Hello and thank you for checking out my blog. I started to log my journey into the Army. This includes leading up to basic combat training, Advanced Individual Training, and whatever after.PLEASE NOTE: The earlier posts are at the bottom of the pages.
Wednesday: My sister flew in this morning. She is in the Air Force and was on leave. She decided to fly in as a secret to my parents to surprise them for my father's birthday on Saturday. I came back from picking her up and decided to catch up on some sleep before going to FS PT. My sister decided to come with and get some PT in as well. We were a little disappointed to find out we were not going to be running as I had not ran since my 5k run on Saturday. However it was fun to play a little extreme football. The rule was that if either team fumbled or dropped the ball, that they would have to get on the ground and do either push-ups or sit-ups. All in all it was a great team building session while at the same time, we got some light PT.
Thursday: Was lots of fun for the most part. After hanging out at the pool for a little but with my sister, we headed over to the recruiting station for some FS PT. I was expecting to take a PT test but those plans were shot down after some disagreements between some of the recruiters. The whole situation was rather annoying because my wife and sister tagged along to help cheer me along. Instead, they got to watch SSG Lime go over some concepts that a lot of us already know, and march us around. Very nice.
After mock PT, the three of us went to a place called Caddyshanks for the 2011 Kickoff and Appreciation Social. This was a great event that I had been looking forward to for the last month or so. At this event we were hoping to meet and get to know new volunteers as well as celebrate the achievements of the chapter last year. In addition, a few of us were being presented with the Bronze and Silver Presidential Service Awards. I found it to be very cool to receive a presidential pin, and certificates from the President.
For more pics and info on the event, be sure to check out our Facebook page here.
Friday/Saturday/Sunday: The weekend consisted of me taking my sister over to Brevard to surprise both of my parents for my father's 50th birthday party. It was a great time for all. I DJed the event and got to surprise my father!
Tuesday: Did not start out the way that I had planned. I got to the gym on time for my usual personal training session only to wait and find out that my trainer was a no-show. Turned out she did not have her alarm clock set to go off. I was the first of three clients that she did not make it in time for that morning. I was not too bothered by this in the least though. If you remember from my previous post, I was enjoying myself with some friends of mine that I have not hung out with in quite a while. Monday night was no different. I got home at inconvenient hour that night (or morning) before. I ended up coming home and catching up on sleep. I decided to go to FS PT that day. Come to find out, SSG Capcom ended up running the day's activities. Because a majority of the FSs at the station are not in a good place in terms of running ability, he decided to have the group run 8 laps of 1/4 mile sprints. There were breaks in between the laps, but it was still physically taxing. I did most of my laps in about 1:45. I did push it out for the last lap and did it in 1:35. I think he will plan on doing this with us more.
Wednesday: Was a busy day. I stopped by my old office and turned in the keys I had because my relationship (as well as my employment) has disintegrated due to my choice to join the military. I am just happy to close that chapter in my book.
I then made it to the recruiting station to find out that we were not going to be doing combative work with SSG Capcom, but some calisthenics and more running with SSG Lime. GREAT! I had no problems with the running, it was the fact that we ran after doing the sprints the previous day. SSG Lime had us meet at a new location in Orlando. This place is call Lake Underhill Park:
What is beneficial about this park is that there are stations throughout the trail around this lake for various exercises. SSG Lime had us run to each station and perform each exercise. I found it to be somewhat fun. It worked different muscle groups while at the same time, worked our running ability. What was unfortunate was that I had to leave early and do only one lap around the trail with the group.
After PT I had to rush down to the Naval Exchange to do some grocery shopping for my wife and I. As I mentioned previously, because I am a future soldier, I get the privilege of shopping at this store and take advantage of the discounts as well as pay no sales tax. Here are some pics of the building:
Here is a panoramic pic I made out of 3 pics.
Cheap!
I then had to rush home to unload the groceries, eat, change, and leave to head out to Orlando Speed World. This is an Orlando landmark that allows people to race down a supervised and sanctioned 1/4 mile track, as well as there is a 3/8 mile race track. I was working with a networking friend of mine to do some filming of a driver that he is supporting and promoting. Due to the fact that I have a decent camera, I am being invited to film. At the track that night, our driver, Skip, was doing some practice and tuning to his high-performance, gas guzzling, ear splitting speed machine. Here are some pics and a video of the evening:
Thursday: Had me busy as well. In the morning I met with Jon (from the previous video) to finish filming and edit this weeks video. After that, I went to FS PT. Luckily, a different recruiter, which I will call SSG Fidget, took charge of PT. What I like about SSG Fidget's sessions is that he takes it very serious and keeps it structured. The only reason I call him SSG Fidget is that when he stands in front of the group and speaks to us, he is constantly pacing back and forth. What SSG Fidget did was printed out about 12 sheets of paper with names of various exercises that we used to do circuit training. It was it was not too intense, but not easy.
After PT, I took my wife to Houlihans to eat and had some drinks with WJRR (the radio station I listen to) and the Fiasco (The show I have bee listening to since the 6th grade) for St. Patrick's Day. After dinner, we went to go and see Battle Los Angeles. It was not a bad movie. It had some pretty good military accuracy and great CGI. Only problem was that it had so many elements of so many other movies.
Friday: Started with my usual 0700 personal training session. She had me do various chest and arm exercises, as well as core. She also did some measurements; overall better! I have lost about 9 pounds in a month, most measurements have reduced except the chest. Only good news!
After the workout, I attended my weekly networking group, Laid Back Business Buillders. It is an enjoyable group that allows me to promote my non-profit volunteer organization, One Brick, before I leave for the Army. Later in the day I went back out to the Orlando Speed World to watch Skip race in the Super Late races that night. I will have video footage of this event up next week.
...After. This is what happens when a rich Dad buys a 14 year old a race car, and let him race!
Saturday: What a day!!! The day started out early with the Orlando Wounded Warrior and Lone Sailor Project 5K Run in Baldwin Park. I shaved 3 minutes off of my overall time from the previous run in February! What was even better was that at the 1 mile marker, I looked at my time and saw that I was at 8:25. This is so much better than I expected. What made the event even more fun was that SSG Lime and his brother-in-law came out to run as well. This event was held at the park where I do PT with the FSs and recruiters. Here is the route.
Representing the Army!
Immediately after I finished the race, I made my way down the reserve center for a FS Training Event
This was a very beneficial event! They actually had drill sergeants from the reserves on hand to provide hands-on training that I will be experiencing at BCT! We mostly worked with the M-16A2. Even though there were times they were yelling at me and the other FSs, I enjoyed it! I guess maybe this was a place that I could be serious with what I was doing and no one could wouls call me a brown-noser or blow-hard. I could see some people who I really would not want to be alongside at BCT, much less battle. There was one woman who could not understand the concept that you are not to let your muzzle touch or go into the ground... at ALL!
Me eating MREs, not bad actually!
Tearing apart the M16. Let it be known: You have two hands, and thus you have two hand guards!
The event was very beneficial! I now have a very big headstart on the M16 training and maintainence by the time I get to BCT. I have an idea as how to tear apart the rifle, how to hold it, how to fire it, and cuddle with with it, as the DS would say. What was really fun was that we got see an EST system. This is the simulator that the Army uses to train soldiers on rifles. I will use the same system prior to firing a real shot at BCT.
Overall, I know it was a small taste but it was great exposure to the life I will experience at BCT. I look forward to the next day of training on April 9th!
Monday: Was somewhat of a lazy day. Because of playing football the day before, I was feeling somewhat sore. I did mange to get to a personal training session with the trainer I mentioned previously; The Latin Hulk. Here is what he had me do:
1. 3 sets of 15 X Upright row, 20 X Inclined Push-ups, and 15 X Dips:
2. 3 Sets: 15 X Cable Face Pull, 15 X Tricep Pull Downs, and 15 X Bicep Pulls:
3. 3 Sets: 10 X Front Raise, and 10 X Lateral Raise:
4. 3 Sets 10 X Preacher's curl
5. 3 Sets: 20 X Upper Trap Shrugs
Tuesday: I feel like a total and utter bum! The soreness from football did not get any better! On top of that, The Green Hulk's arm punishment has left my arms sore as well. I should not complain too much, because I found some exercises that actually caused me to push it past my limit. I guess that I needed to stretch more. Due to aches, I decided to take things a little easier. I just did some tasks related to getting my taxes in order so my wife and I can file.
Wednesday: Today I decided to go to FS PT even though I am still a little sore from prior days. Because I am alternate PG and the regular PG could not make it, I was in charge of stretching all the other FSs. PT was not crazy. It was strenuous. SSG Capcom had us doing a circular formation and doing various exercises. We did have SSG Lime show up and start punishing the bums. What it showed me is that in the Army, you have NCOs that take their job serious, and very serious. Nothing wrong with either person, but it can be a little confusing with differing expectations. I believe will be able to adapt and succeed though.
Thursday: In order to not go insane with the lack of work till I start my career with the Army, I am participating in some activities with some networking friends. One of my friends runs a weekly video to update or discuss the East Orlando area. Here is the video if you care. There are some good little credit tips by the way.
Turned out to be a bust for PT at the recruiting station. I got to the recruiting station along with a few other FSs. Because of some mis-communication between recruiters, our recruiter to run PT was not at the station to run in time. So it was canceled. I used some of my A/V skills to fix the TV in the office and give it sound and played the America's Army game for the XBOX 360. I decided to make it a rest day for the week and not workout.
Also, due to the canceled PT, I was able to take my time in driving to Brevard and meeting up with my father to ride over and see the Space Shuttle Endeavor roll out of the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). This was quite possibly the last Space Shuttle to be launched, so it was very bitter sweet for my family. I grew up with my father working on the main engines of the shuttle and seeing the launches since the age of 3. Here are some pictures:
If you look closely, you can see the shuttle inside to the right, and then to the left you can see launch mission control.
My father and I!
Friday: Met with the Spanish Hulk again this morning. This time he really punished my lower body. What is amazing is that I showed up 10 minutes late, and he still managed to make it hard for me to walk out of the place. The workout consisted of: 3 sets of 15 reps of Squats and 20 walking squats. Then 3 sets of leg extensions3 sets of leg curls, and 3 sets of 15 squat jumps (Those were horrible!) Then finished with 3 sets of calf raises. I couldn't even think about doing anything on the treadmill after that.
After that, I was able to drive up to Daytona Beach with a friend of mine to go and spend the evening with another friend of ours we have not seen in a while.
Saturday/Sunday/Monday: This weekend I drove over to Brevard to hang out with some friends of mine that I have not had a chance to see much in the last 5 years. We were partners in crime at Publix while working in Cocoa. Here are some pictures. I am being brief as to what he did and how much debauchery we participated to protect the innocent.
Kevin and I boating
On the left is Chuck and Kevin
Someone in our group disagreed with a stripper, and this was a result.
