1st protective mission!!

Today I was able to meet the highest ranking NCO in all of the Armed Forces! He came to talk about what changes were gonna be happening in the military as a whole in the next couple years and to see how us the SOLDIERS spirits were. As he was talking about being a leader and do the right thing I was glad that there was at least one smart person in a position to make changes. Also, as he was talking about a bunch of other stuff I could see myself in that position! I cannot wait until I have the power to make changes that will effect the greater good. I am disappointed in myself, because if I would have came to this decision like 2 years ago I would be in that position but instead I did nothing. This deployment has opened my eyes to the things I have been missing and how I need to be better in every aspect of life. I will be so prepared to lead and not just tell my lower soldiers what to do but to lead from the front and show them that I will e in the trenches with them. The Army has taken a lot of time with my family away from me, but if people didn't fight would that time be spent with smiles and good times or the opposite? The Army has also given not just me but my family a lot in return, free education, a good paycheck, and training that you would never get for free and meet a lot of good people. I feel like after this deployment I will be a better husband, father, son, brother and friend and that's a promise for all my friends and family who read this. It is a promise that I will work on everyday! Love you guys and do the right thing!

Just another day

Well I'm sad to say that it was just another day on FOB Fenty, Afghanistan. If there was such a thing huh! In the last week I have found out that I was gonna take over the Law and Order mission on a FOB, and that I am SOL on getting promoted to E-7, so despite all that I am feeling good! I have been going to the gym everyday and have improved my bench press from 185 to 225 in a little less than a month. I am ready to start going back to school for free so it's hard to complain about that! A few of us here at Fenty are planning on making a 1,000 lbs(bench, squat, dead lift) for all our hard work! I will let you know when we get them, have to think of a design first. Well, everyone take care and do the right thing!

BAD NEWS

So today I got some bad news about my promotion packet! They changed the rules on me, to be eligible for Sergeant First Class you need to complete Advance Leadership Course(ALC). There was a waiver you could get if you were deployed and unable to complete the course, well with the army downsizing they did away with the waiver. So now I have to wait until I get back to go to ALC then put my packet in for y E-7. Thus means, it will delay me getting to where I want to be by a year!!!! I can't get down about it just have to improve my military education and civilian education while I'm here so it will give them no reason to by pass me when I get home. Sorry guys I guess I will have to wait until I'm 31 or 32 to be a First Sergeant.

My Packet is in!

I got the conformation that my packet was submitted yesterday! So it made the deadline and I just have to hope the board knows how bad I want to change the way lower enlisted are treated by specific units(mine). It just sucks I have to wait until the end of August because the board is I think at the beginning of August. We will just have to see. Let's hope this deployment isn't a total bust and I can end up staying in Fenty. There is word that we all might stay at Fenty that's the best case scenario, as long as I stay here I will be happy. Even though I am looking forward to just doing investigations an not all this patrolling stuff. Well, we will know soon enoug. Hope everyone is enjoying my blog, I will post again soon

Today was a good day, although it started a little slow and sluggish. I got all registered for school that starts on July 2nd, and my promotion packet is complete and ready for the board! All I'm going to need is for my unit administrator to do what he said he was going to do and send the completed formed up to the board for review(he has a history of not doing what he says he is going to do). I have to give him a chance since he has never done that to me. My hopes are up but I'm not holding my breath, I will just have to keep on him about it. He has until July 1st to get them up so there should be plenty of time to get it done. If I get promoted here in Afghanistan I will be on track for my diamond in not time!!

Moving up in the world

We were told the other day that they were gonna make some moves of personal with in the unit/FOBs and it looks like they are gonna give my FOB Fenty to run how I see fit! I'm so pumped at the chance to show I'm ready for this responsibility. I am also up for my next promotion if the unit could do just some of their job and get the paperwork to the right person. So I can make more money along with my my new position. The only thing that would be better is if I were home with my family!!

Been here for a minute!

So, I have been here on the FOB for a little bit now an I am enjoying the job of a law and order MP. I have done a larceny investigation and 2 traffic accidents! I love the investigating part and how you get to interact with people all day. I'm at a point in my military career where I have to make a decision about where to go, do I go CID and Warrant Officer or climb up the NCO ladder as fast as I can while staying an MP? I think I made my decision and I have been in a shitty unit where the command has let so many soldiers down I am going to stay an NCO and change the way people look at First Sergeants and now I have to bust my hump to do that before I'm 30 so that gives me 3 years. Think I can do it? We will have to see.

Taking over FOB Fenty

So the unit we replaced has finally went home, it's a bitter sweat feeling. On one hand you are happy for them that there was no injuries or worst death in the unit, but your mad a little because they are just so happy and all smiles because they are going home. I know in 9 or so months we will have the same feelings. I missed the first fathers day since I have become a dad and it sucks to miss that because I am trying to be the father my real dad never was and I try to be there for my kids like my step dad has. He was there for us and gave us that tough love and discipline that I know I appreciate everyday. I hope he knows that and I have told him happy fathers day but we don't really talk about things like that and I wish we did more often. Well I have gone on a little rant here so I will end this, until next time do the right thing.

First couple days on ground

We hit the ground running here at FOB Fenty and we are loving every minute of it. Just finally doing the job we have been training for. We were training for around 3 months prior to getting here so it feels good to see all the work paying off. There has been a lot of information to digest and a lot of things to remember before the unit we ate replacing goes home. After 3 days on the FOB the 539th MP's take over tomorrow!! So, we will see how my guys do.... Other than that I have started a workout plan to get back in shape and have gone everyday since we got to Fenty, I know it's only been 3 days but that's good for me not going the whole last year or so! My plan is to be in great shape for my wife when I come home. Well until next time do the right thing

Made it to FOB Fenty

My squad and I just made it to Fenty where we will be staying for the next 9 or so months. This place is awesome we have everything with in 100 feet. The MP's we are replacing hooked us up with a lot of things they are going to leave behind. The rooms are great I have my own room inside the PMO(the police station) so I'm literally a doorway away from work. The gym is across the street so there is no excuse for not working out. Well need to be getting to work I will post pics later remember to do the right thing.

Traveling through Afghanistan!

So I left for Afghanistan on Wednesday 6June2012, I am still in the process of traveling to my final destination. It sucks living in tents and living out of a bag! I have done this my last deployment for 10 months in Iraq. I'm almost to my FOB and I can't wait. I have done a lot of first though, like taking a flight on a C-130 to Bagram AF base and staying at BAF. Today we did a rollover drill in the MRAP(military vehicle) it was fun to do that in a bigger vehicle and we had another IED(roadside bomb) class and that's always important to know what kind of bombs are being used in theater. Well I hope the next day or two goes quick so I can be at my FOB and start doing my job and what I love to do and that's being a soldier. Well, until next time do the right thing!

Almost Gone

So here I am a few days from leaving the USA to go to a country to fight for freedom, I have had trouble sleeping the last couple nights. I'm not sure if its nerves or something but it sucks. I lay awake thinking about how I have been as a father and a husband! With me leaving and putting my family in this position to survive without me there, and putting my wife, mother, father and siblings in a worry for 9-12 months every 2-4 years because I am serving my country. I think about all my friends that are not in the military and think how nice is it to be there everyday and never miss out on anything.