Matt's Update

A lot of people have asked me what I am and have been doing the past couple of months at Fort Benning, so I wanted to let everyone know the broad strokes of what I have been up to.

The Army course that I just finished was designed to give all newly commissioned officers a basic understanding of the fundamentals of infantry tactics. This way, officers of all branches, male and female, know how to act accordingly in the case that they find themselves in-charge, in combat, even though not an infantry officer. Through the past 7 weeks, I have trained on weapons systems, land navigation, tactics/techniques/procedures of combat, life-saving medical treatments on the battlefield, and army combatives.

In theory, this course is a good thing. In reality, it was a waste of time. I consider myself very fortunate to have had great training in the past, and I wholeheartedly acknowledge this blessing. That being said, I did very little the past 7 weeks that I have not done before...several times. My entire platoon, especially my squad of 8 guys, was in the same boat and we kept the mood light at all times and did not take anything too seriously...we had to to keep our sanity.

Through the past 7 weeks, I would say that these pictures portray 80% of my entire time at Fort Benning.



I now am moving on to Fort Rucker, Alabama, for flight school. This is what it has all been about for the past several years, and it's finally here. I am excited, anxious, and a little nervous. The separation is already taking its toll and Sirron and me, and it's only beginning. Please keep us in your prayers as we go through this time. God never promises us that life will be a cake-walk, as we are about to attest to, but He will get us through this with a peace that only He can give.