One last thing...36+ lbs

Ah Saturday, the first day of the weekend and we get to sleep in late since we don't need to get fitted for our gas masks until 1100. Oh happy day! Then I've got the rest of the day to do laundry, pack, return movies and go buy some travel food.

You don't really think it was that easy, do you? Of course not...

1045: Meet in the parking lot to load up in the van.

1050: Standing by to get fitted.

1105: "May I have your attention please. We're running about 20 minutes behind, so it'll be a few more minutes before we get to your group. (then to the 10 people sitting around that aren't from our group) "Give me 3 more."

1140: Me- "Hey Chief, we're not all going to get in there all at once, so how about we let people make a run to the chow hall since it closes at 1230?" Chief- "Good idea. Anyone want to eat?" Nope. Well it was a good idea anyway.

Speaking of lunch, do you know what goes in a Ruben? I do, and I love them! And guess what was on the menu for lunch today? Rubens! How'd you guess? :) When I got my grilled delight to my lunch table and gave it a closer look, know what I found? 2 hunks of corned beef that when put together were about = to 3/4 of a deck of cards, a melted piece of American cheese (I think) and less sauerkraut than I leave in the bottom of the can when I use sauerkraut at home!
And no Thousand Island dressing. Anyway, back to today...

1150: Chief- "Hey everybody, they want us to come back at 1300."

1155: Back to the barracks. Luckily I had time to return movies and get snacks, so it wasn't time wasted (like the last hour had been).

1300: 12 of us go to the fitting area and what we were told was a gas mask fitting turns out to be a full CBR suit, kevlar helmet and body armor. I start with the gas mask. Once it's on we're seated and get a clear plastic 1/2 bubble over our head/shoulders so they can pump something into the air around us and measure through a tube if any of it is getting into the mask. No problem. 10 minutes later my mask passes. I ask the guy running the machine what all the numbers mean that he wrote down during my session, and he replies "It meas you pass." I say "I pass? What do you mean I pass? Does it keep out the nasties or doesn't it?" He says, "Well there's always a little that gets in and this one is within limits."

Within limits????? Um...I think zero is about as high a limit I'm willing to go to!

So I say, "Uh-huh...and what's your name? I think I'd like to leave it with my wife so she can find you if this thing doesn't work!" He chuckled, but only a little. :-O

Next was a fitting for a kevlar helmet. The nice head measure-er measured me and as I asked what size I was he said, "Wow! You've got a big head." I said I didn't know they came in that size. Turns out 'wow' = extra large.

From there it was on with the biggie; body armor. 36 pounds of protection from collar bone to groin.

After that I got to try on what resembled fire fighter pants and coat. Really big, big enough to fit over the 36 pound body armor, but not heavy at all. With gloves and booties I'll be a virtual Great Wall of China to CBR nasties.

The rest of the day went to plan; laundry, packing (I did a great job honey, now that I mailed back 20 pounds of stuff!) and gathering up all my stuff.

Tomorrow it's on to the bus to get down to some real training.

Until I get internet access again...sayonara!