Week 2 Complete!

Hello Family and friends! It has only been two weeks but I feel like I have been here for a month or longer.  It was a eventful week.  Last blog I said I would pass on the EMT training but I was convinced that it will give me a good advantage with the application and hiring process for the National Park Service.  So I am up to 43 credits, its easier to tell you how many days I don't work 9-14 hours.  I believe I have 9 Sundays out of 12 weeks left, off.  So if it is not Sunday I am at the academy or studying somewhere.  So I apologize if I am not being good about staying in touch but there really isn't any free-time.  It's good that I am highly interested in all my subjects!! I do miss everyone please call and leave messages I love to hear your voices.

We had our first Core Test.  I believe we have 10 total through the quarter.  These are test of the prior week, usually 110-135 questions.  They are a big deal, we need to pass them all.  I actually took my second core test today.  I got 92% on both of them and I feel pretty good about that.  Last Monday we also were tested on physical fitness, I believe in 8 categories.  I passed all 8 and was one of eight in our class of twenty-six to do that.  Week 14 we will re-test and if you don't pass one physical fitness test you wont graduate.  My buddy Alec and I are doing 160 push-ups a day and 110 sit-ups, plus running 3 times a week and working out 3 times a week.  This usually takes place after class.  My biggest high-light and honor of the week was on Monday my classmates voted me as a class president/ "team leader".  It is a huge honor for me to be chosen by my peers.  They are all becoming great friends, some I feel I have already known for months.  I hope I do my job well!

It is exciting to be able to think of all the different "hats" I will be able to wear after the academy, most importantly a federal Law Enforcement Ranger for the National Parks, but I will also have a "Dr. hat" as a EMT, a "Fire hat" as wildland Fire certified (decent chance you may see me in San Diego during the Santa Anna winds (Lyford-side), I don't know if Hazardous Material people where hats but yeah I guess that one isn't too exciting, but anyways I am learning a ton of skills.  This week class is mostly focused on "Use of Force" and "Constitutional Law".  There is nothing like "case laws" to commit to your memory bank.

Janelle came up Saturday and stayed till dinner Sunday.  She really refilled my "tanks".  It was so nice to spend time with her, I think we played phase 10 for hours and just talked.  She was so helpful, I am a lucky man!  Keep us in your prayers as time away from each other is not easy!  Much love to all of you and really if you find the time please call and say hi, I probably won't be able to answer but your message will make my day.  If you are lucky, I will forget to turn my ringer off and the class and I will get the amazing opportunity to go to "THE PIT" and do some serious physical punishment.  This won't likely happen because I think I check my ringer about 20 times before class actually starts.  OK I need to get to sleep.  Once again I love you all!!!