Managing uncertainty

The training the group embarked upon at Fort Jackson in Columbia, South Carolina is nearly complete. We finish on Wed. From there we receive our flight schedule arrangements to Kuwait and then Afghanistan.

Sunday is always a day that is slow because there is no training. As the old expression goes....idle time is the devil's playground. I can see by the actions and looks on the people's faces that a lot of introspection is going on. The next phase of our deployment is upon us and with it comes the uncertainty of what lays ahead.

I overheard someone once say that those that succeed best at business were those that had the best ability to handle or manage risk. That may be true. But if one thinks about it all that is at stake is money and professional reputation.

Introspection and managing uncertainty is truly the the domain of the deploying military forces. All outside distractions are stripped away. One is uprooted from family. Everyday challenges are removed and the focus becomes preparation for the task at hand. The evenings and down time are when the mind begins to wonder. You all get it. The personal management of uncertainty.

What does one lean on for solace in managing uncertainty: Shipmates, family, God, knowlledge that the chain of command has your best interests at heart. The last one is what creates the most angst. Let's hope so.

Coping skills include compartmentalizing thoughts in your mind.....Well, enough about that subject.

I know today back in the New York metro area Lilly is making her 1st communion. Great! Love you all. Hope you all check out this blog. Made especially for you. Elizabeth.....show everyone how to use it.....


Meanwhile back in San Diego.......the kids have two weeks of school left and summer preparations are being made for them to spend some time in Portland, Arizona, and New York. Should be a great summer for them. Hope they get to see all of you.

Lastly, I would be remiss without saying God bless and best wishes to Brian and the Jamisons. Brian starts work in Memphis Monday. Love you all...in my prayers...

A lot of uncertainty for clan Hall in general. Let's pick those lemons and start making lemonade.

Love to all.......especially Natalie,

Fran

What the barracks looks like

We have a week left in training in South Carolina. The weather is on the brink of turning quite hot and humid with almost daily thunderstorms to break up the thick humidity. Today (Wed 5/27), is to be 91 degrees and 97% humidity and chance of afternoon showers. These two pictures display our barracks living arrangements. Not bad for three weeks.

Came across this poem from Kipling about the British incursions into Afganistan. They have been in there 4 timres in the last 200 years all wound up in defeat.

FORD O' KABUL RIVER
Kabul town's by Kabul river--Blow the bugle, draw the sword--There I lef' my mate for ever,Wet an' drippin' by the ford.Ford, ford, ford o' Kabul river,Ford o' Kabul river in the dark!There's the river up and brimmin', an' there's 'arf a squadron swimmin''Cross the ford o' Kabul river in the dark.
Kabul town's a blasted place--Blow the bugle, draw the sword--'Strewth I sha'n't forget 'is faceWet an' drippin' by the ford!Ford, ford, ford o' Kabul river,Ford o' Kabul river in the dark!Keep the crossing-stakes beside you, an' they will surely guide you'Cross the ford o' Kabul river in the dark.
Kabul town is sun and dust--Blow the bugle, draw the sword--I'd ha' sooner drownded fust'Stead of 'im beside the ford.Ford, ford, ford o' Kabul river,Ford o' Kabul river in the dark!You can 'ear the 'orses threshin', you can 'ear the men a-splashin','Cross the ford o' Kabul river in the dark.
Kabul town was ours to take--Blow the bugle, draw the sword--I'd ha' left it for 'is sake--'Im that left me by the ford.Ford, ford, ford o' Kabul river,Ford o' Kabul river in the dark!It's none so bloomin' dry there; ain't you never comin' nigh there,'Cross the ford o' Kabul river in the dark?
Kabul town'll go to hell--Blow the bugle, draw the sword--'Fore I see him 'live an' well--'Im the best beside the ford.Ford, ford, ford o' Kabul river,Ford o' Kabul river in the dark!Gawd 'elp 'em if they blunder, for their boots'll pull 'em under,By the ford o' Kabul river in the dark.
Turn your 'orse from Kabul town--Blow the bugle, draw the sword--'Im an' 'arf my troop is down,Down an' drownded by the ford.Ford, ford, ford o' Kabul river,Ford o' Kabul river in the dark!There's the river low an' fallin', but it ain't no use o' callin''Cross the ford o' Kabul river in the dark.

A hard and ominous land!

Here is a great video about killing time and the competitve nature of those in uniform. 120 people had to go through the range. There were only 14 lanes. So, many people were sitting and waiting. What to do? Put a can on top of a post and see who can knock it down. The military expression is hurry up and wait. Find something to do to fill up the "wait" portion.

Talk to you all soon. BTW, Natalie and I shared our 8th anniversary yesterday! Thanks!

More pictures

Here is me shooting at the 9 mill range from twenty five meters. Great picture because one can see the shell casing being ejected from the magazine. The strange looking attachment on my shoulder part of the body armour (battle rattle) we wear.
We went to the 9mm pistol qualification. Unfortunately, the video clip was too big to load. As we can see the range is rigorously monitored by instructors. It is quite funny to hear the comments about the range. One is "we are so close to the target at 3 meters that we will go to jail even if the target is an enemy combatatnt. Therefore three rounds will have to be expended. One for the Taliban and one each for the CNN newsman and cameraman." After all, who wants to go to Gitmo?

Pictures

Must apologize for some spelling errors in the last post. I will be more diligent about checking before formally posting.

Included on this will be some pictures from the previous week's training. Some pixs of the M 16 rifle range and us firing at the targets. great fun. We had great instruction and wound up better shots than we thought. More pics to follow. Enjoy.

Fran

"Army Training"

To all,

The first week of Army training is completed. We spent a great deal of time at the rifle and pistol range and learning how to wear body armour. (We call it battle rattle).

As all of you know, the have not posted any pictures on the blog because I do not have a camera. I will be a cheap digital this weekend and begin posting the shoots. Lots of interesting this going on here.

First of all our main drill instructor is a is a huge black man named 1st Sargent Shepperson from the beautiful town of West Patterson, NJ. I think the most recent mayor there has been imprisoned form corruption. He is the epitome of a drill instructor. Very knowledgeable, a believer in the Army mission, and high a great motivator. Also, he is very funny and remains me of the black comedian on the Drew Carey show "Whose Line is It Anyway?" Dude is funny, serious, perceptive and a great instructor.

What he has taught me: I am actually a much better shot with the M-16 and M9 pistol than a week ago. I was hitting 4/5 shots at a target 300 meters away consistently. Wow! Anything within 200 meters I will be able to hit. This provides me a great deal of relief before going over there.

So, this Army training essentially boils down to a mini boot camp for people to learn basic soldiers skills. We have renamed our military department the Narmy........Navy and Army. Because as drill sergeant Shepperson is fond of saying,"You never know where your Uncle is going to send you...so you have to do your best to be as prepared as possible."

Truer words could not be spoken.

On a family note...Nat I watched "A day in the life" again today. The kids have grown a lot since Dec 08. Made me miss you guys more. Love you all.....

Brain Jamison, Best wishes with your transition. The Jamison's are in our prayers.

Love to all..........

Getting on with it

I left on San Diego on Saturday morning. Natalie dropped me off at the Naval Station and we said goodbye. It was sad to see her drive away but 8 months will go quickly and I feel a sense of relief finally getting this thing started. Sooner started..sooner finished.

We departed for South Carolina and arrived without incident. We were bused to the Fort and put into on open bay barracks with 40 other sailors and only two showers and one washing machine. It will get interesting......

We embark on training starting in a few hours. People who have gone thru have given positive reviews of the training. I suspect it will be what is needed. Working with the Army will be different.

I intend to post twice a week and include pix and hopefully some video.

Love to all,

Fran

Test

This is the initial post to my blog. Let's see if it works. I leave in two days for additional training and then on to afghanistan. I hope you will enjoy the blog.