As I'm sure all of you know by now, I am an Army Reserve Soldier, and so I attended drill earlier this month at the end of which I received my permanent orders.  It appears that it is safe to say I am being deployed to Afghanistan indefinitely.  Obviously, to observe Operations Security (OPSEC) regulation, I clearly cannot reveal further information.  However, I just wanted confirm what has already been shared via my YouTube videos and basically provide my thoughts on the matter.

In a small way, I have experienced a considerably consistent time away from home, work and of course, family.  I have spent the vast majority of this year dotting the United States attending schools for training and Army competitions, in all of which I have done quite well.  However, I have already begun to face estrangement from my friends, who also happen to be my colleagues at my civilian workplace, as well as my 1,000+ elementary aged students (FYI: I'm a public school teacher if you didn't arleady know).  In terms of the former, it's been a great year, but as for the latter, this year has sucked.  I've said all this to help shape my ultimate point:  a year of deployment and the time I'll have to be away from work to prepare for it means another year of becoming a stranger.  It's an odd feeling and it was palpable throughout the 2010-2011 school year.  I'm hoping that I can work this out, as my job situation in regards to this deployment is a unique one.  That's all I have to say about this for now.

On a positive note, I do look forward to the experience of being deployed, all the while praying for my safety (lol).  There is a HUGE financial benefit as well as learning more about what my MOS (Military Occupational Specialty aka "army job") will be like in a combat environment.  Honestly, I don't know what to expect but I know for sure I will have a lot to share as I go along or afterward.  In short, I am both excited, afraid but encouraged to do my best as my unit prepares and once we deploy.

Stay tuned!

 

When it came to packing for Basic Training I will confess that I was the one that overpacked because I wanted to be prepared.  I found it hard believe that packing one day's worth of clothing and basic hygiene products was going to be sufficient, but trust me when I say that the packing list I'm about to share with you is probably exactly what you need.

Some of the things that you will see listed below were not listed in the video because they were thought of long after the video was created.  So if you're reading this, lucky you! lol

My packing list:

• Pack one day's worth of clothes, including a jacket (males you may wear boxers for now, but that will change after reception).
• Bring all basic hygiene products.
• If you have prescription eyeglasses, bring them.
• Photo ID (driver's license and/or military ID
• Social Security Card
• Birth Certificate (probable)
• Debit Card
• Checkbook (optional)
• Credit Card (optional)
• Any required medications
• Cash not to exceed $50
• Combination Lock for your temporary stay at reception battalion
• Extra copy of enlistment contract (optional, but recommended)
• Packet from recruiter
• Sharpie markers (to put your name on everything you own)
• Any religious reading material you feel you need.

I hope this benefits you and brings some reassurance.  And as usual, for any questions or concerns hit me up by commenting on this post or emailing me at godavidstrong@gmail.com.

So that it is clear, all of this is a recap of the last weekend from January 7th to January 9th as it happened.

This past weekend, as you know, I had to go to Tampa, Florida to do the battalion level Best Warrior Competition (Agh!  I am so bored and burnt out with even hearing that title).  Before leaving I literally ransacked my bedroom to find things in my luggage that I brought back with me from training.  For the record, my bedroom doesn't look like this on a regular basis.  I just had to dig out only the items that I thought I needed for the weekend.

I left with my sponsoring NCO later Friday afternoon.  I drove and we studied using the iPhone Army Study Guide app the majority of the way to prepare for what turned out to be not as stressful as expected.  

Fast forward and we are arrived in Tampa and I was dead tired.  I didn't get to bed until late.

To be continued...

 

P.S.  I've been extremely busy between teaching all day, physical training and working and shooting videos for my YouTube channel, I'm pretty burnt.  But preparing for the BWC is what had to take most of my time.  But I'm trucking right along.