Time Really DOES Fly When You're Having Fun

Well. This is long overdue... as many of my friends back home have reminded me. ;-)

I'm on the 9th week of BOLC right now, so that puts me and my classmates nearly halfway done with the course. We've done a variety of training included (but not limited to) death by PowerPoint, land navigation, basic rifle marksmanship, briefings, exams, operations orders, and short range air defense (SHORAD) training. SHORAD will continue for the next couple weeks, and then we move to PATRIOT phase.

I've done well so far in BOLC. I've had 3 exams, two briefings, land navigation test, rifle qualification, a cultural paper, a written operation order, and two pt tests. My lowest grade has been a 94%, and I'm pretty sure that's only by the grace of God giving me the ability to memorize random facts and definitions in short amounts of time at late hours of the night.

Today, we conducted our mid-course pt test, which was the last graded event before the mid-course OML (order of merit list) comes out. The OML will be a huge factor in deciding whether we get our preferred duty stations. The higher you are on the list, the more likely it will be that you get the post you want.

For those who don't know, I am putting down Fort Sill as my preferred duty station (yes... I WANT to stay in Oklahoma). There are several reasons for this: 1) 31st BDE (the brigade here at Sill) is a Patriot Missile unit and both Battalions within it are deployable - something I've been wanting to do since joining ROTC as a freshman in college; 2) I've heard great things about 31st BDE leadership, and I'd like to be a part of it; and 3) I've established a great friend-group here in Lawton and have been able to land in an amazing church and Bible study. All things considered, I see no reason why I would want to leave and search for something else. The grass is not always greener on the other side.

As for how I've liked Active Duty army life... I've loved it! Yes, sometimes it's completely frustrating and draining, but aren't most jobs? I enjoy my branch (Air Defense Artillery), and I've enjoyed my fellow Air Defenders. Not to mention I like earning a steady paycheck. :-P In an odd way, I've enjoyed starting brand new in Oklahoma. It's the first time I've felt completely independent and responsible for my own life, and I like it! I like the responsibility. I like the freedom make my own choices. My parents gave me a lot of freedom in college to make my own choices, so suddenly being on my own and having to start new hasn't been that overwhelming.

That said, I really miss North Carolina BBQ!! People out here just don't know how it's done. LOL. No, I miss other things as well. I miss the familiar sights and familiar faces. I miss Thursday nights at Apt 304. I miss going to Summit Church in Durham. I miss hiking/biking at Umstead Park. I miss being only 2 hours from home. I miss mid-day naps. I miss good cooking. I miss Raleigh (but not Raleigh traffic). I miss wearing civilian clothes all day. I miss working with the people and horses at Hope Reins of Raleigh. I miss joking with the ROTC cadre (I don't really miss being a cadet though... haha). I miss NC State in general.

So there's been several ups and downs... several emotional roller coasters... but that tends to be the way of life and it can only make me a stronger person - both physically, mentally, and spiritually. My walk with God has become closer to my heart through the struggles, and I'm being ever reminded that I live FOR Him - to enjoy Him, to become more like Him, and to make Him known.

"The Lord your God is in your midst,
a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you will gladness;
he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing."
Zephaniah 3:17


"And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh."
Ezekiel 36:26


"But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair, persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you . . . So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal." 

2 Corinthians 4:7-12,16-18