Benjamin Hayek - Army Strong Stories

187th JAOBC -- The Trip to Fort Lee (Day 3 of 3)

Benjamin Hayek — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 17:52:00 GMT

By: Benjamin Hayek
Today 1LT Haugland and I awoke in Beckley, West Virginia, for our third and final day of driving to Fort Lee, Virginia. We departed at mid-day from Iowa City on Thursday, and made our way to Greenfield, Indiana. Like the energetic students we are, our first item of business at our hotel in Greenfield was some PT, followed by some down-time and bed. Gabe, as a prior infantry officer (and thus old-hat to basic courses), fell asleep almost instantly and slept well through the night. Me, being so...read more

187th JAOBC -- The Adventure Begins Tomorrow

Benjamin Hayek — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:23:00 GMT

By: Benjamin Hayek
After several months of anticipation, the time as arrived. Tomorrow morning 1LT Gabe Haugland will arrive on my doorstep from Mason City, Iowa, where we shall link up for the 1013 mile drive to Fort Lee, Virginia. After spending the last week assembling all the necessary sundries required pursuant to our packing list, trying to determine whether I am sufficiently in shape (probably not), and making necessary arrangements for my clients for my absence, I am incredibly excited to begin this...read more

Last Drill Prior to JAOBC, Day 2

Benjamin Hayek — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 18:20:00 GMT

By: Benjamin Hayek
Day 2 began with a wake up call at 0530, followed by getting ready and gathering up my gear (the great thing about heading in Saturday morning rather than Friday is much less to pack). Back to JFHQ with so much time to spare that I managed to get a pot of coffee going in the JAG office. First formation at 0645. Since August, I had not elected to participate in Sunday morning chapel services, basically because I was too bashful to request to do so as the newbie. On this day, however, I...read more

Last Drill Prior to JAOBC, Day 1

Benjamin Hayek — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 19:51:00 GMT

By: Benjamin Hayek
This past weekend was my last drill at Camp Dodge JFHQ in Johnston, Iowa. I regularly receive questions regarding what I do during these drill weekends, so will describe a typical drill weekend in this post. Johnston is around 115 miles West of my hometown of Iowa City, so the first item of business each drill weekend (after packing up my gear) is to decide whether to drive in that Saturday morning or go over the night before. For the second time since my first drill last August, I decided...read more

In the meantime ...

Benjamin Hayek — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 17:20:00 GMT

By: Benjamin Hayek
I have been asked by several friends and colleagues what I am doing to prepare for JAOBC this spring. Well, that's easy! There are basically two ways in which someone brand new to the military can prepare for something like JAOBC: prepare mentally and prepare physically. To prepare mentally I am trying to read as much as I can about what it means to be a member of the military (and in particular the Army) in addition to what it means to be an officer in the United States Armed Forces. To...read more

In the beginning ...

Benjamin Hayek — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 20:47:00 GMT

By: Benjamin Hayek
Hello, and welcome to this blog! I have decided to share my experiences with all interested in them as I begin my Army Strong adventure. I am a 34 year old attorney from Iowa who was commissioned in the Iowa Army National Guard JAG Corps on July 18, 2011. Recently I received orders to attend JAOBC (Phases I & II) in Virginia from February 2, 2012, until May 2, 2012, after which I will attend the six-week course at Ft. Benning for those folks (like me) who...read more