FB: American Rivers Conference

[Klopenhiemer]

Just think boys and girls....A week from now the boys should be rolling back onto campus and the start of training camp will be upon us.  Even though I am in IIAC football mode, I am not in total football mode yet.  With the Cubs playing so well, my mind is still set on baseball season.  I will be in the bleachers today for the Cubs vs. Cards game.  So if you see some fat bastard with a popcorn cartoon on his head, that is probably me

[New Storm]

Just think boys and girls....A week from now the boys should be rolling back onto campus and the start of training camp will be upon us.  Even though I am in IIAC football mode, I am not in total football mode yet.  With the Cubs playing so well, my mind is still set on baseball season.  I will be in the bleachers today for the Cubs vs. Cards game.  So if you see some fat bastard with a popcorn cartoon on his head, that is probably me

You are right CUBS is this finally the year??? They seem to always find a way( remember Central Football 07) 

[Airborne Dutch]

Lets just hope that the Cubs don't finish a few games short of the promised land like Central did in 07!

[Klopenhiemer]

AD...My cousin just started basic down at Ft. Benning.  He is going to Ranger school and excuse my ignorance, but I assume that involves jump school and being airborne.  He is from FL and the economy was so bad down there that he lost his job and really wasnt doing much of anything.  So he took the test, received a good singing bonus, and enlisted.  I do not know where you are at, but you might run across him. 

[Airborne Dutch]

I'm at Fort Bragg, NC. You are correct that it involves airborne school. It sounds like he got a Ranger Indoctrination Program contract. The route he is taking is 9 weeks of basic, then 6 weeks of Infantry Advanced Individual training, 3 weeks of Jump School, and then 30 days of RIP. Once he makes it through RIP, he'll go to one of the Battalions in either Ft. Lewis, WA, Benning, or Ft. Stewart, GA. Once he gets there, they'll send him to Ranger school, which is 62 days. Depending on when he goes to Ranger school and when my unit wants to send me, I might run across him.

[ShowMe]

[WOW

I belive for the first time in my life, I'm speechless.

You Know My Friend, you should listen to the sounds in your head.
Now it's time for some Straight Talk, you need a new life!  8)

[DutchFan2004]

Condolences to the Wartburg family as they lost a board of regents member.  The man killed in Bejing was a Wartburg regent at one time. 

[footballdaddy]

[WOW

I belive for the first time in my life, I'm speechless.

You Know My Friend, you should listen to the sounds in your head.
Now it's time for some Straight Talk, you need a new life!  8)

Maybe you should know me before you tell me to get a new life.

[footballdaddy]

Condolences to the Wartburg family as they lost a board of regents member.  The man killed in Bejing was a Wartburg regent at one time. 

As if we needed more proof that insanity knows no borders.

[Klopenhiemer]

I'm at Fort Bragg, NC. You are correct that it involves airborne school. It sounds like he got a Ranger Indoctrination Program contract. The route he is taking is 9 weeks of basic, then 6 weeks of Infantry Advanced Individual training, 3 weeks of Jump School, and then 30 days of RIP. Once he makes it through RIP, he'll go to one of the Battalions in either Ft. Lewis, WA, Benning, or Ft. Stewart, GA. Once he gets there, they'll send him to Ranger school, which is 62 days. Depending on when he goes to Ranger school and when my unit wants to send me, I might run across him.

That sounds like exactally what is going through.  He just got to Benning a week ago.  Sounds like he is enjoying it, but it is tough at the same time.  Is the Ranger program saught after?  Do many people make it to being a Ranger.  Is this a step above infantry or is inhertly more dangerous?  I have been close with him for quite some time, but just really did not understand what is taking on.  One more questions, is a Ranger considered special forces/operations?

[OzJohnnie]

After being frugal with having 4 kids and trying to afford that we can now treat ourselves with things now and then.  It is still sometimes hard to part with the money for them as we still think of ourselves in the parent supporting mode.  

I don't know what all this talk of being frugal is about.  According to my wife, I apparently have everything a man could want.  And if I get it in my head I want something, she lets me know I actually don't and the problem goes away. 

[Walston Hoover]

We had our first at 24, Tomorrow is the official due date for #2. Spent 4 hours walking around the State Fair today trying to get the baby to fall out, but so far, nothing.
Had our 2-year old helping me put together her new bed when we got home this afternoon and she VERY much wanted to help out. Tough situation because she severely hampered my efforts, but it was very cute to see her try to put the screws in. She actually knows her tools pretty well so I could send her to get a one and she would come back with the right one.
Also fun to have her at the Fair. Having a toddler at the petting zoo is a priceless experience. I feel bad that she won't get the experiences that my wife and I had essentially growing up on farms, but for now Living History Farms, the zoo, and the Fair will have to do. By the time I was my daughter's age, seeing baby pigs and calves was a daily occurence. My girl can count a lot higher than I could at that age though.
I'm in the "If you wait until you think you have enough money, you'll never have kids" camp. The biggest expense is daycare, but, and we can attest to this as well as many other people I have talked to, you just find a way.
Coaching is great. (If we're talking winning %, mine's .888)
Having kids is great.
When your daughter walks out on the practice field and gives you a hug during a practice, I can't think of much that tops that.

[Airborne Dutch]

Going to a Ranger Battalion is a pretty lofty goal. Its definitely a place for highly motivated soldiers. Not the ones who constantly gripe about the Army. In fact, the motto on the Ranger Handbook is "Not for the weak or fainthearted". With my job as a Forward Observer (I call in artillery/mortar strikes and work with attack helicopters) Ranger battalion is one of the best placs to be. The exact definition of it would be an elite light infantry shock unit. They are designed more for direct action strikes, much like what you saw in Black Hawk Down. To answer you're final question, the Rangers fall under the category of special operations, not to be confused with the Special Forces. Like I said, Rangers are a highly trained infantry unit who where the tan berets. The Special Forces (Green Berets) main mission is foreign internal defense i.e. training the local forces, special reconnaissance, direct action, and unconventional warfare. If you want to read about all the different levels, check out this site : http://www.bragg.army.mil/SORB/

[Walston Hoover]

An Army career has always intrigued me. One of those things that if I had a chance to do things all over again, I would take a lot longer look at it. I take great pride in all things American and love interacting with soldiers. Its always been a group I wish I had the guts and motivation to be a part of. Great respect for anyone who has ever been a part of it.

[ShowMe]

[WOW

I belive for the first time in my life, I'm speechless.

You Know My Friend, you should listen to the sounds in your head.
Now it's time for some Straight Talk, you need a new life!  8)

Maybe you should know me before you tell me to get a new life.

You said you where speechless, if that is true, then maybe somrthing is wrong because I can't see you being speechless in what was stated