My life at GMU. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SecDef/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Thu, 15 Dec 2005 00:06:00 -0600 Thu, 15 Dec 2005 00:06:00 -0600 I had my first final today Computer Science....I think I did pretty well.  But we'll see.     40 questions, each worth one point, and a 20 point program to write.  :)     After that, I went to the gym and did some pull-up related exercises.  I think I will need the extra bulk.   I have an interesting reputation with the other cadets...on the one hand, they say I spend all day at the computer (instead of talking with them.   Of course, why would I want to talk with them about beer, girls, sex, etc. when I can talk about politics, theology, etc. with my other friends?  :D ) but also very agressive.     I have sorta challenged the new Ranger Challenge team captain to a fight (they will bring boxing gloves and all) next semester....so I need to start working out.  :D http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SecDef/56286/ Thu, 15 Dec 2005 00:06:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SecDef/56286/ Wow, yesterday was a very interesting day.    So, I realize on Friday night that I need to do laundry.   Being that it is late (early? ), I decide to just get up earlier.  So, I get up Saturday at 7:20 and start laundry.   Most of it is done on time, and so I am able to dress for the day.  I don't have time for breakfast, so I just head down to the bus stop and arrive there 3 minutes early.    The bus takes me most of the way to the theater, where I am supposed to meet for the Generation Joshua club [For those of you who don't know, the Generation Joshua clubs are supposed to get teens involved in local elections].   Of course, I had told everyone to get there on time (10:30).   I gave myself 30 minutes to walk/run the 2.3 miles to the theater from where the bus dropped me off.     So I start walking....I then read a sign (on an exit) that says "no pedestrians," so I turn around, and, after some deliberation, decide to take a roundabout route that will land me at the theater.  This route is about 4 miles long, and the time is 10:18.   So I start running.  After about 2.5 miles, I take a side road that should allow me to get to the theater slightly faster.   After a very long time, I wind up back near where the bus dropped me off.     It is 11:00.   I decide to just take the route I had originally planned on, since the "no pedestrians" sign must have been referring to the exit and the highway connected to it.    So, I follow that route and arrive at the theater, 1 hour late.  So much for being on time!     The one good thing...I can run 9-10 miles in 90 minutes!  :D    We went to a nearby restaurant and had some food.  (I ordered two bottles of water.  )   Over the meal, we discussed the plan for the GenJ club.   :)   We then went into the theater to see Narnia.   The film was very well done, although a few minor parts were changed (nothing affecting the plot).     After the film, we talked for a bit, and then ate out at a Chinese restaurant (I was treated by one of the families  ).    I was then driven back by that same family.    Then I went to the house church.  http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SecDef/54812/ Sun, 11 Dec 2005 18:17:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SecDef/54812/ Someone sent me these pictures:      And...     I want one! :D   Tomorrow, I will be meeting a few local GenJers for an "informal" GenJ club meeting.  :)    We will then go out to see Narnia.  :)  There are no classes next week, just a couple finals (Wednesday and Thursday).     In other news, I have a "first" to announce.  :D  I spoke with a friend on the phone yesterday...for about FOUR HOURS!!!   (2.5 hours and then 1.5 hours after he had dinner.)    I don't know if that is something I shuold be happy about or not....but we had a most enjoyable conversation(s)! :)   (And I do not like talking on the phone! :D ) http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SecDef/54176/ Fri, 9 Dec 2005 14:12:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SecDef/54176/ Wednesday, December 07, 2005   The PT test today was...interesting.     I passed everthing...  I only did 54 pushups (down from 61, min 42), 66 situps (up from 60, min 53), and 2 miles in 13:something.  The two miler was kinda funny....in reality, I did it in less than 12:50, but the Sgt forgot to count a lap, so I ended up with 14-something....so he took a minute off.     Oh well.  At least they count your highest score for the semester.      We ran the two miles outside...we were going to run it inside, because of the snow, but the track was clear today, so we ran outside.  (They marked off the ice spots with cones.)   As we were preparing to run, the top MS IV (one of the graders) deviated from the normal "the running event will measure your endurance..." to "the ice-skating event will measure your endurance...."    http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SecDef/53047/ Wed, 7 Dec 2005 08:01:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SecDef/53047/ Saturday, December 03, 2005 I just got back from the Dining In ceremony.  Dining In is a semi-formal event held by ROTC units to prepare cadets for formal events.  It has gotten to be a tradition.   The Dining In started with about 45 minutes of socializing (you are supposed to shake hands with all the other cadets).   Then we filed into the dining room and took our seats.  We then rose for the invocation and presentation of the colors.  After that, the grog was filled.   Various ingredients were added to a punch bowl.   The result was a very nasty-looking and tasting concoction.  People who were "called up" to be made fun or for something were forced to drinkn from the grog.  People were called up for maybe an hour, for everything from a dance they could do to reading a poem in Russian.  The cdets performed skits, with the best skit and the worst skit winning awards.  [Someone just walked in and gave me a Krispy Kreme doughnut!  :D ]   It was a lot of fun...I drank from the grog a couple time (because all the Ranger Challenge people went up when the leader went up)...it wasn't THAT bad.     Cadets socializing.  Lt. Colonel Overbye talking.  MS III cadets performing the flutter kick for the 11 uniform infractions found among them. SFC Jennings (the PT sergeant - 3rd in the picture) about to be awarded a medal for his career in Armor.  MS Is performing our skit...I am the last person seated (on the far right).    Finally, me in my Class A uniform (with white shirt and bowtie).  http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SecDef/51867/ Sun, 4 Dec 2005 11:30:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SecDef/51867/ My apologies for the length of time that has elapsed.  OK, I was tagged like...a month ago to post 10 memories.  So that shall be my update.  :D    10)  I remember having to figure out a way to get the 16 miles between Dulles Airport and GMU when the buses were out of service, and being thankful that a friend let me spend the night at his house and drove me there so that I didn't have to walk over/spend the night in the airport.   9)   I remember landing in NY and calling my parents from the airport, intending to tell then that I was still in VA and had slept in and missed my flight.    No one was home, though.       8)  I remember having people over for Thanksgiving and spending some time in worship...felt really good.    7)   I remember my friend who came over and surprised me.   We played Airsoft out in the snow.  Lots of fun.      6)   I remember spending virtually all day Sunday flying/riding/waiting to get back.    5)   I remember being told that I look like a "white supremacist" by another cadet, because of the very short haircut I got while home.  (Have you ever heard of a Quaker white supremacist?  )   [Quaker is the name the cadets gave me. :D ]    4)  I remember getting an email address today that ends with .us.army.mil      3)  I remember dressing up in my Class A uniform today for inspection.     2)  I remember registering for selective service online today.    1)  I remember that, whatever happens in life, Jesus is still on the throne and He controls everthing according to His perfect plan.  http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SecDef/49926/ Tue, 29 Nov 2005 19:54:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SecDef/49926/ I wanted to see how many push-ups I could do in a day.  So, I started doing sets of push-ups yesterday.   Total 650+.     [EDIT:  Just so everyone understands, I did NOT do them all at once!  :D   But between 11 am and 11 pm, I did 650+.    And, no, I am not very sore today.   ]  Today there was an FTX which I was really looking foward to.   However, there were only 4 cadets who had volunteered to help out at a football game (collecting tickets and such) and more were needed, so I volunteered for that.   Four of us showed up, and found out that we would actually be participating in the game (chain crew and ball boy/girl).   It's probably a good thing that I didn't know I would be doing that....otherwise, I probably wouldn't have volunteered.      The game took forever.    The fact that I hadn't eaten anything all day (still haven't as of now) probably didn't help any.    (I was able to buy a Coke at halftime, though.)   Oh, and Mason won, 21-20 (we entered halftime 21-0 in our favor).    http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SecDef/41450/ Mon, 7 Nov 2005 07:36:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SecDef/41450/ Wednesday, November 02, 2005   What a smoking.     Run a little over 1/4 mile to a fence and back, then do 50 push-ups and 50 sit-ups.  Do that 3 times.    At lab yesterday, the cadets practiced battle drills with paintball guns.  :D  It was a lot of fun.     We were divided up into 5 squads of about 10-12.  Each squad had two fire teams, I was part of fire team Bravo, which was responsible for aid and litter (first aid stuff).   We were sent against 2-4 MS IVs and Ranger Challenge people who played OPFOR (OPposing FORces).   Both times, my squad won (well, not really...the enemy inflicted heavy casualties on us during the first engagement and, in the second engagement, was killed by one of the evaluators - because we were taking too long  ).   But it was fun.  :)    A foretaste of this Saturday....      http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SecDef/39975/ Wed, 2 Nov 2005 18:56:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SecDef/39975/ Wednesday, October 26, 2005   61 push-ups (min 42); 60 sit-ups (min 53); 2-mile run 12:20 (min 15:54, max 13:00).  Thank you Lord!          Tuesday, October 25, 2005   Monday morning, I ran with the Lt.   We did the "Sergeant Roberts" run.   Sprint 100m (or so), jog back, take a lap around the track (1/4 mile), then run up and down the stairs on the bleachers till you get to the end.   Repeat four times.      I kept ahead of the Lt the whole time, but....let's just say that I should have run as hard....but I am sure God will help me get a good score on the APFT tomorrow.  :)   Lab was a lot of fun today; we went over basic things to keep in mind when out in the field (e.g. brush your teeth    ), EPW (Enemy Prisoner of War) searching, and how to perform some basic medical stuff on a wounded buddy (Really Big Birds Should Fly Back Home - Responsiveness, Breathing, Bleeding, Shock, Fractures, Burns, Head Injuries).    For the EPW lesson, they walked step-by-step through how to search a dead and a live EPW.   They then asked for three MS Is to come up and do it.   I went up, and was the person performing the search (the second cadet was the dead enemy and the third cadet was my security) - I was quite comfortable doing it, since we had learned it in Ranger Challenge.       (Also, during formation, our squad leader wasn't there, so I was made acting squad leader until relieved by an MS II.   It was fun.  :D  )  Something I am quite excited about.....(all contracted cadets get this, but still... )   I am going to be getting a "Secret" security clearance!          That will definitely be cool....    OK, I should get to bed at decent season.....don't want to be tired for the PT test!      Thursday, October 20, 2005   In the ROTC building.....   Me:  *working at computer in ROTC building, filling out security clearance form AGAIN because I couldn't remember the password to the one I filled out before*    Lt:  "Hey, [name of my squad leader (SL)], are you looking forward to the PT test next Wednesday?"    SL:  "I hope I'll pass...I'm good at everything but the running." Lt:   "Then you can join MacMillen and I on Monday morning, at 0630 for some running.  So...are you coming?"    SL:   "I'll think about it."  Lt:  "I want a yes or no answer.  I don't like maybe's."   SL:  "Well.....OK."  Lt:  "Good."  *exits*   SL:  "What did I just get myself into?"   Me:  "Oh, be there at 0615, that way you can stretch out."  SL:  "I hate you, MacMillen!"      Tuesday, October 18, 2005   Well...I had lots of fun at ROTC lab, today.  :)   We basically practiced battle drills.  First, we had a lecture on it, then we were given a demonstration by the MS IIIs, then we divided up into 5 squads and practiced engaging the enemy, disengaging with the enemy, reacting to an ambush, etc.  Some memorable quotes.... Cadet:  "When assaulting a machine gun nest, don't run straight at it.  We're not the Marines."    *****   SFC Jennings:  "Now, each branch will have its own battle drill.   For example, if you are in PSYOPS (Psychological Operations), you probably won't do the same thing the infantry guys do, when the enemy attacks.   Maybe the PSYOPS battle drill is where someone jumps up and grabs a microphone and yells, "HELP!!!!"  Or maybe the commanders pile in the Hummer and drive off, leaving the rest of the men behind."    *****   (out in the hallway) "....some people [complain] about the Stryker."  *jumps up and runs to doorway* Me:  "Did you just say the Stryker?"  *laughter*    ***** At dinner, I ran into my academic advisor...we talked about the Future Combat Systems, military operations research in general, security clearances, China vs. Taiwan, etc.   It was neat.  :)     Saturday, October 15, 2005 Today, I got up early to go to the Fairfax County Republican Committee's 16th Annual PepRally Breakfast.   Karl Rove was scheduled to speak, but there was a last-minute change in plans, and so the main speaker was Ken Mehlman, RNC Chairman.   We also heard from VA Governor candidate Jerry Kilgore, as well as some other officials.   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SecDef/37887/ Thu, 27 Oct 2005 16:04:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SecDef/37887/ Well, as it turned out, there weren't that many at the protest - estimates ranged from 20-50 at the max.  :)   Monday   We left campus at around 9, and arrived at the Washington Convention Center at 10.   However, we discovered that the exhibits did not open until noon, so we waited around 'till 12.   Then we dashed in and stopped by as many booths as we could in 8 minutes, before heading back upstairs for an ROTC luncheon.  At the luncheon, I learned something about myself - I eat faster than everyone else at the table.  People were making comments about how I had finished my salad when they were only half-way through.    We listened to a speech given the the General in charge of EUCOM (European Command), as well as a Captain who had served in Iraq.   Then some awards were presented to different cadets and schools.  One of the cadets who received a reward was homeschooled his entire life.    Lunch ended at 2:30, and we were given 1 hour to look around.  We quickly went from table to table, stuffing our bags with free stuff.   We only hit maybe 70% of the booths - there was so much stuff!   I had really wanted to talk with some of the people there about my research project on Future Combat Systems, so I asked Captain Wingate if I could stay longer and take the Metro back.   He replied in the affirmative, so I stayed for another 2 hours.    Here are a few pictures of some of the things that were there.....sorry about the quality.      One of the (ahem S!) many robotic vehicles at the conference.  A model of an armed Predator!  You can't see it very well, but, in addition to 8 Hellfires, it has a couple AIM-9 Sidewinders and another missile which I didn't look at close enough to identify.     A Stryker MGS (Mobile Gun System)!    The Class IV UAV for FCS - pretty much finished. MP5s at the HK booth!   Of course, what would be an Army conference without an Abrams?  (How on earth did they get that - and the dozen other vehicles - into the basement of the conference center?!) I stuffed my bag with lots of goodies - pens, brochures, magazines, etc.   Probably 30-40 pounds of stuff.  :)  I also joined AUSA, so I was able to wear the "AUSA Member" badge thingy during part of the conference.  :D   Wedesday/Thursday   Well...I did regular PT yesterday morning.  Sgt. Jennings - the 300-lb-all-muscle-former-drill-sergeant  - lead it.  He's a really nice guy, but he really knows how to get you in shape!  :D  Classes have been going better....BTW, I got a "B" on that paper I wrote in 1 hour (the only reason I didn't get a higher mark is because I didn't have an intro on the essay).  So I'm happy about that.    Yesterday, I spent a little bit of time helping to get the ROTC building ready for the high-ranking General who stopped by this morning.   One of the MS IIIs in my squad thanked me for coming out and asked if I was interested in going for Cadet of the Month, since he would be willing to sponsor me.  :)   (I told him that I wasn't ready yet.)  One of the MS IVs let me ride along with him to part of Fairfax where I was able to drop off my uniform to have the patches sewn on (I tried it on my own, and it did NOT look good. :D ).  We also stopped by a surplus store, where I bought a lighter (yes, I will be using it - to burn off threads from my uniform (it's fire-resistant, so burning is actually better than snipping).  ).    Today, I learned that, as of the end of this month, the monthly stipend will be increased to $300!           BTW, I got 102 on my first ROTC test.   Although Captian Wingate (who branched Aviation) took off 100 points when I mentioned that Infantry is the best branch.  I plan to appeal that to the Colonel. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SecDef/31973/ Fri, 7 Oct 2005 23:27:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SecDef/31973/