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Hello to all SI faithful.
As some of you may remember, I headed into 2008 as a very active member with plenty of responsibility. From the Article Team Captain to running the NFL Forum, I spent countless hours a week posting articles and generating a ton of content. January 6th changed it all for me.
January 6th I was called back to Active Duty with my Reserve unit where we set up the US Army Regional Training Center-East, in Ft. Dix, New Jersey. We spent the first 2 months setting up this school from scratch, no easy task. From empty buildings, no supplies, and no designated training schedule, it was our job to pull it all together and build the best pre-mobilization training for our troops prior to them heading overseas.
We just wrapped up our first training cycle of troops. Our cycles run 21 straight days and we have 3-4 different iterations of troops beginning those 21 days, staggered, 1 day apart. Long story short, we have just finished a very long and vigorous 24 day work schedule. The days are long and we do not get too much time off. I haven't seen my family much this year but as I told Jarrod, it's nothing I haven't experienced before.
It is not easy for me at this time to spend the time I would like on SI. I hated to go AWOL like I have but at the same time, I had no idea how much work we were in for once we got this school rolling. My primary duty in this school is the head instructor for the Modern Army Combatives Program training. Our class is a full days worth of training on the Army's hand to hand combat program, which consists of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ground grappling, some wrestling, and a little bit of judo. The training is pretty basic for the troops but I myself have been through 3 levels of Instructor certification through the Army and have some real experience with Jiu-Jitsu, Shotokan Karate, Judo, Kick Boxing, Boxing, Kali, and Shan Shao.
As this first cycle came to a completion, we were finally handed some set days off. It appears that we will have a few days off every 11-12 days or so. Not the most ideal work schedule in the world, but it's the Army and the Army makes you work. I actually had more time off when I was in freaking Iraq a few years ago. Though I work in Ft. Dix, I live in the Lower Bucks County area, South of Philly. A nice 40 minute drive to work everyday but hopefully I can catch a few Phillies games this season. I can't get the YES Network on Comcast Phila...a major blow to my year already. Looks like MLB TV it will be.
Keep in mind that I do miss the interaction here, I would give anything to have the time that I had in 2007 to participate but for now, all I can do is observe here and there. Should I find some time to post amidst this crazy schedule of mine, I will. For now I wish all of you the best of luck, I hope all is well you and yours...and if any of you see me online or on AIM...give me a shout.
I am taking up some of my free time training for Grappler's Quest, a grappling competition on June 28th in Morristown, NJ. I will keep you guys posted on how that goes. Below is a photo taken of my team from our first Combatives class given on March 2nd. I am the tall guy. If anyone else is interested in the Modern Army Combative Program and how hardcore it is, check out: moderncombatives.org -AE
As some of you may remember, I headed into 2008 as a very active member with plenty of responsibility. From the Article Team Captain to running the NFL Forum, I spent countless hours a week posting articles and generating a ton of content. January 6th changed it all for me.
January 6th I was called back to Active Duty with my Reserve unit where we set up the US Army Regional Training Center-East, in Ft. Dix, New Jersey. We spent the first 2 months setting up this school from scratch, no easy task. From empty buildings, no supplies, and no designated training schedule, it was our job to pull it all together and build the best pre-mobilization training for our troops prior to them heading overseas.
We just wrapped up our first training cycle of troops. Our cycles run 21 straight days and we have 3-4 different iterations of troops beginning those 21 days, staggered, 1 day apart. Long story short, we have just finished a very long and vigorous 24 day work schedule. The days are long and we do not get too much time off. I haven't seen my family much this year but as I told Jarrod, it's nothing I haven't experienced before.
It is not easy for me at this time to spend the time I would like on SI. I hated to go AWOL like I have but at the same time, I had no idea how much work we were in for once we got this school rolling. My primary duty in this school is the head instructor for the Modern Army Combatives Program training. Our class is a full days worth of training on the Army's hand to hand combat program, which consists of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ground grappling, some wrestling, and a little bit of judo. The training is pretty basic for the troops but I myself have been through 3 levels of Instructor certification through the Army and have some real experience with Jiu-Jitsu, Shotokan Karate, Judo, Kick Boxing, Boxing, Kali, and Shan Shao.
As this first cycle came to a completion, we were finally handed some set days off. It appears that we will have a few days off every 11-12 days or so. Not the most ideal work schedule in the world, but it's the Army and the Army makes you work. I actually had more time off when I was in freaking Iraq a few years ago. Though I work in Ft. Dix, I live in the Lower Bucks County area, South of Philly. A nice 40 minute drive to work everyday but hopefully I can catch a few Phillies games this season. I can't get the YES Network on Comcast Phila...a major blow to my year already. Looks like MLB TV it will be.
Keep in mind that I do miss the interaction here, I would give anything to have the time that I had in 2007 to participate but for now, all I can do is observe here and there. Should I find some time to post amidst this crazy schedule of mine, I will. For now I wish all of you the best of luck, I hope all is well you and yours...and if any of you see me online or on AIM...give me a shout.
I am taking up some of my free time training for Grappler's Quest, a grappling competition on June 28th in Morristown, NJ. I will keep you guys posted on how that goes. Below is a photo taken of my team from our first Combatives class given on March 2nd. I am the tall guy. If anyone else is interested in the Modern Army Combative Program and how hardcore it is, check out: moderncombatives.org -AE
