Busy, busy

Sorry It's been so long since I've posted. Life stays really busy for me here at AIT. I don't get very much free time during the week.

I'm supposed to be studying for the board right now, but I really don't feel like it.  For those who don't know, the board is where you go before SGT's and even Sergeants Major and answer questions about the military and your job. Typically you go before the board to get promoted. Here at AIT it is more for practice, plus you do gain some promotion points. My Platoon SGT picked me to represent my PLT for the company board. I have a huge book of material to study by next Friday. Whoever does the best from our company will then move onto the Battalion board for soldier of the month. I think from there if you win you move onto Soldier of the Quarter for the Brigade. For that one you don't just go in front of the board, but you also have to do: a 6 mile foot march carrying a 35lb ruck sack and weapon, take a PT test, and do M16 weapon's qualification. I'm not too worried about the PT test, but the ruck march and the weapon's qualification scare me a bit. I did a march last Saturday just to see how well I'd do. I made it in the allotted time frame (1hr and 45min), but it was pretty rough, although it didn't help that I was carrying 45lbs by accident.  Matt went with me so that was pretty cool also 3 guys from my platoon volunteered to go as well just for the exercise. I think they're all insane

It has been unbelievably hot and humid here! The temps have been in the 100's with a high humidity. Even at 0450 we'll all be standing in formation in shorts and t-shirts before PT sweating. By the time we actually finish PT we all look like we went for a swim instead of a run. Friday's PT was good, but pretty rough. We ran what is called Willard Hill. It is about 200m and the grade is at least a 55 degree angle if not 65 degrees! We ran down and then back up 4 times. It doesn't sound like much, but by the time I get to the top I'm really gasping for air. After we finished the last time up we did a quick stretch before the flag was raised at 0630 and then we double-timed it back to our company. By the time we arrived I was feeling fairly sick to my stomach.   There were a couple of guys who threw up after running up the hill the last time.  Right now I'm the only female who does regular PT for the day shift, so I'm pretty noticeable. I had at least 2 SGT's comment on my run up the hill yesterday. I've also had 2 of the SGT's in my PLT say that their goal is to make me fall out of a run someday. I've told them it'll never happen.

Life has settled in to a pretty comfortable routine. Friday after final formation Matt drives to my company to pick me up. We then check into a hotel to stay at for the weekend. He then drops me back off on Sunday around 1730 (5:30pm) so I can change and put my stuff away before recall formation at 1750 (5:50pm). He then drives back home. The rest of the week seems to drag by until Friday when I get to see him again.

I am really looking forward to the 4^th of July. I get July 3^rd-7^th off. Matt get's the 4^th-8^th off so my parents are going to drive here to pick me up on Thursday and then they'll take me to Hinesville for the weekend. Matt will be able to take me back on Sunday. He'll probably spend Sunday night here in Augusta and drive back on Monday sometime. I am really looking forward to getting to go home again. Though it does make it all that much harder to return to Ft. Gordon.

As of right now I am scheduled to report to Hawaii for my first duty station. I have filed for joint domicile and Married Army Couple's Program. I am also going to call my branch and talk to them about changing my orders to have me assigned to Ft. Stewart here in Georgia. Hawaii is a very cool place to be stationed, but it will not be worth it without Matt there too. They will not move Matt there because he's only been at Ft. Stewart for about 6 months. Also the brigade I'm to be assigned to in Hawaii is scheduled to be deployed to Afghanistan late this year for 12 months. I'm fairly certain I'll be able to get my orders changed because most people would love to be stationed in Hawaii and rarely does anyone ever request going to Ft. Stewart.

Well I think I've written plenty for now. Hopefully it won't be quite so long before I do again. I hope that everyone is doing well!

~Misty~