Week 5 Ending with a Bang!

Today was a normal day at NA. Had morning classes and then went to a briefing on lessons learned from the Freddie Gray incident in Baltimore a few years ago. Had my Violent Crime class to end the day, very interesting stuff. I had no idea about some of these serial killers, some very interesting stuff that I can’t share.

I also had my Media class today and we began our live interviews! I went first and I felt pretty good about my message I was delivering. Handling the media and social media will be a strength for me now, I have learned a ton in this class and it makes sense. It’s been fun to watch my classmates, I am constantly reminded how smart all of these people are, they do great in this class.

This place is going bonkers a bit, feels like spring break around here. We are all getting ready for New York this weekend. We have a short day tomorrow and we are taking off for the city. Our agenda is tight and we are going to be doing a ton of stuff. Tour of 1 Police Plaza, 911 Memorial, harbor ride on NYPD boats, checking out their SWAT stuff...it’s going to be very cool, we are all excited. Forecast isn’t the best, but that sucks more for our friends from warm states! The rest of us will be fine haha.

Meals here are generally ok. You get tired of the same food though. So people are starting to get off the reservation now more and more for some different types of food. I’m not complaining about the food at all, so don’t worry too much about that if you are coming here. It just wears on you a bit.

I have PT tomorrow right out of the gate, so I am going to skip swimming! I have about 5.5 miles left I think for my blue brick. I hope to have that done by next week. After that I don’t know what I am going to do...maybe hit the bike and rower? Suggestions?

Alright, probably last post till Sunday night! Have a good weekend, A

Steps 10,861 =. 4.82 miles

The gym. Not sure if I posted pics yet or not.







Weight room at 600 am last Friday. All the recruits were at their PT, but there is normally someone always in here.


More gym


That cage has a bunch of stuff in designed to hurt you.

Lions Leap Challenge

Have I mentioned how much I enjoy Wednesdays around here? They are the easiest days. We workout and then usually it’s something interesting in the afternoon.

Today was the Lion’s Leap Challenge, which is a 5k around the campus. Fun was had by all! Weather was a bit of an issue, cold and dark out, but the rain held off for the run. I finished in 23:30, not bad for someone that doesn’t run really. I hit the pool after to ge my swim in.

The afternoon was spent at the Marine Corps Museum, great place if you get a chance to go. Its a very nice place full of history. You don’t realize how badass the Marines are until you get some of their history. After the museum we met with General George Flynn (Retired) and he gave us some stories and pointers. Seems like a really down to earth guy!

Wednesday nights are karaoke night, so I had to go down and check that out!


Before the run! Borrowed from a classmate!


After the run! Borrowed as well. Look at 271 and I’m just above it a couple of rows in the middle!

General George Flynn (Ret.) addresssing our class.

Me and Scott, my work out buddy. Not a bad guy for a Trooper! 😜


Marine museum. Awesome place!

Super Tuesday 2nd Edition

Today was not an ordinary day at the NA, for me at least. We have 5 sections, each section is basically a home room where you have your same class mates. Your section does PT together and some other random things and you get to know your section mates pretty well. Each section elects a representative for their respective section. Your job is be a conduit from the NA staff back and forth to your section. I was nominated and thought it would a fun job. I was very humbled to have been chosen to represent section 3, if you knew of the people in my group you would be surprised they picked me also!

What I didn’t realize is that all 5 section reps have to give a speech to our whole session and our session will then elect one of us to give a speech at graduation! What a nerve wracking day for me. I generally have no problem talking in front of groups of people, I actually enjoy it sometimes. But to give a speech to a room full of people who do what you do, makes for an interesting speech!

I was honored to be among the other 4 guys, they are all awesome people and tremendous leaders. When the dust settled, I was not chosen!!! That’s ok with me, I feel relief! I would have been really nervous to do this again in front of 1k plus people in a couple of weeks. Congrats to my guy Ralph, he will do a great job and I am looking forward to his speech!

I had a ton of people say some very nice things about my speech, it was very nice of all of them and I am happy that I represented by section, my family, and my office well. Thank you again.

Tomorrow is Challenge Day! Super excited! PS-I might have caught a bit of a head cold...hoping not.

10953 steps = 4.86 miles

That’s a good looking group of section representatives! Honored and humbled to stand with these men.

One side of the audience

Other side of the audience

Me speaking! Thanks AK for the picture.

Monday Week 5

Good morning! I didn’t post last night because I was just plain tired! Here I am, back at it again.

Swimming is going well, I don’t miss Monday through Saturday normally, but his weekend is the New York trip, so I am trying to make up for it. I hope to be done with the blue brick by next week!

Classes were good yesterday, nothing crazy or exciting. Our workout in PT was especially brutal though...24 straight minutes of something he called “Crawlapoolza”...of course I am going to tell you it was the worst thing in the world...cause it was! It was tough. We ended with A/C D/C’s Thunderstruck and every time they said ‘Thunder’, we had to do a burpee...I will never listen to that song the same again.

The weekends are getting busy around here. We have tours pretty much every weekend going forward. If you are looking for things to do when you come here, make sure you get them done before all of your tours start to pile up!

13,585 steps = 6.48 miles

Monday envelope!!!

Mike from Muskogee! It has a ring to it doesn’t it? Great guy, always positive!

Classroom. They have power to each seat so you charge a laptop or phone.

These are all the countries represented in our session, besides ours.

Me in front holding my diploma frame. Buy them early and save 15%, plan on spending at least $100!!!  I’ll try and do a price/store post one of these days.

Super Bowl NA Style

Pretty uneventfull weekend around here. It was cold outside and people are starting to feel the pressure on papers and group presentations due. Next weekend is the famous New York trip and the weekend after that is a 3 day weekend, so a lot of people will be going home. That created a sense of urgency for everyone to try and get some work done this weekend.

I did swim 2 miles at one time yesterday, that was the most for me yet. Felt good. I would suggest if you are coming here to bring lotion and a small humidifier. This place is dry! I think a lot of people have humidifiers now.

My in laws came down from Stephens City and had lunch with me at Mission BBQ. The food was ok, nothing special. I then brought them on base and gave them a tour of the Academy. I think they enjoyed it. It was nice to have them here! Thanks Bob and Linda.

Another big week coming up!

These pictures don’t do it justice, the Boardroom was hopping! It was a fun environment with everyone cheering.



My in laws stopped over for a tour and visit! Was fun to show them around and I think they enjoyed it!

Lunch with Bob and Linda!