Going home for leave

Well here I am ready to go on leave for 19 days. I can't wait to get home to see my daughters, I have missed them a lot. My girlfriend is flying in to visit for 10 days as well. Should be a good vacation at home.

I guess even Ferrari Owners with Vote John Kerry bumper stickers get parking tickets

I had to add this picture as well. How often do you catch a cop giving a ticket to a Ferrari owner, and have a camera with you? Obviously she wasn't impressed by the vote John Kerry bumper sticker on the back;)

Cool store display

This was one of the best store displays I saw while being a tourist in New Orleans. Just had to take a picture.

I have to include one picture of the many artillery pieces on display throughout New Orleans. After all I am branched Field Artillery: King of Battle, Some people might think I am ashamed of my branch if I didn't;)

Exquisite Ironwork in New Orleans

Okay, I had to add a picture of the ironwork in New Orleans so everyone knows what I mean when I say its awesome. Look at the detail, I guess I am a bit weird huh.

What a site!!

Saw many beautiful sites in New Orleans, the ironwork on the older buildings is awesome. I have had a great time but must go home today. I spent about $1500.00 in four days...ouch, but it was worth it.

4 day pass to New Orleans

Here I am on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. Kind of a spur of the moment thing with three other LT's, sounded like fun to me. I am glad I went, had some exquisite food, and had gator, froglegs, and raw oysters for the first time. Not too bad overall. Anyone who has never been to New Orleans should plan it as a destination vacation.

Alexandria

Well this is our home for now at ISP Alexandria, we get several weeks of leave later this month and I will be getting a four day pass. Notice: Once again I am in a tent-like structure sleeping on a cot. There is not a lot to do except try and stay cool because it is still hot here. I think they have the fair here and we are staying where the animals are stored...Moooo

Mission Time

Preparing for our mission to patrol routes in our assigned AO. The team loads their gear, prepares the crew serve weapons, conducts radio checks, conducts rehearsals and battle drills, does PMCS on the vehicles, and conduct PCI's and PCC's. Then the team SP's to conduct the mission. Successful mission preparation and rehearsals will ultimately lead to a successful mission. During a recent mission my platoon rehearsed TCP's several times and executed it perfectly in the field. An OPFOR mortar team on a gator caught sight of our Flash TCP just in time to turn around, the two guntrucks assigned as chase vehicles gave chase but unfortunately couldn't hit the offroad trails which the mortar team escaped on. But OPFOR had a weapons stash in the area and kept persistantly attacking our five guntrucks and running away. Hit and run tactics. We setup an ambush and chased the OPFOR away for good. We then continued our patrol and investigated and cleared several structures in the area. Overall it was a successful mission because noone was killed or injured, in play or otherwise.

Apache at JRTC

This was our air support for missions during JRTC, we had Blackhawks and Apache assets. Their helipads were just down from our tent.

Home Sweet Home

This is our home for the duration of JRTC rotation, not too bad, but then again we expect only the finest accommadations the Army has to offer...okay, its another tent, but it is better than laying in the mud and rain;)

Ft Polk, La

Well we successfully completed all training at FT Bliss. We have since relocated to lovely, and wet Fort Polk Louisiana for JRTC training. This is not our home in the picture, our home is tents of course.