Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Hello, everyone.

Hello, everybody. And Happy Father's Day to all of you dads out there. Sorry I haven't been able to post more than I have, but don't really have a lot of time yet.
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<br>Let's see...what news do I have? I only have three more weeks of Forward Observer training left here at Ft. Sill. So far, I've aced pretty much all of my tests and am progressing well. It really is interesting stuff...boil it down, and it consists of knowing how to call in--in the fastest, most accurate, and most efficient manner possible--artillery, helicopter, mortar, jet, and naval gunfire on whatever enemy targets I can find . We practice every day on a big computer simulation screen on a large wall, and next week we'll start calling in actual live fire on targets. You guys should see the shells these big guns shoot...they ain't no Hornady 130 grain, I can tell ya! One reason I know is that I nodded off in class and had to cradle a 155mm shell for half an hour in my arms to "help wake up!" Not a little thing. There's a lot that goes into it, but here at Sill we just scratch the surface; nearly all of my learning will be done at the unit that I'm finally assigned to for permanent duty. Which leads me to the next bit of news: I found out this morning that I've been assigned to the Ranger Battalion at Ft. Benning, GA (provided that I make it through Jump School and Ranger Indoctrination in July and August). Don't quite know what to make of that...had been hoping to be assigned to one of the other two Ranger Bat.s--either Ft. Lewis, WA (for hunting and fishing), or the one in Savannah, GA. However, when the Drill Sergeants read off that I'd been selected for Benning, they all gave a big Ooorah and went on about how lucky I am to go to Benning. Supposedly if you go to the Ranger Bat. at Benning, you have the best chance of being deployed for missions outside of the U.S., promotions come the fastest at Benning, Benning's the Home of the Rangers, and all that. Time will tell. My main concern is just getting into the Ranger Bat., period.
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<br>Things are going well here. Am getting back in shape after the slow pace in Basic. We run a lot here and I'm watching what I eat closely. We also get plenty of sleep. The routine of it all is still a pain in the a$$: am still treated as a child along with the other trainees, but it's only for three more weeks.
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<br>Am hoping and praying that I'll go straight to Jump School after graduation here. There's a possibility of a delay of two to three weeks due to backups at Jump School from ROTC candidates in the summer months. If any of you have any prayers to spare, please send a small one Up that I'll go straight to Jump School after graduation. The guys that get delayed stay here and pull KP (Kitchen Patrol, better known as Pots & Pans) all day, day after day.
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<br>Other than that, I have little news. Am looking forward to writing my experiences of the last few months into the first chapters of a book, with the rest of the chapters being made up of whatever comes next. Have a long list of Drill Sergeant quotes which is priceless. At any rate, the big Odyssey continues. I have learned many things--that maybe only soldiers really know--since coming here, and that is part of why I enlisted. My guess is that I've just scratched the surface.
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<br>Hope all of you are fine. I'll be able to catch up more as I get more time. Supposedly the "little trainee" status ends at the end of AIT. I know that at Jump School I have evenings and weekends off so I'll be able to stay in touch a little more. Take care, Justin
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Great to hear from you, Justin! Glad to know you're still doing good with the training. I never said they'd stop riding you after basic, I just said they'd ride you less. Get used to it, Buddy. A friend of mine told me once training was over that it was the same as a job. Don't you believe it! Even in your unit there'll be inspections and al kinds of "fun" to make life more interesting!
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<br>Don't worry though. It takes a little getting used to, but you're through the worst of it. Once you get with a unit a make some friends, it won't be so bad. You're just one of the gang, and a sense of belonging really helps smooth the rough spots.
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<br>I never got to Benning. I was stuck at Ft Lewis from AIT to ETS. There's alot of nice country there, but the rainy season can be a bummer. It generaly ran from January through December! (Now I'll probably get flamed from some of the "slug-sheppards") Honestly though, I did enjoy my time there other than going to "Yak".
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<br>I'll continue to pray for you. And I promise to write. Once the weather finally got nice, we had alot of "projects" my dad wanted to get done. Take care of yourself, and hang in there. It's not that bad, it's just different. Who knows, you may like it and become a "LIFER".
<br>7mm
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Justin
<br>Glad to hear everything is going well. You really are lucky to get stationed at Benning. After you get into the whole ranger thing, you will think so also. I always liked Benning. And don't worry, you're not going to have time for fishing and hunting for awhile, regardless of where you are stationed.
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<br>I had hoped to be at Benning this summer, but have had orders cut and rescinded more than once this year. I plan on being at Ft Sam Houston next month and then back to Carson. Take care and good luck.
<br>Dave

Just got to second all the sentiments of the others. We are darn proud to count you as a friend and defender of this great country!
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<br>Regards,
<br>T LEE

Hi,
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<br>You don''t know me but as an ex GI I wish you the best.
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<br> When I was in only the shave tails were FO. Try for that silver bar and then the worst will be over.
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<br>Good luck son
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<br>much obliged eddie
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<br>Oh yes, I made buck sa oh well sergeant. Two years I wore three stripes and I still can't spell it.
<br>I remember eating off the floor because the mess sergeant didn't think I had it clean enough. That wasn't as bad as the kid that ate out of the GI can because it was supposed to be sanitary when he finished his detail.

Justin if by some remote chance the Army has a change of heart and exiles you to Ft. Lewis, get hold of me, I can show you places on the Olympic Peninsula that the tree huggers fear to go.
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<br>Bullwnkl.

Congrats Justin!
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<br>You'll like Benning, GA is a great state. Hot as blazes in the Summer, but it is worth it when it is 50-70 degrees for much of the Winter.
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<br>You will have advantages being at Benning also...Airborne school, Ranger school, The Army Marksmanship Teams, Sniper school, lots of money has been poured into the post for training and equipment, it's in Wild HOG country(talk to badger about that)...
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<br>Mike

Go Justin!
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<br>I did a stint at Ft Sill from July 90 to December 90. Then I was off to Benning for Airborne too. Got my picture taken with Iron Mike!! After graduation, I bought myself a present--a three blade Buck pocket knife. I got it at the Airborne PX. I still have it and took it fishing with me this past weekend.
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<br>Good luck at RIP and Ranger School. I never did the Ranger thing. You have chosen a tough path!! Good luck!

JustinH,
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<br>Good luck at Benning, but avoid Phoenix City if it is still porn, pawn, and prostitution central like it was 30+ years ago!
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<br>I don't know what the other Rangers would tell you, but this Ranger will tell you that my best friends EVER have been my Ranger squad mates! We keep in touch more frequently than all of my other Army buddies combined and you meet a lot of people in 14 years.
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<br>Sincerely,
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<br>Bearrr264
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<br>PS If you like poisonous snakes, you'll LOVE the Florida phase at Elgin AFB!
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<br>PPS Your comment about being treated like a child will cause you nothing but trouble if your airborne or ranger instructors sense that you're enthusiasm and commitment is anything less than 100% sincere. They are highly trained in the detection and elimination of BS. There is nothing sadder than to see the face of someone who has gone through and doesn't get his tab because the instructors decided that he was a smarta**.
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