PT-Army style

Its been fairly uneventful thus far here at Camp Atterbury, Indiana and so not much to post.  Mostly I have been settling in and receiving various training on the PRT mission.  The big excitement today was issue of our cool new gear.  This included a GIANT backpack-or in Army lingo "rucksack".   They really don't like it when you call it a backpack, but I can't tell much difference, apart from the size,  from any ordinary backpack I have worn in my life.   Now that we have the official Army "rucksack" we do PT twice per week by doing "ruck-marches" This means walking, pretty fast, while wearing the aforementioned backpacks.  Our goal is 15 minutes per mile.  Apparently to "pass" this training we need to complete an 8 mile march in 2 hours.  I wonder if I don't or can't meet that goal what would happen-I suspect that I would still be headed to Afghanistan.  Or maybe I would be punished and sent home?  

The ladies of PRT Zabul (minus 2) displaying our packs proudly.  The reflective belts are so you can see us.  Yes its broad daylight but that's the rule.

Me with my Army "rucksack".  I don't think this does justice to the size. 

Me and Iveth (our PA) with our packs.   

Overall I have a pretty good group of people here that will be my family for the next year.   There are just under 100 of us in the PRT.  For those unfamiliar, PRT is for "Provincial Reconstruction Team".   Our team is composed of Civil Affairs, Engineers, Medical, Public Affairs and others.  We will be working together with USDA and non-Governmental agencies to help support the infrastructure, government and economy of Afghanistan and specifically the Province of Zabul.  We are training with about 12 other PRT's that will work in other provinces.  The end goal is to help make the government more stable to resist the influence of the Taliban.