It's Really Happening

For the past few days, we have been at Fort Jackson for combat training. Today, we were issued the equipment you see on TV: body armor, helmets, weapons and several other bags worth of gear that could be useful in Afghanistan. Wearing it for the first time was a stark reminder of how dangerous this duty really is. It's no longer an abstraction or a job performed by others. This is the real "it," and very sobering. Please be assured that our military is taking good care of us as we embark on this important mission to bring peace to to a country devestated by brutality and warfare.

These photos show how wearing body armor can take some getting used to. We are required to carry our weapons with us at all times. I took a picture standing in a long line waiting to clear our rifle, which is to ensure that no ammunition goes indoors.