Have a great Memorial Day!
My best wishes go out to all that are currently deployed overseas.
Today started out sunny and warm in Fort Benning. I loaded up the Family Assault Vehicle and we went to Callaway Gardens near Pine Mountain, about a 45 minute trip. We spent time walking well groomed nature trails, looking at a few exhibits such as the butterfly house and the log cabins, and enjoying the beach.
For anyone who may spend time here at Fort Benning, and has a chance for a pass I think it would be worth your time to go see. A normal Military Admission is 10.00 dollars, but being that they were honoring the Military today, it was free for the entire family.
After the day out in the sun, we returned to Fort Benning for some evening thunderstorms.
During conversations with other NCO's, our thoughts of the current NCOES system is a bit harsh. We're not seeing the good in some of the courses that the younger guys are attending. The renaming of PLDC to the WLC (Warriors Leaders Course) is a top concern since most of the MOS's represented are not of the Warrior set. It takes more than a new creed and a rough name to give the moniker "warrior" to any individual, let alone make it stick. A new name to learn for Infantry, Armor and Cavalry is MANCOC!!! The Maneuver Arms Non-Commissioned Officer Course, which will replace ANCOC in the near future. Can't wait to use that acronym in mixed company!
On my last post I talked about getting myself Fit-to-Fight before I could get my Soldiers fit to fight. I have lost 30 pounds since my return for Iraq, and I've brought my two mile run time back down to what it was before I left. My shoulder strengh is my weak point, as I have constant Arhtritis pains in my right shoulder.
Starting to learn Drill Sergeant modules in prepration for the School
Looking forward to seeing the unit I'm in go from Infantry to Cavalry in a matter of weeks.
Keeping you posted, as I prepare to move onto new adventures.