We wanted to start a blog that documented Kelly's deployment to Afghanistan. He reports 29 July to Fort Dix, NJ for one month of intense combat skills training (CST). He will have four days of leave, in which Cassi will join him in New Jersey, and then he reports to Afghanistan on 12 September. The duration of his deployment is 6 months.

V for Victory was a common phrase in WWII; Winston Churchill often made the sign. When the London Symphony broadcasted on the BBC radio, they chose to play Beethoven's 5th Symphony because of the "da da da dum" rhythm, which translates to V in the Morse code. They played it to inspire hope in those who were living under the Nazi regime and were able to secretly listen to the BBC. It is an inside joke in our marriage, and we thought it was appropriate for this blog.