Sorry, last week I forgot to explain why I titled my letter “just keep swimming”. Friday we went swimming as a platoon. It is just another army way to disguise a heavy workout. We had to swim laps for 10 minutes and then tread water for 10 minutes. It was easier than I expected but still a good workout. It had been way to long since I had been in the water. Maybe now I can do the triathlon in Lamar. Near the end we did a buddy rescue so cadet Erb, my battle buddy came to rescue me. He used to work as a lifeguard, but when he took hold of me he sank and said that I just cant float. I had tried to explain this to him but he wouldn’t believe me. So this Friday we went to swim again but this time in full uniform. we jumped blindfolded off of the high dive with a rifle and had to hold on to the rifle and swim to the wall. You gain about 20 pounds with the wet ACU’s and shoes. At least they didn’t make us wear our boots. Then we had to swim a lap holding a rifle above the water, and wearing an LBE (a belt that holds canteens, ammo, compass, first aid kit. Then we jumped from the edge of the pool again with LBE and rifle and had to drop the rifle in the water and ditch the LBE before we hit the surface.
Thursday we had a lab to do what we call lanes, basically they give the squad leader an order and explains the situation and we go defeat a bunker or whatever it is. We had a COB (Civilian On Battlefield). I was put in charge of holding him and moving him around, by this time we had to be friendly to him and he wanted to be a little too friendly with me. He was itching to hold my hand and insisted walking right next to me. I learned that that is a really bad idea. By the end he was mad that we wouldn’t give him back his rifle and took off running and I had to chase him and bring him back. Afterward he told me that when we go to camp’s and such the COBs are even harder to handle. It wasn’t very fun but it was really funny.
Friday Lexie and I went outside and played some frisbee with a bunch of kids here at the apartment complex. Near the end the sun was setting and we went and hiked the Y. It was really fun, we will have to do it again when we can get up there before the sun sets, what a view.
Saturday morning I was asked by cadet Jones, one of the higher up guys to help him take down a flag at a ward activity of his. About the time we were setting up a good sized fire in the middle of the parking lot and talking about how to cut the flag I realized that we werent just taking it down, but retiring it. That was a really neat experience. To top that, one of the Deshazer boys was there, apparently he is in the ward. I think it was Dillon, but I am not really sure, I never did have them all distinguished, I was too young when they were still in the ward.
I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving week. Keep it thankful
Jason
PS Psalms 100
MMTG La Mejor Mision