Yesterday was a no good very bad day. Yesterday made me a student in humility. Yesterday made me want to hide me face. Yesterday made me wish I didn't shake. Yesterday showed me that there are no excuses. I am a perfectionist to the core. During my junior year of high school, I cried for days because I got a B+ in English and it took me out of the running for valedictorian. During my senior year, when I was getting offered this scholarship and that scholarship from...read more

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My packing list for spending four nights out in the field looks like something from basic training. Yes, it may be 105 degrees out but darnit, winter PTs are a MUST! I know the logic behind such things, better to have it and not need it and than to need it and not have it. Still, my poor Focus looks like a someone threw up all things camo-related onto the seats and in the trunk. Today was one of those days were I felt like I was not meant to a soldier. My shakes (which are always present)...read more

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As MIBOLC continues, let me give those who are heading out the Fort Huachuca (I call it Fort Wegotcha) a head's up: 1) No matter how much you work out now, the altitude is out to kill you. Your lungs will want to explode and there is nothing you can do about besides suck it up, say a Hooah, and keep on running. 2) You will get a schedule on a share drive. Disregard for the most part. In-processing is all about who actually shows up and if the computers are actually working. 3)...read more

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I come from a place known as Sea Level. I now live in a place at almost 6,000 ft. This leads to me sucking air half a mile into the run portion of the APFT and it does literally suck. Welcome to MIBOLC! What's on the agenda this week: CIF (love me some gear!), heading out to the ranges, reflexive fire, and lots of PT fun! I am so psyched to spend field time with my classmates! The more time I spend with them, the more and more I enjoy their company. They may never replace my...read more

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Where has my Hooah been hiding? I must be a horrible MI soldier because I don't have a clue. The good news is that I think I found it! Was it under the many DD Forms I had to fill out during in-processing? Maybe. Was it at Clothing & Sales as I tried to purchase the braid for my Class A jacket? Highly probable. Or was is that I just needed to get settled and meet my awesome BOLC class? YES! Although I've come to terms that I won't win Iron Woman...read more

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I write this from my motel room on Fry Blvd in Sierra Vista, Arizona. Tomorrow at 0600 begins my MI Officer Training. To sum up how I feel: FRIGHTENED! My biggest fear is failure and I'm afraid to be that LT. We all know one, don't kid yourself. I've gone over my checklist for everything I need at least half of dozen times today, my APFT uniform is laid out, the alarm is set, and yet I still feel like I'm going to the youngest, least experienced one and...read more

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I leave for BOLC soon. After reading over the course material I am fairly certain death is imminent. I'm not one to make excuses for myself but I think my MI Officer training is going to break me. This sense of dread and fear is new to me. Normally, I get a little anxiety. Where did my Hooah go?! Perhaps I need to start working out to cadence again instead of the World Cup theme song "Waka Waka" on repeat? Or maybe I just need to face up to this...read more

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Heroes come in all shapes and sizes. Some may consider the soldier they see in the airport a hero. For others a hero may be a parent, a teacher, a coach, or a sibling. For others, it may be someone we met long ago and only recently learn the strength he or she posesses. Such is the case for me. Please take a moment to visit this blog: http://superclarkkimble.blogspot.com/ Clark fought a battle many will never encounter. His courage and perserverence...read more

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I'm getting married in 24 days!!! LT Obie will soon become LT Nammari...which will more than likely be shortened to LT Nam...which I can see turning into LT Dan (said in Tom Hank's Forrest Gump voice). I thought for quite awhile that marriage wasn't in the cards for me. I never met a man who was as determined and kind as my father. Then I met Mark, who from the very first conversation we had, showed me his easy going nature, loving heart,...read more

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Last night was the premiere episode on the History Channel of a multi-part series called America: The Story of Us. Being the history nerd that I am, I made sure to tune in to watch. The first episode gave an abridged version of the beginnings of our great country. The settlements of Jamestown and Plymouth were recounted along with the hardships those first settlers faced. The program then delved into the beginnings and causes of the American Revolution. What struck...read more

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