Here I am once again, in the greatest city in the country, Chicago, Illinois, my hometown.  The weather is fair, and the snow is ice on the ground, just my type of weather.  I miss home, but when opportunities like these come, you just cannot pass them by.  On with the program:

16 DEC: Yesterday DS Robertson and myself headed out with CPT Martinez, who kindly picked us up from our hotel.  Our event for the day was to conduct some PRT to about 35 Future Soldiers.  We spearheaded the preparation drill and explained each exercise.  As Drill Sergeants we show what right looks like and then expect our Soldiers to execute.  I told these great Chicago future Soldiers that this is a one time opportunity to gets some good training, this is hard to come by and not many get it.  I wished that I had had some of this training many moons ago and honestly, I learned the hard way.  Hopefully they take this training to help them once they get to Basic Training.  We gave them a little taste of what to expect once they get to BCT.  We are not your friends, but we are your mentors and we are there to mold you into a Soldier.  In other words, take everything with a grain of salt, and leave the attitudes at home. 

CPT Martinez briefing the Future Soldiers.

 Exercise # 6 of the Preparation Drill: The Windmill

After conducting the Preparation Drill, the Recruiters had a battle buddy competition lined up, 2MIN Push-Ups, 2MIN Sit-Ups, 30SEC dips, and then a timed relay race using a battle buddy carry.  These two gentlemen came on top and won the competition:

There was also an award for Best Recruiting Station:

And of course, with the whole group:

17 Dec: Today was an early morning.  DS Peffer arrived in Chi-town yesterday afternoon and we met up with him this morning to conducted some awesome physical training to the Chicago Police Academy trainees.  We came up with an awesome plan of action, and since it was more of a mature group, we went straight into the meat and potatoes, Conditioning Drill 1 and 2.  Of course with some explanation and bit of by the numbers we went to it.  We instructed, made on the spot corrections, and made people sweat.  It was a fairly large crowd of about 100 trainees and we separated into two formations.  Drill Sergeants brought the pain.  Usually with Soldiers the exercises are five repetitions at a four count exercise, but a more mature group, not saying that Basic Trainees aren't, but these men and women were on their 14th week of training, so we went to 10 repetitions, and go ahead and don't do them correctly, because we will do them again!!!!

DS Peffer and DS Tello demonstrating the 8 Count Push-Up, Exercise #5 of Conditioning Drill 2.

Keep your back straight and don't sag in the middle!

It has been an awesome two days, but the fun is not over.  Saturday and Sunday we will be at McCormick Place for Mayor Daley's Chicago Sportsfest, so if you are in the area stop on by for some great Army physical training and prizes!