"Florida is so dreary! It has rained since we arrived yesterday afternoon. We look like wet cats: so pathetic! I will say that the flat ground is a welcome relief, we are at, and will stay at ground level this whole time! One great facet of Florida is that the food has gotten even better than mountains. This morning for breakfast we had 2 servings of cereal, bananas (for the first time in RS), whole wheat bread toasted with PB and jelly, chocolate milk, whole milk, OJ, skillet potatoes, sausage, real eggs, a doughnut, and 2 slices of french toast with syrup. By far the best food so far at RS. Most of us live meal to meal. That is how we see the day pass quickly. I think I could write about food for page after page. I am sorry that it is such an obsession...
We have 3 more days of patrol techniques here at Eglin AFB and then we push out into the swamp for 10 straight days in the field. We leave Thursday 8 Sept and return the following Saturday, 17 September. After that we find out if we are graduating, square away our training area down in FL and then drive back to Ft. Benning on Tuesday or Monday night. We get to receive our 2nd care packages. Instead of 30 min we get the whole night and get to take them on the bus with us back to Ft. Benning!..."
(Here is the list he has for his care package... just to share with y'all! :))
*First, my buddy requested these Hostess mini cinnamon rolls...
*Cranberry almond biscotti
* Mini powdered doughnuts
* Betty Crocker Fudge Brownies made with 3 eggs
* Maybe a small loaf of banana bread or muffins
* Vanilla Wafers
*Some kind of homemade cookies
* Bag of Reeses Pieces
* Bag of Twizzlers of Gummies
* Australian Licorice
Here is his address in Florida if you would like to send him a little care package or a letter to encourage him in his last phase! We can't even believe that the Florida phase is here. Praise the Lord.
2 Lt Daniel Shear
6th Ranger Training Battalion
RN # 157 Company B
6069 Walkers Ln
Camp James E Rudder
Eglin AFB, FL 32542
Also, here is what the little booklet So This is Ranger School says about the Florida phase and these past few days:
"Camp Rudder is the site of the third phase of RS. Congrats, you made it to the final phase. Thus, don't to change your technique because what worked in the previous 2 phases will lead to your success in FL... FL consists of 2 phases; the short technique training week and the long fired problem. The technique week will be very hands off and student led. most oRanger Instructors will treat you like professionals and leaders and allow the student Chain of Command to lead the classes... The second phase of FL will be a 10 day field problem. The field problem in FL will be comprehensive of all of the skills you have learned over the entire course. The Ranger Instructors will expect you to demonstrate all of the skills you learned in the previous phases. Furthermore, do not expect the Instructors to review all of the skills you learned during technique week. The field problem will have many missions you have not experienced in the past; however, if you use the same skills and principles you demonstrated in previous missions, then you will be successful.
Day 2: This day you will receive a brief snake and alligator show. The instructors will show you the most common snakes that are in the area. Don't worry; you will get a chance to see them for yourself while out on patrol... (My Aunt lives right by Eglin and she said an article in the paper detailed an 8 ft boa constrictor being shown to the Ranger School Students!)
Day 5: ... you will begin your movement to the patrol base. You can expect to walk all night, receive no sleep, and take contact several times.
Day 6: The second day of the field problem wills tart from the patrol base that you occupied that morning. It is very likely that no one will receive any sleep from the night before. Thus, if you are the Chain of Command for this mission, it will be very difficult to keep every one awake. The mission for the second day is a movement to contact. The movement will be roughly 4 to 5 KM. you can expect to occupy your patrol base around midnight after the mission and get a few hours of sleep.
Day 7: The 3 day in the field will start you combat light missions. This missions will be done from your patrol base and will usually consist of not more than 2 squads.
Day 8: (Today) The fourth day in the field will be the last long platoon movement. The Chain of Command will issue the OPORD form the patrol base that morning. The mission will likely be 8+ KM movement to contact. The mission will likely end at midnight or later.
Day 9: (Tomorrow) The fifth day is the swamp movement. For this mission, you will spend most of the day in the water. In the morning the Chain of Comman will issue the OPORD from the patrol base and then you will move to the boat site. At this site, you will conduct a boat movement down the river. AFter conducting your boat movement, you will dismount into the swamp and walk out of the water until you reach land. While walking through the swamp, you will conduct a rope bridge across a deep part of the swamp. Once you reach the land, you will change clothes and then move to the patrol base for the night. Expect to be in the water for at least five hours this day."
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| Meredith's neighbor is one of the Ranger Instructors and he sent this picture to his wife, who in turn sent it to Meredith! We know for sure that Steve is in the boat, so we figure since Steve and Daniel are Ranger Buddies... Daniel has to be in the boat as well! This is from 2 days ago!!! |
Thank you for praying for Daniel! He needs it most definitely. But what a hero he is already.. and a stud too! We are ever so proud of him.
Marlene is here now, she just arrived yesterday afternoon. Tomorrow she will help Tirzah and I drive the 9 hours to the Raphine Retreat where we will spend the next week. We are hoping to see the rest of our family during our stay as well! It will be a wonderful way to celebrate the last full week of Ranger School!!
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