Packing for Deployment
I haven't been trying to neglect those of you who take your precious time to check out the blog. It's just been a busy week. The shortest day I saw was 12 hours. Thats in the office. Then throw in gym and PT(physical training) time and it gets really hard to take the time to post instead of sleeping.
Anyway. Its Saturday, and we worked yet again. However , we didn't have to work all day and I got about 12 hours of sleep last night, and I needed a break from the book Im reading so here I am.
In boot camp "Packing for deployment" was merely a nickname for a game drill instructors would play. It was silly and ridiculous. Yet one of those priceless treasures that drill instructors use to teach Marines Discipline- instant willing obedience to all orders, self-reliance, and teamwork. It went something like this...Piece by piece drill instructors had you put every piece of clothing you could on your body, from thermal long johns to gortex (rain gear) to flak jackets and kevlar helmets. Then you take everything else you own at boot camp and stuff it in a pack or seabag, and then throw those on your shoulders. Its chaos and it can get a little annoying, but so far it isn't all that different from spinning up for the real thing.
I got news down the pipe Im going to be deploying (for real this time) to Iraq in August. (the date I can't reveal for operational security) Not to mention it's a whirlwind of emotions there is a lot to be done. Aside from the 3 page gear list we have, (which of course means numerous and repetitive gear inspections) there is loads of leg work to be done on top of our everyday job to get self and the entire detatchment ready to rock and roll. Before heading for Disneyland in the sand I'll be going out to CAX- Combined Arms Exercises- a 3 week field training exercise at Twenty Nine Palms, California. It's three weeks in a desert that was declared "unfit for human life" by the Army. The Marine Corps quickly scooped up the land and it is now used as a warfare training site for thousands of Marines annually.
I have more to write on other topics...so check back soon
semper fi
joe
Anyway. Its Saturday, and we worked yet again. However , we didn't have to work all day and I got about 12 hours of sleep last night, and I needed a break from the book Im reading so here I am.
In boot camp "Packing for deployment" was merely a nickname for a game drill instructors would play. It was silly and ridiculous. Yet one of those priceless treasures that drill instructors use to teach Marines Discipline- instant willing obedience to all orders, self-reliance, and teamwork. It went something like this...Piece by piece drill instructors had you put every piece of clothing you could on your body, from thermal long johns to gortex (rain gear) to flak jackets and kevlar helmets. Then you take everything else you own at boot camp and stuff it in a pack or seabag, and then throw those on your shoulders. Its chaos and it can get a little annoying, but so far it isn't all that different from spinning up for the real thing.
I got news down the pipe Im going to be deploying (for real this time) to Iraq in August. (the date I can't reveal for operational security) Not to mention it's a whirlwind of emotions there is a lot to be done. Aside from the 3 page gear list we have, (which of course means numerous and repetitive gear inspections) there is loads of leg work to be done on top of our everyday job to get self and the entire detatchment ready to rock and roll. Before heading for Disneyland in the sand I'll be going out to CAX- Combined Arms Exercises- a 3 week field training exercise at Twenty Nine Palms, California. It's three weeks in a desert that was declared "unfit for human life" by the Army. The Marine Corps quickly scooped up the land and it is now used as a warfare training site for thousands of Marines annually.
I have more to write on other topics...so check back soon
semper fi
joe
posted by Mr. "J" | 4:58 PM
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