Catch-up

It has been a while since I have posted anything. Let's see what has happened... We went to the range again. More of the same except a little less qualifying and more pistol close quarters stuff. It has gotten chilly here. It has been in the mid 40 for lows and 70s for highs. We have gotten lots (for Iraq anyway) of rain lately. We have started sending Soldiers home for R&R. It is a little early, but someone has to fill the early slots. I will be leaving command on 5 JAN 10. At least I think that is the date. Nobody has said for sure, but that is the last day in our change of command inventory schedule. The incoming commander will need to spend the last two weeks of December and the first 3-4 days of January inventorying all of the company property, so that she can sign for everything before we change out. I will be moving to the Brigade Intelligence shop where I will be the assistant Brigade S2 (Intelligence Officer). I had a good birthday. We had a PT test that day, so I decided to do the run to determine how much time I had gained since we got here. My First Sergeant and I have been running quite a bit. I ran the 2 miles in 1240, so it has paid off. One of my goals when I got here was to get back under 13 minutes. Maybe I should shoot for 1200.

Range

All available Soldiers went to the range yesterday to shoot 9MM and our M4s. I shot expert with both weapons. 40/40 with my pistol and 38/40 with my M4. I also shot left handed with a simulated broken trigger finger (used my middle finger) and shot 36/40, but I was shorted 2 rounds in one of my magazines. I think it was more difficult to use my non-dominate eye than it was to use the other hand. Also much better since I had my eye surgery. We also did some transition and close quarters marksmanship drills. We had fun. We are trying to get to the range at least once a month while we are here, just to keep the skills sharp.

No Second Command

I got confirmation this week that I will not be taking the second command. Kind of relieved. It was going to be alot of work. Hard to explain the difference, but much different than what I am doing now. Since it is a headquarters it is the Company that all of the Brigade commander and his staff are in. I would not have really been in command of anything since all of the staff Majors run their sections and all I would have done is been responsible for their property. I also would have been held responsible for all DUIs and discipline issues once we return to the states. With a company of 240 Soldiers that have been deployed for a year there was certain to be lots of late night phone calls. It was determined that since I am so close to Major that the second command would not have been beneficial. More beneficial for me to work in an Intel job instead. I will move to the BDE intelligence office to be the assistant intelligence officer. I am trying to stay in Bravo Company until MAR or APR, But it looks like it will be more like FEB.