Long Week

This week had to be one of the longest weeks I've had since I've been in the Army. I didn't post last week because it was a pretty slow week and we really didn't have much going on. However this week was the opposite, as I said in the the last post we have new people on some of our teams, but only two teams have a new team chief, and those teams have to certify on the equipment all over again. This week was basically just getting familiar with working together as a team and next week we will do it for time. We worked until 9pm almost everyday this week and next week will be the same. The week after that we will head out to the field for a week of even more training.

Our First Sergeant returned from the PDSS (Pre Deployment Site Survey) and told that the location we are goin to is one of the more built up locations, and will have some ammenties. All I really want is access to a shower and the ability to use internet. I've always had a I'll believe it when I see it type of attitude when it comes to alot of things in this unit because they tell us one thing and it turns out to be something totally different. So we will see when we get there.

As you can see in the picture the my personal box is pretty full I have everything from toothbrushes to beef jerky in there. I tried to pack everything I could think of that would make for a more comfortable deployment. Im sure most of it will run quite fast, so hopefully the location we go to will have a PX so I can buy what I need.

Things are getting more and more serious here, and at the same time more stressful I'm just trying to keep my head up and get through it. I read somewhere this week that "If God brought you to it he will bring you through it" and even though I had heard that before it came right at the perfect timing. I know I just gotta keep my nose out the sky, keep my heart to God and keep my face to the risin' sun. Everything we will okay. God Bless

New Teams

For the last 9 months our platoon has been broken down in to five teams, and in those months I've developed a good relationship with my teammates and team chief. Well now that we our deploying the teams have moved around and there are new team chiefs. There is only one guy from my original team. It's very important that you get to know the people on your team and develop some type of relationship with them because these are the people you're gonna be working with and living with for the next year in Afghanistan.

Our First Sergeant has gone ahead to Afghanistan to survey the sites that we will be work at, he will be there for 19 days. He called back this week and said that conditions are very hostile, with constant shots being fired. He says its also very cold right now, I'm hoping it warms up by the time we arrive. He is supposed to take plenty of pictures and give us a full brief when he returns. Just the thought of hearing bullets be fired all day and night is enough for me. They say that you'll get used to it after a while, but how long is a while?

The pictures that you see are of the main equipment that we'll be using over there, they are called Satellite Transportable Terminal (STT). There are only about about 30 of us from my old platoon who went to Arizona and got trained on the equipment and now that we've added so many new people they also need to be trained on it and get validated. So for the most part that's what we will be doing this upcoming week, getting every one proficient on this equipment because if somebody goes down the next person has to be able to pick up where he left off.

Were also in the process of packing up our personal boxes, each person was given a black tough box to fill with personal items such as baby wipes, toothbrushes, soap, deodorant etc. They have told us to try and pack for at least six months because theres a good chance we wont have access to many facilities to purchase more items. I think I'm pretty much good with what I've bought so far, I just need to get a few more things. The boxes will be do on Friday so that they can be put on the boat and be waiting for us when we get there.

Long week ahead I look forward to sharing thanks for reading my blog.

Fast Changes

When I arrived to the 307th Integrated Theater Signal Battalion at the Schofield Barracks in Hawaii, I was told it was a non-deploying unit. I was told that the most we would do is go on missions to places like Thailand, The Philippines, and Guam among others. Basically I was told that our mission was to support the Pacific. Long story short, many things have changed since then and we are now scheduled to deploy in June to support Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF)which is just the governments fancy way of saying the War in Afghanistan. We were informed in January and that leaves only six months to get our battalion ready to go down range. That means lots of long days and lots of training, but most important to me is to be mentally ready for a year in a combat zone which is very hard and I don't know where to even start. They haven't given us a set date that we will fly out but they have posted a calender with all of our training and everything we have to get done, block leave is set for May 1 - May 15 and the 72 hour prior pregnancy test that the females receive is scheduled for May 29-May 31 so June 1 is looking like the day. I continue to keep my faith in the Lord and I know that he is going over there with us. I often refer to Ephesians 6:11-18, because I know that despite all the gear and equipment that we will be issued, I will still need to put on the full armor God everyday as well. I will try to post weekly, to keep this blog updated and post pictures and videos to give you a full insight. I ask for you to keep me and my fellow soldiers in your prayers. Until next time this is PFC Florence signing out...