get promoted to Sergeant

I had my promotion ceremony today! I am really motivated about the Army today. I thought the orders weren’t going to be done before my flight tomorrow, but 1SG and Sergeant Major pulled some strings and got them finished.

I’m glad I was able to get pinned in front of all my friends because I see the ceremony as a right of passage. 1SG told about all the things I’ve done since I’ve been in the company and what a good and motivated soldier I was. She even used the rank that she was pinned SGT with. I thought it was special. Then I got to make my speech to thank everyone who helped me mature to this point in my career. I would have felt robbed of a good experience had I not had the ceremony or had it done by my gaining company who doesn’t even know me.

The points list came out today. I made cut-off!

The by-name list for promotions to SGT on August 1st came out today. I was on it!

My supervisor is trying to get me pinned early before I leave on July 28th.

waiting waiting patiently for the points list to come out on 15 july…

Promotion board today and I got a 149 out of 150!

No one is more professional than I. I am a Noncommissioned Officer, a leader of soldiers. As a Noncommissioned Officer, I realize that I am a member of a time-honored corps, which is known as “The Backbone of the Army”. I am proud of the Corps of Noncommissioned Officers and will at all times conduct myself so as to bring credit upon the Corps, the Military Service, and my country regardless of the situation in which I find myself. I will not use my grade or position to achieve pleasure, profit or personal safety.

Phew! And that was only a part. I have to memorize this by Tuesday. I think I’ll be okay because it only took me a little to get the 1st part. Recalling it in front of the Board will be another story though. I gotta kick this nervousness.

I did good. It wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. I was still really nervous! My hand was shaking when I saluted to the President of the Board. There is no rest for the weary though, the 1SG is making me go the Soldier of the Quarter board this Tuesday! I gotta study more.

Soldier of the Month board on Thursday!!! I am so nervous, I’m going to have a heart attack. I don’t even like giving book reports in front of a class. I have been studying a lot but I could be better prepared. Depending on how I do is when I get to go to the promotion board.

Well I passed by the skin of my teeth. One of the NCOs from my shop paced me and helped me stay motivated. Its too late to submit the paperwork for May’s board, but I’m going in June.

Miles this week: 16
S 0M 4T 3W 2T 3F 4S 0

I ran the same 4 mile course on Monday as I did on Friday. On Monday I had to stop and walk a lot. Today I did the whole thing without stopping and even sprinted the end. I feel proud that I can feel myself getting better. I want to time myself on 2 miles just to see how much time I have shaved off, but I’ll be disappointed if its still not passing. At least my stamina is getting better. I guess the speed comes later, because I still feel like a turtle.

I ran my 2 mile route tonight. It took me 24 minutes! That is worse than last Thursday. I guess it is acceptable for now since I am sore. I have to keep this up so I can improve.