Well... taking a peak around the other blogs I've noticed that my updates aren't coming quite as frequently as others. I suppose the main reasons for that are that I haven't found anything lately to be that blog-worthy, and I've had to focus quite a bit on studying. There have been a few developments lately, though, so I figure its time for an update. Primarily, the victory I reported in Listening on the last unit exam was short lived, as immediately after my last post I learned that I received...read more

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I've had a major victory this week. I've FINALLY scored higher than a C in Listening. Last week we had several exams, to include a mid-term-like exam. On both the Unit 8 and the mid-term I scored a solid "B" in Listening. I think a major contributing factor to this was that I pushed through several all-nighters listening to every single audio clip I could find from the last few weeks before the test. Or... maybe I'm just finally starting to "get it". Whatever the case, it was a HUGE relief to...read more

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It always seems to me that no matter how much I study or how much extra effort I seem to give, I consistently feel as if I've done nothing at all. As usual, exam week is upon us and I'm planning a late night to squeeze in as much Arabic as possible. The schedule for the week runs like this: Monday P.M.            Unit 8 Speaking Test Tuesday A.M.           Unit 8 Reading and Listening Tests Tuesday P.M.           Unit 8 Test Feedback Wednesday              Review Thursday A.M.          2...read more

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Although I've always taken "a moment" in years past to remember what Memorial Day is all about, I think I've cherished time off from work and a long weekend far more than the opportunity to take a day to remember those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for life and liberty. Today I was honored to change that pattern, and it felt good. I volunteered my time to set up a memorial on Carmel Beach honoring all who have fallen in combat since 9-11. Christy and I were...read more

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We've been really busy lately. Today I actually had to go to one of my professors and cancel out of a study hall session that was supposed to be held this evening because, quite simply, I had run completely out of energy. From time to time you find yourself pushing a little too hard between your personal and private life and you really do need to take a tactical pause to regather your stamina before you go on. That's what happened to me today... but not without a good cause. The FAO's...read more

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As we pass from Unit 7 to Unit 8, we mark the halfway point in the 16- month training program. I look back and reflect a bit on what we've been able to accomplish so far with mixed emotions. It's easy to see how some things that were extremely difficult in the beginning...things we never thought we would be able to wrap our heads around...are now easy, yet after so much time we, as a whole, are still far from where we want and need to be. The feeling that we know a lot at this point...read more

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Finally, I've managed to pull my GPA up above the 3.0 threshold. What that means for me and five others in our class of 12 is that we will no longer be required to attend mandatory "7th hour" training each day after the regular classes. It also means that we will not have to attend an additional study hall session (usually 6:30 - 8:30 pm on Thursday evenings). I can't describe what a good feeling it is to finally be among the hundreds of students I've watched day after...read more

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I've never been to Ranger School. Ever since my earlier years as a cadet at the Univ. of North Carolina (Go Heels!) I knew I wanted to be on tanks, and it didn't occur to me how Ranger School could help me until it was essentially too late for me to go. It is widely known to be one of the most physically demanding schools in the Army in that it constantly deprives you of comfort (sleep, food, dry clothes, etc.) in order to cause you to adapt to stressful combat conditions and maintain...read more

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As I mentioned last time, each semester brings with it an immersion training event. For the first semester this lasts one duty day, and for following semesters (II and III) one day is added to each so that by the third semester all students are required to be away from home for three days and two nights. This past Friday was our first semester immersion day. The training is always conducted at a special facility at the old Ft. Ord. It is a fenced compound, complete with working areas and...read more

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Yikes... have we been busy! The class had a long list of exams over the past week and a half and everyone is finally able to get a little oxygen after it all. As usual, we've had to bury ourselves in long vocabulary lists, listening passages, and speaking scenarios to prepare for it all. The Unit 5 exam and the end-of-semester exams were intense, and back-to-back, so time in between to study for the next exam equated to a normal school night. The lesson we've all learned is that you have to...read more

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