1.25.10

Hey Everyone,

Here we go...week four! At the end of this week 1 month will be done - yeah!

Ryan has lost another 3.5 lbs this week making his total weight loss for 3 weeks 12 lbs. He is already wearing his "skinny" jeans, which he is wearing in these pics. Of course he looks great! The other picture is of his scabbed knuckles... from doing knuckles push-ups on the asphalt as well as push-ups holding their batons on the gym floor - Brutal!

Last week was a very hard week. The PT instructors seemed to have a personal grudge against the cadets last week. Wednesday's PT was outside in the pouring rain, howling wind and on the saturated grass. 175 squats, 150 lunges, a 2 mile run as well as rolling on the muddy grass...all of this was after their calisthenic work out in the gym. Wednesday's PT had been the worst to date, it was hard to imagine a more difficult workout... then Friday am came. A different instructor had them working out from 4:45 am until 7:05 am straight. Another instructor came out and said enough after a cadet passed out on the run - not Ryan. Ryan said it was the hardest work out yet, however everyone was pushing and encouraging each other to make it through - so that part was cool.

Ryan had a small qualification for the range this week, he had to be able pull the trigger 34 times with each hand (1 full clip). This was not a difficult task ,but if you didn't qualify you will be let go as you cannot perform duties required for the job.

Ryan has begun the book work for EVOC (Emergency Vehicle Operations Course). The EVOC course is very difficult and is one of two main reasons why cadets fail out. The senior class that is there now has lost 40% of their class due to failure of EVOC. Ryan will begin actual driving soon and is excited/relieved to be among the first to complete this part of the training. They are given a list of driving commands that they must memorize and when they are driving they will be tested on how well they know and execute each command. Think Days of Thunder...helmet and radio, 5 point harness and speeds of over 120 MPH.

They have also started baton training - who knew that there are so many techniques for whacking people with a baton.

Today was a better start to the week. PT was normal, however with a new twist. They did a formation run today for the first time - just like in the movies. 4 lines running parallel while chanting. Ryan said that he liked it,but he wasn't able to chant and run - not yet!

Sorry for the long e-mail,but that is what has happened since last week. Another cadet quit today making 15 that Ryan knows of.

Have a great week!

Love,

Amy