Moving In the Sand Box...

Another day...moments of wondering...some worrying...but I chased it away the moment it approached...still trying to settle into a battle rhythm...sound a little familiar? That was my day...how about you?

Chris called Nancy today and doh!...she was downstairs at our Church and out of range for only 10 minutes - and he called. Is that life or what? Fortunately, Chris popped off an email and gave us an update. More on that in a minute...

Yesterday, a mother of one of our warriors in Iraq shared a photo of his tattoo. I was touched that a young man would believe so strongly in his country, his fellow warriors and our freedom that he would place...for all to see...engraved permanently in his mind and now on his skin...words from the U.S. Army Soldiers Creed. You remember, the creed that each graduating class recited out loud and in unison during boot camp graduation...if you'd like to see it put to pictures...spend a couple of minutes watching the video below....

I can hear you now...Collabman, what did the tattoo look like? Hang with me...

As I read between the lines of Chris' email I sense that...the 2SCR is quietly getting into a battle rhythm as the day draws near for combat operations. When that time comes there will be no doubt in their minds...nor in ours...that the "fight's on."

In Chris' own words...

Wed, 29 Aug 2007 19:03:39

Hey, mom

I didn't call...actually I use the phones here at the internet place. MUCH better quality and it's way cheaper. I paid 50 bucks to use them and that got me 20 hours. 20 HOURS. That's ridiculous.

If I get time after this then I will give you a call. If not, then know that we'll be leaving tomorrow for the COP. The squad leaders had mixed feelings about it when they went out there today...we'll see.

I haven't got any pictures yet because Boyd still doesn't have the camera charger. It's in one of his duffles. But you don't want any pictures here...it's pretty boring. But I promise I will get some to you.

I love you, mom. I miss and love all of you. Thank you so much for setting up the support group. I'll talk to you soon.

Chris

I received permission today to display the tattoo of our warrior with the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment...look beyond the words and tell me what you see...I think the message is crystal clear...

I love you Chris - hang in there buddy and be encouraged - our prayers surround you all...

v/r,
- Collabman

2SCR Video - On the Range in Kuwait...

As we received emails from Chris during his stay in Kuwait, I found myself wondering what the sites and sounds looked and sounded like during their staging preps - especially on the range. How did they spend some of their day?...what was their focus while getting their equipment ready? If you missed those blogs you can get a look here and here...

Well, thanks to a former 3rd Infantry Division, 981st MP Co soldier and his post on YouTube we get a glimpse of how the 2SCR fine-tuned their Strykers on the range...

Strap on your goggles, grab your ear plugs and take a peek inside the work of the 2SCR while in Kuwait...run your eyes over the Stryker vehicle and its armament...this is their transportation and protection while on patrol...sit inside the Stryker and get a birds-eye view of today's technology - and we wondered how all the hours our young warriors spent as kids holding a joystick tethered to an X-Box would ever be of use ;-)...and remember the heat they were working in...

What do you see? Could we keep up? I wonder...I am once again humbled by these warriors...

v/r,
- Collabman

Battle Rhythm...Not There Yet...

Ok, I need to share...

On my drive home from church today my mind began to consider some of the challenges the men and women of the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment are confronted with today. They have many things on-going but I would guess a lot of it revolves around establishing a consistent battle rhythm. I can hear you now...Collabman, you were thinking about what? Hang with me for a minute...

For those unfamiliar with military jargon, there is no agreed upon definition for battle rhythm but this description should help you understand it a little, especially as it applies to the 2SCR...the combination and interaction of procedures, processes, leader and individual actions to facilitate extended-continuous operations. Simply put, battle rhythm allows units and leaders to function at a sustained level of efficiency for extended periods of time. Tracking?

Now, my concern is obviously not with the 2SCR - I am confident they will settle into a battle rhythm. However, what about me? I have to be honest...so far, I have not found my battle rhythm in my day-to-day routine of dealing with a son deployed to Iraq and involved in combat operations - along with everything else life brings my way on a daily basis. Say what? Well...for example...my sleep and rest patterns are messed up...my appetite is all over the map...my ability to focus on the details in the lives of my family and friends is currently lacking...my time management has tanked...but most of all, my raw emotions hit in an instant and apparently, for no reason - you can read that as...tears...

Chris and the 2SCR have 14 months and some days to go...I have got to get into a battle rhythm that is positive and healthy for me - this is a marathon, not a sprint. I get no points for crashing and burning early. Without a battle rhythm, this is really gonna be a long haul...not just for me...for my family and friends too.

I am working at it...honest, I am...

I am committed to settling into a rhythm and yes, little things make a big difference...so don't give up on me - I will be okay...

Extended-continuous operations...those three words are potentially a threat to my emotional, physical and spiritual well-being for the next 15 months if I don't adjust...

I am probably alone in these thoughts but I have to ask...how's your battle rhythm? How are you dealing/coping?

v/r,
- Collabman