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| *cough**cough* So, umm....obviously this thing hasn't been updated in a really long time. There were some problems that were unforseen when I entered (delay in mail reaching Jeremy). I stopped sending mail when I thought it wasn't being updated. I also got really behind in writing in the journal by hand while in basic training....seems I was busier than I thought I'd be (go figure). Anyway, to bring everyone up to speed, I graduated basic training on July 28th of this year. I really enjoyed training and at times even find myself missing the controlled atmosphere and especially the drill sergeants. Yeah, it sucked at times, but it was the same thing everyday...I didn't have to worry about surprises or anything. Now I'm in San Antonio, TX where I'm doing medic training. I'm about halfway through the training now and by this time next week will have taken (and hopefully passed) the National Registry exam for EMT-B. I REALLY enjoy this training far more than I thought I would. I have a knack (I think) for being a medic and I think I could see myself doing this for a while. There is a good chance that I will be released from the National Guard (voluntarily) in order to go into the Active Army. I haven't decided officially yet, but I've definitely been leaning that way for the past month and a half. If I still feel strongly about it in a month's time, then I'm going. I think it'll be good to get a couple years away from school and get some experience in a job I love. Anyway, I should be able to update this thing a lot more often now. We're off-duty at 6 pm every day and I can get access to internet. Expect an update at least once a week. I'll put my address up here next time so you can write if you want. I also have my cell phone here if you want to call. The number hasn't changed. | | |
| I didn't write anything yesterday, and I've got lots of time to write now (more in a minute) so here goes...
PT yesterday morning was fun. We ran 30-60's (30
second sprint, 60 second brisk walk). We did a few. We then did another
session of unarmed combat. We've learned drills to get out of different
dominant positions. It was going well until our DS, DS Williams got mad
at so many people screwing around. He smoked us for a good 30 minutes
outside. It was hot, and we were already sweaty from the drills. My
uniform was soaked. It was really bad because I was trying to learn one
of the moves. I still need to work on it. We had more class after
lunch, then we were smoked again. It was rough. This morning we only
had a brief PT sessio. Basically just conditioning drills. After
breakfast, I was doig the same run I always doto the area my platoon
does pushups and situps after chow. This time though I jogged backwards
to check on my battle buddy. I tripped over something and fell. Hard. I
helt and heard a hard crack in my ankle. Even my battle buddy heard it.
So, now I'm at the troop hospital getting it checked on. OK. Good news
about the ankle. Just some tendonitis. The doctor gave me some motrin.
I'll be fine tomorrow. Gotta be for victory tower. He gave me a profile
for 3 days meaning I don't have to do anything, really. But I'm not
going to use it. I'll take it easy on it today, but tomorrow will be
game on. Now I'm just waiting for another private from my platoon. I
dislike him. He told the DS that he also hurt his ankle and had to go.
Then he wrote down head cold and hurt ankle on his sick call slip. THEN
when we got here, he checked in for an ingrown toenail. So instead of a
quick visit, I have to wait a couple of hours until he's done.
2 June 2006
My ankle feels a lot better today. I've kept taking
it as easy as possible on it. Fortunately, we haven't had to run or
anything. The other private from my platoon that went with me for his
'toenail' is not a favorite with the DS. Apparently he goes every
couple of days when a profile runs out to get a new profile for another
'injury.' We had to turn in the profiles to DS Bowen when we returned.
Somehow the guy with me is on 2 different profiles for the next week.
The DS just rolled his eyes. He then looked at my profile, then looked
at my ankle (still swollen). He asked me when I thought I would be okay
to do things. I told him I was taking motrin and icing the ankle and
I'd be good the next morning. He smiled and gave me an 'outstanding.'
Sooo, today was Victory Tower. Look online for a picture of it and look
at it. I kicked it's ass. It was a lot of fun actually. Now, I'm going
to try to play off that I wasn't scared or nervous or whatever beacuse
I definitely was. But I just hit every obstacle full speed without
taking time to think about it. After the obstacles the rapelling part
was pretty easy. I had rapelled before, but not that high. But, I
cleared it in 3 big bounds. That was a lot of fun. And after victory
tower we marched back in the hot, humid SC weather (pouring rain) to
some great cadences. Cadences are my favorite part to BCT so far. I get
to use my singing voice then, making sure it doesn't disappear over the
next couple of months. Then we got smoked a lot. All for stupid things,
just part of the mind game. A lot of people still haven't figured that
out, that it's mostly a game, designed to produce team-oriented
soldiers.
I think I might be starting to grow up a bit and get
the team thing. My platoon's males are split among 3 different platoon
bays because our platoon bays house the females. Anyway, all the males
on the first floor (bays 1and2) were waiting to get into our respective
bays and arguing over our last smoking. I sleep in bay 1. Anyway, one
of the 2nd bay DS's (Osario) came out and started smoking the 3rd
platoon males that stayed in his bay, said they were too loud outside.
Keep in mind we were all arguing (though the problem WAS from 2 guys
from the 2nd bay....waaay too loud). He didn't make bay 1 males do
anything, he thought we weren't doing anything. Long story short, I
jumped in the smoking with them, and it was brutal. I'm sore from it
already. And it was right after we had been smoked as a platoon for
stupid stuff.
The guys in the 3rd platoon, Bay 1 with me asked me
after it was over why I had done it, that our group wasn't ordered to
join. I told them that the other guys were still 3rd platoon and I
wasn't going to make them do it alone and abandon them. I said we were
all a team and it was time we started acting like it. It seems like it
was something all the guys were just like 'you're right.' A couple were
like, yeah, I was about to join in too. Haha. Too funny. But we'll see
what happens. I'm not expecting there to be a difference yet. It's
still early in the cycle. But, on that note ONE WEEK DOWN!!! Time for
sleep.
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| 29 May 2006
Today we had our first full morning PT session. That
means they didn't have to teach us exercises, we just got to go through
them. I love morning PT(seriously). It always feels good and it is
highly motivating. Today was a running day. I'm starting to really
enjoy running. I especially like the cadences like the one above. I
never felt like dropping out of the run, not once. And I yelled the
cadences the whole time. Now, that may not be a big deal to most, but I
have never been a running person. It's big to me that I'm getting
better at it. My personal goal is to get my 2 mile time to 14 minutes
or less. I ran the 2 mile in 17:50 for our test a couple days ago, but
I jogged and wasn't worn out at the end. I think I can do it.
We had our Commander's and First Sergeant's
briefings today. And we got all our TA-50 gear (ruck sack etc.) We were
told that tomorrow afternoon we get our rifles. Friday is Victory
Tower, and the rest of the week is classes. the classes will probably
be boring. But, they say after the tower, the training really takes
off. They say (the DS's anyway) that the stuff starts flying by. I hope
so. Today was a good, quick day. Good PT and smokings throughout the
day. Nothing too bad. Our DS, Bowen told us this morning that he
expects someone to quit. Said he'll turn up the heat after our PT
test/assessment tomorrow. He said that he is sure someone won't have
the intestinal fortitude to drive on. Well, I'm sure it won't be me.
The only way I'm leaving here is as a soldier.
30 May 2006
Today was the first day of training that was like a
rollercoaster. Parts of the day were really good and other parts were
really bad. It started out really well. We had a diagnostic PT test
early this morning. I knocked out 30 pushups, 50 situps, and a 7:45
mile run. All of these were improvements over the test we took just 5
days ago. I know I won't constantly improve at this rate, but it was a
great feeling.
After our test, we had our first unarmed combat
class. We've just learned basics and haven't started fighting, but it
was still fun. The Army uses a combination of Sambo and the style
ju-jitsu that the little guy used to kick everyone's ass in UFC. I
think his name is Grissy? Something like that. He was like 5 feet even,
95 pounds and still beat everyone. The concept is to force the fight to
the ground and utilize chokeholds to take out your opponent. Or just
break random bones. Fun! We had boring classes between lunch and
dinner. After dinner though, my platoon fell apart. A lot of them got
out of formation, joked around, etc. We got our asses smoked. It was
pretty bad. We were smoked outside in the sun, then taken to our bay
where the fun continued. It got even better when afterwards the ones
complaining the loudest and urging us to do better were the ones who
were the loudest and least disciplined after dinner chow. Oh well. We
then got phone calls, but were limited to 5 minutes. I called one
person because i havent talked to her in a long time (well a week and
change), and I really miss her. But...I got voicemail. Icing on the
rotten, stale cake that was this evening. I love how one day can just
run you through emotions. Oh, I called my mom too...I got her
voicemail. It was the saddest I've been here. Not even kidding. Write
letters! Cheer me up!
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| I haven't had a chance to write in a while. It's been a busy couple of
days. We shipped downrange on Wednesday. I don't think I wrote anything
for Monday or Tuesday at reception. Basically nothing, and shots. I
actually didn't mind the shots. Of course, I had to pee so badly I
thought my bladder would explode. A little tip, pee before the shot
briefing. They won't let you go during the briefing process. And it
takes almost 2 hours. It was intense. But on the bright side, none of
the shots bothered me.
Se actually shipped Tuesday night. It was supposed
to be Wednesday, but guess what? My training cycle was part of a
training test being conducted by the Army. Basically we went downrange
for 2 days of testing with the Drill Sergeants. 5 companies did this at
once (all of 1/13th) and everyone was divided into either one of three
9-week cycle companies, one 12-week cycle, or one 7-week cycle. I was
placed in B Co. My Mailing address is (see other entry)
I'm in a 9-week cycle, so nothing has changed for
me. Today is Saturday. We offically started yesterday at lunch. Let me
tell you, I have done so many pushups so many different ways. The DS
that works with us the most is DS Bowman. He's a great DS, but he's a
hardass. He drops us a lot. His favorite smoking involves us (the
platoon) going down for a pushup and holding right before you push up.
Then he has aus bounce, sway, lift legs... it's tough. He also has us
run, do pushups (25 for now) and situps (25) after every meal. He said
that number will probably increase every week, toughness included. I
really like him.
Tonight I got smoked with about 10 other guys in my
platoon for like an hour. We were waiting outside of our bay and a
couple guys wouldn't shut up. A DS walked by and heard them and dropped
all of us. He went for about 20 minutes until another DS came up. then
she brutally smoked us for another 40 minutes. She told us it was going
to be bad enough to make someone quit. It was. Trust me. But no one
caved. I am so sore now though. i have to go sleep now and recover. DS
Bowman walked by when we were getting smoked and told us that the whole
platoon will be getting a terrible smoking tomorrow afternoon. Can't
wait...
Sunday 28 May 2006
Man I'm loving Sundays. We've only been smoked once!
It was by DS Cook though. She was the one who wanted to make people
quit last night. She's really tough. I think she likes me though. And
by that, I mean that the only personal attention I've drawn from her
has been positive. Yesterday morning she conducted drill-offs with my
company. Correction, 2 days ago (they all bend together). A drill-off
is where the DS calls commands and the privates do them (drill
commands). If a private messes one up, then he gets out of the
formation. This continues until there is a winner. I won both of them!
Today we're just sitting around though. We had
cleaning tasks but we've finished already (currently 1000) I think we
have personal time until chow, but i'm not sure I believe that. I
expect us to get smoked any time.
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| Day Zero
So the wake up call (4am) seemed ridiculously early. Guess I better get
used to it. Got to MEPS at 5am. And sat. And waited. Didn't do anything
but watch sportscenter re-runs over and over. But, I nlearned that
Bond's can't hit another homerun, and now apparently pitchers are out
to get him :)
FINALLY shipped out around 1PM. Then drove all the
way to Ft. Jackson. I think we got here around 6. I think (hope)
they're trying to push us through reception quickly. We already got
haircuts. Seemed like we did a lot tonight anyway.
I heard Drill Sergeant yell for the first time. It
was a female DS. I think they heard her on the other side of the base.
It was unreal. Some woman thought it would be ok to go to the latrine
alone. Wow. My ears are still ringing.
We're supposed to go to the PX tomorrow. I'll let you know how it goes.
Reception Day One
Wake up at 5. Not as bad as I thought. Then
breakfast (less than 5 mins to eat...good thing i've always been a
quick eater). Then waiting, lots of waiting.
We did got o the PX (a store on base) and bought
things we need. I got a pair of running shoes I love. More waiting
(about 2 hours at one point for a 5 minute interview setting up
pay....that was already set up). For lunch we had a choice of some
stuffed Malasian fish. I definitely eat better here than I have the
last like 2 years. Now we're just waiting around to use the phones.
8:46PM
So, we waited for an hour to use the phones. Then my platoon didn't get
to use them. We just went straight to dinner. Since we didn't get to
use a phone, we got in line for chow first. I don't know if that was a
good reward though. We didn't get to eat any longer, we just got out
first...and waited for an hour for everyone else to finish. I wish i
were exaggerating. Anyway, it is almost 9. I can't remember the last
time I went to bed this early. Trust me though, I'll sleep well. Oh,
one of the Sergeants told us it looks like we're going down range
Wednesday. I hope it's sooner. Reception is driving me crazy.
Reception Day 2
I forgot to tell everyone about our first sergeant
at Bravo Company here at reception. He looks (and sounds) just like
Dave Chappelle. Exactly like him. He acts like him for the most part,
sans humor. Not that he isn't funny. People here keep calling him
'Drill Sergeant' instead of 'First Sergeant' so he started calling
people 'Kindergarten Kid.' He said he was a drill sergeant 9 years ago
and it was just as demeaning for him as it was for us to be called
kindergarten kid. I thought it was funny. I also think I've been here
too long. We got ACU's (uniforms) today. They are nice. We also got to
use phones. I called my mom, tried to call someone else but didn't get
through.
5-22
Sorry for the delay in writing. We didn't do anything this
weekend, at all. We went to chow and them came to the barracks to hang
out. Both days. But Friday, we got our uniforms (ACU's). I like them. A
lot. I also got a call through to NY, NY. It made my weekend. For
serious.
We got shots today. No more shots in the ass! Guess
the Army dropped that one. Good for us. It's official now, we're
shipping out tomorrow at 7pm.
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