26 hours and three countries later I have arrived at Manas Air Base in Kyrgyzstan. This place is often called “the gateway to hell”. We are finally going to war.

promoted to specialist today! today was a good day.. i didn’t even have to use my AK.. although i did use my m16!

Today I should have been promoted to the rank of specialist. I passed my pt test and everything was set. My commander and squad leader even confirmed the day before that I would be getting promoted. However, it did not happen. We went out to celebrate last night and on the way home, one of my battle buddies got a DUI.

This was a lesson to me and everyone else in my squad. Although I had planned ahead and had a sober driver back to post, I didn’t make a plan for my battle buddy. We all failed because we let him get into his vehicle.

I spent my Super Bowl Sunday morning getting smoked. When I got home I was too tired to even watch the game.

I am disappointed in myself. I failed my team members but it is a lesson learned. Hopefully I get promoted in California. All I can do now is to continue working hard, try to stay motivated, remain focused, and prepare myself for deployment.