Saturday, January 26, 2013

Week 3 of ILE

I am a bit behind on my weekly update due to the reading workload this week. I will begin this post where I left off from the last one.

On 17 Jan (Thu), I received my critique from the diagnostic writing assignment. The comments were helpful but I would recommend that the diagnostic writing assignment be on an argumentative essay written prior to the course so that the instructors can have better feedback on our writing. If there are students who are having trouble with it, then they can be identified early. Early reading on argumentative essay format should also be provided.

In the evening of the 17th, I saw the movie Lincoln. I enjoyed it especially seeing it in Virginia where some of the actual locations occurred in this area. Lincoln has been a favorite past president of mine. In fact, I recall buying his biography during a book sale when I was in junior high... such a nerd even back then. 

On 18 Jan (Fri), we had a guest speaker Dr. Douglas Macgregor (he owns this link so it may be biased; for additional information on him, here is another link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_Macgregor). The topic he discussed was "Army Planning and the Pivot to the Western Pacific: The Tyranny of Distance."

I drove home that afternoon and spent the weekend with my family. The 19th of January was my birthday and my husband took me to a show by the Shey Yun Performing Arts and we had sushi afterwards.

Front row seats at the Shey Yun Perfoming Arts show in Raleigh, NC

  Sunday and Monday were low key days just hanging out with the kids. I went back to Fort Lee refreshed and ready for another week.


Sofia with her art work at the Fuquay Varina Junior Women's Club Art Festival
Antonio and I (with "Blizzard," his penguin) at Anna's Pizza in Fuquay Varina, NC

On  22 Jan (Tue), We covered International Security Environment. I completed my media interview in front of the class. I did my media interview plan on access to care for the Department of the Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation at WAMC. I am so glad they allowed us to pick our own topic.

On 23 Jan (Wed), I attended a Writing Improvement Program (WIP) course. I was able to get some more guidance on our first argument paper. That day, we also finished up our critical thinking module and covered reading on culture. In the afternoon, I stopped by the Cardinal Golf Course in Fort Lee, VA. Once the weather improves, I plan on going back to play and may take some lessons. That evening, half of my classmates and I went to the Croaker's Spot Restaurant. I chose the restaurant based on rave reviews on Yelp. Then we headed to the Veteran's Administration Hospital where we spent time with the inpatients. They played bingo and we assisted the staff in feeding the patients and cleaning up thereafter. The visit is a requirement for community service during our course.

Motley Crue of Group D Class 13-001 at Croakers, Richmond, VA

On 24 Jan (Thu), we covered 17th Century Early Revolution history and leadership management. In the afternoon, some of us went to see Zero Dark Thirty. I thought of it as a social officer professional development. I also enjoyed this movie. It kept me awake the whole time and I was elated to learn that the catalyst for the mission was by a female CIA agent. I'm starting to reflect on myself and discovering that I may be a feminist, but I will have to read more about feminism to say for sure. That evening, I had to read several articles to prepare for the following day.

On 25 Jan (Fri), we had discussions on joint operations, we learned about soft and hard power, strategy, international relations. I learned about realism, liberalism and constructivism. The instructors also announced that due to the budget cuts, many of our off site visits such as to Norfolk, Langley, and DC are going to be cancelled. I also learned from another group that the Reading Improvement Program (RIP) course has been cancelled. It is highly disappointing since these are part of the curriculum that I was very much looking forward to experiencing.

In the evening, my Filipina friends and I went to a Korean restaurant in Colonial Heights, VA. We had heavy snow but glad we were able to make it to the restaurant. It was nice to get away from the hotel and spend time with new friends. One commented that we need to keep doing it as "Filipina Fridays".... great idea! I then spent a couple of hours with my classmates who were playing poker. I'm sure they will keep playing and maybe I will learn as well.

So, I am all caught up now since today is 26 Jan (Sat). I was watching the movie Fiesta from 1947 with Ricardo Montalban and Esther Williams. They played twins in the movie (Mario and Maria). Mario is a bullfighter who wants to be a composer and Maria wants to be a bullfighter and became one to replace Mario. Pretty awesome.... again, with the feminist comment, I am really drawn to stories of women who take traditional professions that are supposed to be for men. I also learned about Conchita Cintron, a famous woman bullfighter. I still think it is a machismo world and I like reading about the women who defy such a world.

It is timely to also mention that the Defense Secretary Leon Panetta announced opening up combat positions to women this week.

A few news worthy links on the topic:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/01/24/women-in-combat-briefing/1861887/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_the_military

http://video.msnbc.msn.com/the-cycle/50578082/#50578082

I will end this update with that. A few classmates and I are cooking this afternoon/evening, I will start with that for the next posting. I was able to post some pictures on this post. Have a great weekend.



Friday, January 18, 2013

Empty Cold Bed

I've used poetry as far as I can remember to express my feelings and I want to start doing it again. It has been said that distance makes the heart go fonder. The recent cold weather and living in a huge empty room also inspired me to write this poem dedicated to the one I love. You know who you are...

The bed is cold
Without you to hold
The sheets are neat
Tucked over my feet

The room is cozy
The scent is rosey
But it doesn't matter
Just want to rollover

My heart is empty
You're not with me
Don't know what to do
I truly miss you

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Second Week of ILE

I've decided to make this blog a dynamic one that will be useful for future Fort Lee attendees based on my full experiences while I am here. I will be documenting significant events and ideas that I am going through as it happens. I've included links for easy access to certain topics.

Overall keys to success that I've learned so far:
1. Read the assignments, you cannot contribute to the discussions if you do not know the topic(s)
2. Make time to exercise (I've been doing the Insanity Workout and will continue to do it for the duration of this course)
3. Do not be a hotel rat, visit local historic sites
4. Network with the staff and students
5. Stay on top of written assignments

08 JAN, Tue - report date and we received our rooms at Stay Over, Hopewell, VA

09 JAN, Wed-Inprocessing and welcome briefs; I visited the U.S. Army Women's Museum; I visited the Colonial Heights Mall and saw Les Miserables

10 JAN, Thu- We took our APFT; we had our first block on History; I visited the Quartermaster Museum on post

A fellow classmate and I visited Petersburg for a recon, they have free military entrance to three museums that I plan on going back to. We also went to Richmond, VA where we had Vietnamese Food

11 JAN, Fri - We learned more about leadership and resiliency tools

I drove to Virginia Beach, VA and stayed at the Navy Lodge on Dam Neck. I was able to go to a Filipino restaurant (Susan's Kitchenette).

I contacted a friend I've known since junior high whom I haven't seen for 20 years. She is in the Navy and we are able to catch up.

12 JAN, Sat- My friend and her boyfriend gave me a tour of the USS Iwo Jima in Norfolk, VA. I learned a lot about the Navy and their way of life. We also visited the Navy Exchange. For course work, I completed the Myer Briggs and the Kold Learning Style Inventory.

13 JAN, Sun - I drove to Fort Eustis, VA and visited the Transportation Museum. They have an excellent exhibit so much that the section on Iraq made me feel like I was there. I then drove to Williamsburg where I hungout downtown and went to the outlet mall.

14 JAN, Mon - Back to class. We discussed our Korb LSI and Myer Briggs results (online version of the Myer Briggs). I'm still an ISTJ. We talked about the Individual Development Plan. There are several tools that we can use to assess ourselves to improve our self-awareness.

I submitted my poster abstract to AAPA  for the May conference.

15 JAN, Tue - Media day. We were able to listen to three journalists regarding their perspective regarding Military-Media Relationship.

16 JAN, Wed- We discussed Critical Thinking Articles.

17 JAN, Thu- We had several reading assignments for History that we talked about today. It pays to read them prior to the discussions.  I am supposed to have my first counseling today as well.

So, that is the second week. I will be going home this weekend. Saturday is my birthday and want to spend time with my family.

A few items I want to mention as far as short term goals:
Brainstorm articles to be published (topics: women's history)
Learn how to play golf (just do it)
Learn more Spanish (I was told to read Spanish newspapers and books, I've been watching Telenovelas for fun in the evenings)
Networking (continue to meet other ILE students)
Traveling (visit Pentagon, visit DC, go back to Petersburg, go back to Virginia Beach).

Thursday, January 10, 2013

First Week of ILE

I am now here at ILE (Intermediate Level Education) course in Fort Lee, Virginia. We are in our first week of a 3-month course. I have several plans in the upcoming months in order to maximize my time in learning more on how I can become a better leader, network with fellow officers, enjoy activities near Fort Lee. Although this blog entry is part of an actual requirement for the course, my goal is to chronicle my experiences while I am here.

Worth mentioning is that I was able to visit the U.S. Army Women's Museum yesterday where I was able to learn several historical events that happened in the U.S. Army in terms of specific dates and places on how women's service was established. I was also finally able to see the painting of LTC Sherry Lynn Womack (previously a CPT on the painting), a senior PA leader. I plan on going back because I have a couple of research projects I want to get started.

Today we took our APFT and since physical fitness is part of becoming a better leader, I also plan on improving my performance not only for the APFT but for my overall goal of improving myself why I am here.

We just completed our first block on "Civil Military Relations: Theory and History" where we discussed theories in Military Professionalism and Civil Military Relations. We also completed the Nelson-Denny Test which assesses our vocabulary, reading rate and comprehension. I have never heard of this particular test and I am interested in learning more about its validity and reliability. Additionally, on what cohort of individuals it will be beneficial for.

Our first written assignment is due on Monday and I already have some idea on what I want to write about and may eventually publish. Right now we are getting read-aheads on upcoming due outs.

Overall, I'm very much looking forward to finishing this course and accomplishing several professional and personal goals along the way. This blog will be helpful in documenting my thoughts during this time period of my life.