1130 am Monday
Just spoke with my PSG from the USO here in Camp B. Contrasted with the hour-long conversation I had just had with a talkative and intellectual USO rep/Vietnam Vet named Malcom M, it felt like I was going 1,000 miles an hour with this guy. This was a good—and terrifying—feeling thing.
The above notes (not replicated for OPSEC) are the scribbles I was able to take while probing for some info. I was calling on a NIPR line, so there was only so much to be said. Although he sounds like a confident NCO it is a little unsettling and intimidating that our conversation was in such stride. This may be me wanting things to be more glamorous than they are in reality—probably due to conditioning from ROTC about first contact with your PSG being so important and vital. I'm sure when I meet in person with him it will be better, but unfortunately he goes on R & R tomorrow.
This detail also is an additional obstacle because I will not be getting to my unit without my commander (who is also on R &R) or my PSG. I will be left very much exposed as the rookie that I am in front of my soldiers. Note: I would find out later that my commander understood this risk and delayed my movement to my unit until the CO was soon to return.
SFC I mentioned I would be exposed to a high op-tempo and a lot of briefings and SLIDES. Oh, God how I dislike military measurement of product by slideshows. Should be a joy!
The one fortunate thing is I believe my entrance will be more gradual. I gotta go to lunch/back to finishing training… The IED training was depressing this morning so I hope getting rolled around in an MRAP will make my day.
marsonmg@yahoo.com : Email for Malcom M. Gave me the Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant. The book is in excellent condition and is leather-bound and all. He told me that I should read it and could pass it on as he did. Guess I have my first little story-relic from my deployment. After our long conversation about the Civil War, Vietnam, Iraq, and each other's backgrounds (his being more interesting than mine), I was humbled by his departing comment, "You carry yourself very well, lieutenant."
