Letter From Corey

Letter From Corey

Feb 23, 2009

Hey Everyone!

I have finally moved from the 30th AG Reception to Basic. Finally!. I'm in the 1st Battalion 50th Infantry, Charlie Co. 2nd Platoon. Roster number 218. HA HA Thats a mouthful I know. There are 4 platoons per company. 1, 3 and 4 seem to have the full metal jacket drill sargent types. Each Platoon has 3 DI's. My 3 are very nice and soft spoken. Don't get me wrong, they can still be real dicks to the stupid people but they are patient and it's a good way to learn everything. We are all very motivated here. HOOAH! We don't get much time to write during the day.

We wake up at 4:00AM and get to bed no sooner then 9:00PM. From there is a rotation of Guard Duty. That means between the 50 of us in 2nd platoon, each person has to wake up for an hour to guard a door. The weapons and to do laundry. I was doing fire watch last night, so tonight i get to do laundry. And write this letter.

We got our weapons yesterday, I was issued an M4A1 carbine. It fits me very well i think when i am in full combat gear. So since I can't write to often right now, I would like this posted so everyone can read it. Especially Ashley. I would like some pictures of everone if possible so i can show off my family. Everyone already crowds my locker to look at Ashley everytime i open the door. They say i am very lucky and she is very beautiful.

I only get 2 or 3 minute phone calls once a week due to so many people so write me plenty of letters. everyone please write. just letters and pics. anything else i'm not gonna get so save your money.

I have been surprised how fast i can get things done here. Like eat chow in less then 3 minutes, shower in less then 30 secs. 50 people can go to the latrine in less then 2 minutes. and we all keep getting better at it over time. we start basic rifle marksmenship this week along witht he replelling tower and 60 ft rope climb. I am very excited about everything. It's a lot to take in and memorize but I am doing just fine.

yesterday we did the obstacle course with took every bit of strength i had. low crawling through mud and sand and water then climbing a 40ft rope. The 4 platoons competed on getting everyone through first, and we won!!

Our reward was going to the PX and I bought some fancy stationary. (it's army issue) Today we did the confidence test course. a lot of team work involved getting everyone to the top and back down again. We can't go anywhere alone we have to have a battle buddy. My battle buddy is Jake Jones from Vernon Texas. Lot of Texans here. I guess cause Texas is so big! haha He's a pretty cool guy and although bigger them me, we match out pretty close in strength.

By the time you read this i will have gone through the gas chamber. It's really the only thing I am nervous about. I don't like not being able to breathe, I hear it's about 15 seconds.

Anyways gotta go for now. Don't forget to send pictures and I would love to see Deagain and Emily.

Love everyone and miss you all

Corey