Our class passed our inspection today, and we are actually well ahead of ourselves in training, so we have been granted a day off tomorrow. A day for some much needed, and well deserved downtime and R&R.

Members of the 42nd Infantry Division have just arrived here at Fort Dix from a long tour in Iraq, they are in the process of demobilizing. A lot of those boys look tired and worn, but their morale seems to be high, and they are definitely glad to be home, although this is the time that is harder than their final days down-range, because now they are home, but they have to wait before they can see their families. As much as that seems like a raw deal, it is probably the best thing for both them and their families, the fact that they will get a period to re-adjust.

So far training is flying by. We have already taken 2 of 3 tests, and I am currently ranked #2 in my class academically, and I am the front runner from my class for the title of ‘Military Honor Graduate’. I have also been made the class leader. I have been doing my best to stay motivated and put out 110%, and so far it would seem I am succeeding. I am trying my best to do myself, my family, the NAVICP, and the Navy as whole proud.

The PT has become an accepted routine, and though it often hurts, it seems to pass quickly. I have already noticed much improvement in myself. In the course of a training day I find my self easily cranking out 250 push-ups, in sets of 25, throughout the academic training cycle just to keep the blood flowing and stay awake. Before I know it I will be down-range jumping into hot zones.

The more I learn about our mission the more I learn that it is dirty, and disturbing in a lot of ways, but it is a job that must be done. One of the coolest parts is the fact that I will be doing a lot of direct interaction with the Iraqi people, which is also scary, because that is also exceptionally dangerous. My mission is rapidly developing into so much more than the supply convoy security operation I had originally thought it to be.

So far I have learned one prevailing lesson through out all of my training, Trust No One. Not ever. That has been the most disturbing part of what I have learned so far. I am hearing the stories from the boys coming back from over there and I am both eager and nervous to head over. I think that is the prevailing feeling among those with whom I am training. The feeling is almost palpable.