 minutes to do. Stressed and trying to recover from the feeling I was set up for failure I pressed on with the quick plan I created. I somehow managed to accomplish the mission within the time alotted and had my men well concelealed from the enemy to the point we effectively ambushed them. I earned a generous amount of respect from the other 9 people in my squad because they admitted themselves that given the situation I was in, they would not have been able to do the mission successfully. After being outside in the rain from 6 am until 530 pm and having completed two missions with a graded leadership position I felt I had accomplished something regardless of how tired and broken I felt physically. The requirement is that an Officer Candidate get 2 satisfactory leadership evaluations out of a total of 4. With that said I have already passed this phase of OCS and now all thats left is 1 final Military History Exam followed by a PT test before graduation. Excitement is running through my veins in anticipation of it all especially seeing my wonderful wife again.
While away from the garrison area for 6 days I had no contact with my wife. Those 6 days allowed me to see even more clearly just how much I love my wife. While enduring "the suck" (nasty conditions that make you wish you were somewhere else) all I could think of was being back home with my wife and the warmth she provides me both physically and emotionally. Concentrating on being with her again helped me endure the cold wet mud and focus on getting the task at hand completed. I hope that everyone gets to experience that atleast once in their life while away from their wife. Rebecca provides me true inspiration even when we are cut off from each other simply because we are bonded together by intense LOVE.
Getting away from the emotional aspects of it all, there is something I have been pondering since I joined the Army. There are two terms that are used frequently when grading a soldier on a required task. Those terms are "GO" and "NO GO". I can only begin to imagine two cave men coming up to a fork in the road and saying "GO....NO GO??" I honestly do not see how those two terms could ever replace the two common words PASS and FAIL to guage performance of a required task. I suppose some mysteries will never be solved.
Now that I've jumped all over the place with this blog its time for me to find my nice stiff bunk and lay down for a good nights sleep so that I can be ready for another 4 days in the field next week. Be safe and have fun!
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
"If You're not FIRST You're LAST"
The army is full of acronyms and currently I get to experience one first hand. OCS ( Officer Candidate School) is the best officer commissioning source the Army has, of course there are others like ROTC or West Point but they do not come close to providing as great a leader.
Now that the OCS advertisement is over I can get on to whats going on with my life. I spent last night sleeping on the ground, only to have my earthen bed fill with a lovely stream of water. A note to anyone that has never camped out wilderness man style, you should NEVER bed down on the downward slope of a hill. Making matters worse the temperature was below 40 making my bones shiver under my skin. Other than that wonderful experience while taking my Night/Day Land Navigation test things have been going well.
My wife has a wonderful job now that she enjoys and because of that I am very happy even though I can't be there to physically listen to her school stories each day. It gives me peace of mind knowing she is happy and not as stressed while handling me being away.
Since I brought up my wife, I'll share more of my thoughts about her. She is a wonderful woman to start. I could not be happier knowing that I will spend the rest of my earthly life with someone that is so close and connected to me. There is happiness in just hearing her voice or reading a short simple text after a long day of work. I can't forget to mention just how intelligent she is along with how well we learn together as a couple. I would definitely challenge anyone to search out in life that one person that they can share their most intimate moments with through every season and every year.
Wrapping up, I have just a few short weeks left before I earn the coveted 2nd Lt. commission in the U.S. Army. I am excited to take on the responsibilities of an officer and continue to represent not only myself but my family as well in all that I do.
In closing I'll explain the title for the blog. The title is in reference to just how many obstacles I have had to overcome in order to fulfill my goals and dreams in life. Though always a challenge I understand that they are in place to show others as well as myself that I am determined in everything I do.
Now back to the field for 2 weeks...till then be safe and have fun.
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