Blake is scheduled to graduate on February 7th. He's passed the PT test, which was the very last milestone between him and the graduation. He's been issued his dress greens and he says they look great on him. I can only imagine.
We're going to be leaving for Ft. Sill on the 5th. We'll be there through the 7th and will return to Montgomery later in the day that Thursday. He graduates on the 7th but the 6th is a family day where we can take him into town and enjoy the day together.
Dusty is going to try to make his own arrangements so that he can be there, too, which should be a big surprise for Blake.
Blake had asked us to send up some pictures of the family and his friends, so that went out in the mail yesterday. He had taken a lot of pictures when he was home over Christmas, and you just can't beat the Wal-Mart photo lab for price and convenience... haha.
This week is supposed to be the week of the three day field training. I've been keeping up with the weather there in Oklahoma and yesterday it was 23 degrees around 2 p.m. I can't even imagine what it would have been like at night if they were out there. But lots of things have changed and I haven't been very good about keeping track of what's going on up to now, so I don't know if they're out in the field or warm in their own barracks. One thing Blake did say is one part of the hand grenade training was a little nerve-racking. He told Carol about this, so I'll have to get him to tell me so I can include it all here. For me, I think the whole part of the hand grenade training would have been nerve-racking.
We're all so excited and proud of him that we just can't wait to see him again, even though it's only been a few weeks since he was home. This is the one he's really been waiting for.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Monday, January 14, 2008
Blue Phase: The End Is Near
It's been quite awhile since the last update. The visit was outstanding. Blake looks and sounds just great!
He got to spend lots of time with his family and friends. Just about everyone who wanted to see him got a chance, and after two weeks, he was really ready to get back. He boarded the plane back to Dallas for the first leg of his trip on January 3rd.
We got a letter from him yesterday, and he's entered the final phase of his basic combat training. He's in the blue phase now, and now, more than ever, he can see the end. Graduation is set for February 7th, and barring any unforeseeable circumstance, that's when he will be finished with this training. Don't know yet if he is going to come home for awhile or if he will head straight up to Virginia to start his academic training.
He said he got his Army greens this week and is very proud of the way he looks in them. He still hasn't gotten his glasses, so I guess that is probably not going to happen in basic training. It's just been too long. He will probably have to try again when he gets to Virginia.
He called on Saturday night and got to talk with everyone. Dusty was there with us, so he got to talk with him as well. He said that he was getting 30 minutes to call home now since his platoon had won the combatives ribbon. They also won the drill ribbon and the basic rifle marksmanship ribbon, but the combatives was very important to his drill sergeant. Hence the 30 minute phone time now. And, he says, that's good for every week from now till he finishes.
One last thing he is worried about is the PT test. The two mile run still has him nervous. He's found some running buddies to go with him when he goes back to qualify, which should be later this week. Say some prayers for him that he can do this, cause that's the only thing now that would hold him back.
Well, I promise not to take as long the next time to update this. He still needs to hear from everyone, so keep those letters going to him. Thanks for your support.
More when we know more.
He got to spend lots of time with his family and friends. Just about everyone who wanted to see him got a chance, and after two weeks, he was really ready to get back. He boarded the plane back to Dallas for the first leg of his trip on January 3rd.
We got a letter from him yesterday, and he's entered the final phase of his basic combat training. He's in the blue phase now, and now, more than ever, he can see the end. Graduation is set for February 7th, and barring any unforeseeable circumstance, that's when he will be finished with this training. Don't know yet if he is going to come home for awhile or if he will head straight up to Virginia to start his academic training.
He said he got his Army greens this week and is very proud of the way he looks in them. He still hasn't gotten his glasses, so I guess that is probably not going to happen in basic training. It's just been too long. He will probably have to try again when he gets to Virginia.
He called on Saturday night and got to talk with everyone. Dusty was there with us, so he got to talk with him as well. He said that he was getting 30 minutes to call home now since his platoon had won the combatives ribbon. They also won the drill ribbon and the basic rifle marksmanship ribbon, but the combatives was very important to his drill sergeant. Hence the 30 minute phone time now. And, he says, that's good for every week from now till he finishes.
One last thing he is worried about is the PT test. The two mile run still has him nervous. He's found some running buddies to go with him when he goes back to qualify, which should be later this week. Say some prayers for him that he can do this, cause that's the only thing now that would hold him back.
Well, I promise not to take as long the next time to update this. He still needs to hear from everyone, so keep those letters going to him. Thanks for your support.
More when we know more.
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