ROTC random blogging...

Some of you may be wondering if I joined the Army... and the answer is no. Well, not yet anyway. I just wanted to put a little something up here to see how I would look in my uniform. I am participating in the ROTC program, though. This is my first year, and the fall semester will start my second.

I love the things I'm learning in the program and the friends I've been able to make. It seems that a lot of these things are almost like review since my dad was in the military as well. (Like our combatives that we do - my dad would do the same thing with my brothers. It's quite interesting and fun.)

I should start taking pictures of when I'm at combatives and post it on here. You'd be amazing at the things we do and learn. Today, we worked on disarming someone with a gun (fake gun) and knife (fake as well). Then, when we played some games, where two teams attack each other, I ended up getting in a blood choke-hold, and well... my throats pretty sore. ha ha ha! Love it! Oh, and not to mention... I have this really weird bruise on my right hand. I don't know how I got it, but I know I got it from combatives.

Anyway, lab is next week. I hope I've improved from the last lab. =)

Fighting for a Purpose...

How many of us honestly understand the price of freedom?

What does it cost to live in the "land of the free"?

What have you paid? A son? A daughter? A husband? A friend?

There are so many who give so much to fight and defend something they may not totally understand. But they know and do understand to put the mission, the country and others first.

Love.

That's what we pay.

We pay for freedom by love.

Our loved ones... our love for our country... the love of others... everyone pays a price.

What has it cost you?

And what are you paying?

Venting

At what point does it becomes a person A's fault if the actions of person B imposed on person A consists of control, mistrust, and signs of abuse?

There are some things that require zero tolerance.

Person A will not bend.

Random Blogging...

Well, happy Friday the 13th! And to all you lovey-dovey people... happy early Valentine's Day! Or, in other words, Happy Single Awareness Day... 27 and still single! Honestly, I love it! I couldn't be happier. And if I could, I haven't experienced that yet. So, here's to the single people... live and be happy the way you are. If you're not happy with what you're doing or where you are in life... make the choice to change and do it now. =)

Tomorrow, we have combatives again. I'm looking forward to getting my butt kicked and to getting some hits in too. I hope there are more females there. Although I didn't mind grappling with the guys, it's fun to be with females too.

Monday is a holiday, and so, there's no school and no work! I think I'm going to seriously rest on Monday. My body is tired from working out. I think I've been pushing myself too hard. Some days, I do two work outs, and sometimes three. (Depends if I get bored or not.) Just doing my best to get the weight down and the strength/endurance up. We have our mid-term APFT on February 23rd, and my goals are:

Push-ups: 25
Sit-ups: 36
2 Mile Run: 25 min.

My beginning scores were:

Push-ups: 14
Sit-ups: 16
2 Mile Run: 27:15

Wish me luck with the rest of the training.

Work-Schmirk!!!

Honestly, I'm getting a little irritated with one portion of my occupation. I should be happy that I have a job, yet, at the same time... it's driving me nuts. Seriously, I'm only one person!!!! Even though I'm a great worker and do amazing work, it drives me nuts when people think that I'm a superhero and can do everything.

I need a mental health day!

I'm glad I have next Monday off! God bless holidays!

Thanks for letting me vent. I think I'll go work out... again.

Plans for School!

Well, I got into BYU-Idaho and "officially" start as a ful-time student during the fall. I'm on the fall/winter track. I'm a little nervous and excited at the same time. I've spent the last 10 years working and so... yeah, can you feel my anxiety?

My plans are as follows:

Spring, Summer Session, and Fall semester do my nursing pre-requisites, apply for the Winter nursing program and hopefully get in. That would mean, I could have my ASN (Associate of Science in Nursing) done by Winter semester 2011, then it's off to do the BSN (Bachelors of Science in Nursing) that following Fall. Then, there's 4 semesters after that meaning I could be done with school potentially by Fall 2012.

After school, it's off to the military. I've started taking my military classes this semester, and I'm having the time of my life! So, there you go. I'm going active duty with a nursing degree after I'm done with College. Here's to the next few years of constant studying, loans, scholarships, Pell Grants and more white hair! =)

1st Lab

"Saturday is a special day, it's the day we get ready for combat day"... (like my make believe song?)

Well, this past Saturday I got to participate in my first "lab" with my military science classes. It was great. We were able to do the following:

1. Ruck March

2. Drill & Ceremony

3. Basic Rifle Marksmanship

4. Combat Water Survival Training

The day started early at 0745. (Well, I guess compared to our usual 0600, 0745 is like sleeping in!) We checked gear, checked in, ran errands, got into formation for instruction and were off. Our march was a little over 4 miles. Needless-to-say, I wasn't able to finish it. (I made it two miles to the snow area, went in 1/4 mile, then was told to get in the van and meet everyone up at the top of the hill... I was having a hard time breathing and I kept sinking in the snow with my extra 20+ pounds of gear I had to trek with me.) At the top of the hill, I traveled the last mile and change to the Hinckley building. (My heels were hurting by then.)

Drill & Ceremony was fun. My squad leader is hilarious to be around. He's really intelligent but sometimes lacks common sense. (I think it's pretty fun to be under his command.) By the end of the time frame our squad did pretty good with drilling. Even in the D&C game, one of our guys were one of three cadets left standing. It was great!

For those of us that got out of the D&C game, we had to move to the side do push-ups, squats, sit-ups, etc. It was hilarious when we had to do the squats. One of the cadets, Carter, (last name used) made a game out of it. "No, no... you got to move it like Beyonce... 'Uh oh, uh oh, oh no-no!'" We were basically in an uproar of how hilarious he was. He truly made us "losers" feel good!

BRM or Basic Rifle Marksmanship was a blast. After D&C, we received instruction on the safety and use of an M16 and an M4. (I wish I took pictures of all of this!) We were shuttled out to the range where 2nd squad, my squad, were on Aide & Litter duty. Then it was our turn to shoot. Upon switching helmets etc, my helmet was too big for my head. I couldn't even see the front of my rifle. Sgt. Mathews assisted with that, and I basically had no head gear while shooting. (Not safe, but what do you do!) I must say that I'm a pretty good shot. I'm not the best, but I can definitely get the job done. I soon realized after the first two shots that I need to pull the rifle in closer to my shoulder. That made all the difference.

As part of BRM, we also learned how to process an EPW, Enemy Prisoner of War, and do basic assessment of first aid to a fallen soldier. I can't go into detail, but trust me, it was fun.

The day ended with a nice swim at the pool. Well, not really. We had Combat Water Survival Training. The events were tough and great at the same time, and went as follows:

1. Everyone lined up at one end of the pool and with swim gear underneath the ACU's, jumped in the pool and swam the length of the pool to the other side.

2. My squad followed 1st squad in our rotation. On one width side of the pool, (still in uniform) we had to jump in the pool with a fake M16 and swim to the other side using the side stroke. Key thing was, we couldn't let the M16 touch the water. I got to do my swim with my other squad leader, Beth. (She's the top ranking cadet.)

3. LBE. We had to jump in the deep end with our fake M16 and our Load Bearing Equipment and had to take off the LBE and get rid of the M16 before our head reached the surface. I must admit... I ROCKED AT THIS!

4. Blind push with M16... basically, you get pushed in with a blindfold on holding out your M16. Purpose: don't let go of the M16!!!

5. Floating: Close-up everything, blow air in the top of the ACU and float. I rocked at this too. The second part of this was to take off our bottom's, tie the pant legs, throw the pants overhead to catch air in it to create a floatation device and I rocked at this too!!! =)

I think one of the memorable moments, for me, is when I got to give back to my squad leader, Ngyuen, and help him with his 10 minute swim.

I had a blast and am looking forward to the next lab and class instruction for lab prep.

Go Army!!!

Combative!!!!

This past Saturday was a great day!

There were a bunch of us from different squads that met up for combatives. Basically, we wrestled and fought! (Everything was allowed except we could not: punch, kick, or bite.)

I must say, I was sore that night. However, it was great to throw people around, get roughed up and go head to head with both males and females. I have battle scars... it was great day indeed!

This coming Saturday we have Lab for class... 8 - 5 pm. I'm excited!

P.S. Don't know if some of you know... I called off the wedding completely. Here's to being single and combating with a bunch of great single men! Go Army!

goarmy.com

My dad and I had the opportunity to go on base the other day. I must say that I miss the military lifestyle. Lots of good memories.

Well, I'll make this short.

I'm applying for school (fall semester) and then the nursing program. Afterwhich, I'll contract with the Army ROTC. (Or Air Force ROTC, depending on where I'm accepted.)

This semester? I'm taking MS 102 & MS 115 (again).

Our first APFT on Monday is done and overwith. (Thank goodness!)

Here are my scores... of which I failed. (Oh well...)

Push-ups: 14
Sit-ups: 16
2 Mile Run: 27:15

I'm hoping to get a better APFT at mid-term.

Transitioning...

It's that time in my life, again, where transitions happen. Good things, bad things, ugly things, life... it all happens.

Someone once told me that life should be "shaken, not stirred". But I figured, I could take the stirring. At least I know what direction I'm turning.

Shaken. Shaken takes everything and turns it up side down, inside out, up and down, left to right, and praying that at some point it will stop.

Well, these past few weeks the shaking has only begun. I'm hanging in for the ride and praying I don't throw up.