Bavarian News interview

Check out my interview in the Bavarian News! I'm on page 3. http://www.rlehner.de/milcom/bn/2012/bn_14_2012.pdf

It's a boy!

My wife and I just found out that we will be having a baby boy! It was awesome to be able to see the ultrasound, and to hear the heartbeat. I had to miss the last appointment due to work, and so I hadn't seen the baby since my wife was 7 weeks along. Now, at 21 weeks, I am amazed at how much the baby has grown! My wife and I are very excited. The baby's name will be Liam Phillip Harmon. His due date is around 1 November. I will try to post pictures of the ultrasound soon. It's hard to believe that in just 5 short months I will be a father! I have always wanted to be a father, and to have a family of my own. I just hope that I will make a great dad. I pray that I will always know how to juggle family life and the military. I want to always be there for my children. I want them to know that, no matter what, I will always love them!

CA Selection Course (Update)

I made it! I just passed the rigorous 10-day Civil Affairs selection course! I am not allowed to give out any details, so please don't ask. I will say that the course is no joke. If you are planning on going anytime soon, I recommend that you start preparing NOW. Talk to the CA recruiters if you have any questions on what to expect. So, what's the next step for me? I am waiting to receive a report date to begin the Q-course. I should know something by next week (hopefully!). My wife is due to have our first baby around November, so the plan is to PCS back to the States before then so that she can have the baby in America. (Pray that I will be able to be there with her when the baby is born.) Speaking of baby, my wife and I will be going to the doctor in about three weeks to find out what we are having!!!

Civil Affairs Selection Course

I just received my official travel orders to attend the Civil Affairs Selection Course for May. According to the itinerary, this will be a rigorous ten-day course, designed to test candidates both physically and mentally. If (when!) I pass the course, I will be put on orders to PCS (move) from my current duty station here in Germany back to Fort Bragg, NC. There, I will attend a rigorous year-long pipeline, which will include Airborne school, language school, and the CA NCO course, among other things. According to the Special Operations Recruiting Battalion:

Civil Affairs Soldiers are the field commander's link to the civil authorities in his area of operations. With specialists in every area of the government, they can assist a host government meet its people's needs and maintain a stable and viable civil administration. Civil affairs units help military commanders by working with civil authorities and civilian populations in the commander’s area of operations to lessen the impact of military operations on them during peace, contingency operations and declared war. Civil Affairs forces support activities of both conventional and special operations forces, and are capable of assisting and supporting the civil administration in the area of operations. Civil affairs specialists can quickly and systematically identify critical requirements needed by local citizens in war or disaster situations. They can also locate civil resources to support military operations, help minimize civilian interference with operations, support national assistance activities, plan and execute non-combatant evacuation, support counter-drug operations, and establish and maintain liaison or dialogue with civilian aid agencies and civilian commercial and private organizations. In support of special operations, these culturally oriented, linguistically capable Soldiers may also be tasked to provide functional expertise for foreign internal defense operations, unconventional warfare operations and direct action missions.

To learn more about U.S. Army Civil Affairs, CLICK HERE.

Please keep me in your prayers, and wish me luck! HOOAH!