Welcome To Fort Bragg, You Nasty Guard Pukes...

Well after going to bed about 1 a.m. last night we got up at 4. Always a joy. Then we did the whole get on the bus and get on the plane and land at Pope Air Base, and then take another bus to Fort Bragg and then get our barracks.

And that is where I'll begin this one. It never ceases to amaze me that the US Army has buildings from about 100 years ago still in service for the deployment of soldiers. This joint we are in has probably got sweat stains from paratroopers leaving for WWII. I shit you not. I'll throw up a few photos of this joint in a little while and let you judge for yourself.

But I have to admit that today has been quite a non-clusterfuck which is surprising to say the least. I would think that moving this many people from point A to point B would be a rather large pain in the ass. But it went pretty well. Most likely because the civilians drove the bus and flew the plane but whatever.

Then we got here and off loaded all of our stuff. All 200 pounds of it. Fun, Fun, Fun. Needless to say its pretty hot here. At least its quite a bit hotter than it was when we left, but I am glad this whole thing has begun. The quicker we get it started the quicker we get it done.

So now we are at Fort Bragg, for how long, I have no clue. The home of the 82nd Airborne Division. Easily one of the more twisted divisions in the army. A division that worships at the altar of the airborne god. A division that has been known to drive people insane. (Lots of love, J.)

I always remember when I was on active duty, and how I used to react to the National Guard guys coming around. I thought they were pukes. I thought they were weekend warrior P.O.S.'s not worthy of wearing the uniform. And I imagine that is exactly how all these active duty guys here are looking at us. Which is probably why they stuck us in this nasty barracks out in the boonies. You know, keep the sub-humans away from the real people.

So we are going to get a little bit of time here today and maybe a little bit over the next few days so I am going to write and call home if I can pull it off. Got to talk to the mom, and see how she's doing. Then the actual training begins. Moving out to this FOB (forward operating base) is going to happen sometime in the next week. I don't think that is an opsec violation because we are still in training. But if it is...

TO ALL THE MILITARY CENSORS: I'm real sorry!

Anyways, I am about to have to go and off load a conex (I don't know what that means, but its basically a big container that you can put on trucks or ships) And it is made of metal and has been sitting in the North Carolina sun for a couple of days eagerly anticipating our arrival. Prepare to vacate sweat glands.

Enough for now. I'll write back later.

Alright, Its later. I just saw a few things that made me feel really lazy. Fort Bragg is the place where all the airborne guys are. You know the type, real hard core guys. So I just saw a PV2 or E-2 who already has his jump wings, and his nice little red beret and the whole bit. These are the kind of guys we need defending this nation. Then there's me. Fat, lazy, with a bad attitude. Its not so bad when I am standing next to the guys in my unit. But standing next to these guys here makes me look really bad. But thats OK, because quite frankly, I don't really care what these brainwashed freaks think of me.

That led me to another problem that I have with the military, and this one isn't even the military's fault. Its my own damn fault. I have reenlisted twice now. And each time it came down to one simple fact. I reenlisted because I allowed my brain to suppress all the goofy, horrifying, painful, and downright stupid events of my military career. I just thought about the good things that went on. I only thought about the guys, I didn't think about the work. I didn't think about the lack of forethought in the military. I completely lost sight of all the bullshit. Hence, I reenlisted twice and now as I sit here I realize that I may have made a few mistakes in my life.

Don't get me wrong. I do love the Army in a sick, psychotic, co-dependent kind of way. However, that does not change the things that I have seen and done and the effect they have had on my mind. And I forget all about all of that every time the moment comes when I have to sign those damn papers. But I digress. As my wonderful, and loving mother would say, "Its nobody's fault but your own"

So here we go, we are here at Bragg, and only God knows how long we are going to be here. Probably 6 weeks or so, you know, training. Lots of Army fun. I could've been done about two years ago. Off the IRR (individual ready reserve), done with it all. No more deploying, no more Army shit, no more Army food, No more power tripping college boys with a Napoleon complex, and no more half witted Non-com's. Oh how grand life could've been. But no, I went and signed the papers again...

But I don't regret it, not too much anyway. I love the guys that I am here with. They are good men all around. Some are a little bit on the odd side, and I will tell you all about them sometime. We are going to perform a mission that needs to be accomplished. Anyone who thinks otherwise should just think about how they would react if they had to live in Afghanistan for a while, and whether or not you would want anyone to come and help you.

And so it begins...again...

Love you mom.