Hurry Up And Wait: Day: 12 April 2009 Easter Sunday

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Day: 12 April 2009 Easter Sunday

Day: 12 April 2009 Easter Sunday
Weather report: mid-70’s and rain expected tonight

Today I am going to go see “Madea Goes to Jail” after I eat lunch somewhere. Talked to Amanda and the boys this morning and they were excited about the Easter Bunny. Jax got new Rainbow Flip-flops and Aden was happy because he doesn’t have to share his anymore. It stinks not being with my family on Easter and enjoying all the fellowship and food in Barnwell, SC. Going to sew on my flash to my new beret and pin on the 1/507th crest. Looks real good this morning! I will only be able to wear it for a month, but am looking forward to the change.

I found a place to go about 10 miles from here that has everything, civilization at last. I ate hot wings and drank sweet tea today for lunch. I then went to the movies and watched “Madea Goes to Jail”, it was funny as usual. Talked with my Grandfather and Nanny today and wished them a Happy Easter. Talked with Grandma and she was glad to hear from me, she sounded pretty good today. Hate that I missed out on all that good food. I still had a pretty good day today for the most part. Don’t quite know where I will eat tonight but am starting to get hungry again. I need to pick-up a sewing needle to finish up my beret. I purchased a repair kit with no needles, what a smart choice I made. A crazy event took place on the way out today. While I was driving on I-185 a group of motorcycle riders were driving extremely fast approaching me. Once I looked up again the led rider popped his bike up on its back wheel and drove past me and several other cars in that position. I was driving about 65 mph and he passed me like I was standing still on his back tire. It was nuts. He hit his front tire and they drove even faster. Within seconds they were gone and out of site. That is the first time I have ever seen anything of that nature on the interstate.

Went out and made my way to Wal-Mart to purchase a pack of sewing needles. There were some very unfortunate looking people working in there. Their teeth were horrible. It must be like this around every military post. The people all over and around the Camp Robinson area of North Little Rock, AR are all that way. It is sad. Got my needles and went to grab supper. Stopped in at Chili’s and ordered a sweet tea and the Old-timer’s Burger with cheese. It was a lot to eat, but I managed to eat it all. Think I will need all the energy I can get for the rest of the week. Spotted an Olive Garden and will eat there tomorrow after our 1800 hr formation. This will be an accountability formation to make sure everyone made it either back from the fifty mile radius, didn’t go to jail, or anything else you can think of. I watched the finals of the Master’s and watched an Argentina win the Master’s for the first time in a three way sudden death playoff. It was pretty exciting and painful to watch at the same time. The shots on the first playoff hole were horrible for all three players.

I have spotted a Krispy Kreme Donut’s down the street and will eat some after I pass my APFT. That will be a small victory and needs to be rewarded, for me. I will celebrate small victories with deserts throughout my stay here. As the schedule develops I will choose which event is worthy of a desert celebration.

I am surprisingly tired today and am going to crash early today. My beret will have to wait to be sewn tomorrow.

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Airborne Creed

THE AIRBORNE CREED

I am an Airborne trooper! A PARATROOPER!
I jump by parachute from any plane in flight. I volunteered to do it, knowing well the hazards of my choice.
I serve in a mighty Airborne Force--famed for deeds in war--renowned for readiness in peace. It is my pledge to uphold its honor and prestige in all I am--in all I do.
I am an elite trooper--a sky trooper--a shock trooper--a spearhead trooper. I blaze the way to far-flung goals--behind, before, above the foe's front line.
I know that I may have to fight without support for days on end. Therefore, I keep mind and body always fit to do my part in any Airborne task. I am self-reliant and unafraid. I shoot true, and march fast and far. I fight hard and excel in every art and artifice of war.
I never fail a fellow trooper. I cherish as a sacred trust the lives of men with whom I serve. Leaders have my fullest loyalty, and those I lead never find me lacking. I have pride in the Airborne! I never let it down!

Airborne 1/507th PIR Crest History

Distinctive Unit Insignia. Description: A silver color metal and enamel 1 1/8 inches (2.86cm) in height consisting of a shield blazoned: Per bend Azure and Argent, on the First an open parachute of the Last, on the Second a lightning flash of the First; attached below the shield a blue scroll inscribed "DOWN TO EARTH" in silver letters.
Symbolism: Blue is the color associated with Infantry. The open parachute symbolizes the parachute functions of the regiment and the lightning flash indicates the speed by which the allotted duties are preformed. The motto further describes the parachute functions of the organization.
Background: The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment on 21 Jan 1943. It was redesignated and amended to update the description and symbolism for the 507th Infantry Regiment on 22 Oct 1985.
Coat of Arms.
Blazon:
Shield: Per bend Azure and Argent, on the First an open parachute of the Last, on the Second a lightning flash of the First.
Crest: On a wreath Argent and Azure, two lightning bolts in saltire, the volt in bend Azure, the other Or, between two springs of oak fructed Proper, the acorns connected in base by a gold key fesswise with bow at dexter, and issuing palewise between the lighting bolts a black widow spider (Latrodectus mactans) head to chief Proper, with hourglass marking tenné.
Motto: DOWN TO EARTH.
Symbolism:
Shield: Blue is the color of the Infantry. The open parachute symbolizes the parachute functions of the regiment and the lightning flash indicates the speed by which the allotted duties are performed.
Crest: The black widow spider was the unofficial symbol of the unit in World War II, black and orange being the colors associated with the unit. The lightning bolts represent two airborne assaults; the blue bolt recalls the Presidential Unit Citation for action on the Contentin Peninsula; the gold refers to the shoulder sleeve insignia of the 17th Airborne Division, of which the unit was a part. The bolts also represent action from the sky and the speed with which allocated duties are performed. The oak sprigs symbolize service in the Ardennes during the Battle of the Bulge. The key refers to the Rhineland as the key to Germany's heartland.
Background: The coat of arms was originally approved for the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment on 21 Jan 1943. It was redesignated for the 507th Infantry Regiment and amended to add a crest and update the shield symbolism on 4 Feb 1986.

Tower Week, Week Two

Tower Week
A team effort is added to the training with the "mass exit" concept. The apparati used this week are the 34-foot (10 m) towers, the swing landing trainer (SLT), the mock door for mass exit training, the suspended harness, and potentially the 250-foot (76 m) free tower. Tower Week completes student individual skill training and builds team effort skills. To go forward to Jump Training Week students must qualify on the SLT, master the mass exit procedures from the 34-foot (10 m) tower, and pass all PT requirements.

Jump Week, Week Three

Jump Week
During Jump Week students make five parachute jumps into Fryar Drop Zone (DZ) located in Alabama, which is part of the Fort Benning Military Reservation. Trainees must run to the air field, conduct pre-jump training, and then get into their harnesses and await their turn to jump. Generally, two of the jumps are "combat equipment jumps", in which the jumper carries a ruck sack and a dummy weapon. The other three jumps are "hollywood", in that the jumper only wears the parachute and reserve. At least one jump is at night, although, during training cycles where Jump Week falls on a three or four day week (due to a Federal holiday), a night jump is not mandatory to graduate.

T-10D Parachute Discription and Components

TM 10-1670-293-23&P 0002 00 T-10C/T-10D TROOP BACK PARACHUTE ASSEMBLY EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION AND DATA EQUIPMENT CHARACTERISTICS, CAPABILITIES AND FEATURES A summary of the characteristics, capabilities and features of the equipment is contained in the following subparagraphs: Characteristics. Provides a capability to deliver an airborne soldier, and individual equipment, from an aircraft in flight, for a vertical assault on the enemy. Capabilities and Features: Limited in operation to winds of 13-knots at surface. Capable of supporting 360-pounds. Highly portable. Complete assembly weight: 31-pounds. Components of the system: Canopy assembly. Deployment bag. Pack tray. Harness assembly. Risers. Universal Static Line. LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION OF MAJOR COMPONENTS The following subparagraphs contain locations and descriptions of major components. Canopy. The T-10C/T-10D parachute canopy has a 3¾-inch mesh anti-inversion net attached to the skirt of the canopy. The net extends 18-inches below the canopy skirt. The canopy has two vent line centering loops. 0002 00-1 Change 1