Shooting, Anniversaries, Promotions and Awards, all in one post

So, this past week has been rather busy for me, mainly exciting I should say. Towards the latter part of last week i had the opportunity to go shoot with the French Special ops guys and then a couple of days later shoot with some of the people in the TOC. It was a great experience and a great time! On Memorial Day (remember and pray for the families of Dan Hyde and Tyler Parten, two great men and good friends who gave their lives for freedom) I flew back to Bagram to stay with my Apache brethren for a few days to get promoted to Captain. I was promoted on June 1st by one of the CW3s in the company who has become a great mentor and friend over the deployment. It was very well and I had the privelege of doing it with another good friend of mine from West Point. Afterward I even got the chance to go fly and do some shooting with one of the MTPs, a promotion gift as he called it (19 rockets and 100 rounds of 30mm). Then to top off the day I got a call later in the afternoon from the COL who I worked with at MRF who said he had an award to give me and wanted me to come over to the TOC to receive it. So a second ceremony later I was pinned again, this time with an army Achievement medal for my work with the French. What else could have made the trip better you ask? Well the very next day, 2 Jun, was the third anniversary of Kim and I's marriage. I second everything she said in her post, it has truly been a blessing to have her as part of my life. I don't know anyone else I would rather share this Army ride with than her, and I am thankful every day for the life we share together. Only a few more months love!! I hope you are all doing well, and in closing I am hoping to be back at BAF as an Apache platoon leader here in the next two weeks. keep your fingers crossed!! God Bless!

Waiting to get pinned

Josh doing the honors of removing my 1LT rank

Photo op on the flightline afterward. CPT rank looks very nice indeed.

My friend Todd who's place I'll be taking as B/1-3 Platoon Leader

The guys who were a) not flying or b) stayed up after flying the previous night.

COL Villarreal pinning on the award

AAM pinned

Holding the certificate afterwards