So much gear! 

"Desert training?" 

Going through town. 

We arrived at our training and mob site, which makes you wonder about things. Here we are, getting ready to go to a very hot place and we are training in a northern clime, in late fall! The army makes you wonder...see the photo of what our base looks like.
You cannot go anywhere in the service without getting shots and more shots and we got our share, but I didn’t get as many as others.
And, the army gives you more gear than you can carry (see my photo of my gear all packed up).
The longer you are in the service, the more stuff you accumulate, which means you have to carry somewhere, sometime, and the time is now. I plan on not taking very much with me, just what I have to, must need and am required. It is just too heavy!
What does a civilian go through during mobilization to active duty? Well, without boring you with the details, basically it is just standing in line a lot, eating the basic same food everyday (with the institutional blandness) and getting up too early in the morning. Actually, on that last one, I only get up one-half an hour earlier each day now. But the days are longer. I miss my afternoon nap time!
I have also posted a photo I tried to take as we left for our mob site. There were people all along the streets waving and holding signs as we drove through town

The day finally arrives.

I wake up and stare at the alarm clock. It is the final day as a civilian and back into uniform I go.
I wonder if my wife and daughter will make it all the way up from home in time to get a seat in the gym at the local college. It is a two and one-half hour drive for them. I miss them all ready and I haven't left.
My head hurts and my stomach hurts and it is time to go.
First we practice and then mingle with new friends and their families and then my family arrives. Take some photos and talk and avoid the subject but not very well.
The other day the Chaplin stated that "your soldier has started distancing himself from you emotionally" and I wish he'd told us that a month ago because that is exactly what I did.
Time to leave and the dam breaks and the tears flow and then they are gone. I didn't want them to come back tomorrow morning as we get on the bus and leave, I don't want to go through it again and as I watch the other families and I glad we didn't. But then, it would be nice to see them again.
The support shown to us was overwhelming and just great.
Thank you very much.

My wife, friend, companion for life at the ceremony.
There were a lot of people from the surrounding area at the gym for the ceremony.
Needless to say, it was overwhelming to be there and have such support.

Here is the farewell ceremony at Heiderberg college 

Here is my youngest daughter just before the ceremony started.
She is my soccer star. Daddy loves you!

They wrote some very nice messages on the banner.  

The next class. 

Here we all are 

Here is the banner my students made. Thanks! 

Here is the group that decorated my room! It looked really cool!

Here is where I teach.  

The last day at school has finally come and gone. The director of our school arrange some cider and donuts in the morning before 1st period for excellent attendance the past quarter and asked the students to fill out some cards. I had quite a bunch to take home in the afternoon. I was very touched by what they wrote and the feelings that came across as I read them last night.
The health academy students (the majority of my teaching load) made a big banner, decorated my room and kept wanting to take photos, photos and more photos. While they gave me some presents and cards, what they gave me more of was their thoughts and feelings. It was, to borrow one of their sayings, awesome!, what I read from them. I really did not know how much I had meant to them or how much my teaching was affecting them. It was lesson I shall heed, that they gave me.
I want to thank all of my students from the bottom of my heart for all the kind words, messages and their efforts this past week. You sure made me proud to be your teacher.
Here are some photos of the day.