Andreas Wooten - Army Strong Stories

To my dear cousin

Andreas Wooten — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 20:24:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
To my dear cousin, first and foremost thank you for reading my blogg posts. Second, thank you for your comments. Speaking of comments, (especially as they relate to my fishing abilities), 1. Yes, grandpa did teach me better. 2. No, it would not have been anything more than a mouthful (that’s why it got thrown back) 3. In my defense, when the fish ain't bittn' they ain’' bittin' Thanks for reading...read more

Answer for Jamie

Andreas Wooten — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 20:19:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
So I got a comment to one of my posts a while back from Jamie asking me what I do in the Army. At first I thought Oh, this is easy!! But after I started to write the blogg in response I found it was a little harder than I thought. The short answer is I plan Civil Affairs operations for US ARMY SOUTH. I do this through research and coordination with other staff sections in the ARMY SOUTH Headquarters and with Military Liaison Officers (MLOs) in the Area Of...read more

Qualification range

Andreas Wooten — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 03:49:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
Three of us, my boss (COL C, SFC Rosa and I) went out to the pistol qual range last week. I did pretty well, shot better than the rest of my section and all but a few others who were on the range. As a CA officer I am supposed to qualify with the M11, but since there is a shortage at ARSOUTH I was using the M9. We finally have enough M11s (the Sig Sauer P228). It is a nice pistol, I shot 27 of 30 and it was the first time I had shot one in years. I tried to talk the...read more

Jeep is FIXED

Andreas Wooten — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 06:38:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
THE JEEP IS BACK AMONG THE LIVING. It took me 7 hours, two trips to the parts store, one trip to Home Depot for bolts, three cut knuckles and one smashed finger but it is done!!! I was able to drop the skid plate, remove the front driv shaft, pull the old broken transfer case, put the new T-case in and get all the fluids filled and drive it home before dark. I was missing bolts and fluids so that is the extra trips to the store. I completed the little stuff like putting...read more

New home projects

Andreas Wooten — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 06:38:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
More home projects have been completed since I came back from PANAMAX. The hard project was the front pattio. We bought some really nice slate tiles on sale and put a good outdoor sealer on them to bring out the colors. While I was in VA for the exercise my wife sealed every tile wiith the first two coats. I sanded down the whole patio when I got back and we laid the tile on Saturday and then we did the grout and final coat of sealer on Sunday. I think...read more

Fishing

Andreas Wooten — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 03:10:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
The wife and I love to fish. We went out to Canyon Lake where both Ft. Sam Houston and Randolph AFB have recreation areas. They have boat rentals, cabins (handicap accessable), a bait shop and a fishing pier. Now here is the catch, No fishing at the marina area, where they feed the fish, and there are some serious monsters there!! Worth all day fishing just to get one that size. But you can't fish there you have to go to the fishing pier...read more

PANAMAX 10

Andreas Wooten — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 07:19:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
Finally, another PANAMAX exercise is over with. If you have followed this blogg over the past year you know that this is an annual staff exercise that is designed to exercise 2, 3 and 4 star level staff headquarters to serve as Multi-National, Joint or as a JTF HQ. The primary staff trained is changed every year between the services. Last year was Army South (of recent Haiti fame) and this year it was the US Navy's Second Fleet out of Norfolk, VA. I will give you one...read more

It finally happened I broke the CJ

Andreas Wooten — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 07:19:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
So there I was, having a great time. Kicking butt on every obsticle out at Cline Ranch!! The new tires were working great and the stearing stablizer I put in was doing its job. So of course I just had to try the big long hill with the loose rock and steep grade. I made it over most of the big stuff, then I was getting an odd clicking and the next time I gassed it to get over a little slick spot "BOOOM" and there I was a little over half way up...read more

Catching up

Andreas Wooten — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 05:10:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
OK, so it has been a little while since I have posted a blogg. We went on our family vacation this year back in July. We went up to Red River, New Mexico. It is way up at the northern part of that state in the mountains. We stayed a little place called 3 Bears Lodge. Really nice cabin right in the middle a the coolest little town. We did a bunch of fishing, went up on the ski-lift (quite a view from the top). We even rented a little Jeep from a...read more

Too Early!!!

Andreas Wooten — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 21:59:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
I really hate getting up early!! Crazy I know, I am in the Army and should be used to it after all of these years. But, getting up at 3am is just not fun for me, go figure. Maybe I am just getting old and grumpy. Then getting to work at 4am and having to wait. I hate the hurry up and wait stuff. Once again it is the Army and we are really good at hurry up and wait. But it could be worse, at least the rain held off until everything was done. We had a 100% PAI...read more

4th Of July Pictures

Andreas Wooten — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 21:48:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
Hello again. My home town had its annual 4th of July Parade and Jubilee last weekend. What a great day. Small town celebrations are always the best ones. I think this was the 35th year in a row that the town has done this. I took the Jeep out and drove in the parade. My wife and daughter and most of my neighbors were out along the route, I even saw some of the Soldiers I work with from Ft. Sam Houston. The Parade committee presented me with the...read more

Haiti Videos

Andreas Wooten — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 21:24:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
Hello folks, Have a few more Haiti videos for you. First one is at a food distribuition site outside one of the camps - pretty typical stuff. CRS had issued wheel barrows so people could get thier items back to thier shelters " />" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> All in all some decent little clips of the general situation in Haiti at the end of April. Thanks for reading (and watching in this case)...read more

NEW JEEP FLAT FENDERS

Andreas Wooten — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 05:46:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
I finally got around to building my flat fenders for the Jeep. I was able to flip my shock mounts and 5 more inches of travel for the shocks, 7 ½ more inches clearance for the up travel for the tires and they look cool. I had to modify the main plate and I added an additional skid on the underside. It took me and my buddy almost 2 days to do it and I still need to brush them down and paint them but overall and AWESOME project. I added a steering stabilizer as well....read more

PANAMAX 10

Andreas Wooten — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 05:43:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
Ok, so the JTF Academics Crisis Action Planning (CAP) down in Norfolk with the second fleet is over. Academics was the same old stuff (this is the third time that I have done it) so for me it was pretty boring. The CAP was different. Not just because it was never part of the exercise before but because the good old US Navy does things very differently from the Army. Also, learning how to speak “Navy” was quite a chore. When I asked where the bathroom was I was told to...read more

Another Haiti Video

Andreas Wooten — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 18:50:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
Here is another video from Haiti. It is a bit short, but it shows how nuts it was during a food distribution at an IDP camp. This was the Delmas 48 (golf Course camp). This was the camp that was always in the news because J/P HRO (Jenkins/Penn Haitian Relief Org) For those who don't know or remember this was Sean Penns' "Camp". Nothing against Mr. Penn, but he he used his fame way too much to pressure people to help in a limited way at only 1 or 2...read more

Off Again

Andreas Wooten — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 06:00:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
So another TDY trip is in the works. The annual PANAMAX event is here again and I am off to Norfolk, VA to participate in the Joint Task Force Academics and the 2nd Fleets Crisis Action Planning (CAP) for 2 weeks. This year ARMYSOUTH is not the primary training audience so we are mainly going to assist the 2nd fleet since this year it is the primary training event for their staff. The advantage for me is that the 2nd Fleet and the USN do not have Civil Affairs capability...read more

Jeep Country

Andreas Wooten — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 21:49:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
Here are a few nice shots of me Jeep. My wife found some really nice areas not too far from the house that had some nice terrain and flowers. Since we finally had some rain here over the past few months and we had the time we decided that now was as good a time as any to take a few "Promotional Shots" of the Jeep in the outdoors. So tell me what you think. Am I ready for the big time?? Maybe? Thanks for reading....read more

Charity and A Car Show

Andreas Wooten — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 18:44:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
Hello, I trust everyone had a great weekend. I did. My wife and I went to a car show over the weekend to do a benefit car show sponsored by the South Texas Mustang Club for the Iraq Star Foundation (please take a look at the link - these folks are doing some great stuff for our troops that have been wounded). http://http://www.iraqstar.org/ It was a really good car show, over 60 cars, trucks and motorcycles. It was at the Gruene Harley Davidson dealership and overall...read more

Back from Boston

Andreas Wooten — Mon, 31 May 2010 06:44:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
I just got back from the trip to Boston where we had the AAR for the data collection contract in Haiti. I have to say that the MIT/Lincoln Laboratory facility is pretty cool. I was walking down one of the halls and I noticed this flashing light. Like the ones at a radio station that says “On Air” except that this one said “Caution Laser in Use!”. That was kind of nuts and then there were tanks of liquid nitrogen everywhere. What can I say, just pretty cool to be in...read more

Haiti -Video - 1

Andreas Wooten — Mon, 31 May 2010 05:39:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
So the folks at the agency that manage this site have managed to drag me out of the dark ages and I am now posting my first video. This one I took at the Delmas 48 (Golf Course) IDP camp in Port Au Prince. I was with Gaelle Simon from the agency Global Relief Tech (GRT) who were running the data collection for the contract I was the managing for JTF-Haiti. I will trust that everyone will recognize the song. So Enjoy and thanks for reading...read more

Guide to 4 Wheel Driving

Andreas Wooten — Wed, 26 May 2010 21:11:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
OK, so this is totally off the wall, but I was doing research for an Annex that I am writing for camp management (refugees, IDPs, Migrants post conflict/disaster). I was reading the "Camp Management Toolkit" which is a document made up of info by several IGOs. It had a web site of UN documents so I went to the site. As I am looking through the list I see "Guide to 4 wheel driving" I click on it and it is actually a pretty good little quick reference on techniques and...read more

Taylor Update

Andreas Wooten — Wed, 26 May 2010 06:26:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
OK, I promised an update on my daughter. The cast is off, but we are not nearly out of the woods yet. She developed a pressure sore on the heel of her right foot. It looks nasty and I am sure it really hurts and it drained puss and fluid for 3 days. This will take several weeks to clear up. We have her on a vitamin D supplement. This will hopefully compliment the two days of IV drip with the bisphosiphate from last week. Having the cast off has helped a great deal, she is so...read more

BOSTON!!

Andreas Wooten — Wed, 26 May 2010 06:21:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
My first trip ever to Boston, MA!!! This is a pretty cool deal for me. I will be going to and After Action Review (AAR) with the 18th ABN Corps G9, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, Partners in Health Haiti, Global relief Technologies (GRT the data collection contractor) and several other institutions that were involved in the project that I was working in Haiti. This AAR is really for MIT and not the Army, because they are trying to get better at data analysis for disaster relief along with...read more

Todays Doctor Visit

Andreas Wooten — Tue, 18 May 2010 08:29:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
So today was another doctor visit for my daughter. Very frustrating for us. We were expecting to be there for four hours. Turned into six. first they were running behind, then it took two different nurses 4 tries just to get the IV started. My little girl took it really well for the most part. She is so very calm with all of it. My wife and I were the ones ready to go ballistic on the staff for poking her so many times just to get one IV...read more

Question From A Reader (Connor)

Andreas Wooten — Mon, 17 May 2010 08:00:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
I received some very interesting questions from a reader. Actually it was asking for some advice. Here is what I was asked about "in a few years, I was hoping to be commissioned as an Officer, while still attending college. Would it be better to apply to Westpoint? Utilize ROTC scholarships? Join the National Guard/Reserve? Do you have any insight on this?" I will not attempt to answer the questions, mainly because I am not sure of your...read more

MINI ME!!

Andreas Wooten — Sun, 16 May 2010 22:17:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
OK, so I had a little time since I have been at home with my daughter a bit more than usual. I had this old toy Jeep in the garage I had not used in a while. My wife came up with the idea to make it look like my big toy. I originally was going for an exact replica, but I auickly found out that was a bit out of my skill range. So a few graphics from the internet and some creative gluing and clean paint did pretty well for a decent look. It was a fun little projects...read more

Birthday

Andreas Wooten — Sun, 16 May 2010 21:39:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
I just had a birthday!! As usual my wife got me. She suckered me around the front of the car by putting a card on it. What I did not notice was the huge "BIRTHDAY BOY" sign on the back of the car! I was wondering why everyone was so friendly on the freeway going to work (yes went to work on my birthday). I got an awesome present. New tires and wheels!!! Yeah for me! The old ones were 33x10.50x17, not a bad size and the wheels were...read more

BACK HOME

Andreas Wooten — Sun, 16 May 2010 07:37:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
Hello again everyone!!! I am back home. I came home at the end of April on Emergency Leave unfortunately. My daughter was starting to have some serious issues with her legs. Apparently due partly due to her previous illnesses and lack of mobility she has developed a pretty severe case of vitamin D deficiency and Osteoporosis. She has developed cracks in her lower legs and is in a full leg cast on her right leg. I have been going to medical appointments...read more

The beginning of Day #67

Andreas Wooten — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 06:40:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
Hello again to everyone. Today in the current JTF-Haiti Commanders last day. LTC Keen is the Deputy Commander of US SOUTHERN COMMAND and was in Haiti on the day of the now fameous 12 Jan 2010 earthquake. LTG Keen will be followed by MG Trombitas, the US ARMY SOUTH Commander and current deputy commander of JTF-Haiti. I am including below the e-mail sent out by LTG Keen to all the JTF-Haiti personnel. Mainly to show how many people are involved and that even though there is a great deal left to...read more

THE END OF DAY #65 (plus Jeep Advice)

Andreas Wooten — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 09:10:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
So today is the end of day #65. Many of us can see a light at the end of the tunnel and may be home sometime in May or early June. That has been, for most of us, the hardest part of being here, not knowing what the end date is. All of us knew it would be a “short” mission, that is a fluid and constantly changing environment, but not having something to tell friends and family at home about a return date wears on troops. My special project is going well. So well in fact it may have a life long...read more

Photos from Haiti

Andreas Wooten — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 18:47:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
JTF –Haiti DAY #48-49 So here it is past the 45 day mark and looking at 60 +/- before we can get out of here, maybe more. Most of my time has been spent preparing briefings for the upcoming draw-down of the JTF and planning for the possibility of heavy rains and the pending hurricane season. Not real glamorous or exciting, but it is what I have been assigned to do. I have had a few opportunities to leave the embassy and have some more pictures for you all. The baby in the first picture was...read more

THIS IS DAY #39 - 21 MAR 2010

Andreas Wooten — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 07:59:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
So now it is the end of day number 39 with at this point at least 25 to go, maybe more if the rainy season hits here early or heavier than normal. We will just have to see what happens. The special project assessment I have been working on is going full blast, taking up tons of time, it is interesting stuff, especially since I am working with so many different people, from MIT, Johns Hopkins, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, the contractor that is actually conducting the surveys and sending up the data,...read more

WHAT DAY IS THIS!!!!!

Andreas Wooten — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 07:01:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
So I think I have been here something like 28 days now. Since my last post US ARMY SOUTH (my home unit has moved in). You might say lucky me right. Well not exactly, what that means is that I can not leave with the groups of soldiers that are currently departing. I get to stay with ARMY SOUTH. Also, since my last post I have moved again. I am now closer to the US Embassy, the conditions are better but it is still a mosquito infested tent and the latrines are farther away (but at least these are...read more

COMMON SIGNS of a DISASTER TOURIST

Andreas Wooten — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 22:34:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
So, let’s talk a little about good people who cause the disaster relief efforts problems and those who should just not be involved in disaster relief. More commonly known as “Disaster Tourists”. This is a fairly common occurrence; people see a problem and want to help. That is a wonderful, compassionate and decent thing to do as a human being and as an individual. However, STOP SHOWING UP IN THE DISASTER AREA UNPREPARED!!!!! If you are reading this, and you are not trained in...read more

DOING THE RIGHT THING

Andreas Wooten — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 07:21:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
Marc (Dr. Zissman), Doug (Dr. Jones) - my bosses, along with CPT CPT DeLuca, WO Wade and MAJ Jones (of the JTF-Haiti) all pitched in and bought litterally a truck full of stuff for an orphanage that has about 50 kids in it, toys, bed sheets, soap, shampoo, toothpaste and brushes, shoes you name it. I have put in a few picture for you all of that, long with a few shots of the neighborhood it is in to give you an idea of what the area looks like. The orphanage is really kind of small and most of...read more

FROM HAITI

Andreas Wooten — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 05:06:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
Just a short one today, rained two nights ago. It was the first good rain since I have been here, and it really cleared the air, but the humidity was pretty high. I wish that there were more shelters and drainage in the IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) Camps. Even a little rain can make it rough on children when all you have is a tarp and what clothes you are wearing. But, in spite of it, things are getting better, the UN and the aid organizations are building more and more capacity and...read more

HELLO AGAIN FROM HAITI

Andreas Wooten — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 03:37:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
So lets start with the basics this time, weather is hot, but not unbearable, unless your one of the tens of thousands of Haitians that has lost a home. Its kind of strange, I live in a tent, at the end of a very active runway, next to a very smelly ditch, that has a main road next to it and a trash burning pit down from that (talk about stink), sleep under a bug net and there are only 2 showers that I know of within 500 yards for about 2 or 3 thousand people. In spite of all that I am still...read more

Change 5,0023 - Haiti - Jeep

Andreas Wooten — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 10:52:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
So all of the sudden I am doing this blogg from Haiti, inside the US Embassy. Got the word last Sunday that I would be leaving, I was actually out off-roading when the message came in. So I got my first off-road ride in my Jeep, and I am glad I did, otherwise it would just be sitting in the back yard. (hope this is a good photo that you all like). My wife and my daughter went with me. I know my little girl had a great time!!! She was great all day long!! So anyway, back to Haiti, got the...read more

CHANGE 5,000

Andreas Wooten — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 19:34:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
OK, so I was supposed to go to Haiti as part of the forward deployed HQ of US ARMY SOUTH. Well, that didn't happen. We spent long hours and days planning, preparing, having briefings and meeting, waiting on planes and boats. In the long run, everything changed multiple times, the situation on the ground, higher command intent and missions along with the availability of aircraft, ships and barges. Bottom line is I still have my bags packed but I am still here, still going to planning meetings...read more

Haiti and Civil Affairs

Andreas Wooten — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 21:00:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
I think most of us have heard the Chinese Curse "MAY YOU LIVE IN INTERESTING TIMES". Well, for me it’s not a curse, it is my job. I would assume by now that everyone has heard all about the earthquake and ensuing problems in Haiti. Well, this whole situation there falls right in line with my job here at US ARMY SOUTH as a Civil Affairs planner. As a Civil Affairs planner and operator, I am knee deep in the coordination of ARMY SOUTH personnel and personnel moving in to...read more

Happy New Year

Andreas Wooten — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 07:55:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
Happy late new year to all. Mine was great and I hope that everyone reading this had a good one also. The Army All-American Bowl was yesterday, I wish I could have been there with the jeep and to see all the cool stuff the Army always has, but it just was not going to happen this year. I heard it was a really good game hope some of you were able to watch it or better yet get a chance to go. The whole thing is quite a party, especially in downtown San Antonio. Well, I...read more

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Andreas Wooten — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 20:05:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
Happy new year to everyone and Merry Christmas (a little late) to all. Overall things here have been pretty good, I am working on my packet to extend for another year at US ARMY SOUTH. I hope that it goes through because I am looking forward to doing the HMA missions coming up in the 2nd QTR of this FY. Had some issues with the Jeep, something electrical, it cranks but wont stay running once I let off of the key. So, here we go chasing the rabbitt down the hole again. I did manage to get...read more

Humanitarian Demining Action Course

Andreas Wooten — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 18:51:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
Sorry, once again I have been off on TDY (and just a bit lazy also) so I have not posted as much as I would like. This particular TDY trip I am back at Ft. Leonard Wood Missouri. This trip is to actually take the course for Humanitarian Demining Action (HMA). Honestly when I first got here I was a bit skeptical for the first two days about some of the times and distances that the instructors said would be needed to clear mines of of affected areas. I now am totally convinced by everything they...read more

More Brazil

Andreas Wooten — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 03:23:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
I just received a link from the Brazilian Foreign Liaison Officer (FLO) to a Brazilian web site related to the exercise I was observing in Brazil earlier this month. It’s all in Portuguese but there are some great pictures and with goggle translation you should be able to get it in whatever language you want. http://www.exercito.gov.br/03ativid/operacoes/itapeva/cmse.html Thanks for reading and let me know what you think....read more

Back from Brazil

Andreas Wooten — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 18:44:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
OK, got back from the trip to Brazil last week and it was a great time. The Brazilian Army is great and a very professional force. Our escorts were awesome at getting us around and made sure we were able to see all aspects of the exercise, taking us to see some sights is Sao Paulo and most importantly making sure we were well fed. It seemed like no matter where we went food was the first priority. We spent the first day in Sao Paulo, talk about a huge city, from what I am told and read, 11...read more

SECOND CAR SHOW / BRAZIL

Andreas Wooten — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 06:58:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
My wife and I took the CJ out to the second show this past weekend. We had a great time and it was a worthwhile event for charty. I hopefully got some of the jitters out of me by driving the CJ (the"new-born") all the way across town and back. The show had almost 400 participants and over 40 classes for judging. I got a bonus that day, I won 3rd place in my class (LL all 4X4s). All in all not bad for the new guy. The CJ drove great, felt strong and was a blast on the freeway. People...read more

Humanitarian Mine Action

Andreas Wooten — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 06:49:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
I went to Ft. Leonard Wood, MO earlier in the month for the 1st annual Humanitarian Mine Action (HMA) Conference. Honestly it was a bunch of upper level policy information and legal jargon from 3 and 4 star Headquarters along with info from the Department of state. However, it is an absolutely amazing facility. It had more examples of mines, IEDs, mine detectors and bomb suits than you can shake a stick at. I didn't have my camera with me so the picture are not great but you get the idea. ...read more

Jeep / Car Show

Andreas Wooten — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 07:29:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
I went to the Ft. Sam Houston October Fest and Parade this past Saturday with my Jeep and entered in the car show. I didn't win but got a gift for participating and more importantly I was able to drive the Jeep and received a ton of great compliments on it. It was a great day to just hang out with my wife and some of the other participants and the wounded who were there recovering at the hospital. I had a few suggestions from participants and was asked some great questions about the Jeep that...read more

MONDAY!!!

Andreas Wooten — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 21:39:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
TIME TO CELEBRATE!!!! My project actually made its first trip under its own power!!!! Still have to get the brakes up to par, but other than that it is ON THE ROAD and soon to be on the trail. I would like to give a special thank you to my wife for putting up with the project so far (nad hopfully inthe future) she is my biggest fan!!!! And to TJ from Custom Jeeps and More [ http://www.customjeepsandmore.com/ ] who allowed me to use his shop, who did some OUTSTANDING WORK and let me take up...read more

Jeep

Andreas Wooten — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 06:52:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
Well it will be another week before the Jeep is ready. Ran into issues with the distributor drive gear, oil pump and the power stearing pump. Good news is that it runs, sounds awesome, just needs power stearing and a new (not worn down) distributor drive gear so it keeps running right. But parts are on the way! I am trying for next weekend....read more

PANAMAX 09 video clip

Andreas Wooten — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 21:06:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
http://www.ksat.com/video/20973939/index.html This is a link to a short clip from the local media that came out to the field during the PANAMAX 09 exercise, its my 4.23 seconds of local fame. Luckily my NCOIC and I were actually working at the time. The mission on that day was actully simulating a visit by USAID and the "Centralian" President to several of the IDP camps - Internally Displaced Persons camps. Dealing with large ammounts of people that are displaced due...read more

PANAMAX 09

Andreas Wooten — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 19:29:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
It has been a while since I posted anything. Army South had its major exercise for the year PANAMAX 09. Pretty amazing stuff overall, several hundred people in at least 3 different states and 5 different countries and about 14 different countries had officers participate. It was only 8 days but working 12 hour shifts in a noisy tent and sleeping on cot wears you out. I used alot of new systems that I was totally unfamiliar with, but thats what training is for. We had communication through a...read more

MY JEEP CAME OUT OF PAINT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Andreas Wooten — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 23:59:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
It looks awesome, now to reassemble it. Tested the engine this weekend and it sounds strong and nothing broke so all in all I am back on track. I attached some pictures of the paint job, and of the engine. Oh and a before and after of the roll cage - SAFETY FIRST!! I am trying to get it completed for some local car shows and to get on the trail by the end of this month. The wife and I went to sea world this weekend, its free for soldiers one time per year from Anheuser-busch and I...read more

Anniversary

Andreas Wooten — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 04:40:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
I forgot to mention in my last post that my wife and I had saved that traditionall pice of cake to eat on our anniversary. We did take it out of the freezer, let it thaw and we both tried it. So since neither of us got sick we took it a a good sighn and then decided that we had been brave enough and let the dog have at it. The thought that it was the best dinner they ever had and they did't sick either, but then again I think my dogs would eat just about anything. If I can...read more

Too Many things going on

Andreas Wooten — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 04:38:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
The last few weeks have been quite hectic. Preparation for the PANAMAX 09 exercise has taken up a great deal of my work time and about half of the office is either TDY or on other duties. We had the JTF Academics (which is a preparation phse for the exercise) all of this past week, even though it was in town, with all of the principal players here, including all of the other nations that are playing in the ecercise, it was just nuts the hours and time it took to get it all...read more

DANG IT

Andreas Wooten — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 05:24:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
So I type a nice long blog for once and then I hit the wrong button and deleted it. Sorry folks but I am not rewitting it tonight. I promise to redo it tomorrow....read more

MAJ Wooten Update

Andreas Wooten — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 21:04:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
Very tough week, don't get me wrong here things could be much worse and it is not a physical tired, but have you ever just been so totally worn out from just thinking about a project, sitting in meetings and typing, doing power-point and such you just can't seem to function quite right?? I am sure anyone reading this that has been a staff officer knows this feeling, some of you who will eventually become a staff officer, just be ready, it will happen to you. I almost wish I could say I was burnt...read more

TRAVELING AGAIN

Andreas Wooten — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 01:01:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
So US ARMY SOUTH is sending off again. This time to a conference in Miami. Never been to Miami, but if this conference is anything like the last two, about all I will see is the pool as I go by and the beach from my window. But, I really cannot complain, at least I am racking up frequent flyer miles and I will be back in time for my wife’s birthday and it will be awesome because it is her first birthday with us being married. Speaking of which, I have another conference in DC right after...read more

Family Vacation

Andreas Wooten — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 22:28:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
The family and I took a vacation. We were going next summer but it looks like I will be deployed so we figured sooner rather than later was better. We spent a week up un Estes Park, Colorado. Absolutely wonderful. Toured all of the national park, took the ghost tour of the Stanley Hotel, went fishing, and because so much is easy access, we could get my daughters wheel-chair into allot more places that we first expected. My son reeled in a few fish and we had a fire in the fireplace most nights...read more

Reply to questions from Stephanie

Andreas Wooten — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 01:00:52 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
Stephanie, You asked a few questions, and I don't get e-mail from the site so here are my answers to your questions. 1. "I was wondering how family life is being active duty and how your wife handles everything?" ⇒ I enjoy active duty for the most part, like any job it has good days and bad. At the moment I have been lucky, since I am actually a Reserve soldier and only on temporary orders and I am near my home town there was no move involved and it was not much of a strain on...read more

40 years OLD

Andreas Wooten — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 20:57:45 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
OK, I turned 40 this year. My wife has this idea that I need to do 40 things that I have never done before during this year. Sort of a "bucket list" without actually kicking the bucket. I am on a budget of course and have a full time job at US ARMY SOUTH, so things like - take an African Safari or Climb Mt Everest are out. Already done the Sky dive, SCUBA dive, skiing, rappelling type stuff, and as for trying new and exotic foods, done that. Anyone have...read more

PANAMA CITY PANAMA!!!!!!!!!

Andreas Wooten — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 00:27:23 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
Yeah, sounds exciting but I was working. I was sent down to assist with the final planning and coordination of the FUERZAS ALIDAS PANAMAX 2009. This is an exercise for the defense of the Panama Canal zone. This years exercise involves 21 North, South and Central American Countries (if you want to take a look good photos and read some of last years info here is the link http://www.thepanamanews.com/pn/v_14/issue_16/news_01.html). My job is to ensure that the Civil Affairs soldiers are integrated...read more

MAJ WOOTEN @ JFCOM

Andreas Wooten — Mon, 25 May 2009 08:00:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
So here I am doing the good little staff officer thing over at Joint Forces Command (JFCOM). I am over in Suffolk, VA for a conference to plan out the flow and synchronize the simulation for an upcoming exercise that will be going on in Central America. I really do not like being a staff officer, but it comes with the promotion. As a Major, staff is what you do, planning and doing power point, email and meetings. However, I step back and have to remind myself of what I tell I my son, “Do...read more

B-Day

Andreas Wooten — Sun, 24 May 2009 23:09:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
So, I had a B-Day. Now this is not going to be easy to explain. My dear wife pulled a pretty good one on me along with my lieutenant. I had several meetings during the day and was kind of out of it. When I got back to my office. My LT asked me if I was going to lunch and kind of hovered around looking out the window that kind of threw me and, so of course I was hooked, I got up and looked out my window. And there in the parking lot is this huge sign on the top of a car. “HAPPY 40 B-DAY...read more

Museum and National Cemetery

Andreas Wooten — Sat, 23 May 2009 23:06:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
We took the kids to a museum on Ft. Sam Houston last week. Honestly at first I did not think that it would be all that good. Most of the museums in and around the area are OK, but nothing to brag about, I figured it would be OK and that would be that. But this place was great (I do like museums!), it was the Army Medical Department Museum and those folks have done a great job of documenting and displaying the history of the Army Medical Corps. I had only planned on us being there for...read more

More Jeep Progress

Andreas Wooten — Sun, 17 May 2009 23:05:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
Hello all today is going to be short. There is a bit more of the engine completed so I had to show it off some. Intake is in, carb is on, accessories (except the fan are attached, It is actually in position and bolted to the frame and only needs the valve covers put on. I still have to prime it and put the tranny on but it is actually in the Jeep. This is the first time those two parts have put together in at least 3 years. Needless to say I am totally stoked. This project may be ready in...read more

AWESOME!!!!

Andreas Wooten — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 23:04:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
This bloging (is that the way to spell that) has been great for me and I want to thank the folks who invited me to do this for the opportunity, most notably Angela, thanks for the reminders. It seems like every week I get an e-mail from someone I served with some where, from my enlisted days, to college, all the way through my most recent deployment in Afghanistan. I just today received and e-mail from a college class mate of mine who went through a whole list of people that he and I were...read more

Do It Yourself Blog

Andreas Wooten — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 23:02:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
Hello again, Well, it seems that (looking back at my other posts) that this is the MAJ Wooten Do it yourself BLOG. I am going to continue on that theme for a bit. So, I finally completed the garage, new work benches, paint, floor, ATTIC DOOR (love the TX flag there) the privacy fence was completed last week and the new windows showed up Saturday. The windows went well for the most part, except that two of them were 2 inches too tall and now I have a rather large piece of plywood covering...read more

Promotion

Andreas Wooten — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 08:00:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
You just have to love the Army's' sense of urgency sometimes. I put in a promotion packet back in July of 2008 for a board in September of 2008. The results apparently came out on January 2nd (unknown to me). After much poking, prodding, e-mails and phone calls, another guy and I, who was in the same board finally got an answer. I found my orders promoting me to Major. I was stoked, they were dated 17 March 2009, cool, only 3 days old. But wait there's more. I was actually promoted on 2 January...read more

Take some time!!!!!

Andreas Wooten — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 22:58:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
Yes, everyone, all of you, everyday to talk to a soldier. One that works for you, that you know, even one that you don't know. Why, because in case you had not heard or were just ignoring the facts or warning signs, the Army has lost at least 27 great young Americans this quarter to suicide. More soldiers lost their lives in January of 2009 to suicide than to combat. For those soldiers out there who may be reading this, talking is NOT a weakness, having problems is NOT a weakness, getting...read more

CORRECTION!!!!

Andreas Wooten — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 09:00:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
I am in sooo much trouble!! I must correct one thing from a previous post. That is NOT my wife's' foot. It is my son! 1) My wife does NOT have a size 12 foot. 2) She does NOT have Hobbit hair. 3) She always paints her toe nails and wears a toe ring. (Quite a lot of mistakes oops) I should have looked a bit closer before I sent that photo. Needless to say, my wife has become my official editor and will be screening all posts prior to submission so as to ensure accuracy and to protect the...read more

Ft. McCoy

Andreas Wooten — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 23:57:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
OK, so I am up here in Wisconsin (Ft. McCoy) and I have been taking the Unit Mobilization Planners Course. Bottom line is that it is the school that teaches Reserve Component (RC) units how to develop and implement the plan to move RC soldiers from alert to activation to training and then overseas for duty. Honestly, when I first got here, I figured this would be a really boring course and that the hardest thing would be to stay awake. But, it has been interesting, well thought out and...read more

CPT Wooten Update

Andreas Wooten — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 23:56:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
Hello all. The last few weeks have had pretty much the same things going on for me except for a few notable items. My last Battle Assembly (BA = also known as Drill to most of us) was all medical processing getting the unit ready for next years mobilization. BORING!!! Especially if it is your 5th one, you have completed it all for the year but still have to sit there and do it all anyway. But a bright spot was we had our annual dining out. We have quite a few people deployed and in schools so...read more

Small Towns

Andreas Wooten — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 09:00:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
I live in a relatively small town (less than 20,000), The current mayor lives about a block away and the only other and former mayor lives 3 blocks down the other way. Now why is this important you might ask? Well, it is because when you live in a small town (and this is a story for those of you who don't) people tend to know you even if you don't know them. Could be they know your face, your car, your kids but in a small town, everyone knows everyone in one way or another. Anyway, last Tuesday...read more

All American Bowl

Andreas Wooten — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 23:54:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
Hello to you all. The All American bowl is over and I have a ton of photos. It was a very interesting experience for me personally. To go back a little, I was selected to be one of 90 soldiers from the USAR, AC and NG components to represent our particular branches of the Army and our units as "Soldier Heroes" based on our earning of either the Silver Star, Bronze Star or Purple Heart. The event was well thought out, but honestly poorly executed at times when related to the...read more

Update from CPT Wooten 2

Andreas Wooten — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 23:42:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
So life has been coming hot and heavy. It has been too long since I last posted and too much to write at one time. Bottom line is, I will give you the big stuff. All American Bowl is coming up at the end of the month and I am really excited about going to that. Not just because I can showboat my Jeep a little, but also, as a representative of the USAR. So it looks like the stage is all set for that event. Had a battle assembly this month, we had 3 people retire and an award ceremony...read more

All American Bowl and More

Andreas Wooten — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 08:00:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
I believe in my last post, I was going to take an APFT. I passed, not as good a score as I was trying for, but 248 is not too bad. Now outside of that, I have had an absolutely amazing last few months. I have been selected as a Soldier Hero and will be one of 90 total Soldiers, 25 from the USAR, at the Army All American Bowl in San Antonio Texas. Talk about a huge, huge honor. I worked at the All American Bowl last year as a representative of my brigade with the recruiting command, long hours...read more

Back at my civillian job

Andreas Wooten — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 22:42:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
Hello, Well, I am at the end of my 3rd week back at my civilian job with the Home Depot. So far so good, even with the economy as bad as it is. My step son is playing football, I am hoping that he will stick with it. He seems to be doing well so far as a TE and DT on 1st string. So as long as he can maintain the grades I guess I will get my fill of Jr. High football this year. The boy is only 12 and is 5'11". Maybe I will get lucky and he can get a football scholarship to college...read more

Update from CPT Wooten 1

Andreas Wooten — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 22:41:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
OK, so it has been a month since I last posted anything. But I have a good reason. I got married in mid Aug and then we went to Disneyland for the honeymoon. I don't know who had more fun, me or the kids!? We went to the San Diego Zoo as well, that place is absolutely amazing. I loved the zoo, it is a blast and I thought is was the best part of the trip. My temporary active duty orders ended so I had to go back to my civilian job abd get reintegrated. For those of you who are...read more

OBE Week!

Andreas Wooten — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 22:40:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
My apologies for not being as prompt as I should with my posts. One of those OBE (overcome by events) weeks. Final wedding preparations are ongoing, catering checks, reception hall, photographer, rehearsal dinner, rehearsal and add in my fiance's birthday, I am putting in an extenssion to my current active duty order (I go back to reserve status in 10 days) and my civilian employer wants me back to that job on the 1st of Sep, in between all of this I have been trying to get my second Jeep...read more

Snowball Wrangler

Andreas Wooten — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 22:39:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
Projects just get out of hand. For anyone that works for an organization that has more than 5 people in it you can understand this. Things that start out as a simple good idea can get convoluted into huge, time consuming difficult endeavors that become too cumbersome for any one person to manage. Anyone in the Army knows this if they have worked at any kind of a staff job. Mine is no exception! Now don't get me wrong, I love my job, but at the lowly rank level of Captain, you are an...read more

What a week!!!

Andreas Wooten — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 21:10:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
by CPT Wooten Had two brief to prep for the Brigade commander, We have our battle assembly (drill for you old timers like me) this weekend and my daughter had two doctors appointments this week, My civilian employer (The Home Depot) called me twice asking me to work extra over the 4th of July Holiday and I have to take my APFT this weekend and I have been asked to speak at a WNBA game as a special soldier guest of the team tonight (I will get some photos of that for you all later). Needless to...read more

My Toy

Andreas Wooten — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 22:38:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
Everyone has a hobby, and mine is building and competing with my off road Jeep ( had a nice one but the ex-wife got that one). My friend Jonas (he actually owns it this one, I am the shop hand, spotter and alternate driver at competition) and I built this 1992 Jeep Wrangler (YJ) over the past 7 years. Yes seven years, he was in in the Army and deployed and about the time I got back from my first deployment and then about the time he returned I went again, so the project has been...read more

You have met CPT Wooten, now meet the family

Andreas Wooten — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 22:37:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
Hello again, Last post I introduced myself, now I have the pleasure of introducing my family (or my soon to be family). Brandy is my fiance, an intelligent beautiful woman that keeps me going and has been a huge boost to me when I get frustrated with my job in the Army. Though She has never dated anyone in the Army or military, she gets it, she gets me and that just makes my civilian job and my Army job so much better. The kids are Taylor, 14 and Ty 12. Great kids, before you say...read more

About CPT Wooten

Andreas Wooten — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 22:33:00 GMT

By: Andreas Wooten
Hello, My name is Andreas W. Wooten. I am 39 years old and have served in the Army since 1987. I am engaged to a lovely woman and will be getting married in August of 08. My fiancé has 2 kids, 12 yo Ty (anyone have any helpful hints on controlling a 12 yo boy I am all ears) and 14 yo Taylor. Little Miss. Taylor is quite a handful, she is a special needs child (she contracted bacterial meningitis at 5mo old and he medical issued keep me and the...read more