Combat Training Part II

Hi Terri,

We're back safe.

Attached you'll find a couple pictures from yesterday's shooting event. I know it's hard to see in the pictures, but it was a very beautiful scene.

The training was pretty cool. We practiced turning and shooting. In other words, we walk in a line and the instructor yells out which way the enemy is and we all turn and shoot. It was definitely one of those times it was good to be able to delineate between left and right. We
also learned how to shoot using a vehicle as cover. We pull up, jump out, and start shooting over the hood, through the door jams, and around the doors.

While we were there, there were some shepherds close by tending their sheep. Some of the boys came to check out what we were doing, and to ask us for dollars mostly. They weren't one bit afraid of our weapons. The Marines with us shooed them off, but they kept coming back. Then
some Afghan Army soldiers drove up and notice the shepherd boys hanging around. The Afghan soldier drove to where they were, nearly running one of them over, got out and started beating the oldest boy, slapping him around. Of course, we all stopped shooting to watch. It was pretty weird. I've heard the Afghans, or Easterners in general, are a pretty violent and physical people and I've seen it for myself.

I love you,
Mario