So I don't know what I talked about last so I'll just start talking. So I failed to meet the passing grade for test 2 on the 4th, 5th, 6th Amendments, Courtroom Procedures and Policies, Courtroom Evidence, Report Writing, and Federal Courts. A 70 is required for passing and myself along with my roommate and one other all got 69's. The test that FLETC writes for us are just retarded. Written by 5 year olds apparently. Horrible grammar and 5-6 questions didn't even make sense. The whole class complained and we asked FLETC to consider throwing a question out. After 2 days they informed our instructors that they threw out question 35. My roommate Shaun and the other guy Austin, had their scores raised from a 69 to a 71. I did not get this luxury. Unfair? Yes. Life? Yes. I've learned to not expect anything from people. Just a bunch of crap in my mind. So since we only get 1 retake, I already used mine up. I had to retake the test on Friday the 17th. Luckily I passed with a 78 which was above the class average. This test was hard and poorly written. As far as stress goes, this was the worst week of my life. What sucks now is that every test from here on out, 4 more, I will be in the same stressful state, since if I fail to make a 70 I just pack up and go home. Plus if I don't get a 70 I don't get my college degree. So that doesn't help with stress.
We had another physical test last week, which was a standard test for physical fitness. The fail time was anything past 7:30, I did it in 4:04 so I think I'm ok with that.
We started doing our outdoor Lab stuff this week. We did Basic Tactics Friday and Saturday of this last week. I really enjoyed it. Friday we went over the different shooting positions and how to engage threats, which was fun. We did building breaching, room clearing, building clearing, building entry, threat assessment, clearing strategies, and cover/concealment tactics on Saturday. This was really fun. We used a dark firehouse where they train firefighters by lighting fires and smoking the building out. Really cool building. While we were waiting for other groups to get through the building we were practicing some techniques out in the training area around the building. Myself and a fellow classmate were practicing two man cover/advance techniques and I was carrying a M-4 Carbine (Practice Rifle) during this exercise. As I was advancing from a large cover object to a small one, I sprinted from cover, slid on one knee, then dove behind the propane tank into a prone or laying down on my stomach position. As I did this I busted my elbow on a concrete slab that I didn't see. I just went with it and continued the exercise. When we finished, we walked back to the building. Someone said, Zach you're bleeding. I looked down and my elbow was gushing blood. I said,"Cool" and just continued to prepare for my building clearing turn. The class EMT made me wash it out and then put a gauze patch on it. Apparently my instructor was watching from the top of the building with some other classmates. I did not know this. I guess he looked at my classmates and said, "If that was on purpose, that was really cool." Felt good to get recognized by someone like Mr.Boudrot who is maybe the most insane man I've ever met. He has done martial arts since he was 7, and became an instructor for martial arts in High School. He is a SWAT team trainer and participant and is just a super hardcore dude. So for him to say that about me, made me feel kinda special. I wasn't going for that, but it's just a bonus. My classmates said I looked the part of a SWAT member because I had my Under Armour black gloves on, an M-4 Carbine, tactical flashlight, and accidentally got some carbon on my face from the building that they set on fire. All of the training that day reminded me of playing paintball and airsoft so I just tried to have fun with it.
We are hopefully done with classroom lectures for a while. I like the practical stuff alot better and I'm better at it as well.
I got a Valentine package from my parents with a bunch of Clif Bars in it, which is a major part of my diet, so that was an awesome surprise. I also got a card from Katrina and that was funny and really nice to get. Helps me feel connected to all the people back home.
I'm still counting down the days till I can come home and can't wait for my first week back to see and hang out with all my friends. Graduating from college will be nice too I guess haha.
Today, my only day off in two weeks, it decided to rain all day so that was depressing. Watching movies and studying all day has been sorta relaxing though.
Miss you all,
Zach
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