PAT Platoon!

I'm station here in Kingston on something called PAT platoon, all that means is that I've got a squadron that I am apart of where all members are awaiting training.  Overall, it's a pretty fun place to be with lots of time off and a great deal of variety in tasks you may be doing from day to day.  I've never had to do anything like sweep the parade square, our taskings can be anything from driving folks around to helping instruct highly sensitive courses.

At any rate, now that you know where I am let me just say that it's been a interesting week here on PAT.  I'm actually on a short duration 2 week course called LSVW training (Light Skin Vehicle Wheeled).  I'm learning how to drive a truck, more or less.  It's a nice way to pass the time to be sure, but it's a busy time of year here.

For example, we just found out yesterday that we need to move out of our current barracks and into a different one across the base.  We got a solid 12 hours notice, more than enough time!  It turns out that there is a rather large group of reservists coming who need the space we are in.  Since they are here to do immediate training and we are still awaiting training... we have to move.

The move is simple enough, however it caught me while on a course and doing countless paperwork to pick up my new car, a lot of which involved trips into town.  Thankfully some new friends have been playing taxi to same me money on actual taxis.  All in all, it went pretty smoothly but there was a lot of cranky folks about to be sure.  Also my new room smells like feet.

I tried to weasel my way into staying in my current room, when asked when my main training course starts I said 'It starts on the 2nd' and the guy responded with, 'Oh, allright then you don't have to move.  Just stay in your room.'  I was pretty excited, until he looked at his paperwork and then looked back up to me with what could only be called an accusatory stare.

'What month?' he asked.

Turns out I'm moving anyway ;x

I may have missed a few weeks here.

The camera man said I wasn't allowed to smile!

Well, it appears I will have to back update for the final weeks of basic training.  There are some rather funny stories there so it should provide for some future entertainment.

As you may have guessed, I have managed to graduate from basic and moved on to Kingston, ON for further training.  I am proud of my accomplishments during my course and I am also proud to be one step closer to serving my country.

It means a lot to me, no matter what role I end up playing.  I am proud to be doing something that isn't creating the next great alarm clock or sitting in endless pointless meetings.  It never made me happy, no matter how good I was at it.  Now I do push-ups and run endlessly, but I am *happy* because the overall goal is to serve Canada and it's people rather than myself.

I run because I may have to run to help a friend, an injured soldier or my country.  I do push-ups because some day I may have to carry something heavy through rough terrain.  No matter how painful or annoying things become it all has a point and a goal, and most of all, that goal is a good one.

I will be doing a few updates this week regarding my final weeks of basic, future updates will detail my ongoing training here in Kingston and various stories you might find entertaining.

As always, thank you for your support.