Day 30 - Follow me

The Olympics started today, and I’m missing out. I would have loved to watch all the competitions and learn about athletes from all over the world, but the best we'll get -- maybe -- is a chance to steal passing glances at the news during our five minutes of breakfast.

“Admin march” today followed by a day at the range. I fell out of the platoon, but didn’t catch too much hell for it, which surprised me. Still, I’m not to happy about my low endurance.

DS B revealed something about himself while smoking us for having a bad marching formation. When some infantry guys drove past, he was embarrassed by the holes in the lines along the two sides of the road. He dislikes infantry because they think they’re the only ones that work, but he works just as hard as any of them. To him, “soft” skills need to be just as tough as infantry, and he’s been pushing us to get that. (I keep thinking of Hebrews 12:11). His goal in becoming a drill sergeant was to improve the quality of the soft-skill soldiers.

I got 23/40, which just barely passed. Maybe I can shoot more on Monday and do better. For lunch, I had #18 Cajun rice, beans, and sausage. I was happy I could finish, but it’s a simple MRE – crackers and cheese spread, combos, and almonds. The lemon-lime powder I just gave away.

I spoke with the chaplain, and asked him to look up this one Scripture I’ve been looking for: “Follow me, as I follow the example of Christ.” I bought a little camouflage NIV Bible at the PX in Reception, but there's no concordance in it. Chaplain’s a nice guy – an officer that ends each conversation with a handshake. It may seem silly, but as a small token of respect, it's like a chilled glass of water on a scorching summer day.

[Later note: It was 1 Corinthians 11:1 – “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.”]

We “transed” back. For dinner, I ate rice, corn bread, cucumber-onion salad, cabbage, gatorade, salisbury steak, and pickle spear. I should try the greens sometime. PT test tomorrow.

Got pictures my mom of SY and the baby that made me tear up. I miss them a lot.