Second Future Soldier Meeting!

Hey Everyone,
Yesterday I had my second future soldier meeting and I had a blast! We played a couple rounds of Softball and had a picnic!!!
We met at the recruiting station and all had to have a one on one with the big dog to make sure there was nothing stopping us from being able to ship! After that we all carpooled over to Fastnight Park.
There were well over 50 people there, family and friends were invited but I'd say around 20 of us were future soldiers!!!
There were four teams of 10-12 players, I was on team 3 and we rocked (we only scored 5 while everyone else scored quite a bit higher)!!! I actually did really well and it only took me about 2 times to hit the ball (we stayed at bat until we hit it), I never made it to first base but I was proud of myself and so was my mom! She says I ran like a girl (which I am so I have an excuse) but Sergeant told me I did really good of going out there and sprinting)!!!
After we each played two rounds we went and had hamburgers and hot dogs. I was starving and the food was good!!!
After lunch we all got briefed on Basic and Reception Week. They mentioned to parents to write but stay on a positive note; if your house burns down, if you get sick and have to go to a hospital, or someone falls a breaks a bone don't tell us because there isn't one darn thing we can do about it. Now, if someone dies then they are suppose to contact the red cross and the red cross will take care of it (we can leave to go to the funeral). I've already warned my family not to die because if I leave then it postpones my graduation date!!! They told us the same thing; if we are homesick don't write home and tell our family about it, we can write our recruiter about how much we hate them but don't tell mommy and daddy, we also got told not to over exaggerate because what mommy and daddy know is what we tell them. We got warned to write our recruiters or there will be consequences, but there will also be consequences for writing them too (you can never win)!! We got told some words of advice and then got told to get out!!
It was fun and I always like socializing with other future soldiers because they are the few people that are doing and going through the same thing you are!!
Once again I got bragged about by one of the recruiters for getting airborne and medic; they are prized possessions in the Army and not very many people can get them. I'm lucky and I constantly get reminded about it!
I was on the news (KOLR 10) last night for about 2 seconds. Sergeant Combs (one of the recruiters that helped to talk me into going active) wanted them to come to give us some recognition.
I'm sunburned but it'll turn into a tan (I'm not looking forward to a farmers tan though).
I'll post more pictures once my computer decides to stop being retarded!!

Heather

SORE!!!!!!!

UPDATE:
My knee is still sore and it still hurts when I run but after talking to Sergeant he said that it should go away with time! We will see!

UPDATE:
So, Google is my best friend on the face of the planet!! I have used it to find family member addresses so when I go to basic I can write people as well as used it for a 10 page paper that I had to write the last week of school. I love google! I googled: "My Knee Hurts When I Run." I found the answer to my problem just like I have with everything else! My self diagnosis states that chances are I have developed "Runners Knee." Nothing causes it it just happens with as much running as I have been doing after being inactive for a long time I have strained my knee. It isn't anything serious it just leads to soreness, I may be able to get over it in time or it may be with me the rest of my life. What the article said is that if you strengthen the inner thigh muscles then it will take the stress off the knee cap while running and the pain will subside. Bandages or wraps are out of the question considering they put pressure on the knee cap which is what is bothering me. Runners Knee is when the knee cap begins in rub against bone and wears down on the cartilage between it, it is caused because the way runners tend to land when taking strides. The knee doesn't move in the proper V movement like it should and causes wear and tear! There is at home exercises I can do with elastic bands and I'm going work on it and see if it improves for the mean time I have to learn to push through it!
Heather

ORIGINAL:
Howdy.

Who knew you could get so darn so from running?! My entire body is aching right now and screaming at me not to move. The more I more I work-out the tension and it feels better.

Yesterday was running as I previously mentioned and I did good. I ran in the proper form (head up, shoulders back, arms at 90 degree angle to the sides {like using ski poles}, bouncing off of left foot first with heel, breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth). Who would have thought that running in proper form would cause so much PAIN?! I didn't. It did make it easier to run though.

I attempted to run a little bit today and I have a goal to make myself go back out later and run some more but my right knee is killing me!!! It was fine this morning but about the time I got up and started getting prepared it started aching, it has gotten worse and worse as the day has progressed. Yesterday while running I felt like it was going give out on me and I was going collapse but I worked through it. I don't know what happened or why but I'm going try and push through it! I just pray nothing serious is wrong!

What I did run I ran for farther than yesterday without stopping and I know I could have gone farther if I could have handled the pain (yes mom, I know I'm a baby!).

Everyday and every little thing counts and slowly but surely I am making progress. On Monday morning I have an appointment with a personal trainer, I doubt I will be able to talk my mom into hiring me them but they offer one free session and I'm taking it. I'm excited because the guy is a Second Lieutenant in the Army and is the PT Champion and leader so I am sure I will be getting my butt kicked!!! I'm looking forward to it and so is the trainer!

I'm gonna go, have a lot to do today!
Heather

One Month Anniversary

Howdy Everyone!
Well, today officially marks the one month anniversary since I enlisted into the United States Army. I'm still excited as ever. I feel as good as ever. And I'm ready to get this journey started!
I just got done with a run with my Sergeant and another fellow recruit. It went decent; I doubled my distance (I ran more than double but I doubled the distance I was able to run without stopping), I thought I was going to collapse at least one time that I know of, and I improved my form. My Sergeant pushed me and pushed me hard which I really needed and he also encouraged me and told me how well I did and how I was improving. It is still the darn lung capacity that kills me every time!!! We also did push-ups, sit-ups, and crunches (which I stink at {well other than crunches I could do crunches all day long}). I called my mom really frustrated with myself after I got to the car. Part of me is giving up hope in myself I only have 6 weeks left and I have a ton of work (I need to triple my distance and speed-up my speed; Sergeant told me that if I lengthen my strides than I will be able to run a lot longer I'm not exactly sure how I'm suppose to do that though). I'm not going give up, I'm going go to the park everyday and run run run! That way I can measure my distances and it is free (my free week pass to the gym ran out). I'm also going get my iPod back from Brandon so I have something to listen to, I'm going try to download the Army cadences because they set the pace you run at Basic and hopefully it'll help me out a little! I have a lot of work but I made a lot of progress in the one week I worked-out (I took the last week off which probably hindered me a little today) so I know I will be able to make much more progress!!!
On Saturday is my second Future Soldiers Meeting. It is our pre-ship cook-out (they have one about every 6-8 weeks for those getting ready to report for duty) and we will be playing baseball/softball! I suppose to bring my mom because they brief us on reception week and what to expect during basic, it'll be fun!
There isn't much else going on and I'm gonna run!
Heather

Visit With Dad and Parrish Family

Hey Everyone,
I must say that the visit with my father, step-mother, brother, grandparents, and aunt went as bad as I expected! I didn't get their support (which I knew going into it), I didn't even want to go and see them but like my mom said it would be the last time before I start training. They questioned me on everything (which is expected most people don't know anything about the military), they thought I was stupid for going Army instead of the other branches and for joining at the time that I have, they didn't believe me when I told them that I had been working out and getting both physically and mentally in shape, they couldn't understand why I wanted to join, and they mentioned on more than one occasion and worded in several different ways that they weren't sure I could do it!
Well...I must say they are wrong!!!! They are coming up on July 4th and my mom thinks I should go to show them how buffed up I will be (I will have already taken the test and passed with flying colors) we will see what happens when it gets closer to that date!
Its sad when I can get more support, prayers, and blessings from close family friends and strangers than I can from my own family members!
I've been bad and haven't worked out the last 4 days and I only have 49 days until I report for duty so I'm going go hit the gym!
Heather

Memorial Day

So, today was my first unofficial Memorial Day. I'm not calling it my official because well I haven't done anything yet. Its crazy to think though because this time next year I will have just finished my training and be posted somewhere. I wonder where!

It wasn't the best Memorial Day ever but oh well! We (Grandma, Mom, and Me) went to the National Veteran's Cemetery to watch the services. It looked like it was going rain but we went ahead and went. About 10:30 am it started pouring, we waited it out hoping it would stop and it didn't until a little after 11:00 am when the services began. By that time we were already soaked!!! We watched the march of flags, the prayer, and the national anthem and my mom decided she was ready to go (we were both wet and cold; grandma went and sat in the car before the real rain pour began). We got a few good pictures and I got to see the fun and important stuff.

We dropped off grandma and then headed home. Mom took a nap and I went and took a shower to get warm and dry.

Later that night we had a catered BBQ at Grandma and Grandpa's house.

That's about it for my first memorial day (unofficial or not). Here's a few pictures!

Heather

Getting Ready!

Hey Everyone,

Everyday it gets closer and closer to ship day, and everyday I'm making more progress towards getting everything ready for ship day! I actually talked to my recruiter today to ask if there was anyway of going early, I knew the answer but it never hurts to ask! I'm anxious and ready to get this show on the road. It really all seems surreal still; mean I watch videos of basic, medic training, and airborne training, I've read stories, and I know what to expect but I just can't picture myself living the dream!!!

Any who, back on topic! I'm getting ready to post pictures of my MEPS hotel room and from the Branson Air Show as I have previously said.

I'm trying to get everyone's addresses. If you want letters from me then I need to know where you live! I have all of the immediate family members addresses but I need friends addresses! The sooner I get them the better! You can e-mail it to me at: heather.parrish@us.army.mil

Heather

Background Check Interview

Hey Everyone,

I forgot to post about this previously. I had an interview with a background check investigator on Monday morning to further investigate my background (I'm innocent).

Of course I got freaked out when I got the phone call on Saturday morning at a very ungodly hour but I wasn't able to talk to my Sergeant due to the fact that he was doing an adventure race (he ran 20 miles and biked 20 miles and I must brag that he finished in 11 hours and 30 minutes and in the top 15). He called me later (I sent him a text message immediately after the phone call, its pretty awesome being able to text your Sergeant) and told me not to worry that everything would be fine. They pick random people to talk to, and for some mean reason I got chosen.

I went on Monday morning. I got to the station early to talk to my Sergeant (I needed to check-in with him but he wasn't there) and the guy got there really early too. The appointment was suppose to be at 10:00am but I was done with the interview (that lasted approximately 30 minutes) at 9:48am. The guy was very very mean and intimidating considering that's his job working for the FBI. He didn't believe anything that I said, questioned everything, and double checked my answers. I'm innocent and have never been in trouble but the Army wanted to triple check I guess.

I got a call several hours later from Sergeant telling me that I passed and everything was fine, he told me that he got word for others that I did good. That calmed down my nerves knowing that it was done and over with!

I was told that it was the last surprise before I headed off to Basic but I don't believe them considering I've heard it before, and I go through ten days of processing before the first day of basic even begins!

Heather

Tested and Pushed

UPDATE:
I called Sarge and we set-up a meeting for a run tomorrow (Thursday) at 2:00pm. He said he marked it down on his calender so he wouldn't forget (he said that it completely slipped his mind that we were suppose to run. He was afraid that I was mad at him and would hate him forever, and I just laughed it off! He checked-up on my progress and he told me that I should work-out Monday-Friday alternating days for running and strength exercising and take weekends off. I told him I felt like I couldn't considering I only have 55 days until I ship for Basic and 30 days until I take the physical fitness test. I told him that my distances were getting lower and lower and that I was bored out of my mind, he told me that I can switch up running for anything else cardio. He told me that I was getting burned out and that I should just take a break for a day. Taking that break would involve doing nothing today and I'm 99.999% sure that that isn't going to happen!!! He made good points and I know I should listen to him but I'm having problems following his advice; I feel like I still have so far to go and hardly anytime but I also know I have made a ton on progress in the short 5 days that I have been working-out. I'll just see how I feel later this afternoon and take it from there!
Heather


UPDATE:
So, my Sergeant stood me up!!! We were suppose to meet at Sequiota Park at 1:30pm, I got there early as I always do and I waited until 2:00pm. When he didn't show I decided to head to the gym and get my daily work-out. He called me 45 minutes ago apologizing and asking if I went running and how my training was going, I missed the call since I was still at the gym.
I've gotten really really bored with running so my distances are slowly going lower and lower, I can run for a mile because I did it that first day at the gym I just don't have a running buddy or anything fun to do so I quit because I'm bored and tired. I ran for a little bit just like I always do and then weight lifted a little bit, but I switched it up and went swimming today. I'm getting ready to call Sarge back and see if we can reschedule and find out what his excuse was! I'm making progress and I still have a month until my Physical Fitness Assessment.
Heather

ORIGINAL:
After not doing so well last Thursday on my run with Sergeant we set a goal day of today to go out and test myself and push myself a little more.

I've gone to the gym daily; ran, did sprints, weight lifted, and of course push-ups and sit-ups. I've accomplished a lot in four very short days. To make more improvement and to really monitor my progress I need to go running. Sergeant Carroll is taking me out at 1:30pm on another 5K run he's bringing one of his other recruits and he's gonna push me. I'm really looking forward to it since I know I'm much more prepared and have been having problems staying motivated the last couple of days.

I'll let everyone know how I do!
Heather

Annoyed with Myself

UPDATE:
So I got a free week long membership to the Meyer Center and I took advantage of it today. When I get mad at myself I tend to get motivated just to prove myself wrong. I went and I worked-out for a little over an hour and I am currently paying the consequences as every muscle in my body is screaming at me!!! Now I just have to work through the pain and keep going because I made tremendous progress from yesterday!
Heather

ORIGINAL:
Hey Everyone,

I'm calling in the troops. I went training with my Sergeant yesterday and it didn't go as successful as I hoped it would! I have exactly eight weeks today until I report for duty and I have a long road of work ahead of me. I've gotten mad at myself for not succeeding and my motivation level has hit the floor. I'm beginning to wonder if I'm going be able to accomplish what I need to accomplish in the short eight weeks I have.

I have a plan set in motion for what I need to accomplish and I'm going to do everything I can to keep myself on that plan but I also need your help! I have until Tuesday at 1:45pm to be able to run about two miles in 19:30, be able to do 17 push-ups, and 50 sit-ups in 2 minutes. I need your help to encourage me, push me, and keep me going!

Heather!

Only Two Months Away

UPDATE:
I'm back from running (even though I walked it). I'm not too sore right now but I expect to be in the morning. I didn't take my water bottle and I almost passed out on more than one occasion from getting dehydrated! We power walked a 5K, and probably ran about 1/4+ a mile. I can run, my legs are good, my back is fine, I just don't have the lung capacity to be able to keep running. He showed me a technique and told me what to do (hold my head up high, move arms like I'm skiing with ski poles, take deep breaths in through the nose and out though the mouth (until it hurts), do sprints, and run at a slow pace doing deep breathing). He is taking me running again on Tuesday as well as testing my push-ups and sit-ups, but he said if I work hard enough I'll be running that 5K within the week. I have a lot of homework to do but he made it easier on me (the technique for push-ups and sit-ups are easier than what I have been practicing). I have a good team behind me to push me along to the finish line (thanks to my mom, Eric, Sergeant Carroll, and Brandon (if I ask)). I have a goal to run a two mile in 10:30 by the time I do my PFA (physical fitness assessment) on June 20th; I can definitely use all the help and support I can get.
Heather

ORIGINAL:
Today starts the official two month countdown until I leave.

The nerves are finally settling in (thanks to Eric my friend who is currently serving in Iraq) but I'm still really excited. It feels like I leave tomorrow even though I don't.

My weekly check-in with my recruiter was yesterday and since I have yet to work-out he's taking me running at 1:45pm today. I'm excited to finally get started but I'm also nervous because I know I'm really out of shape. He told me he's going to be like Jillian on the Biggest Loser to get me motivated and make me work. I did modified push-ups and regular sit-ups last night. No problem with the sit-ups but I can't do any push-ups so I have a long road ahead of me (especially considering push-ups are the Army's favorite punishment and work-out).

Wish me luck,
Heather

Finally Done

Hey Everyone,

This week has been absolutely insane!! Between having finals, trying to finish my online future soldier training, and getting everything else taken care of before basic. I have been swamped and wouldn't be surprised if I went completely and utterly insane.

I have one more final tomorrow and then I'm done with school for approximately 41 weeks because of the Army. I finished my future soldier training and I have my second meeting this Saturday. I still need to get a gym, get a dr appointment, get things taken care of for Emmie (my puppy) before I leave for basic, and multiple other things.

The next BIG to-do item since I am almost done with future soldiers is to get my transcripts so that I can get promoted again. (Right now I'm a Private Fuzzie (Private Level 1), after future soldiers I will be a Private (Private Level 2), and once I get all my transcripts I will be a Private First Class).

I have more studying to do and I will write more after the weekend!
Heather

Air Show

Hey Everyone,

The brand new Branson airport is ready to fly starting tomorrow and for the big kick-off they had an air show with the Air Force and Army there. With me being in the Army I had to go, and it was a blast!!!

We were on a five mile stretch of highway for an hour trying to get to the airport. Isn't wasn't bad though because we were able to see the planes from the highway. We finally made it in the gate at 1:46pm and stayed until 2:59pm. It was only an hour but it was a blast!!!

The Air Force had the thunderbirds, they had stunt planes (where a man is standing on top of the plane {see picture}), they showed what they did when they were taking down enemies, they showed planes that had been hit by something as they free falled to the ground, they let off bombs {see picture}, and they had the big black planes that are stationed in Missouri that radars can't detect. The Air Force also had a lot of show planes, they did a lot but in my personal opinion (and I'm not biased at all) the Army was better.

The Army had the Golden Knights; there professional paratroopers that go to every state and have a show. It was soooooooo exciting because starting on February 8th, 2010 I get to do that! I might be scared but I'm more excited after watching their show. The one girl that was there was a Airborne Combat Medic, which is what I will be after I finish training so it was very exciting to get to talk with her for a few minutes (and I got my picture taken with which I plan on taking to Basic with me as inspiration {see picture}). They were really good and they had all done anywhere from 700-4000 jumps!!! The Army also had the virtual experience blow up there which I choose not to go through since I get to experience it for myself soon enough. (See pictures above and videos below of the Golden Knights).

The tickets were expensive but it was worth it!!! I will post pictures as soon as I can!

Heather

Fears

***WARNING*** This is going to be one of those blog entries that aren't happy but as I have previously stated this is a journal of mine to track everything that is going on in this process!!

Last night I was watching one of my favorite TV shows of all time, Greys Anatomy, and there was a lot of dying on the show last night. A truck load of kids got hit by a semi on their college graduation day and all but one of them died.

Because of watching the show my mind started to go wild and I really started to think of death. Not the happiest thing to think about when lying in bed trying to go to sleep. I've always kind of had a fear of dying, I have so many dreams, wishes, and hopes for the future that I really want to accomplish and in the back of my mind I fear that I won't be able to accomplish all of them. Well the show really reinforced my fear - all these college graduates got killed before they got to accomplish their dreams and their future. What happens if I were to be deployed and be killed and was unable to accomplish the goals I have set my for life; or even scarier what if I was deployed and something happened where I had to kill someone else who because of me doesn't get to accomplish what they set out to do in life. How do I live with the fact that I may end up killing someone in war? I realize that its either kill or be killed but its still such a hard reality that really set in last night!

Had a Meeting with my Recruiter

I'm suppose to stop by my recruiters office at least once a week to let him know my progress on getting physically fit, how I'm feeling about my decision, and just talk.

I stopped by yesterday because I needed to and I wanted to drop off my certificates for the future soldier online training program.

The visit went really well we sat down and talked for at least an hour about everything from the Army to school to the wedding he attended and his wife. I really like my recruiter because he does take a personal interest in me!!

We talked a little about basic and I found out all the standards I have to pass (physically). He told me that I have a month to pass those standards (a month sooner than I really have to). I'm beginning to think that I may be in trouble in that department!! I want to talk my mom into letting me hire a personal trainer but I know she won't. So, instead I have to try and find a gym that will let me get a membership for two months (and let me tell you I have talked to a couple places and most places don't allow it)!! He said he would train with me but I need to train on my own a little too!!!

I'm not nervous about basic (at least not yet) I'm more nervous about the reception week prior to basic. I was the same way with MEPS, I'm anxious about everything that will be going on, whats about to happen, and its such a whirlwind that it kind of shocks you and freaks you out!!!

I'll continue to update!
Heather

How to Access Blog!!!

I have posted the link on my facebook page but for a shortcut and for those who aren't on facebook or didn't want to go through facebook every time to view the blog I wanted to post the link here!!

The link is: http://heatherwearscombatboots.blogspot.com

Also, if on the page you can add to favorites and never have to type the IP address again.

Or, at the very bottom of the page (right above the Soldiers Creed photo but after all the blogs) there is a spot where it says Subscribe to: Posts (Atom). If you click on it then it will automatically notify you of a new entry.

Sent Dreaded E-Mail

****UPDATE****
I was beginning to think that I wouldn't hear back from my dad, it took him a while to respond. He really didn't say anything but that it blew him away and that he never expected any of his kids to join the Army especially me. He said he had a ton of questions but didn't ask any of them. He said he encourages me to take all the benefits I can from the Army which is pretty much common sense. I didn't get his support but he didn't say anything about it. I guess we will have to wait and see!!!

So, after hearing tons of nagging from my mom I finally sent an e-mail to one of my dads!

I think his response is the one that I am worried the most about. I haven't always had the best relationship with my biological father and he has always been one of the first people to tell me his opinion and not be shy about telling me that he doesn't think I can do something!!!

One more thing checked off my checklist, one less person to tell, and one more surprised response waiting to happen!!!

We shall see what happens!

Heather

Marines Send Off

My mom called me this morning telling me that the Marines were having a send off this morning. Well, I decided to go. A soldier needs to support her troops even if they are rivals. Besides it was pretty cool watching it. I couldn't help but think that soon enough that could and probably will be me!!!

The turn out was smaller than they hoped but there was still a good number of people there. There were people from all branches, but mainly Marine vets and Marine family and friends.

I must say that I am pretty freakin' pissed off and kind of hurt right now though!!! Anyone who has been around the military or in the military knows that each of the branches have jokes on the others and there is friendly rivalry. I found this out for myself while in Kansas City for MEPS and today!!! Most of the jokes are harmless fun and we all laugh at them and throw them back. I had fun doing this at MEPS with the other branches and they did the same thing to me. Well...there was an Air Force Veteran there today I was standing right in front of him and I heard him talking so I turned around. Him and one of his old buddies were cracking jokes which is fine, but I couldn't help but look up at his hat and see a pin. A pin that is a block letter A (Army's logo) with an upside down flag and backwards flag on top of it!! That is taking it way too far I'm afraid to say; what that pin says, and I'm not making this up, is that the Army doesn't support our Country and we are disgracing it. I'm shocked that that came from a Veteran of all people!!!!!! Its insane, rude, and many other things especially at a Military rally!!!!!! In my opinion throwing one back at him he's just a giant butt force!!!!!!

Any who, I got to experience my first put down of the Army and not in a good way. I knew I was at risk for it but I didn't expect it to sting so bad!!!

Two Weeks Ago

Its been such a whirlwind and its crazy to wrap my mind around it all!!! I'm so glad that I've been keeping this blog because I'm even having a hard time keeping up with everything that has been going on!!!

Two weeks ago at about 5:00pm I met with my recruiter for the first time along with my mom. (This was after switching recruiters after nine months). Two weeks ago was when I decided to switch to active duty instead of reserves, it was when I finally put my foot down and decided that I was going to join the United States Army!!! Since those two weeks so much has happened, everything has moved very quickly and its hard to believe that I am a Future Soldier of the United States in just two short weeks!!!

One week ago today was when I got sworn into the United States Army and signed my contract. That entire experience was such a fulfillment for me and I couldn't be happier about my decision.

In a very short 70 days I will be heading to basic training to start the training to be transformed into a Soldier!!!

There is still so much to do and in a short amount of time but I can't believe that it was just two weeks ago that the process began!!!

Heather.

Future Soldiers Online is Frustrating

This entry is really just going to be a giant venting session because the future soldiers training program online is really pissing me off!!!!

I have a bunch of courses that I have to take online before shipping to basic (as I have previously posted) well I'm trying to get them all achieved and I'm not having the best of luck!!! Not because I'm stupid but because the system is stupid!! It keeps kicking me off and then it marks that I haven't completed the course when I actually have!! On the "final exams" it has questions and things that they never mentioned in the course!!! I should be done with the checklist by now but its being dumb!!

The one good thing about the program is that it has a countdown until I have to report to duty!! ONLY 71 MORE DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Write more later,
Heather

Future Soldiers Meeting

Well, as promised here is the post about my first future soldiers meeting!

I woke-up about 8:30am on Saturday morning and had to be across town by 9:00am. Lets just say I'm not the best morning person! I managed to get there on time and a little early and I was excited not to be the last one there. There was eight of us total. We all car pooled to the school that was just down the street. There was an old lady in an electric wheel chair that wasn't paying any attention and pulled out right in front of the traffic, she almost got hit five times!!! We got to the school with everyone in one piece went to the soccer field. They briefed us on hazards (from all the rain we had the day/night before, and we all walked around the field to find any possible dangerous spots! We played ultimate Frisbee. Those that know me realize that I'm not a sports kind of girl but I was really proud of myself for doing okay. They gave us time to warm-up (it was really cold and windy outside) and get used to the Frisbees'. My team got put with a loser because it probably took me fifteen minutes to be able to actually catch and throw the Frisbee. After warming-up they made us girls the team captains (there were only two of us and 10 guys (counting the recruiters because they played too)). We played three games my team only won once! :( It turned out to be a pretty dangerous game; the grounds were still wet and everyone slid and fell, the other girl got hit in the head by the Frisbee and had a giant welt afterward, another kid slid into the knee of one of the other players, and someone twisted their ankle but somehow everyone managed to stay in one piece. I actually got the Frisbee twice and managed to throw it and someone actually caught it (that was on my team), I was pretty proud of myself; usually if something is coming towards me I duck away. It was definitely a work-out. I hadn't done so much cardio in a long while but I managed to do really well!!!

After playing our three games of ultimate Frisbee we headed back to the recruiting station for a lesson!!! It was map reading. Something that most people know I could use a lot of! I actually did really well and was proud of myself! I still couldn't tell you which direction is North but I know the coordinates and if I was working on someone in the woods I could tell the rest of my squad where I was!!!

The entire meeting lasted about two and a half hours. I headed home and I was starved!!! My mom and I went to Zio's for lunch (it was Yummy!), and then we moved furniture. Lets just say that I got the biggest work-out on Saturday that I have had in a long while and I woke-up very sore on Sunday morning!! Now that I've had a little exercise I'm ready to get on the horse and get in shape for Basic!!

I will write more soon!!!
Heather

Dates and Details

Hey Everyone,

I have posted about the MEPS (its on the previous page and is like a book so you shouldn't miss it) but I didn't give all the details of my contract!!!

I signed up for:
4 Years Active Duty; 4 Years Reserves (chances are I will reenlist after the 4 years active so I won't ever do any reserves time).
My MOS (or job) is 68whiskey/combat medic/health care specialist.
I got airborne option (which is jumping out of planes for those who don't know).
I'm going in as an E-3 (which is a promotion) and I will be addressed as a Private or PFC for slang and my title will be Private First Class.
I got the Montgomery GI Bill, which gives me $70,000 for school.
I also got a $3,000 sign-on bonus which was a surprise (something they started the day I enlisted).
I ship for basic on July 15th for a week of reception (more processing) but I leave Springfield on July 14th. Basic starts on July 24th, 2009. I will graduate at the end of September (I don't know the date yet). Basic will be at Ft Leonard Wood, MO.
A day or two after I finish and graduate from Basic I head to AIT (Advanced Individual Training or job training) to become a medic. I will be there for 19 weeks and it starts September 28th or 29th, 2009. AIT training will be at Ft. Houston, TX.
After I finish AIT I will head to Airborne training. Airborne training is 3 weeks long and it starts on February 8th, 2010. Airborne training will be at Ft Benning, Georgia.
After I finish I will be stationed where ever the Army chooses (I get to make a wish list but it isn't guaranteed)!!

I will edit this soon with the correct dates and time!!!
Heather

Changed Recruiter

This happened a while ago but after looking over the journey I have gone through myself I realized I never updated the blog about it!!

Last Tuesday after not being comfortable with my old recruiter (Sergeant Murphy) I decided to make a phone call to the other recruiting office and switch recruiters!! I had been working with Sergeant Murphy for the entire nine months but I felt like she was hiding benefits from me and other important information. Mainly I didn't feel comfortable working with her! She wasn't available when I needed her help or needed to talk to her and later I found out that she was lying to me about certain things!!!

Luckily I followed my gut reaction and called and got switched to another recruiter and my current recruiter which is completely amazing (Sergeant Carroll)!! He also got me switched from reserves to active duty (with the help from Sergeant Combs, and something my mom wasn't to happy about at first)!!! Sergeant Carroll has been there anytime I have had a problem, calmed me down when I had freak-outs, got me amazing benefits, got me the job I wanted (even when it wasn't available), and somehow managed to get my enlisted within a week of first talking to him!!!

I have a feeling that Sergeant Carroll will help me through more hard times and be a great friend through my Army career!! Sergeant Murphy needs to get the picture and stop calling me!!

Just wanted to note the switch!

Heather

Future Soldier Training

So, after getting frustrated and taking it out on people that I probably shouldn't have (sorry mom and Brandon!!), I finally figured out how to make the future soldier training program work (after talking to my recruiter)! I'm suppose to take miniature classes on everything military (military time, military alphabet, military numbers, insignia, etc). The classes aren't really hard but they aren't easy either, and there is definitely a lot to memorize!! I have to take a final exam after every lesson to test and see if I can remember, then I get a certificate, and then my recruiter tests me to make sure I am retaining all the information!! There is a lot of them all together but I won't have a hard time getting them all accomplished before heading off to basic (the hardest part is going to be the physical portion).

Along with the online classes that I do on my own I have to get physically in shape!!! I have to do 4 push-ups in a minute, 17 sit-ups in a minute, and 1 mile in 10:30. That seems easy enough but my recruiter is making it harder!!!! He wants me to be able to do the guys test which is 17 push-ups in a minute, 50 sit-ups in a minute, run 2 miles in 10:30, do pull-ups and flutter kicks (whatever those are). He told me that he would train with me but it will be challenging (I guess that's what I get for being his first female recruit!). If I do succeed then I will be put into a guys group instead of a girls and I'm not completely sure that I want to be in a guys group but we shall see what happens!!

On top on taking online classes and working on my physical abilities we have group meetings. All the future soldiers from my recruiting station meet twice a month and we work on physical things and military lessons. The meetings are at 9:00 am and last for two hours. I have my first one this Saturday and I'm looking forward to meeting other future soldiers that hopefully I can build bonds with!!!

I will let everyone in on my progress!

Talk to you soon,
Heather

Brandon's Parents

Last night I went over to Brandon's and it was the first time I have gone over there in a little over a week. His parents and I don't always get along 100% but we try.

Well I was pleasantly surprised when they took a lot of interest in the Army. They were actually concerned if I was going to be able to do it, asked a lot of questions (which I don't mind because most people don't know much of anything), and seemed like they actually cared. It was a nice change of pace.

The only thing that frustrated me is that Brandon and his parents made me start to second guess my decision!! I have been on cloud nine ever since I enlisted and last night was the first time I ever had second thoughts. I know I made the right decision and I know I can do it and I can't wait to prove all the disbelievers wrong but it was frustrating.

I remember all the reasons I decided to join and I know I can do it; I feel the best I ever have in life (as far as having a mission, purpose, drive, etc.) and I'm going to kick some butt at basic!!