Moving Along

Nick had a wonderful time this past week. They spent the whole time at the firing range, learning about their rifles and doing target practice. This is what he has been looking forward to doing since he got there. He put eight out of ten within the four centimeter circle, and was one of two to do it with ten shots in his platoon. He is really enjoying being the Platoon Leader, and had made friends with most everyone. Their platoon is the only one who hasn't been able to advance into the white phase, with means they still have to be micromanaged while doing everything, while the other platoons get to do most of their duties on their own.

The highlights of his week were that he got to eat Frosted Mini Wheat's for breakfast, twice, and he got skittles in his Read To Eat lunch one day, he just loved that. They only get a couple of minutes to eat their food, so he tells me every time we talk that he can't wait for Family day when he can take as long as he wants to eat.

His parents and I are going to surprise him at Graduation, kind of an early Birthday present. He thinks I am the only one that is coming and will be so shocked to see his parents standing there also!

The days go by very slow for them, he says they each feel like a year, but the week as a whole goes by very quickly. Only one month and one week though and he will be all done with Basic and then onto Maryland for the fun part!

One down, seven to go

One month ago yesterday I dropped Nick off to leave for basic training which means, one month down, and only seven more till he is done with training! I have talked to him and gotten a couple of letters from him. He is doing really well. This is their last week of the first phase, White phase, and they start the Blue phase next. This phase is mostly about weapons training. He told me that this week most of their time at the range learning about their rifles and he was very excited about that.

The Drill Sergeants try very hard to break everyone there, and a few have already given up. He is having a very hard time watching the younger ones struggle so much. He said that knowing how many friends and family he has at home that love him and believe in him is really what gets him through each day.

He has made some friends, and they keep each other going and motivated. The group he is in all have similar lives and most are married. It's great that he has found such a good support system while he is away. I met one of them over the phone and he is very polite, and told him to make sure to take care of my husband for me.

His naturally physical talents and leadership skills have come out very quickly. He has already impressed his Drill Sergeants and was voted by all to be the leader of their Platoon. He didn't have much of a voice from all of the yelling that he had been doing.

Today's Training

Today Nick's Platoon went into the gas chambers, and the E Company got some pictures up. I couldn't see Nick in any of them, but I thought some of you might still want to see what his day was like. They said that everyone did really well, I am so proud of Nick!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/E-Company-701st-Military-Police-Battalion/103952649682236#!/media/set/?set=a.146944192049748.38210.103952649682236&closeTheater=1

You don't have to have a facebook account to look at these pictures or the page, just click on the link.

The first of, hopefully, many letters!

I received my fist letter from Nick yesterday so I figured I would put some of it up for everyone to read.
First thing though, I have his entire address, so this will get the letters to him faster.

Pvt Nickolas Pullan R
E CO, 701 st Military Police Battalion 3rd PLT
BLDG 840-C Colorado Ave.
Ft. Leonard Wood, MO 65473

Please be sure to write "3rd PLT" on the back of the letter as well.

I know he would love to get a letter from everyone. Getting words of encouragement, and hearing how much they are missed is exactly what gets the soldiers through their Basic Training. He can't receive photos yet, but once he does, I know he would love to get a picture from the family.

Now to the letter!
This one was writing on July 1st.
"It's about one o'clock and I'm on duty so we are finally about to write a letter. My platoon is full of seventeen and eighteen year olds who cannot seem to get it together. We have the hardest Drill Sergeants out of all three platoons, and we seem to be way ahead of the other two. We haven't really gotten any free time, I'm not sure how the next couple weeks will be but I'm sure I'll be able to start sending letters.
They try extremely hard to break you here. The mental part of it all is ten times worse than the physical part. I was allowed to rest while exercising because I refused to quit and three f the Drill Sergeants said I'm a great warrior. I'm doing fine, the food here is great."

This second part was written on July 3rd.
"It's Sunday and I'm at church. We have had a rough first week here and I'm hopin it will get better in the next few days. We aren't allowed to pass information on what we've been learning or what is coming so don't expect to hear a lot about that.
The Drill Sergeants in charge of our platoon are running us ragged because people in the platoon can't even stand still while in formation. There is a huge difference between the younger people and those of us in our twenties. Then the people who left people behind make a huge difference in the way we act. Many of the young people seem to think this is a game. They don't understand that what we are learning might save their lives someday. A few of the trainees have been counseled on their behavior and if they it up will be sent to military prison. Maybe, then they will grow up. As you may be able to tell, I'm learning patients the hard way. It has been one of the hardest lessons I've had to learn.
Sometimes at night I feel like life is leaving those of us here behind. Most days I don't know what day of the week it is, let alone the day of the month. I've learned a lot so far and I understand why people change when they go through this. I've been able to lay low and will continue for the next two weeks, until it starts to get fun. My family is always the first though in my head."

Keeping track of Nick

I got a letter in the mail yesterday and it had a link to "track your solider" on it. It is just a facebook page, but you are more than welcome to write encouraging comments, and read what other people have to say.
They do have pictures, but they are random and I think only the first ones are of Nick's class, I think it is 511-11, but I am still trying to figure out for sure.
I will let you know if i see him though!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/E-Company-701st-Military-Police-Battalion/103952649682236?sk=wall#!/pages/E-Company-701st-Military-Police-Battalion/103952649682236?sk=wall&filter=2
This will show you what he has been up to (you don't need a facebook page to look at it).

Also, I have an address of where to send mail to. First, please only send mail, he is not aloud to receive any food items due to health and safety reasons. Please be patient when waiting for a reply, I know that he has been doing everything extra that he can and working hard, so he doesn't have a lot of extra time to write.

Please address letters exactly like this:

Private Pullan Nickolas R
E CO, 701st Military Police Battalion 1st PLT                       
BLDG 840-C Colorado Ave
Fort Leonard Wood, MO 65473

On the back you will also need to write "1st PLT"

(I don't know his PLT, but as soon as I know I will let you know, they say even if it has the wrong number on it, it will still get to him.)

Last, but not least, please do not write anything but his address, platoon number and the return address on the letter, it can cause confusion when sorting.

Holiday Weekend

I have had such a fun weekend! Friday I enjoyed a wonderfully quiet day at home, Saturday I went with Kim and John to a city festival, watched the kids on the rides and listened to a wonderful performance by the United Stated Air Force Symphony and then watched an amazing fire work show.
Saturday was spent at the beach, until is started to rain, and today I sat around the pool with the family.

I am so lucky to know John's family, they have been so kind and accepting ever since we moved out here, and especially while Nick has been gone.

Since it is Independence day, I just wanted to say that I am so proud to be living in this amazing country.
I also want to let everyone know just how proud of Nick I am. It's not easy having him gone, but he is following his dream and doing what it takes to care for his family, and I could never ask or dream of having a better husband. I love you honey!