It's come to a end….

I can't believe our time on the Trail is officially over. Thinking back two years ago I never though this day would come and I couldn't wait for it to get here. Now I'm wishing just a little that we still had some time left. I absolutely love the school were I work and I've made some great friends through some of my parents. Its funny how all of my friends in Hawaii were / are Milispouse's and here in the South 90% of my friends were / are parents of kiddos I had in my class. I'll def. be sad to say good bye to them when the time comes. Although we are looking forward to the future and what's in store I can't help but wish we had more time in the South. I know the hubbs is more than ready to be done and get back to a line unit. He's done his fair share of training and he's ready to get back to what he enjoy's doing. He's been counting down faithfully for about the last 6 months. He's beyond done. Frankly I'm over the unit we are with. Its only the 2nd unit we've been with but they've been horrible. I fill sorry for anyone that has to go through 2-60th. 

I took his Hat Press that I got him for our Anniversary year before last and had the plate finished. They actually redid the entire plate for me and it turned out great. The Brown Round has officially been retired. 

We've had good day's and bad day's through our time on the Trail. It's to be expected, they are gone all the time and when they are home they are extremely drained and tired. Hanging the Hat the hubbs will finally be able to go out and enjoy his free time and that means we get more time together. 

I absolutely hated the Brown Round when he first got it, I though it was the ugliest thing ever…….

 But it grew on me and now I absolutely love it. I have to say its quite sexy. I mean just look at it, he's rocking it for sure. I'll miss the stories he comes home and tell's about his day and smoking the PVT's. I'll miss being able to go out to the trainings and watching him train PVT's. I'll miss our CQ night dinners. I'll miss some parts of it I'm sure and so will he, even if he doesn't admit it. But I can't wait for what's ahead of us. Lots of changes and many more memories to be made. 

Two Years done!!! 

It's only a 2 year assignment with the option to extend a 3rd year, but we only did the 2 years. 

 Graduation Day March 22, 2012 & Last Day March 31, 2014 

Southern Snow Day Take--2

The weather has been crazy in the South this winter, it will go from super nice out in the low 70's one day and then the next freezing cold. After our last snow day no one really saw another one coming. Not until the weather started predicting it that is. I was hoping praying and wishing it didn't happen. It was the hubbs last Graduation and I took Wednesday and Thursday off work so I could go to both of the Ceremonies on Family & Graduation Day. I was there for his first one when he got awarded and I wanted to be there for the last. Mother Nature had other plans though. Monday night our Battalion Commander made the call that Family day on Wed. was canceled. Bummer, but ok we still have Graduation. I emailed my director to cancel my off day, This way if school did get canceled I'd get paid for the snow day. We pretty much new going into work Tuesday morning that we weren't gonna be there all day. Parents even made comments that they knew they'd probably be getting a call to come pick up there kids soon. We were expecting sleet and freezing rain over the next 2+ days. Why even risk it and bring your kiddos in then, knowing your gonna be picking them up with in hours. Never the less everyone was at school that morning in my class. 9am rolled around, we heard that several of the school districts around us were having a early dismissal. We were just waiting it out to see if our district was gonna call it. What do you know right around 9:50am or so we got word that district one was calling early dismissal. Even being a day school we follow district one, when they close we close. Some parents don't like it but they know how the school works going into it. Everyone had to be picked up by 11:30. I thankfully only had 8 parents to call to come get there kiddos and everyone was gone just after 11:30 in my class. I stuck around making sure I wasn't needed any were else and that all the classes were covered before heading out myself. I wanted to beat the sleet getting home even though it had already started. Thankfully it wasn't to bad at all, not yet at least. Once I got home though it just kept coming down and didn't let up. All through the next day it was just freezing rain / sleet. By the end of the night the streets were frozen over solid. They had officially canceled the Graduation ceremony and were just allowing the PVT's another off post pass for Thursday with their families. Go figure this would happen on our last cycle. The parents were more heart broken than anything though, they came all this way to see a ceremony and it wasn't happening. There wasn't any way to post pone it due to travel and training that started the very next day. It happens, that's life in the army, they will get used to it. It might take them a while but they will figure it out. As hard as it is some times for me to wrap my head around the army does come first.
I spent all of Wednesday and Thursday at home deep cleaning the house and going through things getting ready for our upcoming move. I almost wish we could do our Final Out this week because the house is so clean. Then I wouldn't have to do it again, however we still have about a month or two before that happens.   SouthernSnowDay = Operation PCS Deep Clean!!! In Full Effect. Post was closed both days as well, but duty calls and the hubbs had to go in. Thursday night he had CQ, the roads were semi ok from what I'd heard and I contemplated taking him dinner. I always do, but tonight was different. I just didn't feel safe or comfortable driving and didn't want to take a chance of something happening just over dinner. Thankfully our sweet friends R & C had made dinner and C took some up to the hubbs. What a life saver, seriously they are the sweetest ever. I don't know what I'm gonna do when we have to leave them. Ok Ok let's not talk about that right now.
We all waited patently through Thursday to hear if we were going to be closed another day. District 2 closed, Post school's closed, then a couple hours later District 1 (that would be us) closed but we still hadn't heard if we were for sure following. The board of directors for the school still have to make the final call. Think about it, half our staff have kids in both of those districts, some staff aren't going to come in due to road conditions. Are we really going to have enough teachers to cover all the classrooms??? Chance's are very slim. And its a Friday, just call it one more day and let the roads and weather clear up over the weekend. Finally about 4pm-something I got a picture text from one of my assistants of the email that went out to the parents stating the school was once again closed and following District One. A 1.5 day work week talk about crazy, I still haven't worked a full work week since before Christmas break. Since we've had so much doing on. But I have a feeling that will all change the week after next. :-/ (Monday's a holiday- lol) We have had plans to take a mini road trip / vacay to our future new home state this weekend since the hubbs has a four day and I'm off Monday. Now we can get on the road earlier than we had planned. We want to do some looking around the area to see were we are wanting to live since we are going to be living off post this time around. But that's another story for another post. Late Thursday evening some of us girls got word that the 4 day for the Drill SGT's had been canceled because they were no longer shipping the PVT's out on Friday due to the road conditions. They needed everyone there to cover down. With Monday being a Federal Holiday that left Tuesday for ship day. I was on edge waiting all night he wouldn't know if his was getting taken back as well till Command came in the next morning. I was determined I was going one way or the other, with or with out him. Thankfully he had told his CO and 1st SGT where we were going a few days back just so he didn't get put on the CQ roster. This morning when he came home, he came up stairs to say good morning and let the pups out (because I was being to lazy to do it). The first thing I asked was do you still have your 4 day. Forget the Happy Valentines day, for the get I love you Baby, for get the Good Morning Love. I wanna know are we going or not. Thankfully he is good to go and they didn't take his 4 day. Now I only wish I could say that for everyone else but sadly enough I can not. It does suck because I'm sure many of those families had plans as well. I think the only thing that saved us is they know he's done and off the trail at the end of next month and he won't be here for the next full cycle due to training he is taking.
He's snoozing a bit before we hit the road and I'm of course doing some cleaning and going to run a few errands. I seriously contemplated going for a run this morning because I'm itching to get out there on the streets but I'll save it for when we get back. Fingers crossed the roads are fine and we won't have any issues this afternoon.

Life on the Trail…..

Were do even start….It started out ruff….we got used to it….got into a routine….I got used to the hours…him being gone all day and night….never home on the weekends…but then I hit a wall…and I hit it hard. Him being deployed sucked to no end I'm not gonna lie, It was the worst time of our relationship so far. Although sometimes I almost think this is WORSE than a deployment. Yup I really just went there. Of course you don't have the constant worry, stress and "what if" moments that you do with a deployment but I really think Life on the Trail puts more strain on your relationship. We've been through more together in the past almost 8 years that we've been together than any average couple has been through in a life time. I wouldn't wish it on any one and I sure as hell don't want to live another day through it sometimes but I suck it up and put a smile on my face because I love that man with all my heart. And I do anything and go any were for him. It doesn't mean I'm not melting inside because I haven't spent more than 24 hours with my husband awake in the past week. I know I should be grateful that he is home and trust me I am but when he's home you expect him to be home. Yes there is extremely late hours and countless CQ days when it comes to being a Drill SGT. But when the BN says they are pushing for more family time and more time away from work during reset, yet you schedule countless training and regrouping exercises during every day of cycle break you are going back on every word you've just said. When you make a event mandatory to attend and spouses are invited yet we have to pay for tickets to go, doesn't help your plea any more.

Now don't get me wrong my hubbs is quick to offer a hand and stay late to help out his fellow battles when he see's they are needing help with one thing or the other. The only thing that kills me with that is they do NOT do the same for him. When their work day is over they are out and don't think twice about making sure everything is covered. I guess that is were my husband values his job and the people he works with more than others do. I just hate how he always goes above and beyond for others only for it to be over shadowed or gone unrecognized. I absolutely HATED the brown round when he first got it, I though it was the ugliest thing ever known to mankind. Over time my thoughts on it have changed and I think it quite attractive and will be so sad to see it go.

Him on the other hand not so much. He's amazing at his job and I'm not saying that just because I'm married to him but I've had countless Drill SGT's, PVT's CO's and Spouses come to me and tell me that. Hands down he's an amazing Drill SGT and makes a world of a difference in the lives of these young kids. But there's no doubt that he's ready to get back to a line unit. He's so tired of "training joe" aka Privates "America's Future". He wants to be trained, he wants to do field problems were he does the work and not direct what needs to be done. He wants to go to schools, he wants to go back to a line unit, he wants his squad leader time. He wants to deploy again. This is what he joined the army to do and he's not done doing that. Life on the Trail isn't for everyone that's for sure. Its been a experience that we can say we've been through but I wouldn't wish it on any one. People come here to go through the Trail to get some down time and let me tell you its so far from it. 

I miss my husband more than ever, we can never plan anything because thing are always changing around here with work. When he does have a day off here or there he's so tired the last thing he wants to do is go out. When he comes home from work at a decent time I get excited then remember he's been up since 3 or 4am and next thing you know we've had dinner and he's fast asleep on the couch. The only guaranteed time off is VBL- Victory Block Leave which is over Christmas. Don't bother making family vacations because your not gonna get the time off. He gets one 4 day weekend a cycle. That's every 10 weeks. Sometimes we plan something to do then but most of the time we just stay here local because he's so tired from work he just wants to hang out at home and relax. Of course I don't blame him one bit, I'd be doing the same thing if I worked his hours.

 Can you imagine the pay check if they got paid over time. HAHAHA Wishful thinking. Speaking of Pay did you know that a Recruiter gets paid more special duty pay than a Drill SGT does. Tell me how that makes any sense. February 13th he graduates his last cycle and we couldn't be more excited. Although we still have a few months left here after that he is most certainly counting/ Our upcoming move (more on that later) is definitely bitter sweet for many reasons. I go back and forth multiple times a day on my feelings about our move. Sometimes I'm ready for it and other times I'm hoping time creeps by. Its a daily struggle, but at the end of the night I CAN NOT wait for our next adventure and were its taking us. 

Life as a Army Wife Married to a US Soldier, current Drill Sergeant. 

Weekly Review....

Its kinda become a routine around this here blog of mine since we don't have much going on right now.

*Monday~                  During my lunch break from work I decided to get my run out of the way for the day. I headed to The RiverFront Park down town in the Vista area to work on some interval training. I'm trying to slowly but surly get a little faster on my runs. I'm not trying to do this so I can finish the Marathon at a faster time but simply to make myself stronger and to eventually run at a faster pace all the way around. It was a HOT summer day but I pushed through and was so proud of myself. 

                                  This is the 2nd to last week for this cycle that we are in. The SIT in training Graduate NEXT Thursday. Come.On.Cycle.Break. So that means this week is Vic. Forge week. This is were the SIT stay out in the field all week Mon-Fri. and put everything to the text that they have learned over the last 9 weeks. This also means that the hubbs has to stay out there as well, he might get to come home one night but we aren't holding our breath. He needed a few things from home so I made the 20 minute drive out to the range after dinner tonight and was so happy to see him when he pulled up.

*Wednesday~      I headed back out to the RiverFront Park on my lunch to get another run in because I had Spin class later that evening after work. A co-worker went with me and it made the run go by much quicker. She is slowly getting into running and working out more so it was nice to talk to her about it and help encourage her along. It was hot of course but thankfully not nearly as bad as Monday. That evening after work I headed up to Jamie Scott Fitness were my girl Kelly was teaching Spin class. I absolutely fell in love with spin last spring but after a brutal run day adding that in I was feeling it that night. I always try to push myself as much as I can because I figure if I don't I'm simply wasting my time and money paying for the class. So no matter how hard it hurt I gave it my all. I know I'm only helping myself and when my Marathon Day gets here I'll be so happy I put forth the extra work. 

*Thursday~              It was another run day this time after work with Kelly and sweet little Luc. We waited a little later in the evening to go hoping it wouldn't be as hot. Boy were we wrong, it might have been a degree's or two cooler but not much. Never the less it was a good run and we made it through. Since we are planing to do a long-ish run on Sunday we kept it short today, not to over work ourselves to much. The hubbs was able to come home tonight after some back and forth with some of the other Drill SGT. I was so happy because he was able to get ready for the board he was selected to go to on Friday. (side note: he didn't make it- it was for drill sgt of the month, he said some new guy got it..lame) We cooked dinner together (picture fail, but it was good) I picked up the house while he study and we called it a early night. 

*Friday~                   It was so nice being able to wake up to him Friday morning before we both went off to work. That doesn't happen very ofter for us because he has to be in so early. Getting ready and being able to spend some time together made for a great way to start my Friday. Even though he as to work this weekend it put a smile on my face to have that time with him. That evening when I got home I finished up dinner (Hello Crock Pot) and got it in the oven. We double teamed it and cleaned the back yard and mowed, followed by the ever so lovely laundry. I tried to get some of my normal weekendly duties done tonight so I wouldn't have to worry with it as much this weekend. 

                                  No plans as of yet for the weekend, other than cleaning up the house and getting somethings organized. I might make a trip to the local Soda City Market (no its not a soda as in coke market, that's just the name) on Saturday to take a walk around but we shall see. I hope you all have a fabulous weekend!!!! 

I'll leave you with this one last picture I borrowed from a fellow runner......

I believe I can do it and I will do it....come on November 9th.....its just gonna be me, some tunes and the streets. 

        

Wishing Time Would Slow Down

1) Mid-afternoon Interval run on my lunch break during work. Working on my speed, trying to get faster!!! It was hella hot out but come 5pm when I was able to go straight home, I was so glad I got it done and out of the way for the day. 

2) Feeling a little exhausted after a good long run after work last week, so I decided to lay out on the back porch with the pups. Progress is perfection and I'm working towards it. 

3) This week is Vic Forge, so the hubbs is out in the field all week. He needed a few things from home and of course I'll never say no to taking anything to him. Especially if it means seeing him pull up lookin like a stud muffin. 

4) I officially have become addicted to monogrammed EVERYTHING, Kelly got me a new Camelbak and had my initials monogrammed on it. It was a good luck in training for your first Full Marathon gift. I absolutely LOVE it. 

5) The hubbs has been working some long crazy hours here lately. That's what happens towards the end of each cycle but for some reason this cycle has been extra draining. He went to bed right after dinner one night the week before last and I was completely heart broken because we hadn't had much time together at all. I woke up to this sweet note on top of the crock pot. Seriously he melts my heart. 

6) I'm really trying to add in as much cross training as I can in preparation's for my First Full Marathon. With that being said I've decided to go back to the pool on post at least once a week and swim laps. I used to be really good about going but as you all know life gets in the way and I just found my going less and less. Almost down to the 3 month mark so its serious crunch time. 

We've been around this block a time or two....

Today was pick up day for our company. A new set of Privates join the army and start their journey though BCT Basic Combat Training. I feel like we just graduated our last cycle but it was the beginning of May when we did. Here we are again starting all over, another long 10 weeks of training. Long nights, way to many CQ shifts to keep count of and crazy stories from the hubbs and other Drill SGT's. (I love the stories) I'm Volunteering for our Companies FB page again. Giving daily updates as to what the PVT's are doing and answering questions that the families have. I enjoy it, and it makes me fill like I'm doing my part in the Military / Army even though I'm only a Spouse. Well not "Only" a Spouse, I have to say I'm a pretty fabulous Army Spouse and I'm sure my Drill SGT can vogue for that one. 

During BCT the area were the PVT's sleep is not called a Barracks, rather its called a BAY. Inside the Bay is a separate office area were my husband along with the other two Drill SGT's in his Platoon work. Drill SGT C painted the crest's below to represent the three of them. They are on the floor right as you walk into their office. I though it was pretty cool, she did a good job on it. G is Infantry, Sr. Drill SGT Brady is Field Artillery & Drill SGT Cutter is Quarter Master Corps. 

This makes our 5th full cycle, we've done 6 total but the first cycle was the last two weeks so we really don't count that one. A typical Drill SGT will go through about 10 cycle's during his or her time on the trail.  Unless they are extended or request to stay on a third year. Which makes sense because we just passed our year out mark that we have left here. (I have mixed emotions on that, more on that later)

The below picture's are what we call the Shark Attack, when they first get off the buses and are rushed though to the company area. 

Once all of the privates have formed up in formation they are put through a few tests right away. Simple ones but when flustered and caught off guard they can through you off in a heart beat. Such as locating and showing their ID card. This is also were they learn simple commands such as standing in "Parade Rest" standing in "Attention". They will meet their Drill SGT's for the first time by name here as well. 

Here is my Drill SGT giving instructions on how to do a proper push up, also known as 

"THE PUSH UP".

Seeing him in "action" is crazy because he's a completely different person than everybody else knows. Our friends always say they can't picture him yelling and being mean and a in your face kinda guy. Well when the Brown Round goes on it must just flip a switch because he's a pretty bad a$$ Drill SGT if I do say so. I'm not just saying that bc I'm married to him, but I hear and read from families on our Company FB page how their SIT (Soldier in Training) has / have learned so much from him and looks up to him. It's such a great feeling knowing that my husband is making such a big impact on these young people.....our FUTURE Army HELLO!!!!!!!!!!!

 THE PUSH UP!!!!!! 

Meet the Company Drill SGT's, Cadre and Command Team

(tall guy front and center is the Company 1st SGT, guys a giant)

The hubbs is in the 2nd row middle. 

 Drill SGT Cutter re-sighting the NCO Creed. 

Followed by the Soldier Creed - from another DS

 HELLO RED PHASE :( 

Red phase is brutal, its hard on the PVT's. It's hard on the Drill SGT's. It's hard on us as Spouses. The hours are unspeakable. No one should ever have to work on that little of sleep let alone train. But they do it and some how manage to push through each time. Better them then me though, I need my rest or I'm a cranky person. 

BCT is made up of 10 weeks..

week 0-1- is spent at 1-20th, also known as reception. 

week 2-4- is red phase

5-7- is white phase

8-10- is blue phase

As each phase passes the training lightens up a little (not much) and the Drill SGT's have a little time off.  During the entire 10 week's of BCT the only time a Drill SGT has a day off is the day after CQ. Typically they sleep most of that day any how because they've been up for over 24hrs at that point. They are given ONE four day weekend during the Cycle that they have off but other than that they work 7 days a week STRAIGHT. Its brutal I tell you!!!!!

Pugil Sticks

Today I had the chance to go out and photography the company doing Pugil stick training. This was one event that I hadn't seen in person yet, so I was looking forward to it. At the end they had a competition between the platoons. Each Drill SGT picked their strongest male & female to compete against the others. 

The platoons cheered each other on, by chanting and singing cadence. 

It was so fun to watch, they have a great team spirit about them. 

This is one of my favorite pictures from the day. I was out there for 4 hours taking pictures and watching. 1st SGT had to step in for a minute and break things up before it got to serious. (lol, no one was seriously hurt, although a few did have to go to the ER)

DELTA DEALERS FIGHT STRONG!!! 

Drill SGT P. watching his PVT represent the plt. He was on edge the whole time, it was pretty comical.

Each PVT was able to get a 2 minute training / practice round!! 

Drill SGT Y. cheering her plt on and giving them some love for a job well done!!!!

I had a lot of fun out there watching and chatting with some of the PVTS. This was a great moral booster for them, as they don't have much longer to go till graduation.
It was a bitter sweet day as well because it was my last day to go out and take pictures for this cycle because I'll be leaving soon. 

~DAY 351~