I'm writing on Corey's behalf again. As he suspected would happen, Corey and the other 399 men assigned with him are in a holding pattern and stuck in recepion. The soldiers who arrived earlier than his group did in fact go down range on January 11. Rumors are flying and Corey's company hasn't been told the real date when they will begin their medic training. He is major bummed out with the prospect of perhaps having to wait until early February.
He did have the chance to identify his preferences for a permanent duty station assignment...stateside he chose Fort Drum in upstate New York, Fort Stewart in Savannah, GA or Fort Sam Houston where he is in San Antonio. Fort Drum is the base closest to Boston, but is the home of the 10th Mountain Division - the most heavily deployed division of all. He selected overseas options as well: Korea, Germany or England. Apparently the Korea posting is a year in the DMZ - I'm guessing to protect the world from N. Korea's nuclear threat. While anywhere is dangerous, Korea is probably safer than the "sandbox" - Iraq or A-stan. In any case, the army will send Corey where they believe he is needed regardless of his stated desires.
Corey is now living with his friends from Fort Knox BCT and that helps the time pass a little more pleasantly. He is posting on facebook and is on AIM at night, so he hasn't written here. He would enjoy snail mail and while in reception can be reached at:
PV2 Mindlin, Corey
232 MED BN G Co
2950 Koeler RD Suite 1350
Ft. Sam Houston, TX 78234
I will update address when he moves.
Laurie
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
In Formation
Spoke to Corey on Facebook last night. Reception is horribly boring and there seems to be a mix up that will result in 400 people having to stay there until January 25th. It seems as though two classes were scheduled to start January 11. One group settled in at FSH before Christmas Exodus, went home and came back. Then there is Corey's group that just arrived.
Each day they wake at 6:00 am and have 3 or 4 periods of 1-2 hours when all they do is stand in formation. No marching. No training. No PT. Just 800 privates standing in one place, sometimes getting "smoked". They had been allowed to go to the PX during the day but all are now being punished for the sins of one soldier who went AWOL and was hurt in a car accident.
Corey doesn't know if he will start this weekend or have to wait the two weeks. He is being housed in a bay of 40 soldiers, most of whom are from the group that arrived first. We'll just have to wait to see if he will be in Delta Company or Echo Company and then find out his platoon assignment.
Stay tuned,
Laurie
Each day they wake at 6:00 am and have 3 or 4 periods of 1-2 hours when all they do is stand in formation. No marching. No training. No PT. Just 800 privates standing in one place, sometimes getting "smoked". They had been allowed to go to the PX during the day but all are now being punished for the sins of one soldier who went AWOL and was hurt in a car accident.
Corey doesn't know if he will start this weekend or have to wait the two weeks. He is being housed in a bay of 40 soldiers, most of whom are from the group that arrived first. We'll just have to wait to see if he will be in Delta Company or Echo Company and then find out his platoon assignment.
Stay tuned,
Laurie
Friday, January 1, 2010
On the Road Again
1-1-10
Corey is on his way to San Antonio today and will report to Fort Sam Houston on Sunday. He will have about a week in reception before he begins his 16 week training to become a 68w - combat medic. The combat medic MOS (military occupation specialty) is very difficult and has a high drop out rate akin to that of special forces so he will be studying hard! If you want to get a sense of what he'll be up to, check out the home page of the 232nd army medical battalion. http://www.cs.amedd.army.mil/32medbde/232medbn/defaultVI.aspx
(Cut and paste this link if it doesn't connect.)
Laurie
Corey is on his way to San Antonio today and will report to Fort Sam Houston on Sunday. He will have about a week in reception before he begins his 16 week training to become a 68w - combat medic. The combat medic MOS (military occupation specialty) is very difficult and has a high drop out rate akin to that of special forces so he will be studying hard! If you want to get a sense of what he'll be up to, check out the home page of the 232nd army medical battalion. http://www.cs.amedd.army.mil/32medbde/232medbn/defaultVI.aspx
(Cut and paste this link if it doesn't connect.)
Laurie
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