Robert Update

Happy Sunday, September 23, 2007

We just spoke to Robert and he sounded great! They got their cell phones for 2 hours today because they did well this week and therefore were getting the privilege of spending the afternoon at a church rec-room and had use of their cell phones.
His Platoon spent Monday thru Thursday at ‘Combat Battle Training’. They did a 12 kilometer hike with full gear to a sight set up to look like Iraq. They played Iraqi music 24/ 7. It is well known that Robert and Brian a (scoutmaster) are Eagle Scouts, therefore they were put in charge of tent set up! They are always asked lots of advice from their Platoon mates in areas of camping and packing, never more than during this week of training. The tents sleep 45 people and not light or easy to assemble, Robert was never so grateful for all his scouting experience. Once set up, the Drill Sergeants posed as Iraqi insurgents for the rest of the week. The Platoon was on their own. They practiced ‘Field Training Exercises’ One night he said they were sleeping in their tents when they where woken by real gun fire. They had to dress and get to their fox holes as fast as possible. They were ambushed by Insurgents (Drill Sergeants). His team was able to overcome the men that jumped them by hand to hand combat. Once they were caught they were patted down and held. One started to get away and Robert and one other guy tackled him pretty rough. One other DS from another fox whole got a black eye from getting hit with a butt of a rifle for trying to escape. He said he had a blast! They take all the training as if it was really happening.
On Friday they practices ‘Buddy Team Live Fire’, this is where Robert and his buddy Matt, would run from one area of cover to another, taking turns covering each other and having to shoot WITH LIVE AMO at pop up targets. Robert said they had to be very careful because they were having to shoot near their buddy to cover them as they ran, coming very close at some points. They would have to hit a pop up target twice for it to go down, showing a kill. Robert got every one of his. His DS for the exercise asked Robert what field he was in, when Robert told him 68 Whiskey, he told him he was in the wrong field, and that he would make a great infrentry man or sniper. They are very strict when it comes to ammo safety because accidents do happen. Last week they were practicing getting their rifles ready to shoot as fast as possible (they are always told to keep their safety on and gun down), one girl forgot her safety, miss fired, and missed her foot by an inch. Robert said the DS went nuts!
He has improved his mile time, he can now run it in 7 minutes 30 seconds, this is huge for Robert cause he runs like a tank! He has lost over 35lbs. and says he is not done yet, he is working on a six pack. I am sure I will not recognize him when I see him in 2 ½ weeks. I finally broke down and bought a digital camera so I will be taking lots of pictures for all of you to see.

Have a great week.

Love and prayers,
Loretta