Last Days in Kentucky

It's been a long time since the last update because we have not heard much from Tim in the last week or so. He called last night while I was at my bike race. Here are the highlights per Debbie:

• Tim is essentially done with his official training as of Wednesday. He received his unit's saber insignia in a short ceremony.
• Over the Memorial Day weekend they participated in a field exercise in which they were closely observed and graded on performance. Tim said they got very little sleep and were pushed very hard. They returned from this exercise on Sunday evening.
• Yesterday they completed a grueling 20k "ruck march". They had to carry 40 lbs packs, wear body armor and carry their guns over a series of hills. It was very hot.
• Tim passed his official physical fitness test (push-up, sit-up and 2 mile run). He placed 9th overall out of about 300.
• For this last week they will cleaning and painting the barracks. Shortly after they graduate and vacate the building, it will be torn down as all training is being moved to Ft. Benning, GA. Why paint it? It's the Army...
• He seems to be doing well. As you might expect, glad that he has officially "made it" in terms of passing. Ready to come home and have a normal life again.

Update

Sorry, but there's not much news to report lately. We didn't get a phone call from Tim this weekend. He had mentioned last week that some extended field exercises were planned, so it is possible he is on an Army "camping" trip. We received only a couple of letters this week. In one of them, Tim indicated that he had not received any mail for a number of days. I've written him a number of letters the last couple of weeks, so they must be holding his mail for some reason.

His last letter indicated they were driving Humvees and the Bradley.

Sunday Phone Call

Tim was able to call Sunday evening and we spoke for about 40 minutes. He said that he was reasonably healthy and that he was doing okay. However, we could sense that he was struggling a little - I think he's just worn out from the work, lack of sleep and constant stress. At one point he said that an extra hour of basic training would be too much to handle. He's very, very eager to be done. Apparently the drill sergeant told them the last week was easy, so Tim is thinking that he has only 2 1/2 weeks of tough training, plus the final week. I hope he is not disappointed.

This week they will be driving the Bradley, which he is looking forward to. His final P.T.test is coming up, also. Going from memory, I remember the following:
1) He enjoyed the letters sent from Aunt Debbie's class. He passed them around to others, also.
2) Claims to have gained 11 lbs (6 at Family Day, plus an additional 5).
3) Does not expect many additional freedoms when they move to Gold phase.
4) Moved into another bay and is bunking with his friends Roddy, Mackey and another fellow.
5) They took away all of his non-prescription drugs - no self-medicating.

Please remember to write him some words of encouragement these last few weeks. I think he can use it!

Weekend Phone Call

Tim was able to call on Sunday to wish his Mom a happy Mother's Day. On the one hand, we are happy to report that he finally received a pass for a few hours on Sunday. His plans were to watch a movie (on base) and to order Chinese food. On the other hand, we are disappointed to learn that his troop seems to be in semi-permanent punishment mode. He said that last week was among the worst weeks since has has been there. They have been required to stand on Red Line for hours at a time, multiple times per day. He said that it has become a privilege to clean the barracks. Also, it seems that he is not getting his mail. For example, I've written him at least 8 letters since Family Day and I think he has only received a couple of them.

Other news: 1) the weather has been warmer  2) he is counting down the days (a little over 4 weeks remaining)  3) he seems to be healthy (finally!)  4) he's looking forward to more training on the Bradley, especially firing the big gun on the top  5) was excited to hear about Steve's debate tournament win in Indianapolis (regional champion)

New Letter

Yesterday we received a letter dated 4/29/11. Here are a few highlights:
1) "My favorite part of Family Day was getting to feel like a normal person again."
2) The drill sergeant told them the last week of training was easy - all graduation prep.
3) They've been training on the Long Range Advanced Scout Surveillance System (1st picture)
4) ... the Javelin anti-tank missile (2nd picture)
5) ... the Automated Net Control device (3rd picture)
6) When he wrote the letter he had hoped to get a weekend pass. When we spoke with him on Sunday we found that he didn't get one. Has has only had one pass other than  Family Day.

 LARS3Javelin
ANCD (scans radio frequencies)

Phone Call

We spoke with Tim on Sunday afternoon. He called from his mobile phone and told us they had use of them for 30 minutes. Unfortunately, he said that things after Family Day are much like they were before Family Day. That is, no special privileges. However, their training is now mainly by platoon, rather than by troop, so there is less waiting than before. He enjoys training on the Bradleys but has not been able to drive one yet. He seems to be healthy and doing reasonably well. The weather is still rainy down there, and he is getting a little tired of being wet. He asked for information about his unit in Texas, but we weren't able to find much on the Internet. He has just a little over five weeks to go.

Here is the emblem of his Texas unit - the 112th Cavalry.

Letter Received

We received a short letter from Tim last night. It is our first letter from him since Family Day. He had a really nice time at Family Day is is very thankful for the support. It sounds like he's doing okay and is getting re-adjusted to Army life. This week he has been training on the Bradley Fighting vehicle (see picture). He wasn't sure if he was going to get to drive it, or simply ride in it. Of course, he was hoping to drive it.

A couple of other comments. Please try to write him a letter if you can. I'm sure he can use some extra support these last few weeks. They really like to get letters - the longer the better according to Tim. All of the guys are pretty tired and stressed, so it would help if you could encourage him.

Also, Tim and I were looking at his pay stubs (which are mailed to our house) over the weekend and we realized the budget crisis has affected Tim directly. The government is withholding a portion of his pay, which is listed as "gov't debt" on his pay stub. Presumably they will reimburse him for these amounts when the budget is passed. Fortunately, Tim does not need the money at the moment, but consider the impact on service families which have very little income. Something to think about...

Family Day Pictures

Here are a few pix from Family Day.

Family Day Report

We enjoyed a great weekend with Tim at Family Day. Joining his immediate family were grandma and grandpa Sears, grandpa Troutman, Aunt Debbie and Uncle Brian. Thanks to all for coming.

I'll try to post some pictures tomorrow. Tim is skinny, nearly bald, but looking good. He seems to be in good health and good spirits, but is looking forward to the end of training on June 9th.

Basic Graduation

We're attending Tim's graduation tomorrow morning. Also expecting Grandma & Grandpa Sears, Grandpa Troutman, Aunt Debbie & Uncle Brian. Leaving for Kentucky tonight; attending the graduation tomorrow. We should have some pictures posted early next week.

Phone Call

I spoke too soon in the previous post. Just as I hit "enter", Tim called. Here are some notes from the call:

1) Tim is still sick - either a sinus infection or an ordinary cold. Going to sick bay is strongly discouraged and results in abuse from the drill sergeants, so you don't go unless you are really, really sick.
2) Tim called from his mobile phone. Apparently, they will have use of them for an hour every Sunday.
3) Tim's official P.T. test is on Tuesday. Those who don't pass don't get to participate in Family Day.
4) Tim will probably have a fresh haircut on Family Day. In other words, he will look essentially bald.
5) Also, Tim is required to wear his uniform all weekend. Not supposed to wear civilian clothes in public.
6) Attended Catholic church today.
7) Really looking forward to Family Day.
8) Tim says he looks really stupid in his Army glasses. His head is small and the glasses are big.

Late Update

I forgot to post information from a letter we received on April 9 (see below). Other than that, we have not heard from Tim for the remainder of the week. We were hoping to get a phone call (as always) but it didn't happen.

April 9 letter notes - physical fitness test.
1) If you fail to pass the test, you are recycled to take it again. This adds weeks to basic training and is very, very undesirable for obvious reasons.
2) I think they do push-ups and sit-ups until failure, plus a two mile run.You can try this at home to see how you do. Here's a link to see how to score yourself: http://www.apft-standards.com/
3) Tim did 52 full push-ups, 66 sit-ups and 13:40 two mile run in spite of being "sick as a dog".
4) The above represents a score of 243 out of 300. 150 is the minimum score to qualify. If he can raise his score to 270 he will earn a P.T. badge.
5) Tim fell on the run and skinned-up his side (which makes his time seem even faster). 13:40 for 2 miles is a pace of 6:50 per mile, which is pretty good.
6) He says he is getting over his sickness.
7) Has gained a few pounds.
8) Has learned to cope with the drill sergeants by "not taking the abuse personally". The guys who take it personally have difficulty.

New Letter

Highlights of a letter we received from Tim dated April 7:
1) Only one mail call last week.
2) Fired grenade launcher and AT-4 rocket launcher (tracer rounds only). Good story about another soldier who blew-up a tank with a live round.
3) 12k march with 50 lb packs, rifles and helmets at 4mph across 3 hills named "misery, agony and heartbreak." One of them was a mile long at 24% grade. Tim says hills are aptly named.
4) Tim shot machine gun well. Drill Sergeant said, "Now that's what I call shooting!"
5) Did some practice on virtual range, trying to distinguish between good guys and bad guys.
6) Now in Blue phase: more freedom, yet held to higher standards of performance.
7) Live ammo drills - shooting over each other's shoulders.
8) Grenade practice - grenades are more powerful than you might think. A sergeant standing just outside the bunker 200m from the grenade caught shrapnel in his arm.
9) Crawling under barbed wire at night with machine gun fire overhead and explosions all around.
10) Tim still not 100% healthy. Claims to be getting better.
11) They rarely get to sit on chairs - always on the floor. They sit on the floor at training and in their barracks. The only chairs they get are in the mess hall and at church.
12) Laundry is done at night by those on guard duty. You leave your bag of laundry and detergent and the guards move it through the machines and put in in front of your bunk.

No News

It was a quiet week, this week - no phone calls and no letters from Tim all week.

FaceBook Photos

There are a number of new photos posted at the Ghost Troop, 5-15 Cavalry Regiment page, but we could not find any that we could positively identify as Tim. We have not heard from Tim this weekend, and we haven't seen any letters from him since my last post.

Here are weapons mentioned by Tim that he is training on this week.
 M249SAW
      M2 50
 M240B
       AT-4

Birthday Letter

Here are some excerpts from the letter Tim wrote to us on his birthday (dated March 27).
So the story of my birthday begins the night before. After breakfast, the DS was walking through the hall and Roddy yelled out, "Drill Sergeant, it's Sears' birthday!" The DS froze, came in, stared at me, then walked out and called "Redline!" [This means they must all line-up in formation] Dreading what was to come, and cursing Roddy, I sprinted to redline and dutifully lined-up. The DS yelled out, "First platoon, you know what to do." PVT Pearson started to drop into push-up position, several other privates started toward me as if to tackle me, and the rest simply looked confused, thus proving that 1st platoon did not know what to do. The people acting alone (Pearson and the tacklers) quickly realized they were doing the wrong thing, and a chorus of "Happy Birthday" gradually broke out. After the completion of the song, the DS asked how old I was, then said that I looked closer to 10 than 20. So, I guess it is not such a big deal after all. It's about time to go to church, so I'll continue this in a couple of hours.

Another section about Advanced Rifle Marksmanship...
We fired at a qualification range in body armor in different positions from behind cover. We had to shoot each target enough times to kill it (randomly 1-3). The training really works. I did great, shooting rapid fire at targets out to 300M, then my red dot went out [laser aiming device]. Without even pausing to think, I flipped-up my iron sight and continued firing. Fixing problems like that as well as weapon malfunctions has become second nature to us.

After recapping his day, which included 2 phone calls home...
Today was as good a birthday as I could hope for at Basic Training. I got Cocoa Puffs for breakfast, a hamburger for dinner, and two phone calls. I wish I could have spent it with my family, though.

No New News

No letters in the last few days. We're expecting one tonight.

Update

We received a letter dated March 25, 2011 addressed to the family.

1) He's been very, very busy with Advanced Rifle Marksmanship (ARM). Up early and late to bed, all day long at the range for 2 weeks.
2) He enjoys firing on full automatic in pitch black darkness with night vision goggles.
3) He is out of writing paper and had to borrow from a friend. He will buy some more at the PX.
4) Standing in the cold and rain...
5) Feels old now that he is no longer a teenager.
6) Overnight mail I sent him was delivered next day and apparently circumvented the usual screening process.
7) He's doing okay, so don't worry.

10 Minute Phone Call

Tim called today, which is his birthday, and we spoke with him for 10 minutes. We were still at church (hanging out after the service) and he called Debbie's cell phone after trying our home phone. We're sure glad Debbie had her phone and it was not silenced. All things considered, he seems to be doing very well. Here are some notes:

1) His friend, Roddy, initiated a singing of "Happy Birthday" at roll call this morning.
2) I sent him a special birthday letter via overnight mail on Thursday which was delivered to him on Friday.
3) There is snow on the ground. The worst part of training is standing in the cold for hours at a time.
4) He claims to have gained a few pounds.
5) He likes the advanced rifle training - shooting at night with night scope.
6) They are moving from White Phase to Blue Phase this week. Hopefully will get a few more freedoms.
7) He is also hoping that Blue Phase will bring a 4 hour pass. If so, they plan to order pizza, eat candy and play in the arcade. However, there is no guaranty of getting the pass.
7) He got 9 hours of sleep last night. This is a real blessing after weeks of sleep deprivation.
8) He went to the protestant church service this morning, which was not especially good.

There are some new photos posted on the "Ghost Troop, 5-15 Cavalry Regiment" FaceBook page. This set of photos seem to feature the advanced rifle training. Unfortunately, we could not positively identify Tim in any of them.

New Batch of Letters

Letters dated March 18, 19 and 20.

Highlights:
1) Tim qualified on the shooting range despite multiple weapon malfunctions.
2) Started Advanced Rifle Marksmanship on 3/19/11 - shooting at moving targets, etc.
3) He asked me to pass on this message - he's got plenty of time to read letters, so there is no need to cut them short. He is interested in hearing even the boring details of our lives.
4) The weather has been warmer and sunnier.
5) Getting used to wearing helmet and body armour, which weights 35 lbs.
6) May attend Catholic service next Sunday.
7) He is counting down the days to Family Day.
8) Tim is losing track of time - the days run together and he has difficulty remembering one day from the next. He asked Debbie to send him a calendar.
9) Has made some friends, but no enemies.
10) Disappointed he doesn't have a nickname yet.

Still Waiting for a Call

No call this weekend. Rats!

Lots of Letters

We received a whole pile of letters - one for Steve, one for Mom, one for Danny, two for me (Larry) and one for the family in general.

1) He sent a sketch of his barracks.When they order a "redline", the troops have to store their stuff and assemble in alphabetical order upstairs in 10 seconds.
2) One of the recruits punched a wall after receiving a "Dear John" letter, and was discharged pending repairing his hand. Will have to restart basic training later.
3) Tim is sad to miss March birthdays - Libby's, mine and his.
4) They may have cheeseburgers in the chow line soon and Tim is hoping to get one before they run out.
5) Mormon service last Sunday was a flop.
6) They are up at 4:30 am and must be assembled outside at 5:05 am.
7) While on "fireguard" at night, they are generally cleaning the barracks.
8) Tim wants Debbie to bring Buckeye candy for his buddies on family day.
9) Tim wrote me a very, very nice birthday letter.
10) Tim wants to remind us that he is handling everything fine.Don't worry...
11) They are completely isolated from news, etc.
12) he's sick of freezing rain!
13) he's hoping to make a phone call this weekend.

No News

No mail from Tim the last 2 days. We should get something this afternoon, I hope.

Interesting Letters

Four letters today - dated 3/9/11 through 3/11/11. Much of the information in the letters was old news from  when we talked to Tim on the phone Saturday. Here's the new information...

1) Report from rifle marksmanship training: Tim grouped 10 shots within 1 cm from 300 meters, tying a camp record. I guess we'll see if it was luck or if Tim is really a marksman in the weeks to come.
2) 3/9/11 was the first day he's been there without being smoked.
3) Tim is starving for entertainment. Plans on reading the entire Bible while there.
4) He had his first "MRE" (Meal, Ready to Eat). He said they're great - "...pork ribs, clam chowder, tortillas, cheese spread, nuts and raisins.  ...sometimes candy". They are also self-heating. Click here to find out more.
5) Days are passing more quickly. Has been away from home 1 month.
6) Drill Sergeants get a kick out of taking bad photos of privates.
7) Skinny privates (like Tim) do get extra food. He was "forced" to eat cold rice and an eclair.
8) Should now have the privilege to leave base occasionally. Plans to go out to eat.
9) Gear issued to date: Interceptor Body Armor, Advanced Combat Helmet, M68 gas mask, 4 pairs ACU (army combat uniform), 3 long sleeve p.t. shirts, 3 short sleeve p.t. shirts, p.t. pants, p.t. jacket, wet weather pants, wet weather coat, Gore-Tex jacket, green fleece, 3 prs boots, rucksack and sleeping bag.
10) Upcoming training: Hand grenades, machine guns, AT4's (anti-tank weapon), and urban combat classes.
11) Funny Quote: "Don't send me food, though; someone got cookies today and the [drill sergeant] made him stamp on the bag, pass out the crumbs, then sweep them up while everyone watched."


There are new pictures posted on FaceBook. We couldn't find any of Tim, but there are some pictures from the shooting range (most recent photos posted). Tim said they had were in the cold rain 4 hours. We also found a photo of Tim's friend "Reddy" coming out of the gas chamber drill. Click here to see the photo.

Phone Call

We had our first lengthy conversation with Tim on Saturday afternoon. He called at about 3:00 pm and said that he had 5 minutes to talk. However, he got in the phone line twice more, so we were able to talk for about 15 minutes total. Overall, we thought he sounded well, was healthy and in good spirits. Here are some specifics from the conversation:'

1) They've move from "Red" phase to "White" phase in their training. In this new phase, they will have a little more personal freedom. He is hopeful that he'll be able to call once per week.
2) He calls from a pay phone using a calling card.
3) He has recovered from his sinus infection. He said that everyone has been sick at one time or another.
4) They have Mail Call on Mon-Wed-Fri only.
5) They are able to have family photos. If you have one to send, I'm sure he'd appreciate it.
6) He sent 4 letters on Saturday, so we should receive them early next week.
7) They've been on the shooting range in the last week. Tim said that he's doing well and enjoys the shooting.
8) They had a timed 2 mile run and Tim was the fastest of all 150 in the Troop.
9) Tim is just above the minimum weight requirement and he told us he's been given extra food. We're not certain if it is just him, or everyone in his Troop.
10) On a normal night he gets only 5 hours of sleep. He often has guard duty, so his sleep is interrupted.
11) He assured us that he's doing fine, though looking forward to the end of training.

Nothing to Report

No mail last night. Once again, we're hoping for a phone call on Sunday.

New batch of Letters

We received a whole bunch of mail from Tim this evening - a letter for the family, a letter to me and a letter to Debbie. Aunt Debbie called to say she received a letter today, too. Here are some highlights:

1) Sending and receiving mail is Tim's only "fun". He would like to get as much mail as possible.
2) Food is good. Had a hamburger at dinner one night - delicious!
3) Friend mentioned most frequently is Jon Reddy - 27, former college track star, Christian, triathlete, from South Carolina.
4) Another friend: JD Dryden - 22, laid-off diesel mechanic from Washington, loves the rain.
5) Don't send news articles. He thought they were okay, but they're not.
6) Has attended the Mormon church because the Protestant church is boring. They provide cookies.
7) Tim is really, really looking forward to Family Weekend April 22-24. He is allowed off base for 3 nights. He has mentioned it in every letter we have received.
8) It is okay to send pictures. Please send some if you can.
9) He got another haircut!
10) He received my package of Bible and moleskin for blisters. It helped his blisters.
11) Letters arrive in as little as two days, but mail call is only every 2-3 days.
12) A transferred soldier to Tim's unit says it is the strictest. The transfer's unit was "smoked" only once per week, Tim's is "smoked" twice per day.
13) Next week they should move into a different phase of training in which they get a little more freedom, including a) two drinks at dinner b) possible access to phone  c) walk to church on their own d) less restricted showers.

Letters! Pictures!

We received several letters today. One letter was mailed separately to Danny, a number of others were in an envelope together. The letters were dated March 2-3.

1) March 2 was his first mail call. He received letters from me, Libby, Danny and Aunt Debbie.
2) Food is good, but he only gets 2-3 minutes to eat.
3) Rain is sometimes a blessing, sometimes a curse, but it's always cold.
4) Encourage everyone to write. There is no such thing as too much mail.
5) No indication that he is sick.
6) Scored 100% on Combat Lifesaving Test (40/40).
7) Gas chamber drill went okay.
8) Large blisters from marching in boots.
9) Facebook: search "Ghost Troop, 5-15 Cavalry Regiment", then Join Group to see pictures.
10 Graduation Thursday, June 9 at 10:00 am.

Here is a picture we found of Tim exiting the gas chamber. Not the best photo, but at least he's not barfing and not streaming snot from his mouth and nose like most of the other pictures. Notice "SEARS" on his jacket.

We think Tim is in photo #139, also. Probably others, but they all look alike.

New Letters / No Call

We received another packet of letters from Tim on Friday, but did not receive a phone call Sunday as we had hoped.

Here are some highlights from the letters:
1) Letters dated 2/23 through 3/1, including one undated (probably 3/2)
2) He has not yet received any mail (he should be getting a bunch very soon). We've sent lots of letters, so I suspect they are holding it until they are ready to give it to him.
3) He is interested in any news or current events. You can send news articles if there are no pictures.
4) They saw a hygiene presentation with 70 slides about STD's.
5) A couple of his comrades got in trouble for misc. violations, so his whole barracks was punished.
6) Ran the obstacle course, which is more difficult than it looks.
7) Tim reported to sick bay for treatment of a sinus/respiratory infection.

Debbie is concerned about the sinus infection. Obviously, conditions are not ideal for getting better, getting extra sleep, staying warm, etc. Please pray for Tim's health.

I have uploaded one of Tim's letters to our Sears6.com web site. Tim writes very small, and very faint, so I enlarged and darkened the letter to make it readable. Also note, that to be "smoked" is to be punished with physical punishment - usually "planking" (holding a push-up in the up position). To see the letter, click this link.

No News

Nothing in yesterday's mail. We are hoping to receive a phone call on Sunday.

Per request from Tim's last batch of letters, we sent him a Bible (he had only a New Testament) and some Dr. Scholl's "moleskin" which is for dealing with blisters. Apparently he has permission from the drill sergeant to receive these items.

New Letters

We received some new letters from Tim last night. The letters spanned at least 4 days and the most recent one was dated Feb. 22. Here are some highlights:
1) He only has about 10 minutes free time per day.
2) Went to church for the first time. Enjoyed meeting with guys outside of his troop.
3) Was issued an M-4 rifle .
4) Marching in the cold rain. Cold ride in the back of a transport.
5) Blisters from marching
6) Cleaning the barracks no fun.
7) Gear recently issued includes body armor, helmet, safety glasses, knee and elbow pads, rucksack, sleeping bag, wet weather gear, fleece jacket.
8) They were told their cost of each person's gear is $10,000.
9) There will be a basic training graduation in May (family invited), then he has more training that will end on June 9. However, dates are subject to change.

Overall, I thought the tone of his letters was good and he seems to be doing okay. He complained that several of his comrades have caused the entire troop to be "smoked", which is to be punished with physical exercise, such as standing in formation with your arms out, or being in the "up" position of a push-up for 20 minutes.

Birthday Cards

Tim's birthday is coming up on March 27. As mentioned in a prior post, please don't send him anything other than letters in the mail (cards, checks, gift cards, parcels, etc.). He had heard that there might be some undesirable consequences if they (the drill sergeants) know it is his birthday. If you wish to send him a check, you can send it to me and I'll deposit it in his account, and you can mention it in a letter.

No News

We have not heard from Tim since receiving his letters last week. We had hoped to hear from him Sunday, but we didn't...

Mailing Address and Caution

Tim's mailing address is below. Please send only letters, as he could get in trouble if you send anything else - photos, food, candy, etc. Anything in his possession that is not issued by the Army is considered "contraband" and he will suffer punishment.

PV2 Timothy Sears
1st Platoon, G Troop, 5-15 Cav
BLDG 5941, 15th Cavalry DR
Fort Knox, KY 40121

First Letters From Tim

We finally received some letters in the mail - four letters in the same envelope. Here are some highlights:
1) Rough first night - only 30 minutes sleep
2) Haircut on second day - 1/16" long
3) Tim had guard duty at midnight three consecutive nights
4) His group moved from "Reception" to Basic Training quickly, which is very positive
5) Recruits were assured that the first day of Basic would be "the worst day of their lives". Tim didn't think it was so bad.
6) They are timed with a stopwatch to "prepare, shower, dry off and brush teeth" in 30 seconds
7) "Send lots of letters, please!"
8) The weekend of week 10 he is allowed off base to be with his family.

The general tone of his letters was that it was difficult, but he seems to be holding-up okay. The lack of sleep seems to be the main issue. He really hated "reception" which can last for an indefinite period. Some guys are stuck in reception for 3-4 weeks. Once you move from reception to basic training, you are on your way to getting done. Tim is thankful he was in reception less than a week.

Nothing to Report

Hoped to get a letter in the mail yesterday, but there was nothing. Maybe today...

30 Second Phone Call

Debbie received an interesting phone on Sunday afternoon. When she answered the phone, it was Tim and he told her that he had only 30 seconds to talk. He said that he had started basic training and that he was doing okay. He added that he had written us a couple of letters, then he said that he had to go and hung-up. Debbie said the 30 second phone call was more like 20 seconds...

Obviously, not much information. We assume that we will have Tim's address when we receive his letters. I'll post the address, along with any other information, as soon as it is available.

No News

We have not heard from Tim since Tuesday night. I am afraid that it may be a while before he is able to contact us again.

Unexpected Phone Call

We assumed that Tim would not have access to his mobile phone after arriving at camp, but we were wrong. He called last night at about 7:30 pm and gave us an update. Going from memory, here are some of the highlights: 1) arrived at about 11:30 pm 2) very busy from the moment of arrival 3) only 2 hrs sleep the first night 4) lots of standing in formation 5) awake at 4:30 am next morning 6) waiting a barracks inspection before 9:00 pm lights out. If inspection fails, they were promised a rough night with minimal sleep 7) instructed on bunk making. They sleep on top of made bunk so they don't have to make it in the morning 8) shots and vaccinations scheduled for today 9) food was okay - he couldn't remember exactly what it was, though. 10) weather not too bad, there is no snow on ground. 11) Approximately 34 guys in his barracks.

Overall, he sounded good and seemed to be doing okay. He thinks he might be able to keep his phone until Friday when they leave the reception area for official basic training. Hopefully we will hear from him again tonight. We won't have a mailing adress for him until next week.

Day 1

Tim was able to call us several times yesterday while traveling. He flew from Lansing to Detroit, where he had a long layover. The Army provided a $23 meal voucher, so Tim had a big dinner at Chili's at Metro Airport. He also called us just after the plane landed in Louisville at about 8:45 pm. We are not expecting to hear from him again until tomorrow.

Basic Training Info

Here's a video with images of basic training at Ft. Knox. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TL928wtnroU

Pretty good general description of training. http://usmilitary.about.com/od/armyjoin/l/aaarmybasic1.htm

Tim's Plan

Okay - Tim in the army is a bit of a shock for many of you. It may help to understand how this fits in with his overall plan for the next few years.
First, to be clear, Tim has enlisted in the Texas National Guard for 3 years. After basic training, he will be committed to drill with his unit several times per month and participate in other exercises. He will earn military pay throughout his enlistment.
This summer, Tim will be moving to Texas and enrolling at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, TX. He will be taking ROTC classes at SHSU (majoring in either Politcal Science or Philosophy, probably) and will be exempt from deployment as long as he remains a full-time student. His NG and ROTC benefits will cover 100% of his tuition and will repay his student loans from Michigan. Therefore, he will graduate debt free. Upon graduation from SHSU Tim will be commissioned as a 2nd Lt. At that time, he must choose either to stay in the NG as either active duty or as a reservist (3-6 year committment), or he may join the active duty army for 4 years. If he fails to graduate for some reason, he remains in the NG as an enlisted man.

Day 0

Tim's basic training journey unofficially began last night when we dropped him off at a hotel in Lansing, MI at about 9 pm. Today is his first official day of basic training ('Day 0') which begins upon his arrival at Ft. Knox, KY. Debbie and I are going to have to get comfortable with the fact that we are no longer entitled to complete information about our son. For example, we don't know for sure how he's getting to Ft. Knox - most likely by commercial airplane, potentially by bus. Though he took his cell phone with him, we are expecting that he will not be able to use it much, if at all, after arriving at camp. Accordingly, Tim is equipped with old-fashioned writing paper, envelopes and stamps and has promised to give us regular updates. He also asked us to create this blog so that interested parties can follow along with his progress so he doesn't have to write too many letters. We understand that he will be in training in Kentucky for at least 16 weeks and potentially longer.