Week Five - Ready to Fight

--Introduction to the Code of Conduct
--TEMPER (Tent Extensible Modular Personal) tents
--CPR (of which I am already professionally certified)
--CATM (Combat Arms Training and Maintenance)
--Mental preparation for combat (this is going to be tough)
--Pugil stick application (let's go pound each other(!))
--Basic leadership
--Basic situational awareness
--AER (Air Expeditionary Force) prep (the government just can't get enough of the acronyms.)
--Public relations
--Joint warfare

This has been a scheduled post.

Happy Anniversery, Mom and Dad!

My parents celebrate their twenty-third wedding anniversary today. I know it's been a rocky twenty-three years, and I wish them all the luck in the world, that the rest of their marriage goes smoothly.

Just remember to endure to the end. Our time here is really a blink in time compared to the eternities. Do something special together, and remember not to argue.

This has been a scheduled post.

Some Important Announcements from Noble

Hello everyone. Noble called home again and let people know that she has been recycled---she will have to go through 2 weeks of the same training she just went through again---due to her weakness in PT (Physical Training, I assume). She is rather disheartened about it.

Her address has changed. I'll put the new address below. Fill in her name as appropriate (hint: it's not Noble)

AB "NOBLE"
324 TRS/FLT 494, Dorm B-10
PSC 3
1320 Truemper St. Unit 364020
Lackland AFB, TX 78236-6411

Noble would also like to point out that she has access to the comments on this blog, via me/her mom sending them to her. If writing a letter is too difficult or if you just want to send a short note of encouragement, please do so. She is having a really, really hard time at the moment and I'm sure she could use ALL the encouragement she can get.

Week Four - Countering the Threat

--CBRNE/chamber training (where they stick us in a gas chamber. Yipee.)
--Anti-terrorism/Force protection level 1
--Security programs (probably not computer related)
--Obstacle course (I'm actually looked forward to this)
--Weapons evaluation (breakdown and assembly) (can Noble be super-spy like and do it in less than thirty seconds?)
--Second clothing issue (for the dress blues. Which we aren't allowed to wear until the end of the last week. Hmm.)
--Dress and appearance (service uniform)

This has been a scheduled post.

Week Three - Combat Lifesaving

--SABC (Self Aid/Buddy Care) under fire
--Bleeding control
--Bandages and dressings
--Combat application tourniquet
--Blood clotting agents
--Splint fractures
--Internal bleeding
--Burn treatments
--Shock management
--Airway management
--Spinal injury
--Interview sessions (for those who don't have their jobs yet)

So, basically a review of five years of girls camp. Cool.

This has been a scheduled post.

Update from Noble

Update from Noble's Mom:

Noble called last night again. She has read all my letters and begs for more. She was relieved of duty as Element Leader because she couldn't pass the physical fitness test. She's not too upset though because the job was getting more complicated and she is glad to be done with that responsibility. Now she can concentrate on helping her wingman and building her upper body strength. She is asking for prayers that she will be strengthened and able to pass the test so she doesn't have to recycle to another flight. She has also asked for her name to be put on the temple prayer rolls. She sounded in good spirits and other than missing her Korean music is doing great. She attended church, bore her testimony, and was given a priesthood blessing by a couple of trainees who are RM's.

I asked her if she had fun "rolling in the dirt with the rifle?" She said it was great, and she had a blast. (Not literally) She is lonely and would love to hear from ANYONE.

You heard her, folks!

Happy Birthday, Danny!

My youngest brother turns thirteen today. Can you believe it? The youngest in the family is now officially a teenager. That makes me feel old, and will probably make mom and dad feel older.

Happy birthday, Danny-Dee!

This has been a scheduled post.

Week Two - Basic War Skills

--Career guidance (for those who didn't get a guaranteed job, like I did)
--Weapon handling and maintenance
--Integrated defense
--Cover and concealment (this is starting to sound like I'm going through spy training)
--Tactical movement
--Firing positions (because, you know, you can't just pull the trigger. You have to be in the right position)
--FPCON (Force Protection Conditions)
--Defensive fighting positions
--SALUTE (Size/Activities/Location/Unit ID/Time/Equipment) reporting
--Challenge procedures


This has been a scheduled post.

Update from Noble's Family

Noble still hasn't gotten a chance to write letters home, but here's the latest update from her family. Names have been slightly tweaked.


Dear Family and Friends,

We finally heard from Noble, a phone call Friday night!!! She is doing well and sounded great. She is part of a Flight of 48 women, down from 50 due to 2 injuries; there are four Elements of 12 women each and she is an Element Leader. She has male Training Instructors, which was an answer to her prayers as she had heard that they are "easier", and not allowed to be in the dorm during showering and dressing time.

Noble said the food is great, but is not able to eat as much as she'd like because they are required to drink a glass of Gatorade before meals and she feels full of fluid. She has not fallen out of a run, but was placed in remedial physical training to get her up to speed on the push-ups and sit-ups. They run three days and do aerobics three days. She got to go to church on Sunday, after recruiting a volunteer to go with her as they have to have a "wingman." A senior missionary couple conducted the service and she really liked them. Noble reads her scriptures every night and said she spends about twenty minutes in prayer each night.

She reported that she has been yelled at only twice for minor things because she "really knows her stuff." She did prepare herself by memorizing the rank structure and chain of command before she went. She made a friend, but that girl was one of the ones who got injured so Noble is missing her.

She cried some as we talked, partly from homesickness, partly from relief at being able to hear our voices. She has received my letters but hasn't been allowed to read them. She said reading letters is a privilege that is given when all their work is done; but her Flight is slow as molasses and they haven't finished anything in time enough to be given that privilege. At least she knows I love her and am writing frequently.

Note from Balgram: Write her lots of postcards! I'm not sure where the letters are kept but she might get a glimpse of them...you never know!

Mom, (Rosy Lass) is doing better each day. During the past year we were together all day almost everyday and we were best of friends. It has been so fun to have an adult daughter as my friend. I miss her terribly; but at the same time so glad she is gone and moving on with her life and having a great adventure and being blessed in so many ways. I have been so proud of her commitment to the gospel, her virtue, modesty and purity. I have every confidence that she will be a bright light that draws others to the gospel.

Thanks for all your prayers in our and her behalf,
Rosy Lass