AIT Day 81
December 17th, 2002
I am back from the field. This FTX was a lot better than the one in BCT. My squad leader was a sergeant. He slept more than we did. When we weren�t on a mission or eating, we were sleeping. No complaints here.
When we got there, our tent was already built. It had a concrete floor and a heater. We had cots too, so we didn�t have to sleep on top of spiders like in Kentucky.
We went on a mission to repair a broken down vehicle, but we were attacked on the way by the enemy. That encounter turned into my funnest experience in AIT. A giant game of laser tag in the woods. Oh, I died. Twice. But I got my revenge the next day while on gate guard duty. The enemy didn�t know the password. When I told him he couldn�t pass, he pulled his rifle on me, so I shot him before he could shoot me.
We were out there for three and a half days. When we came back, we cleaned our rifles for like five hours straight and turned then in. I threw all my field equipment in the washer and will turn it in tomorrow. Recovery here is so much less BS than in BCT. We had to clean for a week there.
There was a Christmas party at the rec on the night we got back. My First Sergeant brought a radio DJ. It was K Swiss. The dance floor was packed. Me and my battles had fun.
Today is my last day of school and I graduate in two days. It�s a good day to be me.
Last night, my battalion went to a tree lighting ceremony. I though it would be gay, but it was alright. There was a brass quintet from the army band playing Christmas songs. We all sang along. In the middle of it, a caravan of ambulances and fire trucks showed up with Santa Claus. I thought he had one too many big macs, but that was just his transportation. His jolly ass entertained the little kids for a while and then started messing with the DSs. That was cool. One DS told Santa he needs PT. I agree. The youngest member of the battalion got to pull the switch on the lights. She�s 17. After the ceremony, the DSs gave us cookies and hot cocoa. Even they can be jolly.