SRP

With deployment to Iraq not being too far away (dates will be withheld for obvious security reasons), my company the 1171st Transportation completed the state SRP (Soldier Readiness Program). I completed a pre-SRP in April and wasn't really thrilled to endure another ordeal. Being that our company strength is at about 200 personnel; that makes for a lot of people going through the many stations. The company has grown in strength recently with many command directed people, with many of them young privates.

Being this is my 3rd combat deployment, I am finding SRP to be more difficult each time. More family information is needed, not like it was in 1990 when I was single. Required information is for the files, finance and life insurance. One aspect that is making it more difficult is medical. I am 42 today, while in 1990, I was 23 years old with no medical problems and weighing around 135 pounds. Currently, my weight hovers around 185, a no-running profile for a knee problem, back pain from a wreck in 2002. Fallen arches on my feet are no benefit either. The medics did point out that I need to get my cholesterol down or I am a heart attack waiting to happen.

I managed to complete SRP in one day, knocking out the quick stations and taking advantage of long stations when lines were shorter. Another advantage is that not being a smoker, I don't need the smoke breaks.