Kuwait

1/31/2011 They say we are in Kuwait, but I feel like I'm on the moon. There was no fan fair, no yelling, but there was a feeling of being a farm animal being herded. We were taken off the busses after a grueling 2-3 hour road trip from the airport. I can't really remember as I was asleep most of the time trying to recover from the 22 hour plane ride to get here.

After we were herded off the buses around 0500 Kuwait time, we were taken to a large tent and given our "in-brief". The brief consisted of things like, "Hey just cause your in Kuwait, doesn't mean your safe…." or "Terrorists hate you because your either white, an American, a soldier, and or in their country…unfortunately their is nothing you can do about that." The other part was about always drinking water here because it can get up to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Luckily we are in monsoon season and don't have to worry much about the heat quite yet. The last part, probably most disturbing was the wildlife brief. A slide with a sand viper, scorpion, and camel spider was shown. Words of wisdom: "don't mess with the wildlife" is an Army axiom I live by most thoroughly. However, when added as an afterthought "we currently have no anti venom for the sand viper available", I grow a bit concerned.

After our mandatory briefs we were able to go to the chow hall and eat breakfast. Breakfast was much like our dining facilities back home or DFAC as we say. However everyone serving my food was Arab. Now, I don't mean to sound racist or bigoted, but the US Army is trusting guys who don't think its necessary to wash or that sex with animals is bad, to prepare, cook, and serve my food. No wonder Day 2 I have had the scoots….sorry TMI I'm sure.

Kuwait isn't all bad, they have shops for just about anything you would need, a movie theater and they even have a Starbucks where the wifi is the best.

We finalized our day by having a meeting and going over the training schedule for when our companies arrive in full force. Charlie doesn't get in until the end of the week so I'm lucky I guess. As soon as the meeting was over it was time for me to go call the family. I bought my little wifi card ( which works poorly where I'm sleeping) and headed over to Starbucks.

Day 2 has consisted of a fratricide prevention class, CREW system class (CREW is anti IED stuff) and IED identification and avoidance. There is nothing like a really good IED class to make you feel so screwed. The bottom line is you have to look for anything out of place in a country that treats their backyard like a waste dump. The class was good, but you definitely get the feeling like your going to miss one some time.

Day 3 consisted of some rollover training. This training was good and a bit disorienting as you are put into a mock truck and literally rolled over several times and then while upside down you have to get out in an orderly fashion. We did this several times in various positions. The statistics don't lie, this training saves lives, and helps soldiers not panic when faced with a rollover or worse, a crash in water.

I also discovered one of my fellow officers is a crossfit cultist as well. We made the discovery that Kuwait has a crossfit gym and we should be getting our "swell on"…as it were.

Currently, I am prepping to receive my company later this week, and get them all through the mandatory training and the rifle ranges we have set-up. All in all my job is pretty boring and easy right now. My hardest task is to get rid of the jet lag, and get on Kuwait time. I think I'm there as I had my first real nights sleep last night. But I'm not worried, as that is what ambien (sp?) is for.

In Between Time.

BOLC II ended on the 23 of April and I doubt we were much better as leaders for it. BOLC II did however give us the opportunity to meet new people and develop friendships, which was the best part of the six week course. I'm certain it has its benefit for direct commissionees and other new Lieutenants who were 'lost', but for most of us it was frustratingly simple. BOLC II did however have its highlights:

*Shooting with the CCP was good. I think the Cadre set us up for failure when we practiced without our full kit on, but most overcame the awkwardness of it and qualified on the M-4.

*MOUT Training was cool with the sim rounds, and it would have been nice to actually plan an urban operation at Liberty City during the FTX.

*Combatives: Too bad we only had a week of this. I would suggest they allow officers to actually get to level 1 certification.

*24 Hour Ops at the FTX was worthwhile as it uped the tempo and allowed us to work and plan our own missions. The 24 hour tempo was interesting in that you saw Lieutenants fall apart due to lack of sleep and energy. Too fun. LT Russo and I would begin chanting, "No one is going to sleep tooonight". Its not that we weren't tired, but to taunt the already weak was too much fun.

Despite these highlights, the cadre it seemed at times went out of their way to make the training about them and not the future officers they were in charge of mentoring.

As soon as BOLC II was over most of us went in separate directions to either home or directly to our BOLC III post. My BOLC III begins July 1st so I thought I would drive to St. Louis and fly home for a weekend as I had four days to get to Ft. Knox. The weekend that I was home made me feel like a rock star with my kids and went by way too fast. Unfortunately I still had to report to Knox despite the two months I had in between schools.

I reported to Knox and was instantly put to work for the two weeks I planned on being there before I took some leave to be with Bethany and the kids for our new arrival. I was put on radio and OPFOR duty for a class that was doing their FTX. I was able to pick up some pointers from the Cadre and received a sneak peak into what they were looking for. The bottom line was this: they are not afraid to recycle you if you cannot demonstrate a high level of competency.

While there I was also informed that if I wanted Ranger School after BOLC III there would be no issue with getting it. While I planned on doing whatever I could to get a slot for the school, the certaincy of getting a slot if I wanted it was and is sobering. It is in the back of my head every time I do PT or want to have a day off from PT.

Coming home has been therapeutic. I was able to be a witness to our third child's birth, and I don't think anything can make you feel closer to God than seeing his children enter this Earth life. We indeed, have a great responsibility to nurture and raise our children in the right way or we will be answerable to the Lord. Breonna is a beautiful baby girl that came into this life weighing 8'lbs 1oz. She has a full head of dark hair (much like Hannah, but even more so). She also has full lung capacity as she screamed for about five minutes straight after she was born. Clearly she was not emotionally ready to come out. Who is though? I know I wasn't, I couldn't walk for a year, and it took me two to even speak.

Bethany is home and she is doing great. She is such a trooper for having kids and is certainly the best mom I know. How she can manage the chaos that comes from each one of them and stay sane is testament to her ability as a mother. Although for a couple weeks I was the rock star Dad the kids wanted to be around, it didn't take long for the girls to want their mom again. Understandable so, as she is their anchor and knows each one of them so well and what they need. I'm just the comic relief in their lives.

It's amazing how fast my time has gone here. In just a few short weeks we will be packing everything up and departing Ogden. I will be headed back to Knox to begin BOLC III, while Bethany and the girls will be off to Calgary to spend my time away with family. I wish the summer with them would never end, but it must for us to progress and move onward. What makes leaving even harder this time though is the fact that my time will be measured in months and not weeks like before. For all intents and purposes this will be much more like a deployment for my wife and kids than anything else I've done so far. I'm just grateful for a loving and supportive family that will take in my wife and kids while I am away. I know it eases the hardship on my kids and certainly my wife. We couldn't do this with out you all (you know who you are) and your sacrifices for us do not go unnoticed.

I'll let you all know how BOLC III is when I get there. Until then, GO WINGS!

BOLC II...so Far

Hello all. I thought I would sign in and let you all know how I was at the extremely tough *cough* BOLC II course.

BOLC II's purpose is to make sure all new LT's come in with a basic knowledge of soldiering skills. Skills almost every single new LT already has learned either through Basic Training, ROTC, or both. Other LT's came from Basic Training, and OCS, and learned virtually everything being "taught" here already as well. However, there are a select few LT's that are either really bad at basic skills: shooting, land navigation, PT, basic tactics..etc. This is where BOLC II comes in and helps fill in what they should have already learned. In addition, JAGS have to attend as well to make sure they can be up to speed on skills they will most likely never have to use...but you never know.


The Cadre here are mostly made up of E-6's and E-7's who could give a crap about a LT's future or their knowledge. Some are really good and have a genuine interest in your ability to lead troops into battle and others have a bone to pick with "butter bars". The Officer Cadre here are pretty good, but like any operation generally, its an NCO's show.

So far here at BOLC II we have done BRM (Basic Rifle Marksmanship), with an M-4 with a CCO (very nice to shoot with). The CCO is an optic that puts a laser dot in your scope. You zero your dot and your barrel to a target. As long as you know the fundamentals of shooting, you will hit your target if the dot is on it. In addition, we did some night fire exercises, and urban operations. Further, we have had a PT test, Land Nav test, conducted convoy training, and IED training. IED training cracks me up because the bottom line is there isn't a fool proof way of insuring you won't get hit, its usually just a matter of luck.

We have combatives for the rest of the week, and next week we are setting up a Patrol Base and conducting some squad exercises and a live fire exercise. Our final week we will have a FTX and assault "Liberty City".

Bottom-line: BOLC II is the biggest "check the box training" school I have ever attended. For most of us its a waste of time because we either already know the material or the training is conducted so poorly that it negates any benefit you might of gained from it. I have learned to shoot a bit better here, but overall that's all I've learned. I have learned subtle lessons, like what I want in my NCO's and what I don't want, but overall I just want to get through this and move on to my real training at BOLC III.

I have made some good friends here though. The kind of friends that hopefully last your career and life-time. I have been blessed to have a really good squad and platoon that have made some of the crappier experiences enjoyable. We have a good time and everyone genuinely wants each other to succeed. Interestingly enough, one of my room-mates came from the U of U, and I knew him by name and face while I attended ROTC there so its been fun getting to really get to know him. I have another room-mate that is a great guy as well, and we all have a lot of fun together...especially making fun of BOLC II.

Anyhow, thanks for all of your support and I will see you all soon....enough.

Love you,

Brad

Update

I now know what unit I will be in and where we are going after BOLC III. I will be in the 3d Brigade 1st Cav Division, and our first duty station will be at FT. Hood, TX. My report date to my new unit will be 30NOV09.

BOLC II and III Dates

BOLC stands for Basic Officer Leadership Course (aka OBC). Technically BOLC I is your studies as a Cadet in ROTC. It concludes with your graduation and commissioning as an officer. BOLC II is a six and a half week training course held at either FT Sill, OK or FT Benning, GA. It covers some of the things you learned as a Cadet and prepares you a little more for leading a platoon. All newly commissioned officers attend BOLC II no matter what their specific "job" will be.

BOLC III is the school for your specific job in the Army. For me that would be Armor school at FT Knox, KY. BOLC III is substantially longer that BOLC II, and you can usually bring your family with you untless your orders specifically tell you not to. BOLC III for Armor officers is four months.

It has been fun working at the ROTC at Weber State, but honnestly I'm ready to move on and start my life as a real 2LT. Its been difficult not knowing how long I would be working for the ROTC, as I'm anxious to start BOLC II and hopefull that it would coincide with the birth of our third girl. Finally, a couple weeks ago I received my dates.

Although it was great having my dates, my BOLC II date didn't jive that well with when Bethany is due. My BOLC II date was report on 10 May, and end on 26 June. Bethany's due date is 15 May. You can see how this would be a problem. Further, BOLC II begins on 1 July for me, so that would only give me a few days to say hello to the new baby and get everyone out to Knox. However, I recently received an e-mail indicated that my BOLC II dates had changed to 8 March to 26 April...which is perfect.

With that being said, that only gives me a few weeks to get my stuff together and prepare to leave my family high and tight for a month and a half. However, it appears I will have a couple months to enjoy the new addition, and pack for Kentucky. Thank you for your support everyone and I will let you know how BOLC II is.

-Herk out

Day 4 as a new LT

On Friday December 12, 2008 I commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Army. That day was one of the most satisfying days of my life, as years of hard work in school and training paid off. Of course I wouldn't have been able to do any of it with out the love and support of my wife Bethany and our children Hannah, and Ainnsley.

Now that I'm an actually LT, you may be wondering what's next? Well, right now I'm on the high-speed adventure of getting all of my paper-work processed so I can do cool things like: get paid, and have insurance. Right now my orders are to work in the ROTC until TBD which is great that I will be getting paid right away (hopefully), but annoying because I don't know when my dates are for my training (BOLC II/III). To complicate matters, Bethany is due in May, so I'm hoping my BOLC II date isn't until June. In addition, I don't know our duty station or unit yet.

Right now I'm living the dream of half-days at the ROTC house, as there isn't a ton of work for me to do as of yet, and the holidays are right around the corner. I will update this blog with more info as it comes available to me, for now I'm just focusing on reading FM's and doing PT.

-Herkimer out