Field Training Exercise

This past week has included a wide array of new adventures. I have become familiar with Wolf Spiders and Chiggers while out at Camp Bullis. We were doing training on how to properly command a convoy and trying to simulate reality as close as possible. We had some of our trucks hit with IED's and had small arms fire from insurgents. The worst part though is when I was helping establish a perimeter for a MEDEVAC out in an open field with tall grass. The ground was partially wet from all the rain we had been getting down here in Texas. I found a little dry spot and took a knee. When I looked down, I thought I saw a terantula crawling on my boot. I had never seen a spider this big and instantly thought the worst. I yelled for my buddy to come over and check it out while I held still. He assured me that I was going to survive...it was only a wolf spider. Apparently kids from Kentucky know about Wolf spiders, Oregon boys don't. The wolf spider ended up being something cool to watch while I waited in the sun. The real killer out there was a microscopic little pest - the chigger. I had done pretty well up to this point at avoiding this little irritation. But I think throwing myself into the middle of their habitat left me little chance of avoiding little itchy red marks all over for the past few days. Well now I can say I'm familiar with chigger bites. I've seen tons of deer, a rattlesnake, jackrabbits, turkey, and now spiders and chiggers. This part of Texas has really surprised me though with how beautiful the countryside is. Even despite the heat I have really enjoyed the times during land navigation training when I could walk around for hours and just be outside enjoying the beauties of the earth. There are a lot of things about Army life that are frustrating, no one will deny that. But there is a bizarre satisfaction that comes from being dog tired and still having an attitude of gratitude for the beauty of the earth. In the solitude of nature you are really confronted with poignant reminders of what is important in life. I miss my boys and Kristine and can't wait to see them again. You look back on your memories and mostly remember the good times and look forward to making some more memories in the years to come. Nineteen more days and we are on a plane to Germany!! I pray this will all be worth it.