Friday, February 17, 2012

Box Checked


I don't intend to offend my Infantry readers here. But how much can something really mean to me that I had to buy on my own, have a buddy attach to my uniform while we were waiting between Maneuver Center HQ and the parking lot, and that literally every student who could pass a PT test and not get injured "earned" the right to wear? It may mean more to me later, but not right now.

All I have to say about IBOLC (until the next paragraph) is that we didn't know the time of our graduation ceremony until the day before, and it was the wrong time. The post-grad reception was held in an on-post Mexican restaurant that nobody knew the location of, and it turned out that the cadre were also handing out final evals and diplomas there. Can't make this stuff up.

I know more now than I did before IBOLC, though it's a modest amount considering that I was there for the equivalent of a college semester. I want to mention all the important things I didn't learn, but that would almost feel like an OPSEC violation. Suffice it to say that you, my soldiers, and the Taliban would be quite surprised.

5 comments:

  1. Geez, what do I have to look forward to? Let me try to cheer you up, LT.

    First, congratulations. When I got my blue cord as an 11B, I was proud. The Army did it's job and the ceremony was nice (turning blue). Usually, the Army is good at this stuff. It's important. The Army at war has let some of this stuff fall, unfortunately. I'm a fan of the pomp and ceremony that the Army does. It looks like you missed out on it. That sucks, but don't let it bring you down.

    It's not about the cord or the color or the cloth. It's about the fact that you signed up to do something that is hard and that sucks. More importantly, you signed up to be a leader of other men who signed up for something that they know is going to suck. Other people will see combat, but you signed up for the the front row view. That, to me, is something worth honoring. The blue cord is the thing you get to tell the rest of the world that you are an infantryman.

    Good luck in Ranger school!

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  2. Hey, send me an email at sean.cochran@colorado.edu if you want a very thorough and comprehensive journal of how Ranger school was, tips, what gear to get, etc. I go to IBOLC 15JULY and got it sent to me from my buddy who just graduated from Ranger; figured you might be interested in it since you are going soon/ seem to be a fan of documenting experiences. Kill it at Ranger Sir!

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  3. Don - I'll be cheered up in two months! As for what you have to look forward to... doesn't my blog make everything sound like a great time?


    Sean - Thanks, but I will literally scream if I have to hear someone say one more thing about Ranger school. You'll feel the same way after your first two weeks at Benning. Congrats on getting Infantry, now go for a run.

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  4. Hey Schlep,

    Awesome blog you got going on here. You hit pretty spot on with my IBOLC experience. Looking forward to your posts about Ranger.

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  5. I don't comment on the internet much, actually at all, but this blog was was of the funniest things I have ever seen as well as enlightening. I'm a former 11B headed to IBOLC in Oct. I really enjoyed every illustration, but especially the ones of who your LDAC cadre resembled and you as the assistant MG. The saddest thing is I am one of the guys who has an 11th ACR patch now. Best of luck to you and look forward to more on this blog.

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