Can you believe it? I'm updating my blog on time!!!! -so you know it had to have been a pretty good week :)
Tuesday 5 July (Day 49)-
We worked on a Battle Update Brief, which is basically just an intelligence update for the commander. We will do 4 of these briefs, the first being presented on Wednesday, and the fourth on Monday. Tuesday was one of the longest days we've had since Module A. While I hate (HATE) cutting into my "Me" time, I'd rather cut into it while working actively on something than being beaten to death by powerpoint. Adding to that, my new TOC and I work really really well together, we all respect each other and think pretty similarly, making it easy to work on a bunch of separate products and put them together. We've been so much on the same page that we forget to break down who will brief what part of the presentation, so that could use some work. Our analysis though is spot on, which is a real confidence booster.
Tuesday 5 July (Day 49)-
We worked on a Battle Update Brief, which is basically just an intelligence update for the commander. We will do 4 of these briefs, the first being presented on Wednesday, and the fourth on Monday. Tuesday was one of the longest days we've had since Module A. While I hate (HATE) cutting into my "Me" time, I'd rather cut into it while working actively on something than being beaten to death by powerpoint. Adding to that, my new TOC and I work really really well together, we all respect each other and think pretty similarly, making it easy to work on a bunch of separate products and put them together. We've been so much on the same page that we forget to break down who will brief what part of the presentation, so that could use some work. Our analysis though is spot on, which is a real confidence booster.
Wednesday 6 July (Day 50)-
Our first day of combatives! We learned just the very basic moves, such as the fighter stance, getting up while protecting ourselves, and some simple ways to begin a clinch (when you close on your combatant so they can't hit you effectively). It was all really useful information, but I think the fact that we had to be at formation at 0445 won out when it came to my attitude.Class was the second day of the Battle Update briefs, once again another long day, but at least I was working on something again!
Thursday 7 July (Day 51)-
I'll bet you can't guess what Thursday was like! Ok, fine, yeah you can- combatives and BUB. Combatives was a little more exciting because we worked on clinches, but its still too early in the morning!!! After class I realized that I had finally heard back on an issue I've been having with getting reimbursed for the cost of living here, I found out too late to follow up...but that's for Friday's paragraph...
I'll bet you can't guess what Thursday was like! Ok, fine, yeah you can- combatives and BUB. Combatives was a little more exciting because we worked on clinches, but its still too early in the morning!!! After class I realized that I had finally heard back on an issue I've been having with getting reimbursed for the cost of living here, I found out too late to follow up...but that's for Friday's paragraph...
Friday 8 July (Day 52)-
Ohhhh Friday.... Its amazing how one week can go from kind of boring (to tell people about, not to be living-life out here is much more entertaining than is sounds on here! :P) to crazy as all get-out in a matter of hours. Friday began with combatives again, while it was a much more exciting (and PAINFUL) day, I was starting to feel the lack of sleep. It didn't help that we basically did clinch drills with each other...most of us wanting to beat the crap out of each other for various reasons-mostly friendly competition- and I ended up getting my shoulder popped in a not so good way. I think the way my classmate moved it ended up pinching a nerve briefly, which was really painful initially but has since worn off for the most part. We did actually get a workout Friday morning though, because we were so aggressive with each other (or at least me and Robin were).
After combatives I worked on following up on my pay issue...which ended up being an all day project. I feel terrible that I barely helped my TOC out, but the issue concerns my ability to pay rent, so I prioritized in hopes that I'd be able to work it out quickly. Those hopes were dashed as it seems no one can help me with this, we'll find out Monday how this issue will be resolved.
Friday evening was the highlight of the day...The Clinch Drill. The Clinch Drill involves our instructors donning 16 oz boxing gloves and swinging at us repeatedly until we achieve the clinch and stop them from effectively hitting us. Before anyone starts a riot about the Army allowing instructors to beat the hell out of us, let me explain its purpose. Achieving a clinch is extremely easy to do when you're not dodging punches...and also completely unneccessary. If we were ever in a situation where we'd have to clinch, it would be in a situation where someone was trying to land a punch or two-so what good would a clinch drill be if we couldn't prove that we are capable of clinching someone who is trying to stop us? So while I got the crap beat out of me, resulting in a really nice dead leg and a headache (not the concussion kind), I also gained the confidence in my ability to close with someone who is swinging at me. My day ended with a limp and a trip to my climbing friends' house for a birthday party, where I got some quality time with good people and their wonderful dog :)
Ohhhh Friday.... Its amazing how one week can go from kind of boring (to tell people about, not to be living-life out here is much more entertaining than is sounds on here! :P) to crazy as all get-out in a matter of hours. Friday began with combatives again, while it was a much more exciting (and PAINFUL) day, I was starting to feel the lack of sleep. It didn't help that we basically did clinch drills with each other...most of us wanting to beat the crap out of each other for various reasons-mostly friendly competition- and I ended up getting my shoulder popped in a not so good way. I think the way my classmate moved it ended up pinching a nerve briefly, which was really painful initially but has since worn off for the most part. We did actually get a workout Friday morning though, because we were so aggressive with each other (or at least me and Robin were).
After combatives I worked on following up on my pay issue...which ended up being an all day project. I feel terrible that I barely helped my TOC out, but the issue concerns my ability to pay rent, so I prioritized in hopes that I'd be able to work it out quickly. Those hopes were dashed as it seems no one can help me with this, we'll find out Monday how this issue will be resolved.
Friday evening was the highlight of the day...The Clinch Drill. The Clinch Drill involves our instructors donning 16 oz boxing gloves and swinging at us repeatedly until we achieve the clinch and stop them from effectively hitting us. Before anyone starts a riot about the Army allowing instructors to beat the hell out of us, let me explain its purpose. Achieving a clinch is extremely easy to do when you're not dodging punches...and also completely unneccessary. If we were ever in a situation where we'd have to clinch, it would be in a situation where someone was trying to land a punch or two-so what good would a clinch drill be if we couldn't prove that we are capable of clinching someone who is trying to stop us? So while I got the crap beat out of me, resulting in a really nice dead leg and a headache (not the concussion kind), I also gained the confidence in my ability to close with someone who is swinging at me. My day ended with a limp and a trip to my climbing friends' house for a birthday party, where I got some quality time with good people and their wonderful dog :)
Saturday 9 July-
TRIATHLON DAY!...not... I actually made the decision to not participate in the triathlon I entered (on Wednesday) the night before, because of the amount of sleep I've been getting, and our plans to go to Tucson to climb on Sunday. Further supporting my decision was a pounding headache, surprisingly not my leg or shoulder! Instead of swimming, biking and running, I went to the range to qualify on the 9mm for my German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge... which I have officially earned (Gold too, the highest you can get *smug smile*), can't say I'm sorry, shooting was awfully fun! Especially Garrett's .22 revolver! He has a holster for it that fit on my belt, I probably looked ridiculous but I felt so country it was worth it! Saturday afternoon was filled with Olive Garden and a cookout, as well as some quality time with a classmate who's a former boxer and a speed bag...and a pullup bar...its almost as if I forgot that I was going rock climbing the next morning...oh crap...Sunday 10 July-
Valuable lesson of the day- DON'T FRY YOUR SHOULDERS AND BACK BEFORE YOU CLIMB ROCKS. I am dumb, and I ended the weekend with frustration because I didn't plan ahead. I blew a shot at finishing my first difficult route because I worked too hard on Saturday. I feel that way because while I'm out here my priority is improving my climbing skill, while I love working on boxing, I can do that back home. Climbing when I get home is going to be challenging, I'll need a partner and lots of equipment that I can't afford just yet. I am glad that I still tried though, and managed to push myself to basically muscle failure, that's the best way to work on muscle endurance. Get your muscles tired, then keep training!! So while I'm pissed that I failed a climb I really really wanted, I'm proud of myself for trying something I knew was going to push my arms past their limit, and pushing hard enough to fail.
Next week is more combatives, more BUBs, and hopefully a solution to my pay issue!!
Love y'all and miss you!!!
Valuable lesson of the day- DON'T FRY YOUR SHOULDERS AND BACK BEFORE YOU CLIMB ROCKS. I am dumb, and I ended the weekend with frustration because I didn't plan ahead. I blew a shot at finishing my first difficult route because I worked too hard on Saturday. I feel that way because while I'm out here my priority is improving my climbing skill, while I love working on boxing, I can do that back home. Climbing when I get home is going to be challenging, I'll need a partner and lots of equipment that I can't afford just yet. I am glad that I still tried though, and managed to push myself to basically muscle failure, that's the best way to work on muscle endurance. Get your muscles tired, then keep training!! So while I'm pissed that I failed a climb I really really wanted, I'm proud of myself for trying something I knew was going to push my arms past their limit, and pushing hard enough to fail.
Next week is more combatives, more BUBs, and hopefully a solution to my pay issue!!
Love y'all and miss you!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment