12 AUGUST 2003 Hello everyone. I hope you like the pictures Katie has posted. Some of them are recent and some have been sitting around for a while. It feels like I'm near the end here but I know there's still work to do. The first two squads in my platoon graduate on Thursday, 14 August. The eight soldiers I came from basic with are in those squads. I would have been if my class reservation wasn't an issue when I first arrived here almost five months ago. But thats ok; those 6 weeks on casual duty taught me how to sort the Base Inn's dirty laundry and how to properly clean out a Tent-Trailer at the Base Recreation Facility. But now I, myself, am less than one mont away from graduating. I take the final on 27 August. The week after that is the Field Training Excercise where we use our skills in real-life situations (working 12 hour shifts every day and on-call the other 12 hours)all week and then the week after that is Graduation. So close yet so far.
Just a tip: if you want to clean out the shower, don't do it while you are using it. The fumes really get to you. Especially if you are using bleach and Tilex at the same time . Holy Cow! I definitely learned that the hard way before inspections last week. Thats my tip for the day. And that is all I have. Thank you please drive through. -PV2 Michael Lucas Bashaw

27 JULY 03Yee Haw. Hello Hello. How is everyone today? Block III is in full force. It's all computer work. I picked it up pretty quickly. We have a performance test on the basics of the computer next week then the only test after that is the course final. Its a different system than I'm used to but I'm enjoying learning it. Sorry, no big news. Have a good day. -PV2 Michael Lucas Bashaw

15 July 2003 Yah. Hello Hello. It's entirely too hot here in West Texas. I hope all of you in California are enjoying your 70 degree weather. I wish I could be so lucky. Oh well. I am in the last week of Block II. The entire block has been lovingly dubbed "Death By Lecture" by previous classes; however this week is the real meat of the lectures. Three on Monday, four today, and four tomorrow. Holy Cow. It feels like it will never end. But Thursday we take the last test and then Monday we move buildings and get new Instructors again to start Block III. Hot Dog!
And if you notice in my name at the end of each entry were I put my name is now PV2 instead of Pvt. Tuesday, 08 July was my six month in service date and thats an automatic promotion from E-1 to E-2 (pay grades). I get a little bit more money and get to wear a stripe. Nothing to extravagent. I guess I'm no longer bottom of the Barrel either though.
Katie has been busy going to and from Thousand Oaks and working and whatnot but she promises that when she gets a chance she will put up the pictures I sent. And I guess thats all my news. Hope everyone had a good 4th. I wish I could have been home. -PV2 Michael Lucas Bashaw

11 JULY 2003Hey. Good times. The four day weekend over 4th of July was good. I got off base. I played golf on Thursday morning. It was not a good showing. Hopefully I'll get more playing time in the next two months. (In Exactly 2 months I will no longer be a trainee! Woo!) -PV2. Michael Lucas Bashaw

ps. That last message got short. I had to get off the computer (15 July)

JUNE 27 2003 Hello. I am glad to say that a very long week has finaly come to an end. It was war week again last week. And what a war. It started nice and early at 0200 on Monday when we got a nive wake up bang on the door and had 5 minuted to get dressed and get our gear (dummy rifle and rucksack)down to the day room. This was to instill that soldiers need to be ready aroung the clock. So we just hung aroung until about 0430 when we had a scavenger hunt competetion between the squads in our platoon. We came in second. After school we staged an assault on the CQ building for our barracks. This was all up to the squad leaders. The drill sergeants just observed. We did pretty well. Tuesday I got out of PT becuase I had to do a urinealysis (everyone does one at least once when they're here.dont worry) and the rest of the pltoon did a mini obstacle course that the Drill Sergeants set up. Tuesday after school we were supposed to do hand to hand combat but the Heat Category was too high so we had a class on building a Hasty Fighting Position. Wednesday we had a rifle run in BDU's and boots just like the old days before they had PT uniforms. It was a pretty easy pce so it was no problem. I got a cramp in my arm from holding the rifle though. It was too hot to do combatives again on wednesday afternoon so we were released. Thursday morning we got up an hour early to to combatives because we lost the training time on Tuesday and Wednesday. After some drills we had a competition between the squads. My squad won. There we some good fights. Then Thursday after school we were done. It was a good war week. And we get to do it again in two weeks. Just because. Woo Hoo. I cant wait. Then Friday, after a week of sweltering heat, it started to rain during out run. And didn't quit until about 1300. We went to the lake near base for teambuilding after our half day of class on Friday. I got quite a sunburn. It was fun though. I played soccer on half of a tennis court most of the time. The rest of the time I was battling mosquitos. We get a short week next week. We're done Wednesday afternoon. I can't wait. Hope everyone has a good 4th of July. -Pvt. Michael Lucas Bashaw

ps. I sent some pictures to Katie but she's in Palm Springs all weekend with mom and dad. She says she'll put them on the site when she gets back on Tuesday.

16 JUNE 2003Hey. Today we are had a half day of class and soldorization training this afternoon. (This usually happens on fridays) We are going to the pool and learning about water tactics. We will be blindfolded and be pushed in with lots of gear on and have to get out. We'll learn how to make out BDU trousers into flotation devices. Fun stuff like that.
The Army ball Saturday night was more fun than I expected. There were some ceremonies; presenting the colors, Army history, POW/MIA, and a speech from the Brigade Commander Col. Flynn. (I got a picture with him). Then after the formal stuff and the dinner there was a DJ and females could change out of uniform and into a gown and males could change into a dark suit, but we couldn't really dress down. There was dancing and all sorts of good times. I took a whole rol of pictures and will send them to Katie as soon as they are developed. They should be up this weekend along with some shots of things around the base so that those of you that haven't been here (that's most of you) have an idea of the place where I live. Fun. Thats all. Have a good day.-Pvt. Michael Lucas Bashaw

11 JUNE 2003 Hello Hello. I just took the end of Block One test this morning. Got a big 95%. Two stupid mistakes cost me the two points too. But still, a 95% is nothing to sneeze at. Especially when I look at how lost I was just a few weeks ago when I started the course. The next two days will be spent cleaning the class room and then Monday my class of 13 (12 if one female doesn't pass her retake tomorrow) will be moving rooms and getting a new instructor for Block Two. I've heard from people in classes ahead of me that Block Two is basically Death by Lecture. I can't wait. Thats ok. Exactly three months until graduation. www.benning.army.mil/airborne/airborne <----- This will take you to Ft. Benning's website. Thats where I'm going after here for Airborne School. Woo! There is no good site about what I'm doing here. Yah.
Saturday is the Army's birthday. I'm going to my first Army Ball. All sorts of people will be there. The unit I am in (344th Military Intelligence Battalion) is one of the few training units that allows students to go to their Balls. It wil be fun I think. I'll see the Commanders and Drill Sergeants and Instructors more relaxed. I imagine some will be very relaxed. Woo! Maybe I'll bring a camera. I'm sure you would all love to see drunk drill sergeants. We'll see. Thats it. Have a good day -Private Michael Lucas Bashaw

30 MAY 2003 Howdy. Things here are business as usual. I enjoyed the short weeks last week and this week because of the four day weekend for Memorial Day. The weekend was good. Lots of time to just relax. But the Drill Sergeants were on their game come Tuesday. We got dropped to do soem pushups on the way to school Tuesday morning and were told we had "four days to get motivated." We got motivated pretty quick. We had surprise inspections all week too. Im looking forward to this weekend though. Only one pair of boots needs shining and all my uniforms are pressed except for the one I am wearing. Plus, Mom and Dad sent my guitar last week so I now have that to occupy my time. Now if I could just remember how to play after almost five months away from it.
School is good. I passed my second big test on Wednesday. I missed one. The answer worked it just wasn't the "single best answer." But my instructor brought it up with the Block Supervisor and I got the credit. Woo! I take the end of Block One test in one week and then I will be about 1/3 done. My graduation date right now is set for 11 Sept. That is if I keep from washing back. That happens if I fail to get at least 70% twice on the same test. I dont see that happening though. Our platoon has had only one washback out of the 38 that are ahead of me in class. Thats alot better than usual. They say that the attrition rate is about 30%. Im not sure if thats washbacks or people that actually have to leave the course. After your third washback you have to reclass (find a new job) and they dont give you alot to choose from. I guess thats all. The library is closing. Have a good day. -Pvt. Michael Lucas Bashaw

18 MAY 2003Hello. No big news to report on, just have some time. There was a blood drive on Friday, and because I am O- they asked me to give two units. I didn't have a problem with that. It was a problem, however, on Saturday morning when I went to an optional Hand to Hand combat class our Drill Sergeant held (It was too hot on Friday so he offered it Saturday morning)I dont think I've ever been so fatigued so quickly. But I am fine now. I didnt pass out or anything. I guess thats about it. I still have at least four long months ahead of me. But I'm doing good. Thanks for reading. -Pvt. Michael Lucas Bashaw

14 MAY 2003 Hello again. Sorry for the long break I seemed to have taken from updating this. Its been pretty busy lately. Last week our platoon was on "War Week". We had to carry our rucksachs with us everywhere (even to school) and then after finat formation (5 pm) we had drill and fun stuff. We revisited hand to hand combat. So there was less time that usual to do the necessarry things let alone anything extracaricular, like updating a website.
School is going good. Much better than casual detail ( i do miss the two hour lunches though). The thigs we are learnign is pretty challenging. I found myself a couple times last week just staring at my paper for over an hour. I think my brain was fried. Luckilly I had the weekend to recover. I was good as new come monday. Thats it. Email if you have any specific questions about what I'm doing. - Private Michael Lucas Bashaw

29 APRIL 2003 Hey gang. Well I got the news today. I will be starting class tomorrow. Finally! This also keeps me from having to move to the next platoon and get used to new drill sergeants and new procedures. I dont know what to expect. We arent supposed to talk about class outside of class so people that have started cant really give much insight. That't it. Just letting you all that I am actually doing somethign productive now. Until next time.-Pvt. Michael Lucas Bashaw

27 APRIL 2003 Hello. Today is another short message. I did have a pretty good one but just as I finished it closed up on me and I hadn't saved it. So it goes. I got an off-post pass this weekend. Drill Sergeant said that even though I am not in class and may not start anytime soon, I have remainied highly motivated and my boots and uniform always meet the standard. It would have been nice to be able to leave last weekend when mom and dad were here. But I cant ask for too much. I went to the mall both today and yesterday. We couldn't think of anythign else to do. We also went to Denny's for breakfast today. That's it. Maybe I'll be in school come Wednesday, maybe I wont. We'll see. Until next time. -Pvt. Michael Lucas Bashaw

24 APRIL 2003 Greetings. So I have a glimmer of hope that I will finally be starting school. The Drill Sergeants moved alot of the platoon into new rooms and switched some roommates and I now have a roommate that is starting class Wednesday so using my skills as an analyst I have deduced that I should start with him on Wednesday. But we'll see.
The drudgeries of Casual Duty continue. Yesterday I watched paint dry. Really. The barracks are being painted so they put two soldiers with each painter or open room to make sure nothing is stolen or broken. It was quite a time. That's all, just a short message today. For those of you that have emailed me or sent snail mail, I will try to get a letter back to you this weekend. Until then. -Pvt. Michael Lucas Bashaw

20 APRIL 2003 Well, I am enjoyoing a lazy weekend here in Texas. We are responsible for only two formations a day on weekends. In a couple weeks when I go from Phase 4 to Phase 5 I will only need to attend the evening formation. The formations are for accountability only; a Drill Sergeant comes out and basically calls roll to make sure everyone that's supposed to be there is there. Besides the two formations we have no responsibilities on weekends. Of course, uniforms need to be pressed and boots need to be shined but for the most part weekends are spent relaxing in front of a movie or, these days, hockey or basketball playoffs. And of course there is plenty of time spent at the computer also.
I have enjoyed the visit from Mom, Dad, Grandpa, and Caroline this weekend. I met them at the front gate friday afternoon to sign them on the base and then we spent the next couple hours catching up. Mom and dad have been on the road since early March so they have plenty of stories. And anyone that knows my grandpa knows he's always got something to say. Yesterday they got to visit our great Chow Hall and I also spent some time playing ping pong with dad after I gave him a walking tour of the base. The five of us went to the Sunrise Easter Service this morning and enjoyed a chilly service given by the Base Chaplain. They will be back here for dinner in a little while and then might be on their way tomorrow. But with their new found love of the road, mom and dad have been talkign of maybe staying in the area and visiting some more next weekend. It seems they're thinking, "Heck, we've been gone this long, what's another week?"Thats all I have. I'm looking forward to another week of not doing too much. I'm hoping to start school 30 April, but because my reservation is so far away nothing is definite. Thanks for reading. -Pvt. Michael Lucas Bashaw

16 APRIL 2003 Hello all! Welcome to my site. Thank you to Katie for doing all the work. For those of you that I have talked to on a semi-regular basis I have told you I was supposed to start today (16 April), well that didn't happen. Apperently my reservation for class isn't until 11 June. So I have to wait for someone to be removed for class or not show up or else I will be doing a whole lot of nothing for two more months.
Since I arrived here at Goodfellow Air Force Base on 21 March I have been on Casual Detail because I am not in class. Basically I sit around outside of the Company building and wait for something that needs to be cleaned or unloaded. Last week I was sent to the Linen Exchange and sorted dirty towels and sheets from the hotel on Base. That was better than the usual nothing. I have also been on funeral detail twice. Our base has a responsibility of 350 miles. That means if there is a member of the military (any branch of service, active or retired) passes away and requests a military funeral we show up and put a flag over the coffin, fold it and present it to the family, perform a 21 gun salute, and play taps. Everything before that is a traditional service. Those are not exactly fun but it is a break from the monotony also. I'll just be glad to be in class.
I am looking forward to a visit from Mom, Dad, Grandpa, and his friend Caroline this weekend. Since I'm not allowed off post yet I'm sure we'll have a great time at the Shoppette, the bowling alley, and the Burger King on base. There's not much else to do. I've heard the distance from the North gate to the South Gate is 1.1 miles. It couldnt be much more than that. It's nice and cozy of the base.
Please feel free to email me if you have any questions. I will address them either in an email or through this site. Snail mail is also very welcome. Hopefully Katie has included my mailing address somewhere. Thats all the time i have now. Hope to hear from you. -Pvt. Michael Lucas Bashaw

p.s. GO DUCKS

APRIL 15, 2003 This will be the site of Luke's journal. Check back soon! -Katie