HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!

So, it's Thanksgiving. This four day weekend will be one of a number of holidays that will interrupt our stay here in the lovely Ft. Benning, GA. As per Army tradition, the entire company filed into the dining facility to receive turkey, stuffing, ham, and lots of other stuff from their chain of command dressed in Army blues. It's actually one of the Army traditions I like. Who doesn't like receiving grub from those who make your life miserable? I know, Monday things will be different. As student XO, there was a certain rapport with the cadre. They didn't yell at us, they guided us. They answered our questions in an even tone. We even had laid back meetings with them without having to worry about locking up at attention and making boxing movements to leave their offices. It could have something to do with the fact that we did an excellent job. It wasn't hard. We had a student first sergeant who was a first sergeant in real life. The student CO was an MI guy who had been in for 6 years just like me. And then there was me. Three prior Army service guys in leadership positions when we are all accustomed to leadership positions made the student leadership procedures seem easy. We rock. I handed off my XO duties today after briefing my successor. He should be fine. I made up the DEFAC schedule for him, set up his detail schedule, and even emailed all of my electronic documents I created to organize the job. He should have it a lot easier than I had it. After all, he doesn't have to write the SOP.

After handing off my XO duties, I left post bound for the Fairfield Marriot. I will stay here for the weekend, but I have a whole weekend planned with some of my classmates. Tonight, I will head off to Buffalo Wild Wings to watch some football and drink adult beverages with some of my fellow candidates. This is the time to unwind, because next week's schedule looks as crazy as this week's schedule. I am very happy I am no longer XO.

-Basic Officer Candidate Sharp