While tens of millions of people around the world watch the ball drop in Times Square on December 31, they will see the glitz and wild revelry that the Big Apple hosts annually.  What they won’t see, however, is what the Soldiers of the 314th Public Affairs Operations Center saw only 24 hours earlier.  They will not see the New York City that loves its military — at least not the way we did yesterday. 

Since our unit is already validated, First Army at Fort Dix, NJ,  allowed us to take a field trip before we leave for Iraq in the next few days, and we chose New York City.  With a little planning, the appropriate paperwork, and much-appreciated support of MAJ Denise Wurzbach, we got approval to travel 75 miles to visit a mix of cultural, military, economic and entertainment sites.

Dressed in Army Combat Uniform, fleece jackets, and gloves, we loaded our vans and headed out at about 10 a.m.  Rather than face the challenge of driving and parking on Manhattan, we opted to park at the tip of Staten Island (New York City’s most southern borough).   If you park in the lots at the Staten Island Ferry landing, you can park for only $7 a day and then ride the ferry across New York Harbor for free.  Yes, free!  If you have ever seen Melanie Griffith in the movie “Working Girl” you will see her on the same ferry.  As an added bonus, the ferry passes near enough to get great pictures of the Statue of Liberty as you draw close to Battery Park on the southern tip of Manhattan.

SGT Kellena Leech, a 314th PAOC soldier, holds a folded U.S. flag at Ground Zero. (Photo by PFC Brittany Gardner)

Once we disembarked the ferry, we walked north on Broadway Avenue, past Wall Street, and finally arrived at Ground Zero — the former site of the World Trade Center.  Currently, the site is busy with construction vehicles on the street and in the pit that seems to drop hundreds of feet below street level (I want to know how they can keep all the water that surrounds Manhattan from filling the hole).  Above the tourists and construction, several cranes soared hundreds of feet into the sky, delivering the raw materials that will become a new World Trade Center. See more at http://www.wtc.com/.

As soon as we arrived, LTC Perez rallied us all near the site and pulled a U.S. flag from the backpack he carried.  He spoke to a man selling 9/11 commemorative booklets to passing tourists and handed over a camera.  We quickly fell into formation with the construction site behind us and then unfurled the flag.  After a few pictures had been taken and the supportive vendor was thanked, he called us all around and told us of his plan to take this same flag to Baghdad and display it proudly. 

While we stood in formation listening, I did not realize that dozens of tourists and New Yorkers had gathered around us, some with their own cameras.  After we were finished, they began to approach and ask if they could take a picture with us or shake our hands.   Our Soldiers and our flag were the visual representation of what the hole in the ground could not communicate — we were Americans standing together to defeat aggression and rebuild.

After lunch nearby, we headed to the subway for a ride north.  As soon as we entered the station, a woman from the ticket window came out and told us to put our money away.  “You can ride for free, ” she said.  “Soldiers in uniform don’t pay.”  She opened the gate and let us pass, thanking each of us Soldiers for our service.

When we got off the train at 34th and Herald Square, we were only a block from the Empire State Building, currently the tallest building in New York City.  The building has an observation deck on the 86th floor which is always popular with visitors.  December 30 was no exception.  The line to get to the top stretched outside the building and down the block.  It would likely have taken us more than three hours to get there…but not for Soldiers in uniform.

From the top of the Empire State Building (photo by PFC Christine Bernat)

We walked to the front of the line and the doorman to the building ushered us to a separate door.  Like the woman in the subway, he opened the door and thanked us for our service to the nation.  Once inside the building, at each “checkpoint”, another building employee called us forward and pushed us past crowds to get us to the top.  Instead of hours, we were standing on the observation deck, more than 1000 feet up, in minutes (yes, our ears “popped”). 

The day could not have been better for taking pictures, or dealing with acrophobia.  There wasn’t a cloud in the sky, giving us unfettered views to New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and of course New York.  Buying a ticket like the one we were given would have cost each of us almost $50.  I was beginning to think that maybe the Army should use all the great benefits in New York City in its next ad campaign. 

As we departed the tower, we were afforded the same treatment.  We went to the front of the line for elevators back to the ground level.  Once outside the building, we walked about 10 blocks to our next destination: the USO at the Port Authority Building.  If you have never been at a USO, let me share some of what you are missing.  USOs around the world cater exclusively to military members and their families — at no cost for most services.  This one was no exception.  It included two different rooms with a widescreen television and comfortable leather chairs and sofas; a dining area with free drinks and snacks; and a computer room to check up on emails. 

However, the best part of any USO is the volunteer staff, but this one had a few special touches.   For instance, visitors to this USO are greeted by staff that can help them find discount tickets to events at Broadway theaters (or off-Broadway), Madison Square Garden, and elsewhere in “the city.”  The staff here also includes a singing group called the Liberty Belles, an a cappella group that sings patriotic songs.  On this night, we were treated to some music made popular by the Andrews Sisters (those of you less than 40 years old, please Google).

While the commander and I and a couple other Soldiers rested our feet for a while, the rest of the unit went out into area around the USO in groups to explore during three hours of “free time.”  SFC Poulten, a New York City native with ties to entertainment community, assembled some of his family and friends from Manhattan for dinner and invited unit members to join him.  Another group of about six Soldiers explored nearby Times Square.  And still others went to a very nice Japanese dinner (only to receive free appetizers from other patrons to thank them for their military service).  Each group returned with a different story about how they interacted with locals, including SGT Tull’s group which was approached by some pre-teen entrepreneurs who wanted to act as “security guards” — I guess they figured Soldiers in uniform needed protection. 

By 7 pm, all had gathered back at the USO before the final major event of the day — a Broadway show!  When the staff of “Spamalot” heard about our trip to Manhattan before our deployment, they offered us free tickets to see this Tony Award-winning show.  After nearly four years, the show was scheduled to close on January 11, 2009, so each of the last shows was already sold out.  The addition of American Idol star Clay Aiken to the cast added to the draw, and made the offer of free tickets even more amazing.  Despite all that, Wendy Orshan and Katharine Croke from the Spamalot production team, called us earlier this week and offered us tickets for all of our Soldiers.  Most of the tickets were called Standing Room Only, where you are stand in the back of the theater and rest your arms on a padded divider (this was a lot more roomy than a typical theater seat since I could easily step back and stretch…and not have to upset the people in the adjacent seats).  The theater also gave us three regular seats, which was perfect because we had three Soldiers who had hurt their feet during recent training.  Amazingly, a married couple from New York approached us during the show’s intermission and said they would take the Standing Room Only spaces.  The seats they gave up were front and center — so two of our Soldiers, SPC Richardson and PFC Clifton, watched the second half of the show from there.

If that New York City hospitality was not enough, Wendy and Katharine called us an hour before the

Clay Aiken takes a moment to greet 314th soldiers (photo by PFC Christine Bernat)

show began and told us the cast and crew wanted us to stay after the show finished so we could meet them onstage.   As the curtain came down at the end of the show, I could see the anticipation of our Soldiers.  With only a few people left, we ventured down to the stage.  Within minutes we were talking to Michael Siberry, Merle Dandridge, Clay Aiken and the rest of the cast.   It was a once-in-a lifetime experience for all of us.

I was particularly impressed by their desire to make us feel special that night.  Clay Aiken told us that he had talked to his brother, a U.S. Marine who happened to be in the audience that night, about what to say to a group of Soldiers.  After practicing “hooah” a few times, he decided instead to ask the cast to change one of the lines in the play to have them sing some of “Sweet Home Alabama” to honor our Birmingham, Alabama unit location.  When we told him we were from Birmingham, he joked and said “oh…that’s where Rueben [Studdurd] is from.”

As we left the theater re-energized, we boarded the subway for our trip back to Battery Park, Staten Island, and then the drive home.  During that drive, I sat in the front seat of one of the vans, and could hear many of the Soldiers talking about how great New York City and its residents are.  I would have to agree.  They gave this Army Reserve unit a more personal and heartfelt Big Apple send off to 2008 than the cold, crowded frenzy taking place 24 hours later.

THANK YOU NEW YORK CITY!

We managed to take off from Fort Dix at an undisclosed time. Suffice it to say it was earlier than we anticipated, but not as early as we dreamed. Anyhow, we were very lucky to leave.

SFC Poulten, SPC Hope and myself rented a car, kicked the dust of Fort Dix off our boots and headed north-east. Even though I don’t think any of us could tolerate Fort Dix another minute, we did manage to stop at the post class-six shop for a Dunkin’ Donuts coffee. SFC Poulten, in his excitement at the prospect of leaving the post, decided to treat us by paying, for which I hope to return the favor in time.

I was excited to see snow accumulated on the ground less than a 20 minute ride from post. Then we hit the dreadful New York City traffic as we approached the George Washington bridge. In his wisdom of having lived in New York for five years, Poulten managed to dodge much of the traffic after we crossed the bridge by taking the Henry Hudson Parkway. We blew past New York and into Connecticut to the Merritt Parkway. Having never traveled that route before I was impressed at how nice it was. It wasn’t your typical highway with asphalt here and there. It was a two-lane highway with trees. Yes, trees growing out of the median. What a drastic change from the concrete and steel ribbons of barren asphalt we found in New Jersey.

As we continued north, the depth of the snow steadily increased, which caused me great excitement. It felt good to be in New England again. I toyed with the idea of going snowboarding or skiing, while I was home, but decided not to test my luck. I’m a magnet for such disasters and the unit couldn’t afford to lose a Soldier this late in the game, so I thought better of it. As it turns out, I wouldn’t have time to get out anyway due to last-minute shopping, holiday well-wishes and such.

I really began to realize how much I will miss the country though, specifically New England. I arrived at the location of my previous unit, the 362nd MPAD in Manchester, NH around 1640. I gave my unit training NCO SFC O’Neill a call to see if she was still in her office, but she was not. I haven’t seen or talked to her in some time and am curious as to how the unit is now. I’ll have to drop her an email. 

I awaited for a ride from, perhaps the biggest thing I will miss over the next year… my beautiful girlfriend Jennifer! It took us nearly an hour to get to the highway from the reserve center, a ride that usually takes 10 minutes. The reason for the delay? SHOPPERS!!! They were everywhere, trying to get to the mall located off the exit we were trying to get to, ahhhhhhhh!!! I knew that I wouldn’t make it to see my parents that night, yet another thing that I will miss over the next year.

Well I thought, you can’t win them all. I had a sinking feeling inside when I realized that the next day I would join their ranks as LAST-MINUTE shopper.  BOOOO

Leaving Fort Dix for the Christmas holidays was such a joy.  Being able to see the smiling faces of all of my family, friends, friends of the family, loved ones, enemies and those who I’ll learn to love (WINK WINK), made leaving Birmingham one of the hardest things I’ve had to do in a while.  If we had said our final goodbyes back on Dec 6, I would not have complained.  There were a few things I’ll always remember about this year.  The day after Christmas I had a going away dinner and  I must admit, it was all I anticipated and more.  My favorite people in whole wide world were there and I enjoyed their company greatly.  It began to get emotional toward the end of the night, but I was able to maintain my bearing and grit through it without a tear.  After seeing two of my best friends and my mom in tears as well as my dad nearly in tears, I almost went in.  That night and well into the next morning ranks in my “best moments of the year.”

As I reflect back on the week just past, I take solace in knowing I have the greatest family and group friends any one person can ask for and I’m extremely proud of all of them.  We’ve managed to maintain some form of constant communication over the last 10+ years and I hope we continue on our fantastic voyage through life.

Well, the Christmas break was great, but way too short.  As the realization set in that I was back at Ft. Dix, my travel-weary mind kept wandering back home.  The warmth, the privileges, the freedom, but mostly the closeness to the ones I truly love and care for…my family.  The most difficult part of a deployment to me is not being around my family and friends, the ones who are there when I need them, or just to hang out and kill time.  I forgot how different life on the other side of an Army post is, even after such a short time.  I am almost a completely different person at home than I am when I’m doing Army stuff.  As Brad had to start transforming back into Specialist Richardson, travelling to Birmingham, Chicago, Philadelphia, then Ft. Dix, New Jersey on only a couple hours of sleep, I got pretty down.  I wrapped my head around this idea that I was going to be miserable back here and didn’t think I was going to be able to get out of the funk for a while.  Well, being at home I had forgotten what it’s like to be in the 314th, even after only a short time.  They are like a family, maybe a dysfunctional family, but a family nonetheless.  There are the ones that are there when you need to laugh, or you need to get something off your chest, or if you just need help with something.  The soldiers in this unit have become like a second family, the family that I’ll be living and working with for the next year.  I know it sounds cheesy, but it is true, we’ve banded together pretty tightly over the past few months.  Of course, just like any family there will be disagreements (can’t wait to see who blows up  first, haha).  But, if I have to go to Iraq, there is no other unit I’d rather go with.

It seems like only yesterday I was out on Skunk Lake, in Minnesota, with my family.  Probably the most relaxing place on the face of the earth.  The sound of the loons, the bass, and the clean air.  Nothing more stress free than fishing with no great expectations.  Names are often misleading, it does not smell.               

For the last seventy years my wife’s family has fished the lakes around or near Skunk Lake.  The trip is usually made during the first week in August.  I have attended these fishing trips, off and on, for the last twenty years.  My three children get to see their cousins, aunts, and uncles that they would not usually see regularly throughout the year.  Depending on who attends there can be four generations fishing in the same boat. 

My involvement with the 314th Public Affairs Operations Center began around the time of my last trip to Skunk Lake.  After finishing my journey to Skunk Lake, I started my Journey with the 314th PAOC.  This journey with my Army family will involve stays in Birmingham, AL; Fort Dix, NJ; and Iraq.  Just like in fishing the Army requires patience.     

Before reaching Iraq we were required to train at Fort Dix, New Jersey.  Now there are many similarities between some of the places I have visited while in the military and Skunk Lake.  Fort Dix, New Jersey is not like Skunk Lake, but they always serve baked fish at the Dinning Facility. 

Besides the baked fish, Fort Dix offered the 314th PAOC some of the best training I have seen in 20 years of service.  The Regional Training Center-East provided a variety of training to include weapons, land navigation, and other warrior skills that are vital for all Soldiers to know.  Many of our instructors were Drill Instructors with prior deployment experience.  Their experience and knowledge enhanced our classes.  Fort Dix is truly a center of excellence preparing Soldiers for mobilization.     

Fort Dix is almost in our rear view mirror.  I won’t miss the baked fish here, but I will miss the RTC-E instructors.  Their professionalism and training greatly enhanced 314th’s readiness.

Dear friends and families,

I want to thank all of you for your support of our Soldiers as they prepare to deploy. This past week we were validated “READY” by 1st Army to meet our wartime mission.  That means we met all training and logistical requirements in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.  Preparation for mobilization is a lengthy process requiring precise execution on a set timeline.  Our Soldiers have met every challenge along the way, and our departure is now imminent. I am proud of their professionalism as journalists and broadcasters, but especially as Soldiers. They are Warriors at heart, and each brings unique talents and expertise that make the 314th PAOC a versatile organization.   I could not be more proud of each of our Soldiers. Maximum Effort remains our commitment.

We have been granted the wonderful gift of furlough, and our Soldiers will be returning to spend a few days of rest with you. Welcome them home. I also ask that you keep in your hearts the memory of those service members who will not have the same opportunity with their loved ones.  As we celebrate the holiday season, I wish all of you a safe and relaxing Christmas and New Year. 

Sincerely,

LTC I. J. Perez,
Commanding

You know, I have to say that leaving my family this time has been harder for me than last time. I guess it’s mostly because since then I’ve been working really hard to have a closer family. Ever since I moved up to TN in 2002, I can say that my relationship with my family has grown exponentially closer (which means that it starts out slower then grows at an increasingly faster rate as time goes by).  It’s awesome to see how much investing time pays off. It’s almost like investing money into a healthy stock market, except for my relationship with my family has grown upward and not in a downward spiral.

My Christmas was a most excellent time spent with my extended family, although not long enough. It was an emotionally charged atmosphere because everyone knew where I was going to be real soon. Hugs meant more and were more heartfelt, there were more “I love you”s, and an overall feeling of a real family environment. I am making the most of every moment, judiciously choosing where to spend my last few days.

At this current moment, I’m tired as I can be after being in a car for 18 hours, fighting traffic in D.C., Baltimore, and Delaware, driving from Columbus, GA to, what is essentially, Atlantic City, NJ with my parents, who want to see me get on the plane for when we go over to Iraq. The last deployment they didn’t even get to make it to Ft. Stewart, GA when we left in March 2003. I am currently laying in my bed, while my mom is fast asleep in her bed and my dad is on his computer chatting on facebook. We are staying at a beach house that is probably about 50 feet from the beach and two miles from Atlantic City. We are going to NYC tomorrow and I still have to look up what it is that we are actually going to do when we get up there. I will cherish these last few days that I will have with my parents because I love them deeply and strongly.

Yes, this time my departure from my family is proving to be much more difficult, but I can look forward to knowing that I will be back in time for Christmas next year, and that is one I absolutely love doing with my family. I will spend these last few days knowing full well that I will be back here just under a year from now, spending more time with my family in a happy reunion.

Well I did it, I was able to free myself from the bonds of Fort Dix. Now it is Christmas and you are probably wondering why I am writing a blog entry right now. Well, as you can imagine the shopping situation was restricted to Fort Dix, which doesn’t offer very many options in the gift area. So until yesterday, Christmas Eve at 1530 (3:30 p.m. for all of you civilians out there- haha) I finished my shopping.

This was a hard-fought battle in which I had no support from my fellow Soldiers at my flanks, I really could have used their help. Alone in the trenches I fought the crowds, the unruly drivers and the ghastly hordes of people all swarming like bees on a hive to get those last minute gifts. The process began the day after I got home to New Hampshire. Arriving late on Monday night in Manchester, my girlfriend picked me up. It took us nearly an hour to escape the mob of people who, from all points surrounding, converged on the city mall causing such massive grid-lock that travel by foot seemed like a good option. We finally broke free and got home for a night of chill-axing.

The next day was the onslaught. Like a deranged CIA operative, I planned my assault on the local mall, I had floor plans laid out in my mind: the closest exits, best routes of ingress and egress, the potentially least-heavily-trafficked sales counters. Knowing that no plan survives first contact, I expected it to be a long day. One thing that i didn’t have planned… I had no idea what to get anyone! Sure I had a good idea back in, ohhh, August when this whole thing started. You must remember that I haven’t seen most of my family, save for but a handful of days, in nearly a quarter of a year. So, with my head on a swivel, I scanned, I searched I, I, I, I was exhausted. For eight hours on the 23rd and four hours on Christmas Eve… but I did it. I dodged the old ladies and their lethal shopping carts, I skirted around the slow-walkers in the mall, I jumped like a gazelle out of the paths of cell-phone addicted drivers, I came, I saw, I conquered-I power shopped!

Now I sit here at my parents Christmas morning, the presents have all been opened. We all had Christmas breakfast, a tradition in my family that I a going to miss. Now for the rest of the running around. Time to get showered and ready for a trip to my grandmother’s house for lunch. So here I am, three days into my leave and I haven’t really had any time to sleep-in, workout, or enjoy my time. Boy, Christmas is intense.

Unfortunately I didn’t make it to church. Mom went to midnight mass Christmas Eve, I wish I could have joined her. I went to Jen’s parent’s house to see her family last night, Christmas Eve. I got to see most of her family so that was nice. But, it has been far to long since I have attended regularly, but I look forward to going more while I’m deployed.

But for now it is run around, make people happy and try to relax. I think if I find myself in this situation in the future, Christmas will be at my house and anyone who wishes will come over. We’ll have a grand old time.

Oh I think that the shower’s open…got to run!

Merry Christmas!

It’s Christmas Eve and here I am in Minneapolis with many of my family members.  Snow and the temperatures are falling.  The reality of Iraq seems a world away, but that is okay.   I will spend the next couple days letting all those who have gathered for my “deployment party” know this important stuff:

-  how to access this blog site (my mom even created her first email address!)
-  what an Army Reserve Public Affairs unit does in Baghdad
-  how to send “care packages” to me while I am gone (don’t send sugar cookies…they become crumbs)
-  why I cannot drink beer in Iraq (a blog entry about General Order #1 to follow)
-  and of course, how happy I am to see all of them.

Of course, some could not make it here, so here is a shout out to my nephew “John Doe” (he jokingly said he didn’t want his friends in Coleraine to see his real name on the Internet), and his two brothers, who he asked me to refer to as “Jane Doe 1″ and “Jane Doe 2″.  Did I get that right Baz?

When I get back to Fort Dix after this momentary hiatus, I will also have the chance to see my brother and legal advisor, Craig, and his family from Vermont.  I have not seen them for more than a year, so this trip to Iraq will not seem any different to them.  I’m especially excited about seeing his son (and my godson) William who I hear is really growing and talking.  Maybe he will be a Army Public Affairs soldier some day, too?

I hope everyone reading this blog is equally enjoying their time with family this holiday season — and continue to do so everyday.

And, for those who are no longer with us, Mele Kalkimake e Haouli Makahiki Hou!

The Internet has changed the way people live and relate to others in a big way.  For instance, we are no longer confined to geographical distances when we talk about communities.  Blogs have brought together people who share web addresses rather than street addresses.  That means that an Internet community could potentially include literally billions of people around the world (or at least all those who have access to the technology and the knowledge to make use of it). 

Consequently, that means the words of a blogger could potentially have a much larger influence than that of a traditional newspaper article or a radio or television broadcast.  Of course, that rarely happens, but the recent Obama campaign shows its potential. Many bloggers live lives of quiet desperation seeking to be noticed and have their words acknowledged.  But a few are noticed and thrown to the forefront for the world to see.  For the Soldiers of the 314th Public Affairs Operations Center, that could be a pretty heady thing.  They are professional communicators who often see their work as a reflection of themselves.  I like to say that when I finish a story it is like a child of mine — something that has sprung from me.  For that reason, and others, I often struggle to ensure it fully represents me, my professionalism, and what I stand for. 

Knowing that millions or even billions of readers have seen an author’s words is empowering — but that power also comes with an equal amount of responsibility.  Just as every DINFOS student is graded poorly for errors in fact, bloggers should strive to ensure the same standards of objectivity and truth.  Unfortunately, there is no DINFOS instructor looking over most blog sites.  There is no one to mentor the student blogger; it’s a brave new world where the power of the Internet has created a new thruth simply by typing it.

When the idea of a unit blog site first circulated in the 314th, I wanted to ensure that each Soldier felt they could express himself or herself with as little censorship as possible.  I wanted to apply only the rules that all military graduates of the Department of Defense Information School (affectionately known as DINFOS) learn during their training:  there can be no violations of security, accuracy, policy or propieity. 

So far, my changes to 314th blog submissions have mostly been superficial — a changed verb tense here or an added semicolon there.  As long as the basic rules are followed, I am cautious of changing words or photos, since the message of the creator could be changed without my knowledge.

The Department of Defense has slowly evolved its opinion of blogs.  A few years ago, they were seen as a serious threat and were discouraged, and their authors sometimes faced serious consequences for disclosing potentially harmful or embarrassing information.  Over the years, reasoned minds discovered and communicated to leadership that it was nearly impossible to muzzle soldiers — and that doing so not only stopped that small amount of possibly harmful communication, but also the overwhelming amount of information flow that added layers of understanding about the lives of soldiers, their families and our institutions. 

So, what is a blog moderator and a Public Affairs Sergeant Major like me to do?  First and foremost, I encourage professional and creative communication.  I have to say here and now that the blogs I have read and posted from my soldiers demonstrate that there is no lack of talent among today’s newest additions to the Army Reserve.  I challenge and invite all of you to read the blog entries of these soldiers and let them entertain and inform you.  Their words, pictures, videos, sketches and graphic art are wonderful. 

My second responsibility is to mentor and encourage these bloggers to realize the immense responsibility they have with everything they post.  Their blog entries do not exist in a vacuum.  Like their print or video creations, they say something about them and their membership in the Army.  I challenge each blogger to ask themselves this — would they say the same thing if the people mentioned in each entry (or their DINFOS instructor) were standing in front of them. 

That’s a tough standard, but I know our Army Reserve Public Affairs soldiers are up to that challenge.

Well when words fail, pictures prevail, so here’s something else to occupy a blog entry…

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t177/Chiisuta/314thlogo.jpg

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t177/Chiisuta/finalphoto12.jpg

more wonderously pointless stuff by me…

(MODERATOR’S NOTE:  Thanks again PFC Bernat for the artwork submissions to the website to accompany the text — and make our pages a little less “gray.”)

There is no better feeling than the end of a training exercise. Today we are concluding are Media Training Exercise, lovingly known as the MTX. Even though training can sometimes be grueling, I think this is the most productive, as well as exciting training, we have done during our stay at beautiful Fort Dix. The work we have been doing for the passed four days is the reason I joined the Army, and I am pretty confident I can say the same for my fellow Soldiers. The benefits of the passed 96 hours are unmeasurable. It is not so much that we need the training for our skill set, because we know how to do our jobs. This exercise has given us the opportunity to build confidence in one another, which is the most crucial need for a group of Soldiers heading into battle. I would just like to thank 1st Lt. Greene and the Fort Dix PAO shop for the opportunity they have given us as a unit; the seeds of confidence they have planted will reap much fruit in the very near future. I would also like to thank the leadership of my unit for the example of professionalism they have set, as well as the trust they have bestowed, in us the junior Soldiers. There is no group of Soldiers I would rather follow into battle. The stories of our success will be many. Keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we take the next step of our journey.

The past few days have been my favorite of the mobilization.

The busy, exhausting shifts coupled with the stress of meeting deadlines seemed overwhelming at times. Nevertheless, I have thoroughly enjoyed the past three days because, for the first time since I graduated from the Defense Information School, I’m putting my public affairs training to work.

I was originally supposed to be in the escort section, but I was transferred to the press desk the day before our Military Readiness Exercise started. I hope I get to stay on the press desk once we get in country, because I think I’ve found my calling in the unit. Although I like the other aspects of my job, I enjoy responding to media queries and preparing press briefings far more and I think I’m starting to get pretty good at it.

All in all, these few days have been a solid reminder of why I chose to be a public affairs specialist.

Brief thoughts…

Disclaimer 1: I asked, practically begged, to go.  Some of the following observations, are just that, observations, not complaints.

Disclaimer 2: If you are looking for some deep and profound intellectual thoughts, musings, and/or observations, well you have come to the wrong place. 

• Back on October 17th, when I officially joined the 314th PAOC, it felt like Iraq was a “million miles” away… metaphorically, not literally.  In case you were wondering, it’s 6,211 miles (from Washington, D.C.) as the crow flies.  Much less so today (Dec. 20), again metaphorically.
• Body armor is heavy… I mean really, really heavy.  That thing better be able to stop a truck.
• I’m not 21-years-old anymore, but I still have a full head of hair and I can keep up with the younger Soldiers… Hoo-ah… ouch, wait a second, I think I pulled a muscle!  Who’s hair is that in the sink?
• I can’t believe how much I remembered from basic training… 22 years ago.  Thank you Drill Sergeants Ferguson and Dubose, wherever you two are. I still loathe your existence and curse the ground you walk on, but thanks nonetheless.
• Barracks living is less than ideal.  The MP unit we’re sharing the barracks with didn’t help either. (Note to the MP’s: please, please, please learn to clean up after yourselves… and while you’re at it, bathe once in a while.)
• I still have more Birthday, Anniversary, and Christmas shopping to do, and I can’t find a single thing to get my wife in the Shoppette or Clothing Sales.  Go figure.  That’s right, my wife’s birthday, our anniversary and Christmas are the same week.  For the record, I had nothing to do with the births of my wife and Christ, with all due respect.
• The Dining Facility (aka: DFAC) are experts in baked fish, chili mac, and fried chicken.  They should be, they make it EVERY FREAKIN’ DAY! 
• I am really going to miss my wife and kids.  I already do… a lot. 
• And finally, does anyone know where I can find the bus to Baghdad? I’m ready to go and ”get in the game”, so to speak.

More to follow…..

He finally caught me, the good-idea fairy tracked me down and now I have to submit an entry. Now that our mobilization training is complete, I am ready to get our mission started. In my opinion, this part of a deployment is the hardest. Now all I have to do is get there and find a rhythm so I can start my chill-time. Chill-time is a wonderful thing, it is a point in time when all the good-idea fairies are sprinkling dust in other area’s of the FOB and you are left alone to gather your thought and feel a little relief from the days events.

My wish is for everyone to find some chill-time and hold on to it like the winning lotto ticket.

PEACE

I’ve been meaning to update my blog on a regular basis, but I just haven’t gotten around to it.  I enjoy writing, so that’s not the issue.  I just know that once I start writing, I have a tendency to go off on a tangent and before I know it my blog entries will be too long to read in one sitting.   The thing I enjoy most about this blog is reading someone else’s work, so if anything I’ll be entertained by other Soldiers’ entries.  My biggest problem with writing is finding a starting place or better yet knowing where to begin and what to begin with. 

Throughout the course of this year and many blog entries later, you will have noticed that I’ll probably violate all rules of writing.  I’m pretty sure I’ll notice them before someone else because I’m so critical of my own work, but in this case I really don’t have to use correct grammar or punctuation for that matter.  I have been affectionately coined as the “Comma Nazi” according to one NCO who shall remain nameless, but I think his son is a wrestler!

I actually contemplated beginning my own personal blog site for this deployment.  Several people introduced me to the notion, but with everything that has transpired with us preparing and training for this deployment I haven’t really had time to do so.  I really wanted it to be a sports blog, but if  you stay tuned you’ll notice  lots of sports talk throughout the year.

Before I get too carried away I’ll stop here!  I’ll be back soon, I promise!!!

Delirium Has Finally Set In

As we try to survive the last few hours of our 96 hour MRX, I’m noticing signs of delirium around me. We are all overcome with the excitement of our upcoming Christmas leave. On one side of the room, Christmas music is being played on LT Larrew’s laptop. To my right, SPC Richardson practices his version of Kermit the Frog’s, ”It’s Not Easy Being Green,” on his guitar for a performance we will all hear later today. However, all sounds are muffled by the music video SPC Hope and I are making with my new camera. Imagine show tunes, amateur choreography, two tired Specialists with mild ADHD and perhaps you can imagine the vision that will forever be ingrained in my mind.

Throughout this exercise, we have all been able to get to know each other in an office setting. With video and still cameras constantly rolling, I feel as though we are filming our own version of “The Office.” I figure if Steve Carell can, why can’t we? NBC might not be interested, but there will always be YouTube.

I can only compare this feeling to that of when I was a kid in school and trying to make it through the last day before summer vacation. Of course, this vacation will only be a few days long and instead of preparing for another year of school, we will be preparing for war. Needless to say, the holidays will be even more special this year.

So…we continue to work. The happiness and excitement cannot hinder the mission at hand. After all, we are the Army. We are always on duty, always focused, and ready to tackle any situation. We are Public Affairs, hooah! We fire accurately, speak professionally, and always make our deadlines. We live by the grace of God, the Soldier’s Creed, and last but not least…the AP Stylebook.

Well we are at the end of out training phase. With the end of this night comes the end of all of our pre-mobilization training, and there is definitely and air of excitment about. However, there is also the realization that it is going to be a long, possibly boring night.

I have the pleasure of being on the night shift for this exercise, which is meant to simulate the job and positions we will hold during our mission to Iraq. The problem is, that this exercise is winding down and therefore this may prove to be a long and boring night. Hopefully the internet connection, which has been quite testy, will hold out long enough for me to order some Christmas presents online during any downtime we might have. The router at this particular location likes to take the night off every now and then, making work difficult when we have some to do, and making downtime painful.

There are other options I suppose. I do have a copy of the Army Leadership manual that I will peruse as a backup plan. A backup to that backup would probably be to try and take the static M7 Priest, a track-mounted howitzer that is on display outside of this building, for a little road march down to the shoppette to do a coffee run in the wee hours of the morning. Wouldn’t that be a sight. Of course, the odds of the success of that side mission might be a little low given the equipment is well over half a century old -but we can dream can’t we?

I will have to see if we can’t get a picture in front of the vehicle tomorrow at some point. It would be a hansome photo.  I can see it now: the commander standing in the gun turret with the guidon flying high with the proud soldiers of the 314th latent with excitement at the prospect of soon leaving Fort Dix below.

This same time last year I was preparing to return home from basic combat training for Christmas just as I am anxiously awaiting my return home this year.

Interesting:

 I was on an Army base with no cell phone and no contact with home except through the old technique commonly referred to as “snail mail”. This time is somewhat similiar….hardly any cell phone service. I feel a little frustrated with how slow time is passing and my internet connection is so slow that I’ve started referring to it as “snail mail”.

There are a few differences though between this time last year and right now. Doughnuts……doughnuts and coffee.  Of course in basic training there is no caffiene, sweets, cigarettes, soda, chewing gum, phones, or even tweezers allowed. This time I sit here at my desk with a cup of joe, I’ve eaten my doughnut, plucked my eyebrows, I have fresh breath, and between bad cell service I’ve kept in touch with my friends.

This is by no means a blog about my complaints. It’s just a comparison of 2007 and this year. I never could’ve imagined that I would be in this position so soon after my enlistment into the army.  In a way I’m greatful. I have the opportunity to not only advance in my military career but also start building an amazing resume for my civilian career.

So I’m ready for my Christmas leave. Then, give me some caffiene, a doughnut, pencil, paper, camera, and media credentialing equipment and send me on my way. I’ll be home again for Christmas next year!

Credentialing media, making press badges, taking pictures, and filling out paperwork…..answering phones, listening to briefings, yes sir, no sir, yes sergeant, no sergeant. This has been my day. All in a day of the life of PFC Gardner.

We started our Public Affairs three-day training today at noon. This morning I set up our biometrics equipment: laptop, digital camera, fingerprint scanner, and iris scanner. My job? I’m the first soldier the media sees when they walk into our facility. I basically make sure they are who they say they are. I enroll them into a system that will help keep track of their information. Imagine what the lab looks like on an eposide of Crime Scene Investigation. The equipment on my desk reminds me of something like that.

Anyway, this very first day of training was definitly used for trial and error. There were obviously hiccups but as the Army has taught me: I faked it til I made it, remained calm, and found that I really did know exactly what I was doing. I pushed through, developed confidence, and I actually found myself enjoying it all.  I realize that this training is suppose to prepare us for the year ahead. Well, I’ve also realized how stressful this could be if I hadn’t already mentally prepared myself.

I guess what I’m saying is this is good army training. Now, is it time to go home for Christmas???

After a long day of some rather high-speed training in near arctic conditions, it is my turn to “suffer” through the toils of CQ. Live my brethren who have come before me I will guard this post! I shall not let the chairs float away (a very real threat), nor will I let the admin office explode. I shall walk the halls on a pass just to make sure doors are claoed. This is my mission, and I will do it justice.

I will not lie, I am tired. We were taken from our slumber at 0400 in time for a 0445 formation. We dressed as if we were to invade the north pole-much to Santa’s dismay. The forcast suggested rain turning to sleet and snow, so the layer approach was our answer. Opening the doors to hear the howling pre-dawn wind we all were happy with out choice in clothing. Over this cocoon of heat-retaining, weather-stopping clothing we piled on other improtant gear, the type that is reputed to stop bullets. Our vests weigh in at, I’m guessing, over fifty pounds. As you can imagine this required some coordination and brute physical strength and endurance. I’m glad I’m up on my Physical Training (PT).

Off to the range we went where we were treated by a spectacle of explosion simulators, smoke and enemy attackers. We had to defend at all-costs! This exercise was to hone our defense skills, and we all took a lot away from this task. 

That all ended and we retired to our warm barracks to clean and maintain our weapons. The day really got away from me at that point and the flash between then and now perplexes me. Time tricked me again, unsurprisingly. Now the time on CQ drags on like a rusty razor pulling and jerking rather than quickly getting the job done.

During our past few weeks at Fort Dix, we have undergone many types of training. So far, we have spent most of our time brushing up on our warrior tasks. Afterall, we are soldiers first, journalists second. We have shot every weapon imaginable, kicked down doors, rolled over in a humvee simulator, etc. Now that we have completed all of our warrior skills, it’s time to focus on the Public Affairs aspect of our job. For the next three days, we will be given various tasks and scenarios much like we will see in Iraq.

As I sit in my climate controlled office, I have the opportunity to watch the same people who reacted to simulated ambushes, set up a flawless press conference. It’s a surreal feeling to know we may be sitting in our offices one minute and could find ourselves in a hostile environment the next.  It’s times like these that I realize how dynamic our job really is. In my profession, success is measured by staying alive and protecting those around you.

Wow, what a roller coaster it has been the past six months!  From going to planning conferences to developing training schedules to conducting leader’s recons to undergoing pre-deployment training, it has been a hectic time in getting the 314th ready for war.  This being my third deployment, I can honestly say that just getting to theater is an undertaking of the most difficult magnitude.  Luckily, I have thirty other outstanding Soldiers who make my life easier.  I especially appreciate the late “cross-levels” who volunteered for this deployment at the last minute.  Several of them had never met anyone in the unit, never heard of the 314th PAOC, and never had even been to Alabama, yet they decided, based upon a simple phone conversation, to devote the next 14 months of their lives to not only their country, but to the 314th PAOC.  And they have hit the ground running, ready to accept whatever comes their way, along with the “organic” 314th Soldiers.  I just want to say THANK YOU to you all!

I want to give a special thanks to SPC Roshonda Thurston, my supply specialist.  She is one of those “late arrivals” whose phone number I received from a connection at a nearby Army unit.  She is from Florida and had never even heard of the 314th.  I called her up from Alabama, introduced myself, and asked her if she wanted to go Iraq.  She said “yes” sight unseen, and in a matter of weeks, she was in Birmingham, AL, doing her supply thing.  She has been the backbone of this unit since the first day of her arrival.  She has slept very little, ran around a lot, and has basically procured an immense amount of necessary (and extra) equipment to help her unit perform its mission.  THANKS and keep your head up; the hardest part is almost over!

Anyways, we’re here at Ft. Dix, trying to get validated to deploy before we can go home on Christmas leave.  Again, words cannot express how difficult it is to finally get ”wheels up”. 

Well, it’s time for bed.  Angela-I love you.  Everybody else-take care.

Well December is ticking away. Christmas is fast approaching and today we had a significant amount of down time. I had a chance to go to the base exchange. Not that I  really needed anything. It has become a somewhat melancholy affair going there and seeing the same old movies (outdated for the most part), same nick-knacks, doo-dads and other tempting pieces of entertainment and technology that are ultimately useless to me in my given situation. So I settled on “treating myself” with a  purchase of a flat of 20oz. waters for my roommates and some body wash. Whoo hoo.

Sgt. Tull was treating himself with a haircut, and given the crowded nature of the establishment, he was in line for a while. I had finished my affairs and was waiting for him outside. I took full advantage of the $1.00 per 3 minute massage chairs that were just calling my name. The day prior we had on all of our body armor for a training class, so I did decide to repay my hindquaters for being so kind to me. I couldn’t stop with 3 minutes, so heck I made it 6. Well worth it I thought.

On the second dollar I started to become aware of the music playing in the background. CHRISTMAS MUSIC! Wow, that’s right.  It is just around the corner. Thoughts weighed heavy on my mind considering all that I have to do when I get to go home for holiday leave. Feeling overwhelmed about the cut-throat last minute shopping I will have to endure upon my return to New Hampshire, I decided not to keep feeding the chair money. I moved to a nearby park bench and slowly became more downhearted.

When I arrived at Fort Dix, the first time, it was Oct. 1st, which soon melted into November and now has dissolved into December. Not unlike an episode of the Twilight Zone, something has taken this time and compressed three months into what feels like a span of weeks. I’ve lost track so often. I relied heavily on my cell phone to tell me the date. When I left the charger in Birmingham and my battery bit the dust, I hadn’t a clue what day of the week or month it was. What a shocking realization. Luckily, my beautiful girlfriend back home sent me a charger via post and the world was restored again! Perhaps I shall need a calendar for Christmas, a full sized one and one to keep in my pocket.  

It is a funny thing, time; it usually seems to work against you. Sometimes it works for you, but never quite the rigth way. It is a never-ending battle, you vs. time.  You can neither beat it nor join it, you just have to roll with it.

We shall see what time has in store for me this next year.

Stand by for this message from our sponsor…

-30-

This was the fortune that I received when we went to the Kobe Steakhouse, a Japanese restaurant, last night (5 Dec 2008). Due to the lack of adequate and convenient Internet access this post is… well late. Anyway, it was a hibachi grill, where they cook in front of you.  Daley, Richardson and I decided that as a farewell to good food, hospitality and freedom as our last day in Birmingham that we would have some fine dining. The place was great, though the chef wasn’t as much of a showman as one usually finds at such an establishment.

We were in for a treat however. We were fortunate enough to share out table with a gentleman, Gene and his lovely wife Sheryl. Gene was a a former naval aviator and was very interesting, and made great conversation with us about our upcoming deployment. As we were wearing civilian cloths, I suppose that our short haircuts and demeanor gave us away. When the waitress came back at the end of the meal, we asked for our bills. We ordered on separate checks, with each of us being responsible for our own debts. Gene, however, had a different idea. At some point during the feast Gene clandestinely told the waitress to bring our checks to him. He paid for the whole meal! This of course was unbelievably generous and we bartered back and forth, but could not sway him from his decision. We thanked our new found friend and his wife.

Then our fortune cookies arrived, all three of us opened them to reveal incredibly relevant fortunes. Richardson’s stated: ”Your lucky color next week will be green.” As in ACU green, or Army green we laughed. Mine stated: “You will enjoy doing something different this coming weekend.” Such as going on active duty this weekend? Well I must say to this point, now one week later, I must agree. I am oddly enjoying this much more than I would have previously thought.

It is pleasing to see that good ol’ southern hospitialty is alive and kicking down in Birmingham. Perhaps what is more pleasing is knowing that there are people out there that do respect the men and women of our armed forces.

So to Gene and his wife I would like to extend a very warm thank you.

Hooah, go Army.

Stay tuned.

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(Moderator’s Note:  PFC Bernat shares some of her sketch art here.  She told me she wants to continue to hone her skill during the deployment and expand her sketching abilities.)

Sunday is a day of rest for many, and that is exactly what it was for me.  Last night we were informed that today would be a day off, well with the exception of a few mandatory meetings of course.  An Army day would not be complete without getting all together at some point during the day.

So I took the rare opportunity to sleep in, as much as anyone can sleep in when there are two other people cohabitation a very small room with you.  I woke at 0730 thinking I had overslept, but then quickly reminded myself that I could go back to sleep.  I finally woke around 0930 when one of my roommates was getting dressed.

I had missed breakfast as it ended at 0730 and I was not about to get up, dressed just to go get some sub par food and really bad coffee, so I headed over to the Joint Readiness Center where Cafe Dix is located (a small coffee bar inside a building with fairly decent coffee, bagels and such) but they were closed.

Disappointed and willing to take the post shuttle to the Shoppett where there is a Dunkin Donuts, I headed back to the barracks office to look at the shuttle, when I saw that some very kind officer had already gone to DD and bought a box of joe and some donuts!  It is pretty crazy because normally I am a tea drinker and if I do drink coffee it is from Starbucks, but like I wrote in a previous post, it is those small familiar things that bring comfort, like DD.  I have a friend who worked at Emerson and he is in the National Guard, and when he was deployed he asked some of his coworkers to send over a box of DD cups so at least the coffee he put in it would remind him of home.  I am sure that when I get over there I too will want some random request like that too.

But anyway, today has been nice to be able to sleep in, head over to the commissary to buy sushi and not eat at least two meals at the dining facility and to get online in the day room to catch up on e-mails and this blog.

We have one more week here before Christmas leave, which I CANNOT wait for!  It will be so special to spend time with my boyfriend Adam and his family, and spend at least a week in our new apartment that Adam has spent countless hours unpacking and cleaning so I can have a nice safe home to return to!

I hope you all are well and enjoying your sunday too!

Going off to a combat zone and leaving everything familiar behind is a little unsettling (I suppose for some that is quite an understatement). 

So what can someone do to make it a little more bearable?  I know in my case, it is taking a few things with me that help me hold on to normality.  I’ve talked to a few other Soldiers and they said they also have a few things that they hope will make the time pass and keep them centered.

I thought I’d share some of the things that I and other soldiers packed in their baggage to remind them that there is less than a year til we are back in the United States again.  In case you are a family member of one of these soldiers, and they did not mention that hand-knitted sweater or the lucky rabbit foot you gave them, please take mercy.  I only gave them a few seconds to respond to my questions.

-  2LT Larrew, like others, said he is bringing his computer.  He said it has lots of pictures of his family and friends which rotate on his screen.  In addition to keeping him feeling good, the pictures are also a conversation starter with others who see them.

-  MAJ Lincoln has his computer, too, but it is not pictures that keep him smiling.  Instead, he has more than 15,000 songs, including the top 100 songs from every year from 1950 until 2007.  He said it is about 67 gigabytes on his hard drive.  I certainly hope the folks at AFN don’t find out about this or they might make him an honorary broadcast journalist, just to get there hands on that library of music.

-  SGT Fowler and SPC RIchardson are bringing music as well, but in their cases it’s going to be live.  Both of them have guitars to keep themselves — and all of us — entertained (at least we hope so).  In fact, SPC Richardson has already started; several evenings here at Fort Dix he has been seek strolling through the hallways of the barracks strumming his Martin backpacker guitar. 

- MAJ Stewart is a no-nonsense kind of guy, and his special things are indicative of that.  He said he is bring his college homework (he has almost completed his master’s degree).  If that isn’t enough, he also has his online Rosetta Stone language training.  He is studying Italian so he and his wife can take a trip there some time soon. 

-  On a lighter note, SFC Poulten said he is bringing some good cigars, a family heirloom ring from his grandfather, and (truthfully) a set of Spiderman bed sheets.  He added that his nephew back home also has a set.  Oh, I almost forgot, SSG Daley has Batman sheets, but no nephew with matching sheets back home.

- SGT Jackson, like others, has pictures, but unlike others his pictures are not just family and friends.  He works as a professional photographer and videographer back home and many of his pictures are those he has had published.  Just this evening he showed me a beautiful picture he took of some leafy groundcover seemingly floating in an Alabama morning fog. 

-  1LT Brimley is a joker most of the time, but he seemed quite reserved when I asked him what he was bringing.  He said it is something very personal, but he did added that each time he looks at it he smiles.

As for me, I have a few things packed, but the one I cherish the most is my cribbage board and accompanying deck of cards.  You need to know that my grandfather, who is now well into his 80s, taught me to play this game more than 40 years ago when I was barely old enough to play “Go Fish”.  Every time I play cribbage I think of him and the wonderful memories of my childhood in his and my grandmother’s home in Taconite, Minnesota.  It’s been a few years since he and I have been able to play, but I am smiling now remembering those days.  I hope seeing the cribbage board in Iraq brings back those same memories on trying days.

I have been in the military for six years. I have never been deployed. When I found out I would be deploying a lot of thoughts and emotions raced through my mind, but not once did I really complain. I figured this is what I signed up for and it is such an honor to be able to serve and protect my country. However, I have found the one thing I hate about this deployment so far. Is it the people? NO! Is it the work? NO! It’s the…WEATHER!!! I hate cold weather. Training outside in the cold is the one thing I have decided was the worst thing that has happened to me so far. I don’t considered myself a person who always complains but the weather here is just horrible for me. I mean I come from Alabama. It gets cold there but I’m usually inside drinking hot chocolate by a fireplace. Training outside in the cold is not one of my favorite things. I have no idea how people from New Jersey and anywhere else cold deals with it. I really feel sorry for toll booth workers. Well, I guess if the weather is the only thing I have to complain about, everything else is going pretty good. I’m done ranting about the weather. There’s nothing that can be done about it so I will suck it up and continue to train to my 100% ability.

Until next time…stay positive!!

As I sit here on CQ listening to SFC Poulten play some Rage Against the Machine, I can’t help but wander, “where is there cell phone signal?” and “why can’t I sign on to Yahoo Messenger?” Oh well, Christmas leave is coming up soon and I can’t wait!  I love watching the expression on my family’s face (especially Bradley’s) when they open their gifts.  Anyway, the reason I’m not able to maintain a consistent line of communication with my family and friends back home is because there is no signal here.  Believe me it’s not because I’m not trying, I’ve wandered the halls of our building day and night searching for the best place to make my calls, or at least send my test messages out (normally not realizing they didn’t send until hours later when I see them in my outbox).  Before I sign off for the night I’d like to thank Gene and Sherry (not sure on the spelling) in Birmingham, Alabama for the wonderful dinner at Kobe Japanese Cuisine.  SSG Daley, SGT Fowler, and I were eating, enjoying our last night of personal freedom in Alabama and after talking with the slightly older couple, who were both former Navy officers, asked for our checks.  We hadn’t realized that they had already told the waitress to bring them all of our checks and paid for it…sneaky, sneaky.  Well, that is it for me, my time is up, hopefully next time I write I’ll have something more exciting to share.

Anyone who has been in the Army can tell you that the training environment can be the most difficult to endure. Just imagine living in a room, the size of the average bathroom, with four to six other Soldiers, plus enough equipment to survive a year in a war zone. Now picture that one person who just rubs you the wrong way, maybe an annoying co-worker, a needy younger sibling, or the consummate complainer, because that person will definitely be assigned to your room. Now imagine that anytime you escape your little kennel, you have to watch a variation or the same two-hour Power Point presentation for twenty plus days in a row. It might be just enough to make you lose your mind, but that is not what does it for me. My breaking point was laundry. Army training barracks have the worst laundry rooms known to man. It’s not the Army’s fault however; it’s just the nature of the beast. The hectic schedule allows for limited time to wash your clothes. Plus you have 200 Soldiers fighting over five washers, so it is not uncommon for Joe to stuff 50 pounds of laundry into a medium size washer. Soldiers clothes also carry enough dirt and sand into these unsuspecting washers to fill a child’s sandbox, not to mention the occasional pair of combat boots that find their way into these poor machines. I bet we burn up at least one washer a week. For me, there is nothing more frustrating than picking the wrong machine. You finally get a break, race to the room, grab your laundry, dump it in the machine, crank it up, and then it’s off to relax in the dayroom. An hour passes, you return to the laundry room, lift up the washer lid, and it is full of murky brown water. Your night is ruined, you might as well thrown your uniforms in the toilet to soak. It’s a frustrating feeling. The next step in the process is even tougher, drying your clothes. None of the dryers work. Some warm up a little. Some just toss the clothes around. If you are lucky, two cycles will get the job done. If you choose the wrong machine, you just signed up for a twelve hour adventure. So how have I learned to deal with this frustration? I created a little game to keep my sanity called laundry roulette, but in this game Spc. Kyle is always a winner. If I pick the right machines, my clothes get done in a normal amount of time. So what if I pick the wrong machines? I have set laundry roulette up in such a manner that this is how you actually win. If you are inconvienced by one of these temperamental, you win a prize. It maybe an extra dessert at the dinning facility, or you can double down and pick the wrong washer and dryer. The prize for this headache, you treat yourself to that special piece of equipment you have been eyeing at clothing and sales or maybe a new book from the PX. That is how I keep my sanity, I make everything a little game. Try it for yourself. It is amazing how much easier it makes life’s little headaches, but always remember not to let yourself lose at your own game.