28 Glorious Minutes!

I spoke with the love of my life today for 28 glorious minutes. He filled me in on some of the stuff he'll be doing this week and we were able to play a little game of catch up. I'm pretty sure I've been on Cloud 10 all day. :)

So this next week my love will be using a grenade launcher, doing his first FTX (Field Training Exercise), and be entering the white phase of his training (also known as the "Gunfighter" phase). He's been selected as Squad Leader and will serve until he's fired. Don't worry though, this happens throughout basic, he's supposed to be fired at some point so everyone has a chance to be squad leader.

Here's the blurb about White Phase from Fort Leonard Wood's website:

White phase encompasses weeks 4-6. It is centered on the development of basic combat skills, with special emphasis on Chemical Mask weapons proficiency and physical fitness training. Skill development, self-discipline, and team building characterize the white phase, along with a lessening of control commensurate with demonstrated performance and responsibility. The highlights for white phase are rifle bayonet training, pugil training, hand to hand training, US weapons, hand grenades and a 72 hour field training exercise focusing on occupying an assembly area and convoy operations.

This means that he's entering week four of training and week five of ten weeks of his time in Missouri. He's almost half way through! (I don't think I can say that the time has flown, but I am completely excited that he's just about half way there!)

He told me on the phone that he received my letters this week, and because of me and his mom he's received the most mail in the platoon! Awesome! :) I do wish he would have been given them earlier because last week his morale hit flashing red WARNING levels.

Christmas time cannot come soon enough. I do plan on squirreling him away for a couple of days of me time after he arrives, so don't be surprised if we don't answer any phone calls! :)