29 SEPTToday training began at 0500 on the “grinder.” We showed up in our Army fatigues and formed up in formation. I’m a proud Sailor in Alpha Company, third platoon. The day was spent going from warehouse to warehouse with our sea bags open like a bunch of trick or treaters. Army staff filled those bags with everything a GI needs; canteens, a sleeping bag, even more uniforms and 60-pounds of body armor. Tomorrow, we’ll each get an M-16 and 9mm pistol. During the entire training process, we are forbidden to be anywhere on base without our body armor and our weapons. That’s how it’s done in theater so that’s how it’s done here. It was a long, HOT day lunging three sea bags full of equipment around. My hat is off to our ground forces. I now remember why I joined the Navy. In the barracks, just about every guy is talking to his wife and kids on their web cam. Amazing how far along technology has come.
There are now more than 300 of us here. We’re all doing the same training but not everyone is headed to Afghanistan like me. Some are going to Iraq, some the Horn of Africa and a couple of lucky dogs are going to CENTCOM in TAMPA! I can't believe a tour in Tampa counts
for an IA as much as a tour in Afghanistan or Iraq. I'd think different if it were a tour in Detroit or East St. Louis.
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