Leading up to the day

This being the first post of many to come, I thought it would be a good idea to start off my blog introducing myself, and my time in service leading up to my deployment. I've been in the Army for nearly a year and a half now. Back in August of 2007, when I was signing my name on the dotted line of my contract, I knew that sometime down the road I would be going to either Iraq or Afghanistan. It was inevitable, especially signing into a "Combat Arms" job. After completing BCT (Basic Combat Training) at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO I was stationed at Ft. Hood, TX and later assigned to Echo Company, 1-8 Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division. The 1st Cavalry division has a long line of history, dating all the way back to 1833, shortly before the Civil War. I was excited, and proud when I knew I would be wearing the all famous patch of the Cavalry on my shoulder. The year of 2008 went by very quickly. Training after training, after training. We were in and out of the field constantly over year doing the same thing over and over. But that's the whole point, to engrave the training into your head. That way when the bullets start flying you don't have to think, you just react. I got to know the people in my unit pretty well, learn their tendencies, their experiences, and their knowledge. But I have never really felt "attached" to the men like some of the others. See, the way it works in a rapidly deploying unit is you're never really accepted until you've deployed with the guys. The things you experience on a deployment compare to nothing else, and thus it's hard to fit in unless you've been a part of that. So we were supposed to be flying out tomorrow, but as often happens, orders changed. We're now leaving on Saturday. Family is coming down to visit and see me off, I'm excited to see them. That's all for now, I'll write back in a couple days -Out here-