All right, some interesting stuff to get through and update everyone on. If you couldn't guess from the heading, this week is grinding along, and seeing as we're now about to finish the 6th week of our training (?), I think it is fair to say that just about everyone is really feeling the constant use of our muscles in PT and our brains in trying to absorb the fire hose of information.

Monday was right back to PT and Advocacy week. This morning was our next installation in ruck marching, in which we marched an entire 3-miles. I know it doesn't sound like a lot, but the pace that is set by our Commander and our Class Leader is a little faster then some people can handle so we actually have people falling out. Most of the time it isn't the persons physical fitness that causes them to fall out though. For many, simple anatomy and physics works against them (this would be the shorter people, with shorter legs) and other people I know developed terrible blisters. One such person was my Battle Buddy LT Boggs, who is the subject of a later story which is the genesis of the "Minor Surgeries" tag line above... but we'll get to that.

After the ruck march, the trials began. These practical exercises are supposed to mimic an actual trial experience so that we can work on our advocacy, and for those who have never been in a court room before, to get some introduction to procedure and style. I love this stuff, and it is the reason I became a lawyer, so I was fired up. However, I was not the MOST fired up at all. For those classes that are coming in after us, you will likely hear of students who went and got mannequins, so that they could demonstrate more effectively the facts of the case, OR student witnesses who were particularly inappropriate. Though that behavior may detract from the "reality" of the situation, it made the whole process far more fun. I have to give a shout out to my Bestie, who totally dominated and was by far the most prepared, and she deserves a little credit, it really showed.

Monday afternoon, I got another workout in with Battle Buddy LT Boggs, before heading to the Residence Inn jacuzzi for some soothing warm water. We were met there by our class leader, and when he saw the size of Boggs' blisters, he offered to conduct some minor surgery on them. Boggs is one tough soldier, and she was a good sport as the class leader and his "murse" (me the man-nurse) drained the blisters of all their fluid, and it was A LOT.

Tuesday morning was squad PT, and my squad was led by the Super Hoooahhhh LT Shim, and he brought something good that morning. Had to give him a shout out because I think I'm still sore (basically killer abs and some fun "burst" exercises, kept the heart pumping.) Tuesday morning was the last of the trials, which went up to lunch, and then after we had an hour class, and "Leadership Mentor Group" we got the rest of the day off. After class I went to Totally Awesome PT, even though I passed the PT test, I enjoy the additional workout, and then after that I went to water polo practice, which had an amazing showing and thus made it far more fun.

Wednesday morning PT was back to Run Group 1, and circuit training which amounted to death to my abdominals. LT Huot destroyed us, and then had us doing relay races which always gets the competitive juices flowing and makes life very interesting. It also has the ancillary affect of totally wearing you out, and then we finished with 20 pull-ups.

Wednesday classes started an hour late because it was the first day of C'Ville public schools, so all the professors had to get their kids to school on time, and we got an extra hour off in the morning (which was, of course, tacked on in the evening). With the finale of Criminal Law, we have now moved on to Fiscal and Contract Law. This subject sounds boring compared to the totally sexy criminal law, but that is not to say it isn't incredibly important. That was made readily apparent as soon as we started talking through hypotheticals, which reinforced the point that was already made by the professors, that being, much of the work we will be doing in the first years of our practice will center around the use of MONEY... When you future students get here, you'll understand just how dangerous this proposition can be, and you'll understand exactly what I'm getting at... Essentially, if you mess up, a letter is sent to both Congress and the President outlining what you and your Commander did wrong and the punishment you received, which is never good for a career.

Wednesday after class I had grand intentions to go for a swim, and actually went to the pool. However, I got caught in the siren song that is the giant jacuzzi and the constant aches and pains in my legs and back. So, I gave into temptation and sat in the warm water with a jet right in my back and on my legs for a good 45 minutes... just what the doctor ordered. After my soak, Bestie had set up a BBQ at the Residence Inn which was very well attended and supplied, so more relaxing for me...

This morning's PT was a bit of a recovery morning, as it was Women's Equality Day at the JAG Corps, and the Commanding General held a 2.5 mile "Fun Run" at 0615. Since that is right during our PT, we "volunteered" to join the "fun run," which was actually pretty fun. There was a great showing of our faculty, the grad students, and the court reporter school. Clearly, 2.5 miles isn't anything serious, but when the competitive juices start flowing, anything can happen.

Class today continued in the morning with a three hour block about the Antideficiency Act, and then we went straight into our seminar groups for Fiscal Law. I can't say that Fiscal Law is terribly difficult when you take a 30,000 foot view, but I'm am positive that it will get difficult when you get into the finer nuances of the law and particularly how it applies to the numerous requests a JA must review a week.

After class, I went to Totally Awesome PT again, and joined the "push up improvement" group, and we got smoked. 1SG decided to really hit us hard, and to be honest, it felt pretty good. After that was finished, I knew Battle Buddy Boggs would want to workout, so I joined her and our Class Leader for an "ab and back" P90X style, workout which was cut short because there was so much trash talking between LT Boggs and Class Leader about who would beat who in a game of one-on-one basketball, that we simply couldn't wait to find out the result. Well, LT Boggs put up a valiant effort, but was unable to defeat the 6 inch taller, 40 lb heavier Class Leader.

Anyway, after a short dinner of lentil soup and an apple (still trying to make weight here), the Class Leader, Battle Buddy Boggs and I headed to the Residence Inn jacuzzi for some much needed relaxation and time spent with other members of the class. Many of these individuals are in charge of putting together the infamous "dining-in" which is coming up at the end of September before we graduate. I don't know much about a "dining-in," but there is a lot of ritual to it, and it is supposed to be pretty interesting/funny. I've been charged with the "after-party/safety brief," basically making sure no one drives drunk after the "dining-in" and we have a place to go when we're finished. Should be fun, and it will most certainly be the source of an entire blog when its over.

There were a couple questions, one in particular about whether a National Guard would be able to get into a class in the 18 Month period he/she has. I've asked several individuals in the school and the general consensus is that, if you've been hired as a potential JAG by a NG or Army Reserve component, then you shouldn't have an issue. Don't hold me to that, and I'll keep asking, but rest assured, I don't think your NG unit would hire you without this contingency planned for.

As always, thanks for reading, and keep the questions coming....