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One Day In The Life Of A Mechanic

February 16, 2008

Greetings,

Well, here it is, my life as a soldier, but where to start! Let’s see!!! After a good night’s sleep, dreaming about playing music for my friends and family, I am awoken by the irritating buzz of the alarm clock. I fumble around and eventually, I slam my hand down on the snooze button, turning the clock off. My eyes are glazed with fatigue and burning as I switch the alarm off and stumble out of bed. I give my wife a kiss on the cheek, and say “I love you” as I go into the bathroom and prepare for PT. After a shave, I change from my night clothes, into my PT Uniform, with the black shorts, and the gray shirt with that weird symbol on the back and the word “Army” on the front. Then I get that all important PT belt around my waste, grab the keys, and out the door. As I drive down my street, I hit a road block, Wheeler Traffic. Oh bummer, this traffic is backed up for ever. But it’s a good thing I got up early, if you leave after 5:30, you’re not getting far…

Into the parking lot where I walk a little ways to the PT field just in time for the gang to be forming up. “Begley, where have you been?” the squad leader asks? I reply, “Traffic, but I’m here, safe and sound”. “Well don’t make it a habit, Begley” the squad leader says, just in time for the first sergeant to call “Fall in!!” We stretch out and conduct PT. That was a good run.

We’re dismissed to conduct personal hygiene and are ordered to report to work at promptly 9:00, which is really 8:50.  As we stand in formation, the CSM conducts roll call and we go to work.  For the next 2 hours, it’s nothing but turning wrenches and helping our local operators PMCS their equipment.

At 11:30, it’s off to lunch for about an hour and a half, my favorite, Philly Cheese Steak, who here loves Philly Cheese Steaks? Then it’s back to work.  As I’m turning my wrench, I hear my NCO in the distance. “Begley! come sign this!!” and I hurry along to accomplish my task.

After that, I’m done with my job and dripping with sweat, I go to change out of those coveralls and prepare for formation.  We receive our daily notes and briefings from our squad leader and are dismissed.

Back home I go, and quickly out of the uniform, I change, relaxing with my beloved wife and watching those soaps that you love to hate, but must watch, I mean you’re glued to the tv as you wonder “what happens next?”

Then I end up taking my little one for our evening bike ride around the air field.  That is the time where she’s the happiest, because she’s with her daddy.  It’s going to hurt when I deploy in May, but I will be back.

I finally end up getting a shower, then it’s off to bed where I get up and repeat the whole cycle over again.  That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.

It’s a lot of work being a soldier, but the rewards of serving my country and protecting my family is more than enough motivation to drive me through my day.  It got me through Afghanistan, and soon, I’ll test it again in Iraq.  No matter what situation I’m in, I will always be proud to be an American, and will always be honored to serve by my fellow men and women as a warrior soldier. HOOAH!

Written by Brandon Begley · Filed Under Hearts & Minds, Humor, Life, Military, Motivation, Randomness 

Comments

3 Responses to “One Day In The Life Of A Mechanic”

  1. Iraq » One Day In The Life Of A Mechanic on February 16th, 2008 6:12 am

    [...] A Soldier’s Mind wrote an interesting post today on One Day In The Life Of A MechanicHere’s a quick excerpt Greetings, Well, here it is, my life as a soldier, but where to start! Let’s see!!! After a good night’s sleep, dreaming about playing music for my friends and family, I am awoken by the irritating buzz of the alarm clock. I fumble around and eventually, I slam my hand down on the snooze button, turning the clock off. My eyes are glazed with fatigue and burning as I switch the alarm off and stumble out of bed. I give my wife a kiss on the cheek, and say “I love you” as I go into the bathroom a [...]

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  2. Terri on February 16th, 2008 4:07 pm

    Thanks so much Brandon for sharing your day with us, as you gear up for your deployment. Know that we’ll be supporting you the entire time. Just let us know if there’s something you need, and consider it done!

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  3. Brandon Begley on February 19th, 2008 11:08 pm

    Thanks Terri, I appreciate your support and all of our boys in Hawaii feel the same way. We won’t forget you when we hit the ground in Iraq.

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