stressssss

Amg ex was stressful. We got there way too early – filled time with bullshitty lessons while we waited to on our first CLP (convoy logistic patrol). The first night was FREEZING. Normally, in my issue sleeping bag, I’m pretty damn toasty. But that night I actually shivered all night.

We did two CLPs. One of them I worked really hard on. On the radios constantly tying to relay messages, getting out to do counter-IED drills. Worked my arse off. For the second one though, all I did was sit in the back of a land rover. It was awesome.

I hope it’s not that stressful out in Afghan.

The Prince of Wales came and visited his home boys who were on the same exercise as us. They’re part of our battlegroup.

If you want to know what I’m doing out there, watch Road Warriors on ITV. It shows a previous Force Protection troop.

Last night, after we got back and handed weapons into the armoury, I had a shower then drove straight home. No idea why, I just wanted to get away from all the armyness for a while. It worked. I picked up the goodies I’d bought online ages ago, had dinner at my sister’s house, played with a kitten, looked at her holiday photos etc. Did me a world of good. Driving down the A40 singing along to old Sum41 songs helped too. Probably got done for speeding as I passed RAF Northolt singing to Fat Lip. Is it bad that I know all the words to the entire album?

Got back to camp pretty late considering how long I’d been awake for. Had to be at the armoury for 0630hrs to go to GPMG ranges. I woke up at 0631hrs. Turned out OK ’cause the transport was late anyway Didn’t have a very good day shooting. It snowed.

Listening to: Sum 41 – Heart Attack

packing for ex again

Traditionally, on exercise, you wear a combat jacket and webbing. This setup allows for ease of movement/running. It’s also easy to shoot from the prone position.

Now, because we’re training for afghan, we have to also wear osprey body armour. For every exercise so far, people in my regiment have been wearing their webbing over their osprey, which seems pretty daft because the osprey has molle straps for pouches. It’s also really awkward – especially in vehicles.

On the last exercise, because we didn’t get issued our osprey until we got to the location, I took my issue assault vest so I could arrange the pouches before hand. Worked well, but it was chunky. Very chunky.

So this time, I’m taking two ammo pouches to stick on my osprey, and the rest of my kit is going in a daysack.

Watching: House

-_-

My job can really exciting or really boring. Today it has been really boring. I laminated a bunch of big maps. By hand. It broke me.

Today is a slow day.

Not looking forward to this Mastiff2 course. You have to drive off a flip-down thermal display at night time. And all that armour makes it impossible to get through tight gaps/round corners. It’s like driving a tank o_o

At work, when we’re not doing anything, everyone gets their iphone/android phone out. I’ve become a pro at Robot Defense. We’re all pretty much addicted.

Watching: House – Season 2

stfu

I can’t wait to go to Afghan now. This block is driving me nuts. So is all this training. I’m going on exercise again on Friday. Then sometime after that I’m doing the Mastiff2 course. I thought I’d gotten away with not having to drive on tour, but now I’m probably driving the front vehicle. Woooo I get to roll over the IEDs first.

FML

Listening to: two other people’s loud shitty music

Playing: Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 (I need to shoot things)

fml

Fridays suck when they don’t involve going back to London.

Listening to: Serge Gainsbourg – Les Sucettes