Day 10

11-09-05 10th Day Back In the Army
Well folks, today was a little tougher than the last few days. They let us out early yesterday so I think I got a little spoiled, getting done around 3pm. Yesterday was just a practice run with the rifle. We practiced all the different firing positions like being in a foxhole (a cement hole in the ground about 4x4x4) and laying on the ground all war movie style. We did practice with live rounds yesterday but it was fun and there was no pressure. Today was a whole other story! It was a record high of 83 degrees and we did the real deal. I had to qualify today, with a time limit, so I was much more nervous. After the regular firing we had to don our gas masks and fire 20 rounds with it on. In case anyone was wondering, I'm a totally worthless shot past like 150 meters with a gas mask on, so just don't rely on me to ever save your butt in a gunfight with poison gas in the air!! Anyway, the first time I tried to qualify I missed it by 3 shots, which kills me cause yesterday I did great and at Basic Training I did good! So I felt like a dork having to try again (I wasn't alone though) and passed the minimum by 3. Whew! By the time I got out of that foxhole I was sweating buckets (sorry Mom and Dad, I know that's not very ladylike, but it wasn't a ladylike glistening sheen either!) Come to find out, I stressed over nothing! Apparently, the Army needs people soo badly, it wouldn't have mattered if we qualified at all! We had 3 people who didn't qual at all and they were told not to worry about it, they'd get a waiver. How scary is that?? Well, you're a terrible shot and couldn't hit 23 out of 40 even with a 2nd chance but it's ok, don't worry, you can still take that nice vacation to Iraq!
Tomorrow should be the longest, hardest day yet according to our Drill SGT's. We do Convoy and Urban Ops. In the heat. With our rifle, web belt, ammo pouches, full canteens, Kevlar helmets, and body armor. Which all adds up to an extra 40 freaking pounds! Wish me luck. No, seriously, please wish me luck, I really could use it!! From what I understand we get to pretend we're driving a convoy of 3 vehicles in the desert, we'll get attacked or blown up, and react quickly and correctly by jumping off the trucks and finding cover and all that. Should be about 2 hrs long. Then we spend the rest of the day learning, practicing, and executing clearing a building with snipers in it. It really may be a fun day! Hopefully? I'm staying optimistic so I don't feel how heavy all that junk gets tomorrow! The plus side is we get Friday and Saturday completely off!!!! Yayyyy!!! Sunday I ship out to Ft. Meade, MD. And I think my lil' sis Rachel might come down to visit me again...even better! Oh jeez, it's almost past my bedtime! It's already 10 till 8!! Yes, I know that's the lamest thing ever but I get up at 5am and work hard the whole day. Did I mention my workday actually starts at 5:45 am and goes till usually around 5 or 6pm? So don't laugh at me for going to bed by 8, got it? I might come back tough and beat you up!!
Love, hugs, and kisses (you know which you get!)
-Stacy Sanning