Whew!

Since my last post, we have had probably the busiest 4 weeks of my entire life.  We had our first Block I Gunnery Exam, JCATS (Joint Conflict and Tactical Simulation) Defensive OPORD brief, a graded Fire Support shoot, tons and tons of homework, and finally, our Gunnery and Fire Support Block II Exams.  I passed them all (some were better than others), and am ready for this ride to slow a little.  We were told that these past few weeks would be be our hardest, and that if we made it through them, we should be OK for the course.  Oh yeah, we have also had Snowmageddon I and II over that period.  The first storm resulted in 3 days off from class, and the last turned out to be just buildup.  The roads were a little slick, but most of the snow was on the grass.  When it snows in Oklahoma, it is different than anywhere I've ever seen it.  The wind blows so hard here that the snow might only be 6 inches, but the drifts will blow up to 18 inches in spots.  I will definitely be glad when springtime arrives.

We are now going to be starting the Automated portion of Gunnery, so everything we have MANUALLY learned to compute up until now is going to be AUTOMATICALLY computed by AFATDS system.  As easy at that sounds, you still have to build the databases correctly in order to get the right numbers, but in my opinion, it is much easier.  I feel much more comfortable with a computer screen in front of me than I do with a calculator and a piece of paper.  Here's to hoping that the 206th has working systems when I get there!   Not sure what is in our Fire Support future, but I think we are going to start working more with Laser Range finders and other automated systems that will assist with that side of the process.  That is fine with me as well.  Give me a gadget, and I am happy. 

 So, since I passed both exams this week, I get to actually go home to see Helen and the kids, and celebrate Will's 11th (yes, he is 11) birthday!  I was pretty upset about missing Lizzy's, but maybe I can make it up to her this weekend.  She's the only one who has anything to say to me when I call home besides Helen.  John John is too shy to talk, and Will is always gone!  Oh well, I guess they DO grow up faster than you want them to. 

Well, you would think I would have a little more to talk about, but I've been going nonstop for the last 15 hours, so I'm gonna finish watching Bones, pack a bag for the weekend, and go to sleep.  I'll need it for our 10K run in the morning......at 15 degrees.

Paulson out....

Finally....

Well, after more than 3 weeks, I finally have a little bit of time to blog before resuming my studies in the art and science of the King of Battle.  Since we got back from two weeks of Christmas break, we have been nose to the grindstone in class, live fire, homework, and PT.  It has been a very stressful 3 weeks, but it seems that since the holidays are past us, we can all settle into a groove.  It was great to see everyone over the holidays, but even harder to leave again the second time.  I do NOT envy soldiers who deploy and come for 18 days of leave and then have to leave their families again, although I'm sure that will be the case for me in a little over a year. 

As for classes, we have had roughly an equal load of Gunnery and Fire Support over the last few weeks, and I am still undecided as to which I prefer.  Think of Fire Support as the art behind our profession.  This is where the planning and coordination takes place in order to send a fire mission to the Fire Direction Center (FDC).  There are many ways to bring wrath upon an unsuspecting (or suspecting, I'm not choosy) enemy target when looking down upon during the battle.  It is the Fire Support Officer's job to choose how he wants to put the steel on target.  The FDO's (Fire Direction Officer) job is to actually make this steel on target stuff happen. 

The FDC is where the FDO hangs out, and also where the fire mission is received from the FSO.  As soon as that mission is received, each person in the FDC has a job and a piece of that mission that they have to refine and then spit to the gun line.  That's when the boom boom happens.  It must be a well-oiled machine in order to accomplish the mission, and that is why I am here.  I want to make sure that when I get to my unit, I am an asset rather than a hindrance to my men.  I am looking forward to it in a big way, although I have to make it through this course first.

It is no exaggeration when they say that this is one of the most difficult schools in the Army.  They throw more stuff at you in a weeks time than you will receive in 5 years in most jobs.  It is very overwhelming at first, but as I said earlier, you get into a routine. 

By far, the most fun of the last 3 weeks was our Call For Fire Live Shoot last week.  We went to the range, and got to do everything that we have simulated on computers in a real environment.  I actually got to destroy an already burned out vehicle hull on a mountainside with some big ass bullets.  It was really cool to see your rounds impacting 2500 meters in front of you.  Heh...

PT has not lightened up at all since we started.  If anything, it has gotten harder.  Our Senior Gunnery Instructor seems to think that we should all be trained as athletes, so that is how we train.  We run 3 days a week, 4 miles minimum each time.  Tuesdays and Thursdays are strength training (push/pull, etc), but are usually incorporated into some sort of interval running workout, so we actually run more like 4 days per week.  It's hard on an old man, but my jeans are starting to bunch up like a hobo when I tighten my belt, and that was a goal of mine coming in, so cheers!

Before I go, I want to wish Lizzy a very Happy 3rd Birthday today!  Apparently, she is telling everyone that she is 'sree' today.  Awesome!  I miss my family, and I hope to get home within the next 2 or three weeks.  We will see how that goes.  Lots of big projects and tests loom just beyond the horizon.....

Paulson out.....