Train; Practice; Train Some More

We moved to permanent housing from the tent city and are continuing training. See the pictures at the top. I share a room with a lieutenant. She is broadening my horizons via ipod/mp3 players; watching tv shows on my computer that I did not get to see when they aired; but we split company when I want to watch sports.


The most recent training we completed included convoy operations. I was the driver.....what a blast! I drove a HMMV off road as we escaped "explosives and insurgents" (actors). My team had to tow another HMMV 5 different times...even "off road".


For the next weeks, we will have less action, but more mission focused activity as we prepare to support units with our communications. We are the telephone company for the soldiers around us. We give them telephone and internet. We HAVE to be good so they can talk to each other and make plans!


Enjoy the pictures above! They are: old tent city; new room in a building;

me with our HMMV named Cobra 6; other soldiers doing 1st aide

Here We Go!

Hi, everybody,
I'm finally beginning the blog adventure!
We had a ceremony on Oct. 4th before departing for Texas.
In a nutshell, so far we have trained on what to do if our HMMV (jeep) turns over; how to watch for IEDs (explosive devices); speak a few Iraqi phrases; do first aide; and fire our weapons.
We have lived in a tent city (concrete floors and real beds, though); seen Texas duststorms; rain (once); and recently moved into a building with real furniture for clothes etc.
The dfac (dining facility) food is about the same as school, so I'm doing fine in that department.
When not training I am working in an office or traveling around the area looking for sites on which to place our signal equipment.

BELOW: We thank the Patriot Riders for coming to show respect and protect our ceremony from negative protestors (there weren't any this time, thank goodness);
Patriot Riders standing guard around the ceremony (motorcycle riders who also showed up at 5am the next day to escort us toward the airport....cool!);
see me in the middle of the back row in formation (during ceremony).

As soon as I can, I'll return to this site and add pics of "wrestling" (Combative Training) and others.
You can post to this blog. I'll look at your post, then let it show on the site. You can also write to me at donna.hicks@us.army.mil.