First Week in the Books

I spent the last week at Navy Mobilization Processing Site Norfolk, VA completing pre-deployment processing. I rented a car and drove from Carrolltown after spending some time with my family. It was my first time at Norfolk and it was nice to be back on a Navy base where things are little more relaxed. I've been station on two Marine Corps bases and they are wound a little too tight for my liking. I had a room to myself, which was nice, and all the comforts of home (cable tv, phone, carry-out, even maid service), but that is NOT how it is here at Fort Jackson - more on that later.
Pre-deployment processing is a lot of paper work - making sure you have a will, Powers of Attorney, etc...- as well as reviewing your medical history to make sure you are fit to deploy. Also a lot of waiting and "down time". Everything went well, i only need some fasting blood work and a couple of immunizations. Oh yeah, the blood work. Turns out my triglycerides were high. I attributed it to all the booze and fatty foods I had on leave. It was nice to get to talk to Judi every day. I can't tell you how much I miss her and Cowher!

Now onto Expeditionary Combat Readiness Center (ECRC) Fort Jackson for three weeks of combat training. We boarded a Greyhound bus early Saturday morning for an 8 hour ride to Fort Jackson, South Carolina. It's just outside Columbia. We arrived last night and the hospitality and lodging is a bit different from Norfolk. I am sleeping in an open-bay barracks on the bottom bunk and after only one night the snoring and farting were nearly unbearable. I think I slept three hours. I would have slept a litter better had I not been getting pix messages from the Carrolltown Legion and Businessman's Club.

I'm not sure how much time I will have to post to this blog, but I will try to update weekly. I don't think we go to the shooting range until next week. We'll see if Jordan's training helped.

I miss you all!

John