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???