Those are some beautiful picture frames.

You guys have been such a big help. I ship within the next 10 days, and I’ll definitely remember all of this information. I’ve been told by a few others not to stress too much at reception as well. Any more help or advice is greatly appreciated. When I get back, I’ll make some time to sit down and write a post detailing my experience and share it here on the forum (not exactly sure which topic yet). I'll do that so others preparing to go in, or those curious about how things have changed since their time in, can read it.  Thank you all,  Hayden

I managed to get hold of a Maxofascial Shield for the HGU-84 and I installed the CX/4832 along with the speakers into the helmet so pretty much construction is now complete along with that I also added a new lip light which has a IR illuminator and the green lights with a built in switch on the battery connector that controls the lights flip the switch one way you activate the IR illuminator and flip it the other way to turn on the green lights.

Soldiers of the 4th Calif Inf. with Native Americans at Fort Mohave

Captain Charles Atchison of 4th Calif Inf. Company I at Fort Mohave, Arizona Territory

4th California Infantry Regiment (Union) The 4th California Infantry Regiment was a Union volunteer infantry regiment organized in September–October 1861 at Sacramento, Placerville, and Auburn in northern California Wikipedia+1. It was part of the Department of the Pacific and served from September 1861 to April 18, 1866, when it was mustered out Wikipedia+1. Organization and Command Colonel Henry M. Judah (Sept 1861 – Nov 1861) Colonel Ferris Forman (Nov 1861 – Aug 20, 1863) Colonel James F. Curtis (Aug 20, 1863 – Nov 30, 1865, when the regiment was consolidated) Wikipedia+1 Service and Deployment Most recruits expected to be sent east, but were instead assigned to garrison and occupation duties on the West Coast Wikipedia. The regiment served in: District of Oregon (Oregon and Washington Territory) District of Southern California Some companies later moved to Arizona Wikipedia+1 Because duties were often company-level, the regiment was detached and scattered; no company was ever held in full strength for extended combat Wikipedia. Company Assignments and Movements A: Fort Vancouver (1861–1862), Benicia Barracks, Camp Drum, Santa Barbara, Fort Humboldt, Camp Iaqua National Park Service+1 B: Fort Vancouver, Fort Dalles, Benicia Barracks, Camp Drum, Fort Mojave, Drum Barracks, Fort Humboldt, Fort Gaston National Park Service+1 C: Fort Walla Walla, Benicia Barracks, Camp Drum, Santa Catalina Island occupation (1864), Drum Barracks, Fort Mojave National Park Service+1 D: Fort Yamhill, Fort Hoskins, Coos Bay expedition, Fort Yamhill National Park Service+1 E: Fort Steilacoom, Benicia Barracks, Camp Drum, Fort Yuma, Drum Barracks National Park Service+1 F: Camp Sigel, Camp Union, San Francisco, Camp Latham, Fort Yuma, La Paz, Arizona, Fort Yuma, Drum Barracks; later Fort Humboldt National Park Service+1 G: Camp Sigel, Camp Union, San Francisco, Camp Latham, San Diego National Park Service+1 H: Camp Sigel, Camp Union, San Francisco, Camp Latham, Camp Drum National Park Service+1 Notable Events Occupation of Santa Catalina Island (Co. C) in January–December 1864 National Park Service La Paz incident (Co. K) Wikipedia Fort Mohave duty in Arizona Territory Wikipedia Flags and Legacy The regiment’s regimental flag and Company B’s flag are the only surviving banners, preserved in the California State Capitol. Company flags were often made by local women and presented to companies before enlistment Wikipedia. Roster The unit’s roster lists 2,114 men FamilySearch+1. In summary: The 4th California Infantry was a small, scattered Union regiment that saw little large-scale combat but performed important garrison, occupation, and frontier duties along the Pacific coast during the Civil War.  

Guess I forgot to post this here last year. have the dummy NVG's on and the helmet looks the part. You will be surprised with what I managed to get hold of this year for this helmet.

Don’t stress too much while you’re at reception battalion. Lots of idiots think that is the true experience you are going to get. If you focus and don’t let them psych you out, you will be surprised how many guys drop out before they get to actual basic training.    And as dd937 says, a great deal of military life is all mental. You are going to hit many points very soon where you will feel like you made the wrong decision or that you’re not cut out for it. You got to tell yourself thats BS. No matter how tired or hurt you think you are, you can alway go a little further    Also, get used to wearing a camelback ALL THE TIME

"Execution of a soldier of the 8th Infantry in Prescott, Arizona 1877" is the caption. In fact, it is the execution of Private James Malone of Company K 12th US Infantry in Prescott Arizona 15 March 1878 for his part in a January 1876 murder[2]

Mine was like that too.