SitRep

SitRep: (noun) 1. Army abbreviation for "situation report". 2. Report on current situation or circumstances.

Time to pause on the training updates (HET Training is kicking @$$ right now. I got to drive for 20 minutes!!!) and write about the general situation here with the company.

For starters, it has only been around a month since I hit 1,000 views on my blog and I see tonight the current count is just over 2,000. I think its cool how many people actually think what I have to write about is worth reading. I also appreciate all the emails, comments, and messages from friends and family members of our soldiers. I would like to express my thanks, and say that there is no reason to thank me for writing this blog as I would have done it anyway. Blogging gives me a chance to unwind at the end of the day and also lets me look back on things (sort of like a journal) and reflect upon what has gone on, see how things have changed, etc.

The last couple nights I have had a chance to talk with various members of the other platoons and catch up with friends that I haven't seen much since we were all shifted around and started training here at Camp McGregor. All of this is similar to our last deployment, so it has an air of familiarity to it. The general all-around attitude and morale in the unit seems to be pretty positive. Everyone agrees that for the most part we're getting good, quality training. The CLS and the HET instructors seem to be the most popular ones with our company.

Another consensus within the company is that the Thanksgiving Pass will not arrive soon enough. All who have loved ones coming down to visit for the holiday are looking forward to spending time with loved ones before we ship off in the weeks that follow. For those of us who will not have visitors, we are looking forward to just having time away from post. Many of the groups of friends have their own plans, and some of us are just going to road trip to our maximum distance from post and see what there is to see at that location (can you tell which I'll be doing?).

From what I have seen and heard the Security Platoon is training on a schedule a little bit different from the truck platoons but still receiving the same high standard of quality in their training. All the members seem confident in their job and have a positive outlook. For those of us who will be guarded by them this is a good sign.

Overall I would have to say our situation down here is good. Training is going well, morale is good, the units are meshing together splendidly, and the weather is warmer than back in Iowa (at least while the sun is up). Granted most of us would prefer to be home, but given the situation we're in we're happy and healthy.

Still trying to get some videos posted on here. Until then though everyone be safe.

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