updates by Chris

So the mobilization/validation process of the deployment is coming to an end.  Before a reserve unit goes over seas they have to "validate".  The army has a list of tasks that we as individuals and as a company must pass in order to get on the plane to Iraq.  So the first portion of this validation was spent in Ft McCoy WI, which is the headquarters for all of the Army Reserves.  Every reserve company mobilizes out of there.  For 2 weeks we made sure our immunizations were up to date, our dental and health were in good shape, finances in correct order, and other paper issues were sorted out.  Then we did basic soldier tasks like convoy operations, first aid, mounted/dismounted weaponry lanes basically not a lot of engineer tasks but tasks that are important none the less.

We then got on a charter bus and drove 10 hours to Ft Leonardwood, MO (FLW) where we spent the next 2 weeks validating on Engineer tasks.  For those of you who don't know, FLW is home of the Engineers and is a miserable place in the middle of the Ozark mountains in no where Missouri.  It is commonly called Ft Lost in the Woods Misery.  We got our hands on some bridges and actually got to be engineers.  We built 3 kinds of bridges, 2 of which we'll see in Iraq.  We built the Mabey Johnson which is a beast of a bridge to build and not too many of us have ever seen before but seems to be one of the most common in Iraq right now.  We also got on the water and built every one's favorite the IRB. 

Our boat operators got a lot of good training on still water building a raft (5 bridge pieces put together to ferry vehicles across the water) and full enclosure (from shore to shore).  We went to the National Guard Base Ike Skelton and got to bridge on the Missouri River which none of our boat ops have ever built on fast moving water before.  The company we are replacing in Iraq sent some guys to watch us train and give us pointers based on what they are currently doing in Iraq and some of the issues they have encountered.  There were a lot of long days (one lasted 27 hours) but all in all it was good training for everyone.  The tempo was high but we proved we could handle it and we met every mission and task presented to us. 

So those 2 weeks are over and that brings us to right now.  I am currently sitting on a charter bus and am 7 hours into a 10 hour drive back to Ft McCoy.  I am happy to be leaving FLW because we are now validated and ready to leave, but also because FLW sucks, pretty bad.  Over the next few days we'll be tying up loose ends in McCoy, mostly paper work, and then we get  a 4 day pass.  I never thought we would get time off before we left for good so it was a pleasant surprise when they told us about it.  Heather will be flying into Milwaukee and I'll be meeting her there.  I can't tell you how excited I am to see her again, the next few days are going to go by so slow and then when she gets here our time is going to fly by way too fast, that's always the way it works.  After the pass we get on a plane for Kuwait, no dates yet, for security reasons they won't tell us exactly what day we are leaving until 12 to 24 hours before.

So that's what I have for you all.  sorry if it's a bit scattered and typo's.  there isn't a lot of room on the bus to type or even see the screen very well!  we are crammed on here, another bus or a panel truck to put our gear on would have been a good idea....oh well, that's the way it goes in the army!