Getting Closer!

"Dear Mom,
From what I understand, I have to go to AIT straight from BAsic. Whether or not I'll be able to get off or see you guys at AIT is beyond me. I really don't know.
But I am DEFINATELY graduating. I passed my final APFT test. I got 38 pushups, 47 situps and ran 2 miles in 16:17 (side note: evidently Pete wasn't pleased with these numbers as he put frownie faces beside each one).
The reason I did so poorly is because someone fell and messed up their knee right at the beginning and I stayed back to try and help him. I was behind at least 15 seconds and everyone was ahead of me. Drill Sergeant came up and took over so I stupidly sprinted into the middle of the group and completely winded myself.
My besttime running is 15:58.
We got fitted for Class As today. I'm gonna be super hot. Hehe! :)
I actually haven't gained a lot of muscle. I'm getting rippped and skinny, but I'm not gaining any muscle. In fact, a guy here who was a body builder has lost a lot of muscle mass.
Will you ask Dad if he is gonna wear his Class As? The DS came and asked if any high-ranking personnel were coming for us, and I told them Dad was, and they asked his rank.
My battle buddies are requesting that he smoke the drill sergeants. I told them he would more than likely smoke us instead! :)
Last week of training! :)
With Love,
PFC Peter Nelson

(PS) No more phone calls all cycle. 3 soldiers in 2nd platoon snuck to the PX and got caught. The whole company got screwed. No more priveledges res of cycle."

"Dear Mom,
This letter is going to contain a little profanity....I messed up tig time yesterday. I got the entire platoon smoked while we were in the field.
My drill sergeant called for us to form up and my baddy and I (the 2 MGers) were close to the last to get there. I thought my platoon guide said to hurry and fall in, but it was drill sergeant. My buddy said, "Why don't YOU fall in?" and being me I said, "Yeah, why don't you fall the **** in?" Turns out my drill sergeant said it. He dropped the whole platoon and ran at me yelling, "You mother ****er! I'm the one that said to fall in!" Woops! Needless to say most of my platoon hates me. I'm not too upset about it because all we have left is 10 days! :)
Thankfully those last 2 months have somewhat flown. No doubt the days have drug on, but the weeks have gone by fast.
Change of plans. The final ruck march was moved to Tuesday night and Wednesday morning instead of Saturady night into Sunday morning.
Things her get pretty hectic. Right now, my battle buddy is walking around in NOTHING but his helmet, boots and camel back. And he has his rifle in between his legs. People are stupid.
Could you please send pictures? And stamps? I'm all out. :(
I'm so ready to be home. Todsay is almost over. :) There are only about 9 days now. :) I have a feeling we're about to be smoked, so I'm gonna go.
I love y'all. :)
WIth love,
PFC Peter Nelson

P.S. Could you PLEASE change my roster number on my letters ot 339 instead of 399? My drill sergeants are making fun at me for it."

The Latest (and best so far)

"Dear Mom & Dad,
We qualified with our M16s yesterdsay. Really, it was pre-qual, but they wanted to save time on Saturday (The actual qual day) and so they said if you shoot sharpshooter or expert, you don't have to come out to the range to qulaifty on Saturday.
Anyways, I'd been knocking down targets left and right throughout the week. As someone who has never shot a rifle before, I was getting a little cocky. The DSs and the company commander kept telling me that I was a great shot and to keep up my confidence. They did NOT tell me to get overconfident.
I made a bet with my buddy where the lowest score would take the higher's fireguard shift for the night. Fireguard is where 2 people stay up and keep account of where the other soldiers are at night, and each hour, 2 more people rotate.
I shot 32 otu of 40. Not bad, but not expert. I guess I could live with Sharpshooter, but I find my buddy and he shot 34. Oh great!! Now I get to do another fireguard shift next time he has one.
I'm getting to understand the Army more and more. We stand around and wait for hours to shoot for a few minutes. We were supposed to have an inspection of our bay today, so for the past few days we've cleaned like crazy, only to find out that plans changed and it's now a surprise.
I can't really tell if I'm at Basic or not. Tomorrow (Saturday) we get a pizza party and next Friday we're gong to a high school football game. That doesn't sound like Basic to me! Then again, I remember that we have a 5 or 6 mile road march on Monday with about 45 pound on my back. oh joy!
We took a PT test today. I passed my pushups and only missed my situps by about 5 or 6. We didn't run today because it was lightning.
Oh, and what's up with Michael Jackson's case? I saw they considered it homicide? What is wrong with them?! I saw he had drugs in his room? That's a bunch of bull!
Well, I've got to get to bed. I'm not feeling well and I'm getting hoemesick. Pnneumonia is going around, too.
5 more Sundays :)
WIth love, PFC Peter Nelso

PS I've been in the infirmary with 102 fever the past few days. I feel better now.