All right, it would appear that it is that time again. I hope the relative infrequency of my blogging isn't frustrating anyone? Please rest assured that I am confident you would be MORE frustrated if I were to write every day and spend more time recounting the specifics of the days lessons, versus this more generalized, 30,000 foot view of my experience. Regardless, the last couple days have been very interesting and a fantastic way to end a good week, particularly after last week's slight "low spot." Enough about that, I'm sure you're all waiting with baited breath to discovery just how exciting a JA's life can be.

I believe I left off with Tuesday evening. Wednesday morning was another morning with Run Group 1, but this morning was the first time that we did sprints. I was expecting that we'd all run down to the track and run sprints around the the quarter-mile loop. However, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that we were in fact going to do a "run" with sprints built into them. The group was lead by our faculty run group leader. He took us away from UVA to a small back-country road where we commenced what I call "Indian Runs," but the Army calls (and it is far more PC) "back to front sprints." It is a simple drill that keeps the entire line of runners moving, and only the last person in the line sprints to front of the formation where he assumes the lead, until the next person from the back of the line overtakes him. We continued like this for a good 20 minutes before we were put back into formation and we jogged back to UVA.

That morning in class we had lectures on Non-Judicial Punishment, the infamous Article 15, which is a form of punishment used in lieu of a court martial, but with a similar stigma. Though not as bad as a court martial, I must admit I have an irrational fear of Article 15s because it was the first form of punishment that I heard about when I arrived at Ft. Lee. After learning about NJP/Art. 15, we had a lecture/demonstration of the Preferral & Forwarding of Charges, and a seminar about Pleadings. At the seminar we brought in our completed "Charge Sheets" that we were tasked to complete the day before and we discussed this very difficult and specific practice that will take up much of our practice as JAs.

Lunch was spent on the 5th Floor at a "Brown Bag" lunch with a number of Chief Warrant Officers. The purpose of the lunch was to inform us of the purpose of the CWOs within the JAG office, and for us to ask questions of them. It was effective, and an element of my future office that I really didn't know anything about. After lunch we had a lengthy briefing on Article 32 & 34 hearings, which are really a combination of depositions and an accused's right to a Grand Jury.

After class I held the first real practice/try-outs for the softball team. I was amazed to find that over 20 people showed up to play, so we quickly put two squads together and played a game. It was a great time, and there is a surprisingly level of talent among the group, so I'm hoping the faculty is ready when we take them down. I hit two homers (the only one to do so) so I was feeling pretty good about myself. After the softball game, the group of us who are heading to Korea for our first duty station got together for dinner to discuss our options and future. Half way through dinner, ominous, dark clouds rapidly rolled in, and within minutes there was thunder, lightning, and tons of rain, nearly flooding the restaurant. It was amazing, as I LOVE thunder and lightning, so I was totally geeking out. When I returned to the JAG school I headed directly to the 5th floor balcony and watched the lightning as the storm passed over C'Ville, at one point, I counted 92 lightning strikes in one minute, totally insane.

Thursday morning was squad PT, and luckily my squad leader for the morning decided to take it easy on us, which provided a much needed rest. Thursday's classes were devoted to the 4th and 5th Amendments, my two favorites. We were given a long lunch because we were assigned a number of practical questions that we would discuss during a two hour seminar period after lunch. I think it is easy to assume that no one really worked during the long lunch, and instead we decided to take our time having lunch at the Business School which is our new routine. When we returned, the seminars were very interesting and actually engendered quite a bit of debate which was nice to see, we are lawyers after all.

Thursday evening began with yet another Thunder and Lightning storm. This time I almost got caught in it when I escorted a friend down to the Barracks Road Mall. We were walking back when we first noticed the giant blacks clouds rushing towards us. Being too far from the mall, and several hundred yards from the school, we found ourselves in a moment of panic, because we did not want to get stuck out in the open. Luckily we hurried our pace (to a light sprint) and luckily made it under the cover of the JAG school  as the first lightning strike thundered around us. This storm only lasted a half an hour, which was great because I got to go to Water Polo practice again, and get my second workout of the day in.

Friday morning was again time for Run Group 1, but this time, I was in charge of the group which means I pick the route and the pace. The day before I accepted a challenge from one of my professors to take "the fast guys up O Hill" (observatory hill). Thursday night I droven the course, and I was prepared to take the group on the roughly 5 mile loop. Things were going great until we reached the top of O Hill and began the long return down to the school. At this point, a Colonel who had joined the group relieved me of command  and decided to take us trail running, the practical implication being another trip up to the top of O Hill, but this time it was a dirt trail that went straight up the side of the hill instead of winding around. So that tagged on an additional half of a mile that I was not prepared for which was pretty mentally challenging. However, the road home was not so bad, and when we were finally finished, we had conquered the O Hill, TWICE, and I got to lead the way (for the most part).

Friday's classes focused on Military Offenses, Pleas & Pre-Trial Agreements, and Discovery. We actually got to leave an hour early, but not before we were told that we had a homework assignment waiting for us in our emails that was due Monday afternoon. This is particularly ironic when I said that we generally have NOTHING to do over the weekend, and I'm hoping I didn't bring this upon the class.

The afternoon was spent relaxing, until about 1730 when I went to the pool with a fellow classmate and went for a good 45 minute swim. After O Hill I was pretty exhausted, but it felt good to swim, and I created a pretty difficult set so I was spent. However, shortly after returning to the room, I was out again to meet up with the vast majority of the class at a particular bar that was pre-determined by my Bestie. We spent the entire night partying, playing games and just enjoying the group as a whole, it was pretty sweet. Well done Bestie!!!

Finally, today was actually spent being very productive with my Battle Buddy Lt. Lady Lucht. We actually completed our Trial Memos (not due till the 19th) and our discovery assignment which really didn't take too much time. We finished with enough time that we went to see Inception (awesome movie, of course that is a personal endorsement, and in no way do I speak for the Army), and we got dinner at Mellow Mushroom, which is a great pizza joint around C'Ville. Tomorrow is going to be a day to relax, and I am having another softball tryout, and I should be anchoring down the final squad, so that we can prepare for the faculty game.

There are two questions that I need to answer. The first is about running shoes. You are required to have running shoes, and the Army doesn't have any standard issues running shoes, so it is up to you to get commercial running shoes. There are no restrictions, as long as they are RUNNING SHOES not cross trainers, and they aren't ridiculously flashy or stupid with gimmicks. I'm pretty sure you can have any shoe you want, including the "bare foot" shoe, but I really wouldn't recommend that at all, not only do I not believe in that "science" but I think the Cadre will probably continue to give you a hard time about it until you replace them.

As for the question regarding the Ice Rink. I assume UVA has a hockey team, but I can't confirm that. I have not personally seen an ice rink, but at the same time I haven't exactly been looking. Skating is probably the thing I am worst at in the entire world, that and keeping my mouth shut, so I'm going to leave the finality of that inquiry up to you. If there is a rink around it would probably be advertised on the Internet somewhere.

As always, keep reading, keep commenting, and ask any and all questions you may have... Thanks