So heres an update of what has happened between 10 March 2009 and 24 March 2009.

After our training we actually got to spend a week running a detention facility. The training was as realistic as it can get. Everything from mock urine and fecal matter were thrown at us, prisoner riots, detainees throwing rocks at us, and being verbally abused by detainees was represented in the training. It doesnt matter much if its fake or real fecal matter, no one likes fecal matter in the face.

During one of the last days of that training I had to go in for my surgery. They were expecting a rather routine surgery, but it ended up being a little more serious then they anticipated. Once they had me under general anestesia a tube about as large around as my index finger and 4 1/2 inches long presented itself. It all had to be removed. To remove all of the tissue they also had to remove a small portion of bone from my throat. This resulted in having to be placed in the intensive care unit ( the ICU if you watch ER) over night for fears of my neck swelling or inhaling blood into my lungs. So you know... nothing to really worry about.

The next morning I was out of bed and able to move on my own. They observed me for a few hours an released me back to my unit in the afternoon. I went pretty much straight to bed and slept until the next day when I returned to training at the prison facility.

One thing is for sure. Morphine is my new best friend.

Shortly after the surgery we got to move out of our tents and onto FOB McGreggor. We went from 12 man tents to 30 man open squad bays. We have bunk beds now and much less room. Were all making do and driving on. I had no shame and played the pitty card and used my surgery as an excuse to need a bottom bunk. I have no regrets.

Some of you know on the 18th of March I turned 21 years of age. But seeing as I am on Active Duty Federal Orders for deployment, I fall under a General Order which prohibits me from consuming alcohol. It was a wonderful birthday as any of you can imagine. Three out of the last four of my birthdays have been spent doing Army training. I am very much looking forward to my 4 day pass in El Paso...

Some of the great training I have received here has been a 4 day language battery. I actually learned a good amount of vocabulary to use while I am overseas. Some very usefull phrases:

"Stop or I will shoot!" pronounced in Arabic ( Ogaf, taraa-armee! )

"Im sorry, I dont understand?" in Arabic ( Anee mitessif, la tef-tehem)

And one that will be used probably more once Im home from the desert.

"Turn around, lift up your clothes, and lie on your stomach" in arabic ( Indaar, irfaa malabsek, in-bah-Tah )

On the 21st of March I had a little scare. I was put on a new pain medication that dehydrated me pretty good. I felt sick all morning with a throbbing headache. In the middle of an IED defeat class I had to run out to remind myself what my breakfast looked like. They tried to take me to the troop medical clinic on the FOB but it was closed since it was a Saturday. I ended up getting a free ambulance ride to the hospital to get a few IV's and 48 hours confinement to barracks. Im in top shape again now though and training harder then ever.

And speaking of IVs the other day i got to stick my buddy Detert.

And then I got to get stuck by our medic Grooms.