Entry #3: August 17, 2005

Hohenfels, Germany (somewhere near the Czech Republic border)

CMTC (Combat Maneuvers Training Center) Rotation

This entry will encompass two days. Yesterday was quite a busy day. Our military intelligence battalion commander came to visit our company yesterday. We had meetings about meetings, but I learned a lot about what I will be doing downrange in Iraq (many Soldiers also refer to it as the “Sandbox”). Suffice to say, I can’t say or write what I’ll be doing, but I can throw ya’ll this little bone. There is top secret and then there is TOP SECRET. I’ll be dealing with the latter, which is exactly what I want to be doing. I’ll have more of a chance to make a difference and do a job that I signed away three years of my life to do, which is extremely exciting and important to me.

Today, my platoon finished up some training in the morning. It went quite well, though not as smoothly as I wanted to, but then again all Army training has bumps. My guys still accomplished the mission and learned a few things, which is the important thing. This afternoon, I took one of my sections on a reconnaissance out in the field. Talk about some fun. We definitely got some mud on the tires. Reconnaissance is a vital part of what we do and the terrain where we were wheelin’ around certainly requires some knowledge. When we completed our recon and parked back in the motor pool, you could definitely tell which vehicles got a workout. As my driver put it, “You’re making the other LT’s jealous.” I hope I am. So the Soldier’s life continues…