TimeIsOfTheEssence's Journal

It's now about week 9 here. I have 10 more weeks to go.

I have made it through so much I didn't even know I could do.

Two nights ago I crawled underneath live fire for 1/2 a mile on my elbows, dragging my body behind me, weapon over my arm. It was incredible.

And just that morning I went on a 10 mile ruck march all up and down hill.

I've been gassed twice (once was completely off guard but I was fucking gone with my gas mask on in like 2.4 seconds haha), I've completed a million obstacle courses and even been the winner of of one of them (it earned me 2 extra hours of phone time), I've done tons of pt tests and passed them, I've fired my rifle a million times, infiltrated a "village" and captured the bad guy while beging fired at without getting "killed", been smoked for hours upon hours and kept going...

I am beastly, let me tell you. I am so proud of myself.

I really found myself here.

When I come home I will be going to Afghanistan in March probably. It's what I've told.

I'm ready. :)

AIT is next week. I am over with basic.

It was a bitch. It's still a bitch here. But I got my first away from the barracks pass today for 4 hours so I am just chillin up at the USO with my battle buddy on the internet.

I am trying to think of all the things I have accomplished here.

I get up every day at 4:30 or earlier and go to bed at 8:30. It sucked at first but now I just am used to it and it doesn't bother me any more.

The food is good.

I love Brandon so damn much it's not even funny. I miss him.

I miss my friends a lot but I get a lot of mail here- I can't wait to get Brooke's letters and Amanda's letters and the package from my mom with fluffy towels hells yessss.

I can do 45 sit ups, I don't know how many push ups, and run 2 miles in 15 minutes.

Yeahhh. I get my pistol in two weeks and qualify with that and then I get my m16 back. We turned the m16's in yesterday and I am so used to having that thing attached to me at the low-ready that I feel naked.

I think about you everyday and wonder how you are doing and how life is treating you. I am completely over it all now and everything but that doesn't mean that I do not love or care about you and always will love and care about you. I hope you are well.

I miss real clothes. ACU's and combat boots everyday get old. And annoying.

I actually gained weight instead of lost but I am smaller in inches and my arms and abs look pretty cool so my weight loss goal? Forget it. I don't care.

I am babbling but that's some of the things that have happened. Tomorrow I go repelling off this 60 ft wall and then that's the last thing I have to do.

Oh and I spent 5 hours in the woods trying to find my way out. It was ridiculous. My group got us lost until I took the stupid compass and got us back to base.

Oh and I am a combat life saver- I can now give people IV's. It's actually really easy to do.

But... yeah. That's about it haha.

I love you all. If you want to write to me feel free. And if you write to me and can't have me write back, tell me in the letter.

PVT Chervenak

Co.E, 701st MP BN

840 Colorado Avenue, Unti #56, 2nd PLT

Ft. Leonard Wood, MO 65473

I hate and love it here.

But this is the best choice I have ever made in my entire life.

I wouldn't change a thing.

I can officially say that I am completely content with my life and my self.