ndmckinney|net

For those who don’t know, I spent the summer at Basic Combat Training at Ft. Jackson, SC. Basic training, for those who haven’t been, is both physically and mentally demanding but quite manageable. Basic for me was only a first step; I’m heading to Officer Candidate School…

…eventually. While training at Ft. Jackson, I fractured my wrist and tore a ligament. After graduating (yes, I was able to complete my training), I went on leave to heal. I’m on my way back to SC, hoping to get medical clearance to move on to OCS.

While at home, I’ve had a lot of time to sit around and get smart. I used my time to contemplate the responsibilities that lie in my future. To that end, I have been reading about Army leadership, military history, and the psychology of the most serious of my duties: killing.

As an officer, my primary duty will be not to kill; rather, my duty will be to order those under my command to kill. In that way, I can at least distance myself from the danger, but I know that the ultimate accountability is mine. I’m working to get as good an understanding of how to keep soldiers motivated and how to keep myself in the fight.

In the end, the best that I can do is to train my unit, train myself and trust in my men’s abilities.

• BBC News – Anne Frank tree toppled by high winds and rain http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11066920 #
• Coffee. One of many things I don't get in the field. http://yfrog.com/ms6hpj #
• @udomhong Funny you mention that. @vinni405 and I saw those yesterday! in reply to udomhong #

• Looks like I've cone in 13th: http://www.foreignpolicy.com/node/373401 #
• What's with the weather today? It's cooler, so I shouldn't complain… #
• Since my body is broken, I'm going to spend time exercising my mind. Today's exercise: learn Dutch. #
• @Vinni405 The last time I had to take "the long way around", I had to march an extra two miles. C'est la vie. in reply to Vinni405 #
• Running with a cast isn't slowing me down too much. My wrist is throbbing now, but a cold front does the same thing. #

• Graduating Basic Combat Training tomorrow!!! See you later, Ft. Jackson! #
• While I'm not at OCS yet, it's nice to be back home. Hopefully my wrist fixes itself soon so I can get to Benning. #
• It's nice to have coffee when waking up. Also, it's even nicer not having drill sergeants yelling at me to get out of bed "time now". #

• On my way to Baltimore for Army in-processing. #

• 7 days until I begin my service with @usarmy #
• @zerospry Did you try and drag race him at the next light? in reply to zerospry #

• Only 14 days until active duty! #

• Three more weeks until active duty. #