"Are you an assassin?"
"I'm a soldier."
"You're neither. You're an errand boy sent by a grocer to collect a bill."
-Apologies to Marlon Brando and Martin Sheen
Okay, so it wasn't quite Apocalypse Now and I-95 isn't exactly the Dong Nai river, but as we load all the Red Storm Battalion cadets into busses and vans and pointed them 
towards central New Jersey you definitely got the feeling that we were leaving civilization behind us and heading in to the heart of Darkness. Things worked out much better for us than they did for Martin Sheen or even Joseph Conrad's protaginist. We descended on Ft. Dix in the middle of the night, left our mark for the next 2 days, and then disappeared like smoke in the wind.
The MSIIIs got their first taste of the field environment under the tutilage of MAJ Hamner and MSG Nathan while a great many of the MS Is and IIs got their first taste of a field environment period.
The weather held out for us while all the cadets zeroed and fired the M-16, rceived l and navigation classes, rappelled, and worked through scenarios on the Field Leadership Reaction 
Course.
A good overall weekend and the challenges for the cadets will just inrease from here.
Sir- this looks great!
And I love the quote.
Your cadets are some lucky guys and gals to have you. Best of luck--thanks for the blog comment--I'll be in touch!
Posted by: melissa | October 05, 2007 at 08:04 PM
Hey -- is that sleeping *inside a building* I see? Whatever happened to GP-Tinys? :)
Posted by: Jeanne | October 10, 2007 at 01:21 PM
Great to see the Blog is still in Action! Keep it Going. E-mail me...STG
Posted by: STG | October 11, 2007 at 12:20 AM
Sir,
You were the best.
V/R,
The Adj
Posted by: Kristin | October 12, 2007 at 01:42 PM
Sir,
Rest In Peace.......
You can start a new blog up there.
Posted by: Jeff James | October 12, 2007 at 03:43 PM
Sir,
I hope God lets you wear your kilt. Even though you're not Scottish.
I miss you!
Posted by: melissa | October 13, 2007 at 07:59 AM
Sir,
I just heard from SBU about you leaving us, you always were one to lead the way! You convinced me to do ROTC instead of going to West Point 10 years ago and it was one of the best decisions I ever made. Thank you for everything; keeping an eye out for me in Afghanistan, being a great mentor, and a true leader. Our thoughts and prayers are with you, Pam and your family.
Posted by: Kirsten S | October 14, 2007 at 08:12 PM
Sir,
I'm glad I got to spend time with you at the FTX...even though our time together was short, I will carry with me what I learned from you throughout my career. You will continue to be my mentor, and I know you will always be watching over me. I miss you, and I hope you are resting in peace now.
Posted by: CDT Cowper | October 17, 2007 at 05:38 PM
Sir,
I still talk about my mentor in the present tense. You will always be with us. I miss your guidance, your perspective, your humility, your humor, and your example.
Respectfully,
Kristin
Posted by: Kristin | January 27, 2008 at 02:38 PM