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......

Lake View, Iowa, to Ft. Lee, Virginia

My twenty-two hour car ride from Lake View, Iowa to Ft. Lee, Virginia, began last Friday (July 2, 2010) around 9:00 a.m. (CST) (excuse me, 0900). Although I was sad to be saying goodbye to my family and friends, I was excited to begin training. For some reason that day, Lake View, especially Black Hawk Lake, had never looked more beautiful. Below is a picture I took just before I left town.



I don't know if you can ever mentally prepare yourself for twenty-two hours behind the wheel, but I do know a pit stop to say goodbye to great friends and their cute children, definitely helps with that. Below is a picture of me with my best friend Adam Bentz and his oldest, my Goddaughter, Brette, taken on my way out of Iowa.



After losing an hour (time zone change) somewhere in Indiana, my GPS directed me southward to my eventual resting place for the evening, Morehead Kentucky. I don't know whether it was because I missed Counciltucky (just kidding Council Bluffs, you know I love you) , or because Iowa enjoys CCW reciprocity with Kentucky, but staying the night in the "Bluegrass State" just felt like the right thing to do.

I woke up Saturday morning (yesterday I guess, feels like forever ago) feeling very refreshed. I stuffed my face with Super 8's world famous continental breakfast and I hit the road. Before leaving the hotel parking lot, my GPS asked me whether I wanted to calculate a new route that would bypass toll roads. Sure, why not. What harm could come with such a harmless little push of a button? Now, because I had seen Kentucky only at night up until this point, I didn't realize I had spent the night in the Appalachian Mountains. Kentucky is beautiful, and so is West Virginia. Below are some pictures of West Virginia.



There's coal up in them there hills! (above picture)



Overlooking a cool looking, isolated little mountain town - taken from a Taco Bell parking lot, so I guess not that isolated. (above picture)

I remember thinking I wanted to come back someday and spend some quality time up in the mountains. I didn't know it at the time, but my decision back at the hotel to haphazardly delegate all navigational responsibilities to my GPS so that I could save some pocket change, would soon take me there - and then some. Long story short, I ended up wandering the Appalachian Mountains for close to two hours before I got back on the interstate. Below are two pictures. One is of the Sauk Rail Trail, which is a jogging/biking trail back in Lake View, and the other is of an Appalachian Mountain "Turnpike". You guess which is which.





I guess the front of my car gives it away, but you get my point. West Virginia is so bold as to consider the road/trail in the above-picture a "Turnpike" . Anyway, like I said, my GPS eventually lead me back to the interstate (I've never been happier to see painted lines on asphalt!) and I coasted down the mountain to Ft. Lee. However, before I reached my final destination, I ran into an old friend (below picture).



Waffle House - no wifi access but some tasty pecan waffles!

I am safe and sound in Ft. Lee. We are actually one day into our training. It's only been one day, but I have met many great guys and gals. The 182nd JAOBC is definitely made up of true patriots! I hope to soon write more about our class and our training, but for now, sleep........