So it Begins: ABOLC Day 1

At 9AM this morning, the great adventure that is Armor Basic Officer Leader Course began, really like any other great adventure. With paperwork. Lots of paperwork. Of course, we DID manage to accomplish some other basic tasks during our first 6 hours, such as having to go all the way home to get Phil’s car and sitting around until 2:30PM only to be told that we had to use Tri-care (the Army’s health insurance). I’m pretty sure I’m going to have to stop holding my personal time as a sacred right or the wanton wasting of it that occurs on a daily basis will surely drive me to distraction (or drinking… just kidding mom!).

Our BOLC class is divided into 6 Platoons of 12-13 each for a total of (brief pause while I consult the calculator) about 75 students. From the West Point graduate dominated group of as recently as yesterday, we now have a fascinating blend of USMA, OCS (Officer Candidate School), ROTC, and International Officers (including one, no joke, Saudi Prince. I know there are, like, 500 of them, but still…).  More on personalities, people, etc., at a later date, such as when I actually get to know most of these people!

And hooray! On the domestic front, I just vacuumed my first cockroach off of my bathroom ceiling. What fun…  Well, up in a few hours for the joys of an Army urinalysis exam.