Fort Riley Desert Training: Day 5

Ft. Riley Desert Training: Day 5

Ben Bauman's journey through desert training continues.

Day 5

Short night, and cool. We wake up at about 7:30, and our hot chow arrives. It's said to be our one hot meal of the day. (Army eggs, hash browns, french toast, sausage, cereal, applesauce, etc).

After, we follow a dismounted patrol (on foot) into the nearby village of Abar Layla. This is for Captain Padilla to meet the mayor, again to establish relations. It is relatively uneventful, but takes about two hours to complete.

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Fort Riley Desert Training: Day 5

Back at our tent, it's down time. Most of us catch some more sleep, but it's hot in the tent, so that's not easy. Our afternoon mission is cancelled, so more down time. We try to hook up with an evening patrol, but they don't have room for us.

Good news! We get two hot meals today! It arrives, and consists of hot dogs, burgers, chips, apple cake, etc. Another day completed without an MRE.

Everyone anticipates a night mission of some type, so I lay down on top of my sleeping bag, in my clothes, but it never happens. At about 2 a.m. I get out of my clothes and into my sleeping bag.

Read Justin's Blog

Get Justin's take on Day 5 of desert training in this entry.

Day 1 (July 13, 2008)
Day 2 (July 14, 2008)
Day 3 (July 15, 2008)
Day 4 (July 16, 2008)
Day 5 (July 17, 2008)

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