thedrifter
10-01-07, 03:43 PM
MONDAY OCTOBER 1, 2007
Last modified: Monday, October 1, 2007 10:11 AM CDT
Gearing up - Second in a continuing series of “letters home” from a local Marine deployed for a second tour in Iraq
By Staff Sgt. Isaac Weix, USMC, Special to The News
We flew to California on Monday. After a two-hour bus ride, we arrived at the sunny Twenty Nine Palms Marine base. Upon arrival, we turned our personal weapons into the armory and then received our billeting and hit the rack. The next day we PT’ed (Physical Training), and the Marines settled into their barracks while the leadership settled into endless meetings.
The rest of the week, we received the obligatory classes about base regulations and the unique environmental hazards of being in the high desert. Not only was there survival information, but also [info on] how to share the space with endangered species and not having a negative environmental impact.
Classes were also held on range safety. It is not widely reported, but many soldiers and Marines die in training accidents every year. During my last deployment, a friend of mine was killed in training when the vehicle he was in rolled over.
While the leadership was busy with range scheduling and other administrative issues, the Marines received new body armor and other upgrades in their issue from supply. The military is very responsive in providing new gear for troops rotating into Iraq. Our personal gear now better protects against current hazards.
We received briefs on where we are scheduled to go and talked to Marines who just came home from that area of operation.
All available time is now taken up by Arabic language training, communications training, PT and crew served weapons training. (Crew served weapons are those that take more than one person to operate like machine guns and mortars.)
The Marines are looking forward to getting out to the range and shooting live rounds.
Weix, an Elmwood native, serves with the 24th Marine Regiment out of Madison as a platoon sergeant for Weapons Platoon, “G” Company, 2nd Battalion.
Ellie
Last modified: Monday, October 1, 2007 10:11 AM CDT
Gearing up - Second in a continuing series of “letters home” from a local Marine deployed for a second tour in Iraq
By Staff Sgt. Isaac Weix, USMC, Special to The News
We flew to California on Monday. After a two-hour bus ride, we arrived at the sunny Twenty Nine Palms Marine base. Upon arrival, we turned our personal weapons into the armory and then received our billeting and hit the rack. The next day we PT’ed (Physical Training), and the Marines settled into their barracks while the leadership settled into endless meetings.
The rest of the week, we received the obligatory classes about base regulations and the unique environmental hazards of being in the high desert. Not only was there survival information, but also [info on] how to share the space with endangered species and not having a negative environmental impact.
Classes were also held on range safety. It is not widely reported, but many soldiers and Marines die in training accidents every year. During my last deployment, a friend of mine was killed in training when the vehicle he was in rolled over.
While the leadership was busy with range scheduling and other administrative issues, the Marines received new body armor and other upgrades in their issue from supply. The military is very responsive in providing new gear for troops rotating into Iraq. Our personal gear now better protects against current hazards.
We received briefs on where we are scheduled to go and talked to Marines who just came home from that area of operation.
All available time is now taken up by Arabic language training, communications training, PT and crew served weapons training. (Crew served weapons are those that take more than one person to operate like machine guns and mortars.)
The Marines are looking forward to getting out to the range and shooting live rounds.
Weix, an Elmwood native, serves with the 24th Marine Regiment out of Madison as a platoon sergeant for Weapons Platoon, “G” Company, 2nd Battalion.
Ellie