Down Time, PT Test and Rocket Launchers!

Alright .. Update time again!

(FYI: Sometimes Earl will repeat stuff in his letters or not date them - So it's sometimes hard for me to judge what happened when)

11/27/09
Earl complains about his platoon acting like a bunch of idiots for the past week. He mentions that one guy tried to keep his cell phone with him (which they're not allowed to do) and two other guys tried to take some pain pills, just for fun. They all got caught and the entire platoon got smoked for an entire day.
Earl and his platoon learned how to shoot the AT-4 Anti-Tank Rocket Launcher. He mentions that they got to practice blowing up old tanks that were sitting out on a range. The rocket launcher is extremely loud and apparently shoots fire out its backside up to 100 feet. The tanks that they were practicing on were about 300 yards away and yet Earl and everyone else could still feel the shock waves from the explosions.

11/29/09
Sundays are the soldiers "down days". Earl mentions that they get to go to the Commissary and buy basic necessities and that they get to go and get their hair cut. They also have the option of either attending church services or cleaning the battalion area. Apparently Earl has been choosing to go to church, up until now. He mentioned that he would rather just clean than go to church one more time.

11/30/09
Today was Earl's big "pass or no pass" PT Test. If the soldiers don't pass the PT test they have to restart their entire training from the beginning. Of course, Earl passed with flying colors. He did a total of 43 push up's, 60 sit up's and ran 2 miles in 13 minutes. Go Earl!
Him and other 18x-er's had a meeting with the Special Forces Liason today as well. They told everyone what to expect during Special Forces training, what deployments will be like and to just focus on graduating basic training and to not get in any trouble during Airborne School.
Earl also mentions that the next day they will start a 2 day long field exercise. They will walk 7-10 miles with their 70lb rucksacks on. (This field exercise might explain why I haven't received any other letters from him this week).

AT-4 Anti-Tank Rocket Launcher

"Sundays in Basic Training (Wikipedia): In any given week of Basic Training, Sundays are generally scheduled as "personal time", although drill sergeants may make use of the time as they see fit. Chapel (religious) services are also held on Sundays, and are available on-base for most major religions."

So that's it for this week.
Only 2 weeks left until Earl comes home for Christmas Exodus!