Ty with Flat Stanley

Ty, Myself (Joshua Laird), and Flat Stanley

Well,  Ty came to visit me and Flat Stanley in Jacksonville, Fl while I was on leave.  I came home to spend some time with my wife and kids for a little while and Ty and Logan came along with with my parents for my daughter's Birthday. It was good for Flat Stanley to get a chance to see Ty.  It has been a long time since he last saw him.  Sorry, it has been so long since I blogged about Flat Stanley.  We have been quite busy and are certain that you will like the pictures that are will be coming soon.

Flat Stanley at Little Paris in Las Vegas

Flat Stanley in front of the fountains at the Bellagio Casino

Flat Stanley in the Aircraft ready for a Cross-Country Flight.

Flat Stanley with AM1(AW) Joshua R. Laird ready to go.

Flat Stanley at the Cabin Door waiting for the other Aircraft to get ready for 

take-off.

Flat Stanley has had an interesting couple of weeks.  He spent the last three week in Las Vegas, Nevada. He got to meet Terry Fator, see tons of Casinos, and fly cross-country in a HH-60H. He has seen a lot of sights and it seems that he is just getting started. He is currently back in good ol' Norfolk, Virginia where he will be for a little while.  I am not certain when he will get to go on another trip.  It may be soon, but it may me a little ways away.  I guess that we will all just have to sit back and wait to see what happens next. Flat Stanley hopes that every one is ready for a good vacation.  He will continue to stay busy and do all he can while he is with AM1(AW) Joshua R. Laird.  He hopes that you will continue follow him on all of his adventures as he continues to travel the world.  He has been in a lot of places so far.  Lets recap and see where all Flat Stanley has been. He started in Jacksonville, Fl; San Diego, Ca; Ft Jackson, SC; Norfolk, Va; Las Vegas, Nv; and a score of small stops along the way.  I think that he is doing pretty good.  We still haven't made it overseas, but I am sure that we will get there soon.  Take care and have a safe Summer Vacation from Flat Stanley, and check out AM1(AW) Joshua R. Laird's blog  at iraqi-am1.blogspot.com  to follow his travels as well.  You can definitely see some more pictures there.

Hello to Magee Elementary

To:  Ty's 4th grade Flag Class

From:  AM1(AW) Joshua Laird  (Ty's Uncle)

Well, I hope that everyone is enjoying Flat Stanley's adventure with me.  I just wanted to let everyone know that even though the school year is almost at an end that it will not prevent me from continuing on with the stories of Flat Stanley.  I was hoping that we would have something to tell you from Iraq, but it doesn't seem like we will make it there before the school year is out. I would just like to tell you that I will keep this journey going until I complete this tour with the Red Wolves of 84 and back in Jacksonville, Fl.  I hope that you will continue for follow his progress and have a safe and wonderful summer vacation.

Flat Stanley, Jay, Terry Fator, and myself

Well,  in the event that you have been living under a rock for a while, Terry Fator is a winner of "America's Got Talent".  He is a ventriloquist and impersonator.  To tell the truth, he is better than that.  Jay and I went to go see his act while in Las Vegas and we took Flat Stanley around to see the sights.  Sorry, I forgot my cord to upload the photos onto my computer.  I will get them up when I get back to Norfolk.  For now, this is what I got and will probably be the highlight of the trip.  Don't know how I can top meeting Terry Fator, but I guess that I will have to try.  Flat Stanley enjoyed the show a whole lot. He laughed so hard that he just about blew out his laminate.  

HSC-84 Home of the Redwolves

Flat Stanley has landed himself in one of the finest HSC Commands around.  He is now proud to call himself a Redwolf.  It has been a little tedious for Flat Stanley with getting checked into his new command and getting all the qualification that he needs to become a productive member of the Redwolve's Nation.  It is going pretty good and he is doing all that he can to do his part.  He will be going on a little trip pretty soon, so stay tuned.  We can't tell you where he will be popping up next due to Operational Security, but he will definitely be popping up somewhere interesting.

Gone From Camp McCrady

Last day of class for Flat Stanley

Senior Enlisted Platoon Leader, Senior Chief Dobison with Flat Stanley

Senior Officer Platoon Leader, LCDR Smith with Flat Stanley

Drills Sergeant Price with Flat Stanley

Well,  we are all done at Camp McCrady.  Above Flat Stanley is with the leadership of Bravo Company, 1st Platoon.  Drill Sergeant Price was responsible for directing Flat Stanley and Bravo 1st through our training.  We learned a lot in the short time we were in Camp McCrady and would go back again in a heart-beat.  We were directed in more than 1,8oo hours of instructional training, fired more than 1,000 rounds of ammo through various different weapons, and were blown up by an IED (Improvised Explosive Device).  All-in-all, we had a really good time.  We are now in Virginia where we will be indoctrinated in to our new command.  Unfortunately, I don't think that Flat Stanley will make it to Iraq before the school year is out, but we will try.  Flat Stanley and myself hope that every one in Magee Elementary's Fourth Grade Flag Class is enjoying the exploits of Flat Stanley goes Navy.

Battle Gear

Flat Stanley in Battle Gear with Ty's Uncle Josh

Flat Stanley is in his full battle gear along with AM1(AW) Joshua Laird.  It is bullet proof and it will keep him safe when we go overseas.  It is really heavy and weighs approximately sixty pounds.  You really can't complain about the weight when compared to the protection that it provides.  So, no one really complains about it, they just complain about how they feel after wearing it for a while.

Ammo Detail

5.56mm Rounds for the M249 (SAW)

7.62mm Rounds for the M240

Well, Flat Stanley has had a couple of rough days.  He was on an Ammo Detail which was responsible for making sure that every one had enough ammo to fire on our heavy weapons.  It is a very easy job, but it is steady work.  He had to count the rounds to make sure that everyone got the right amount of ammo for the shoot.  It was very fun and interesting to see all the rounds fired.  Flat Stanley had a really good time.  

Getting NARMY Strong

Well, Flat Stanley has been really busy lately.  We are currently having technical difficulties with the internet service here and we can't post any photos.  So, we will have to stick to the narrative.  

Today, Flat Stanley did a pre-qualification fire with his M16A assault rifle.  He did well enough to qualify, but was disappointed at how well he did.  He hopes that he will do better tomorrow.  Tomorrow is the qualifying shoot and he hopes to qualify as a sharp shooter or better.  He did find out that his elevation knob on his rifle is slipping while he is firing so he will be more conscience of that tomorrow and hopes that it will make a difference.  

This week, Flat Stanley's platoon is the duty platoon.  He assists in loading all the ammo so that every one has the correct amount of ammo to fire.  It means that he has to get up really early in the morning so that his platoon can get a head start on it.  It means that he is working really long hours.  Other than that, Flat Stanley is doing really well and is ready to get on to his next location.  

Flat Stanley goes NARMY!!!

It has been going pretty well here and Flat Stanley has been able to get a few rounds down range.  He is doing pretty good, and is a decent shot.  He has a little trouble with the 300 meter shot with his battle gear on, but he is doing just fine.

Flat Stanley with M16A2

Well, there are some pictures of Flat Stanley with his battle gear and the M-16 that was issued, but we are having technical issues with the internet loading the picture up on to the blog.  So, we will get them up shortly when we are having better service.  It has been busy and we can't go too much into detail about what is going on here.  It is a little hush, hush.  Just rest assure that Flat Stanley is in good hands here.  

Leaving San Diego

Flat Stanley at San Diego International Airport

Well, Flat Stanley is finished with San Diego and is headed to South Carolina and will be undergoing some intensive training.  Bad news though,  cameras are not authorized on the shooting range.  I was hoping that I would be able to get a picture of Flat Stanley with a M-16. We will see what we can do though.

Shots and more, oh boy.

Flat Stanley with HM1 Peoples, who assisted him with his medical needs.

Flat Stanley with YN2 Torre, who directed him in the things that needed to get completed throughout the processing through NMPS (Navy Mobilization Processing Site). 

Today was mostly spent at medical, where Flat Stanley had to get numerous vaccinations to protect him from all the possible diseases that he may come in contact with in Iraq. Flat Stanley was a trooper and didn't cry while he got his shots.  Most of them time was spent waiting in line to get through the processing.  After completing the medical portion it was off to make sure that all the online courses required were completed prior to departing.  Flat Stanley got it all complete and is doing good.  He is getting very close to completing everything that needs to be done.  He will soon be leaving San Diego to go to Ft. Jackson, South Carolina for training.  

Indoctrination

Flat Stanley with BM2 Taylor and CE2 McPherson at NMPS (Navy Mobilization Processing Site).

Here is the room that Flat Stanley shares with AM1 Laird (Ty's Uncle).

Jet-lag + 5 hours of PowerPoint presentations = NAP

Flat Stanley needed to get into the uniform of the day to participate in the processing.  He did not have his uniform ready today and it ended in counseling.

Close up of Flat Stanley in the uniform of the day.

Today was a lengthy day.  Flat Stanley reported to NMPS at 0530 (5:30 A.M.) for uniform fitting, Pre-Deployment Health Assessment, and vital sign monitoring to ensure that he was up to the challenge.  So far, so good.  He was given a break for breakfast and then reported back to NMPS where he attended training for the remainder of the day until 1700 (5:00 P.M.).  He was unaware that he was to report in the correct uniform for processing, so he had to get the correct uniform.  He is now A-J-Squared-Away, which is a Navy term for good-to-go. 

Long day or Short day, depends on how you look at it.

Flat Stanley with the good people of Delta Airways checking in at Jacksonville International Airport at 1200 (12:00 P.M.)

Flat Stanley onboard his connecting flight from Atlanta, Georgia to San Diego, California.

(A five hour flight that crossed three Time Zones.)

Flat Stanley back-packing it through San Diego International Airport.

Flat Stanley checking in at Naval Base San Diego. 

(Home-Sweet-Home for the next six days)

Well, Flat Stanley's day started relatively late with a 1440 (2:40 P.M.) take of from Jacksonville International Airport.  His lay-over in Atlanta, Georgia for his connecting flight to San Diego, California was very short.  There was barely enough time to get from the arriving gate to the departing gate for the next leg of his journey.  His plane landed in Atlanta at 1600 (4:00 P.M.) and the connecting flight took off at 1640 (4:40 P.M.).  It was a mad-dash for sure.  He then landed in San Diego at approximately 1830 

(6:30 P.M.).  Then he caught a van from the airport to Naval Station San Diego, where he will be until all uniforms have been issued and processing is complete.  The day turned out to be really long due to the three Time Zones that were crossed.  It is now 22:00 (10:00 P.M.) in San Diego, but it is 0100 (1:00 A.M.) for the Time Zone that we started in.  A short day and a long day at the same time.  

Thanks Orion.

I would like to thank Orion for giving Flat Stanley a face-lift.  He is well protected and should be a lot easier to get him around.  Thanks again.

Flat Stanley goes Fed Ex.

A friend of mine offered to take Flat Stanley for me today and give him a little face lift.  He is going to get a coat of laminate to keep him safe.  I hope that he has a good trip.

All Packed Up.

Flat Stanley has been trying to assist in getting ready for his trip.  He has been very busy trying to get all of his affairs in order and get the proper clothing for his trip.  He is all packed up, with the exception of toiletries.

Flat Stanley

Flat Stanley was giving to AM1 (AW) Joshua R. Laird by Ty Laird for his trip.  He is currently on leave with AM1 Laird until March 8th.  He will depart with AM1 Laird to report in San Diego California.