PFC Jeremy

Jeremy got to call yesterday around lunch time, and for once we had crystal clear cell phone reception, and Jeremy wasn't nearly so dog tired as he usually is for our evening phone call, so I got to hear a fair bit about how training is going so far.

First off, you should know that Jeremy is in the 3rd Platoon, which is by far, and without any doubt, the absolute best of the three platoons. They have the best leadership, the best soldiers, and they've been "cleaning up" on all their training exercises so far. There's a healthy bit of platoon rivalry among the guys of course, such that setting foot in the room of a squad from a different platoon will almost certainly get you tackled, taped and para cord bound and held hostage until your platoon comes to rescue you. They even have a secret platoon handshake and several very Army sounding nick names. "War Pigs" is the one that stands out most in my memory...highly flattering, I must say. Through my laughter I finally interjected, "Jeremy, it sounds for all the world like you're at boys camp!", and he readily agreed. Obviously morale is high, the men are having a good time and glad to be where they are.

Their most recent training exercises have included a lot of weapons training, a three mile ruck march with "full battle rattle" (ie: all the body armor they'll be wearing, full pack, weapon, etc.), some language classes, and of course, training classes specific to their mission of helping the Iraqi Police to become a self-sufficient entity.

Jeremy - dressed for a three mile ruck march

Jeremy's platoon - resting after their 5 mile march

Right now the unit is stationed in barracks at Fort Dix, NJ. These first few weeks they're getting a lot of paper work and administrative details tackled, issuing a ton of gear, and beginning the very long check list of training courses that have to be done before shipping out to Iraq. Right now they have wi-fi internet access right there in the barracks, and enough free time to be able to call home at least once a day, and do some shopping online and on the base to get those little items of gear specific to each soldier (ie: prescription safety glasses, insoles for your boots, a certain tactical knife or flashlight, etc.). Soon enough they'll be moving out to a tent city for more intense mobilization training. There they will be simulating life in Iraq every single day, with patrols, mock ambushes, sleeping in sleeping bags on cots with limited amenities, and so on.

Current Barracks