Shaving at 0430 (4:30 am) = 2 O'Clock Shadow

As of today, we are about halfway through phase one, the Ft. Lee phase.

The 114 soldiers/lawyers of the 182nd JAOBC (our class) are diverse in age, experience (both military and legal), and have come from all over our great country to become Army JAG Officers. Some are married with families, some are like me. Because housing on Ft. Lee was at capacity, our class is being housed at a local, off-base hotel. My hotel room is as nice as any one in which I've ever stayed. It has a nice kitchenette, a foldout couch (which is currently doubling as a clothesline) and a big flat screen TV. It's just too bad I don't get to spend much time in it. I have attached some pictures of my room, below; however, I have to be honest, I had to use a picture from the hotel's website. Mine is somewhat "lived in" and I just can't bring myself to tidy it up for a picture. In fact, I think the maids have given up at this point.





About half of our class is made up of Army Guard/Reserve (part-time soldiers) members like me, who, after successful completion of JAOBC, will return to their respective states and serve in a reserve capacity. The rest have joined the active duty Army (full-time soldiers) and will report to an assigned military installation once we are done in November. I have met so many great people since I have been here. I don't think I have eaten with the same group of soldiers more than once.

Our days begin with PT (physical training) at 0545 (5:45 a.m.). We are required to be clean shaven for PT, which means Barbasol and and a Mach 3 hit my face at around 0430 (4:30 a.m.) (add shaving everyday to the list of big changes). After PT, our day continues with various classes/sessions, which have all been held in the classroom setting with all sorts of military subjects being taught and administrative, in-processing tasks being completed, e.g., basic officer leadership type courses, military customs and courtesies, health insurance paperwork, paycheck paperwork, paperwork, paperwork, and more paperwork, all of which is necessary, however.





(early morning PT -Hooah!)

All aspects of this training phase is being conducted/taught by soldiers of various ranks who are collectively referred to as " the cadre". The cadre are all very knowledge, helpful, and professional. They command, deserve, and receive much respect from our class. Because most of our class has no prior military experience, the cadre definitely have what may seem an impossible task, that is, taking us (most of us) from civilians to warriors in less than three months. With the exception of my former college football coach, I can't think of a time when I have experienced such effective leadership.

Those students in our class who are former military serve as class leaders. They too have been great leaders, as well as invaluable resources for all things military. I am not sure how our class would survive this training without them.



(classroom)



(Brigadier General administering the Oath of Office to our class)

I wish I could write more, but I need to get some sleep. We took our Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) this morning (I was very happy with the results of my score, but I know I can do better) for that reason, and because our class has been working hard, the cadre gave us a reprieve from PT in the morning.

I hope everyone is doing well. Also, before I forget, I'd like to put everyone on notice that my little brother got his driver's license. Consider yourselves warned!

Goodnight......