Ben had the opportunity along with 4 other trainee (out of ~150) from his company to shoot an old tank with AT-4 HEAT (high explosive anti-tank) missile! He not only hit it, he blew it off the track & destroyed! :-) He made sure that the $200+ missile didn't go to waste! That was real exciting!
He was mad that they didn't pass the night navigation test. They were to find 3 points, given distance and direction, march there and record the number on the post. They managed to find one point, but not good enough. The day time was much easier though. They were also shooting M203 grenade launcher (he had one on like it on his air soft rifle), but it was alot harder than it he thought, definitely not as exciting as the AT-4. He is not happy that he's still in Red Phase because of the rest of his platoon is messed up.
Remember his friend Dunlap? Ben met him at the the San Jose training before he got shipped off. He was seeking and Ben re-introduced him to the Lord. He wants to learn about the armor of God (Eph 6:10). Last Sunday (7/12) in service, he accepted the Lord and was baptized!! What a blessing! They are still studying the Purpose Driven book & going to church together. Praise the Lord!
Friday, July 24, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
150 Push-ups!
I'm sure Ben is not complaining about the 150 push-ups he has to do for the 6 letters he'd received - 25 per letter, the other day. It's all from family members though. He's wondering what happened to his friends? But I'm sure they'll come sooner or later. People are NOT used to sending snail mail in this fast paced life in CA.
They work them Mon-Sat, 6 days non-stop from 0400 - 2100 with 1 hour night shift. Oh, how he's misses uninterrupted sleep! His platoon is still getting smoked due to the kids not cooperating - shorter meal time, more smoke sessions. That's making this experience miserable for everyone.
On the bright side, he is learning to do land navigation during daytime & nighttime. Shooting M4's, 240 B's, 249 SAW (?), and M16 with the 203 grenade launchers also is in the works.
He also reports that he is doing The Purpose Driven Life & Bible with a battle buddy & taking him to the protestant church on Sunday. :-) So please remember that in your prayers. His name is Dunlap.
They work them Mon-Sat, 6 days non-stop from 0400 - 2100 with 1 hour night shift. Oh, how he's misses uninterrupted sleep! His platoon is still getting smoked due to the kids not cooperating - shorter meal time, more smoke sessions. That's making this experience miserable for everyone.
On the bright side, he is learning to do land navigation during daytime & nighttime. Shooting M4's, 240 B's, 249 SAW (?), and M16 with the 203 grenade launchers also is in the works.
He also reports that he is doing The Purpose Driven Life & Bible with a battle buddy & taking him to the protestant church on Sunday. :-) So please remember that in your prayers. His name is Dunlap.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Mail is Gold
Ben finally got his first mail on Friday (7/10). Hoo! Hoo! The mail actually came in on Thur at 9:30 pm but the lights were out at 9 PM. It took about 5 days for letters to get from TO to GA. He was thrilled. Mail is so precious to them since they could have no other outside contact at this point. So keep you fan mail going!!!
They had their first APFT (army physcial fitness test) on 7/10 and he came in first out of 33 guys in his platoon. That comprised of 2 min push-ups (86), 2 min sit-ups (76), and 2 mile run (14:14). I guess the physical training isn't too bad for him. But the language...his DS used "F" words 180x in 15-20 minutes. That's got a hurt the ears!
The kids in his platoon are driving him crazy. Many don't want to be there where as he does. When they learn how to be clean, then they won't get smoked anymore! Then, he will be able to go to Bible study or see the chaplain once his platoon is out of the 'red phase'.
On a good note, the Bible's been opened up a lot more, and several guys have come to him with questions. He ask you to pray that God will use him, and for him to be open and share his knowledge with others. He found a "Guide Post" magazine the other day so that was good. Someone was trying to convert him to Islam the other day.
His normal day begins at 0430-0500 hr with a granola bar or milk then off to PT (physcial training). After PT, they change into ACU's and sometimes full battle rattle (flack vest, helmet, camel back, vest, etc) then do their training. Have MRE (meals ready to eat) or lunch, continue training, dinner, then lights out at 2100 hr. They have to do 1 hr guard duty at night. Then it starts all over again.
He has to do a lot of laundry because all the sweating during training they do. It completely drains him with full gear. He is at a whopping 117 lbs. now!
They had their first APFT (army physcial fitness test) on 7/10 and he came in first out of 33 guys in his platoon. That comprised of 2 min push-ups (86), 2 min sit-ups (76), and 2 mile run (14:14). I guess the physical training isn't too bad for him. But the language...his DS used "F" words 180x in 15-20 minutes. That's got a hurt the ears!
The kids in his platoon are driving him crazy. Many don't want to be there where as he does. When they learn how to be clean, then they won't get smoked anymore! Then, he will be able to go to Bible study or see the chaplain once his platoon is out of the 'red phase'.
On a good note, the Bible's been opened up a lot more, and several guys have come to him with questions. He ask you to pray that God will use him, and for him to be open and share his knowledge with others. He found a "Guide Post" magazine the other day so that was good. Someone was trying to convert him to Islam the other day.
His normal day begins at 0430-0500 hr with a granola bar or milk then off to PT (physcial training). After PT, they change into ACU's and sometimes full battle rattle (flack vest, helmet, camel back, vest, etc) then do their training. Have MRE (meals ready to eat) or lunch, continue training, dinner, then lights out at 2100 hr. They have to do 1 hr guard duty at night. Then it starts all over again.
He has to do a lot of laundry because all the sweating during training they do. It completely drains him with full gear. He is at a whopping 117 lbs. now!
Monday, July 13, 2009
Lazy Platoon
Ben is now CLS (combat life saver) certified after he gave & received an IV and pass a written test. They needed to do that to graduate. He said the IV experience was not as bad as he thought - he just closed his eyes. It's amazing what you could accomplish thing you didn't think you could do as a civilian (or even want to try)!
They've been receiving mail starting July 6, so the morale seemed better. But they inspect the content of every letter & have to do 25 push-ups for every letter they receive. But it's all worth it.
He is complaining that his platoon has bunch of stuck-up high school graduate that don't like to take orders. They are selfish & lazy and is keeping the whole platoon in the Red phase forever!
When you write, he would love to hear about your civilian life, and he says he'll tell you about things that explode and immature kids and 'unfortunately they don't really add up to exploding immature kids'!(ha, ha) His mailing address was posted on July 3. Thank you!
They've been receiving mail starting July 6, so the morale seemed better. But they inspect the content of every letter & have to do 25 push-ups for every letter they receive. But it's all worth it.
He is complaining that his platoon has bunch of stuck-up high school graduate that don't like to take orders. They are selfish & lazy and is keeping the whole platoon in the Red phase forever!
When you write, he would love to hear about your civilian life, and he says he'll tell you about things that explode and immature kids and 'unfortunately they don't really add up to exploding immature kids'!(ha, ha) His mailing address was posted on July 3. Thank you!
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Gas chamber, claymore & more
Visiting a gas chamber is really an educational experience that is not expected! No fun at all! He's also not looking forward to the first aid training - giving & being given an IV by fellow trainee (ouch!). But he is learning about claymore & gets to shoot one off!
He is really missing CA, home life and all the good stuff that goes with it - didn't he mention this already? (no TV, music, In-n-Out, forks, letters, song in his head). It's quite depressing for a young fellow (or anyone for that matter).
May be when you write, mention a song that you like (include the words so he can sing along), may be that will help!
Hanging in there, Ben!
He is really missing CA, home life and all the good stuff that goes with it - didn't he mention this already? (no TV, music, In-n-Out, forks, letters, song in his head). It's quite depressing for a young fellow (or anyone for that matter).
May be when you write, mention a song that you like (include the words so he can sing along), may be that will help!
Hanging in there, Ben!
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Missing Civilian life
Ben got in trouble for listening to a fellow trainee. DS emptied out everything in his locker - it took him 2 days prior to get it nearly perfect before it got trashed! :-(
He is missing In-n-out, driving, junk food, forks, music, tv...etc. He is trying to figure out what to do during his time off at the end of Sept, which is pathetic. He has about two - 12 hr leave, but can't travel beyond 50 mile radius. No partying overnight!! But he is realizing that everything he's going through is to prepare him for war, so he is going his best.
If God willing, we're going to his graduation on Oct. 2. He will not be able to come home anytime soon because he will go to airborne training soon after that.
He is missing In-n-out, driving, junk food, forks, music, tv...etc. He is trying to figure out what to do during his time off at the end of Sept, which is pathetic. He has about two - 12 hr leave, but can't travel beyond 50 mile radius. No partying overnight!! But he is realizing that everything he's going through is to prepare him for war, so he is going his best.
If God willing, we're going to his graduation on Oct. 2. He will not be able to come home anytime soon because he will go to airborne training soon after that.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Ben's Address
It's a long one:
Roster#21 PLT 2nd Benjamin Guido
Charlie Company, 1-50 IN Regt
198th Infantry Brigade
9240 Treadwell Drive
Fort Benning, GA 31905-5919
Please write to him with your return address. He'll love to hear from you. He cannot receive food and other stuff, so only letters please.
There are 3 phases of Basic training - red, white & blue. He's in red now - red being the most strict. Blue means you graduated.
He has to take a shower in 2 min (his first one in 50 sec!), eat breakfast in 5 min. Here's description of a day - gets up at 3:30 am and go until 9:30 pm, then he has to do 2 people's laundry so they can sleep. Then have to do guard duty in full battle gear from 1 - 3:30 am, then get up at 4 am. He has 3 crazy DS (drill sergeant).
He seems to be doing better - got his M4 rifle (named Lucia) & 10 blank rounds. They are keeping him very busy with lots of soldier training stuff. The DS makes them do push-ups when they say 'thank you'. I'm sure he'll tell you lots of funny stories when you hear from him.
Roster#21 PLT 2nd Benjamin Guido
Charlie Company, 1-50 IN Regt
198th Infantry Brigade
9240 Treadwell Drive
Fort Benning, GA 31905-5919
Please write to him with your return address. He'll love to hear from you. He cannot receive food and other stuff, so only letters please.
There are 3 phases of Basic training - red, white & blue. He's in red now - red being the most strict. Blue means you graduated.
He has to take a shower in 2 min (his first one in 50 sec!), eat breakfast in 5 min. Here's description of a day - gets up at 3:30 am and go until 9:30 pm, then he has to do 2 people's laundry so they can sleep. Then have to do guard duty in full battle gear from 1 - 3:30 am, then get up at 4 am. He has 3 crazy DS (drill sergeant).
He seems to be doing better - got his M4 rifle (named Lucia) & 10 blank rounds. They are keeping him very busy with lots of soldier training stuff. The DS makes them do push-ups when they say 'thank you'. I'm sure he'll tell you lots of funny stories when you hear from him.
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