This is the first time I am actually updating the blog. The past few days have been crazy busy getting ready for the big inspection and cleaning our weapons. For the inspection, we cleaned the bays from top to bottom, including the fire sprinklers and lights on the ceilings. We wore our dress blues for the inspection. The CSM and Company Commander went around asking us questions pertaining to the different subject matters that we learned at BCT. The inspection went well. However, the weapons were not up to their standards. So, we had to spend the rest of the day (5 hours) cleaning the weapons making sure that they were all carbon and rust free. We did pass the inspection the next day.
On Tuesday, after the final weapon inspection, we turned in all of our equipment that we were issued. The past couple of days, the DS have been extra hard on us. We have been getting smoked for everything! The DS woke us up every hour because some females were not in proper uniform.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Days 60-61
Day 60: Woke up to another rainy day which did not dictate our moods! After policing the area, packing, and waiting around, which seemd like forever, the white buses pulled up to take us to the bays. It was a welcome site. I took the best shower and did laundry. I was exhausted.
Day 61: Today we cleaned our lockers and bay to prepare for the final inspection on Monday. My locker is finally organized. Right now, I am wearing the beret to form it to my head. I can't wait until we actually get to wear it. We finally were given a radio in our bay. It figures that we are stuck listening to rap the entire time.
Day 61: Today we cleaned our lockers and bay to prepare for the final inspection on Monday. My locker is finally organized. Right now, I am wearing the beret to form it to my head. I can't wait until we actually get to wear it. We finally were given a radio in our bay. It figures that we are stuck listening to rap the entire time.
Days 58-59
Day 58: I actually slept decently last night. The march wore me out and I woke up extremely sore! We had PT, which consisted of sit ups/push ups until muscle failure. We did squad attacks again. My squad works well together. We continued to get smoked for everything and were attacked constantly while pulling security. It was so hard not to fall asleep while in prone position for hours!
Day 59: Slept decently again last night and had to run around the campsite for PT. We learned how to pull security at a highly dangerous location. The DS driving in & out of the camp was good practice. The whole company got seriously smoked for the first time since someone in my platoon lost his weapon. We had to low crawl for 200 feet in a ditch while the DS was pouring water over us. I have never been so dirty. When I finished low crawling, a DS told me that I finally looked like a real soldier. The student leadership was all fired and the DS chose me to take over. Everybody was all mad when we got back & to make matters worse, we were under a tornado warning. The company sat under a lightening protection area and the DS decided to cheer us up. We did a tradition called Apollo where we impersonated the DS, in front of the DS. It was hilarious and lightened the mood. It continued to pour all night.
Day 59: Slept decently again last night and had to run around the campsite for PT. We learned how to pull security at a highly dangerous location. The DS driving in & out of the camp was good practice. The whole company got seriously smoked for the first time since someone in my platoon lost his weapon. We had to low crawl for 200 feet in a ditch while the DS was pouring water over us. I have never been so dirty. When I finished low crawling, a DS told me that I finally looked like a real soldier. The student leadership was all fired and the DS chose me to take over. Everybody was all mad when we got back & to make matters worse, we were under a tornado warning. The company sat under a lightening protection area and the DS decided to cheer us up. We did a tradition called Apollo where we impersonated the DS, in front of the DS. It was hilarious and lightened the mood. It continued to pour all night.
Days 55 - 57
Day 55: The only things we did today was PT, eat and watch movies The DS want us to rest up before Victory Forge. They did not care if we were sleeping, as long as we weren't in our beds. We watched movies like Black Hawk Down and Tears of the Sun.
Day 56: I was able to go to Mass again today. All we did was eat and watch movies, for the second day. I guess we have nothing else to do.
Day 57: Today started off bright & early. We were up at 0200 and were marching by 0330. It took 4 hours to walk 10.5 miles. It was not an easy walk, especially up and down the hills in the woods, walking in the thick sand. We had 2 - 15 minute breaks where we had our feet checked and changed socks. I am so glad my parents mailed me good socks and panty hose because it prevented me from getting blisters. The last 1/2 mile was the hardest because we had to walk up a steep hill in thick sand. I was so glad to make it because I was hurting. After a much deserved breakfast, we settled into tents and walked another mile to where we practiced squad attacks. Each squad had to react to different types of attacks. When we were waiting our turn, which was the majority of the time, we had to pull security. Every so often we would have to react to attackers. The DS enjoyed throwing smoke bombs and land morters. Oh, Victory Forge is apparently an excuse for the DS to smoke us. Every little thing we do wrong, we were smoked! After we got back to the camp, we area and cleaned weapons.
Day 56: I was able to go to Mass again today. All we did was eat and watch movies, for the second day. I guess we have nothing else to do.
Day 57: Today started off bright & early. We were up at 0200 and were marching by 0330. It took 4 hours to walk 10.5 miles. It was not an easy walk, especially up and down the hills in the woods, walking in the thick sand. We had 2 - 15 minute breaks where we had our feet checked and changed socks. I am so glad my parents mailed me good socks and panty hose because it prevented me from getting blisters. The last 1/2 mile was the hardest because we had to walk up a steep hill in thick sand. I was so glad to make it because I was hurting. After a much deserved breakfast, we settled into tents and walked another mile to where we practiced squad attacks. Each squad had to react to different types of attacks. When we were waiting our turn, which was the majority of the time, we had to pull security. Every so often we would have to react to attackers. The DS enjoyed throwing smoke bombs and land morters. Oh, Victory Forge is apparently an excuse for the DS to smoke us. Every little thing we do wrong, we were smoked! After we got back to the camp, we area and cleaned weapons.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Day 54
Day 54: After PT, chow, and some personal time, the company had a Drill & Ceremony competition between the 4 platoons. My platoon only practiced a couple of times, unlike the other platoons. We ended up tying in first but lost the competition by a small amount. As a reward, the females in the top 2 platoons were given permission to finally shave after 8 weeks. We also had a trip to the PX to get supplies for Victory Forge. Everybody is ready for the ftx. Our duffles were packed and turned in this morning. Most commonly bough supplies: baby wipes, camel backs, blister/feet treatment and more baby wipes since we won't be able to shower for 4 days.
The day we spent practically all day outside, a cool front moves through. Although it was a welcome relief after such a hot summer, the cold took everyone aside!
The day we spent practically all day outside, a cool front moves through. Although it was a welcome relief after such a hot summer, the cold took everyone aside!
Days 51 - 53
Day 51: Today we had our last day at the range. We were able to shoot machine guns and grenade launchers. The weapons we shot were: M249, M240 Bravo, Dummy AT4 and M203. It was a lot of fun and probably the only time I will get to shoot the weapons since my MOS will not be combat related.
Day 52: Had 0330 wakeup for the final PT test. I am officially finished with all the requirements for BCT. It feels so good to get the PT test over with. We didn't do too much the rest of the day except clean and hang out in our sleep bays.
Day 53: Once again, we did not do too much except hang out in our bays. I guess we are finished with everything except for Victory Forge and they want us to rest up.
Day 52: Had 0330 wakeup for the final PT test. I am officially finished with all the requirements for BCT. It feels so good to get the PT test over with. We didn't do too much the rest of the day except clean and hang out in our sleep bays.
Day 53: Once again, we did not do too much except hang out in our bays. I guess we are finished with everything except for Victory Forge and they want us to rest up.
Day 50
Day 50: After PT (running), we headed to a range called wanat. It was probably one of my favorite things so far at BCT. The information we learned is some of the most important things we will learn here.
We were broken into squads and each squad had 4 humvees. Yes, we finally got to ride in a humvee. We went on a mission where we had to contact & kill the enemy when we approached a village. We practiced the proper way of team/squad maneuvering.
We also attended a class on IED and detecting them which was very informative. We took what we learned and went on a mission in the woods to see if we could detect any IEDs. The instructor would make the IEDs "go off" if we missed them. It really opened my eyes on the importance of really looking for IEDs or things out of the ordinary.
We were broken into squads and each squad had 4 humvees. Yes, we finally got to ride in a humvee. We went on a mission where we had to contact & kill the enemy when we approached a village. We practiced the proper way of team/squad maneuvering.
We also attended a class on IED and detecting them which was very informative. We took what we learned and went on a mission in the woods to see if we could detect any IEDs. The instructor would make the IEDs "go off" if we missed them. It really opened my eyes on the importance of really looking for IEDs or things out of the ordinary.
Friday, September 16, 2011
Days 48 - 49
Day 48: After PT, chow and quickly changing into battle rattle, we headed to a medical simulation. We got into teams and had to react quickly to care under fire. I was 1 of the 2 medics. My team's situation was dealing with the aftermath of a suicide bomber in a marketplace while dealing with the threat of IED and experiencing direct fire. While my team members pulled security, I had to determine the best methods of quickly caring for the injured within a specific time and evacuate the injured. The wounds were realistic with missing body parts, sounds of live rounds, IED explosions and screams. The instructor was impressed with my team since we evacuated everyone within 4 minutes. It's crazy to think how much you remember & do without thinking while under intense and stressful situations.
After lunch chow, we were told that we couldn't go to the concert unless our weapons were spotless. So, I spent another 2 hours cleaning and already cleaned weapon. The concert was actually a lot of fun. It was nice to eat junk food that we haven't eaten in 8 weeks and cut loose. The concert was just for BCT blue phasers and AIT. I didn't realize that there were so many BCT soldiers here. It was a little strange being at a concert with the DS walking through the crowd. The first guy that sang was a lot better than Kelly Pickler.
Day 49: I was able to go to mass again today. Can't believe that I only have 2 Sundays left. Didn't do much the rest of the day except catch up on laundry and sleep.
After lunch chow, we were told that we couldn't go to the concert unless our weapons were spotless. So, I spent another 2 hours cleaning and already cleaned weapon. The concert was actually a lot of fun. It was nice to eat junk food that we haven't eaten in 8 weeks and cut loose. The concert was just for BCT blue phasers and AIT. I didn't realize that there were so many BCT soldiers here. It was a little strange being at a concert with the DS walking through the crowd. The first guy that sang was a lot better than Kelly Pickler.
Day 49: I was able to go to mass again today. Can't believe that I only have 2 Sundays left. Didn't do much the rest of the day except catch up on laundry and sleep.
Days 46 - 47
Day 46: Today we practice buddy firing. The first time was with no rounds and the second time around we had blank rounds. Basically we sat around or stood in line for about 6 hours and actually performed buddy firing for a total of 5 minutes. It was a 300 meter course where we had to patrol and kill the enemy while moving to the different barriers. The point was to cover our battle buddy while he/she moved to the next barrier. When we got to the end of the course, after throwing a grenade, we had to react after indirect fire and sprint the 300 meters back.
Day 47: Today we did the actual buddy firing (Omaha Course). We were told that it was the 2nd most dangerous thing we would do at BCT since we run to the next barrier as our battle buddy covers us, using the rounds. We had a practice run with blanks before we did the course with live rounds. It was not bad at all. The most important things to remember are to be aware of where you are pointing the weapon and making sure your weapon is on safe when you are not shooting it. The DS ran behind us the whole time. I was not nervous since I trusted my battle buddy. After Omaha, we spent about 3 hours cleaning our weapons.
Day 47: Today we did the actual buddy firing (Omaha Course). We were told that it was the 2nd most dangerous thing we would do at BCT since we run to the next barrier as our battle buddy covers us, using the rounds. We had a practice run with blanks before we did the course with live rounds. It was not bad at all. The most important things to remember are to be aware of where you are pointing the weapon and making sure your weapon is on safe when you are not shooting it. The DS ran behind us the whole time. I was not nervous since I trusted my battle buddy. After Omaha, we spent about 3 hours cleaning our weapons.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Day 45
Day 45: Today was an intense day! A few other females and I decided to volunteer for ammo detail since it's always the males doing it. We had to get up extra early & took a 45 minute LTV ride to the range. We had to prepare the range and put fuses on the practice grenades. Besides putting together the grenades, filling sandbags, and unloading the LTV, we had it easy.
Before we could throw a real grenade, we had a 1 hour safety briefing & had to throw 2 practice grenades in order to get certified to throw a live one. I had no issues throwing the practice ones.
It was quite intense at the live grenade range. We were told that this is the most dangerous thing we would do at BCT. While waiting in line to throw, we stood in tight quarters in a bunker. When it was finally my turn, I ran out on the range to where I was to throw & the NCO's were yelling at me to take cover. Apparently the lane next to mine thought their grenade was a dud and didn't explode. After 20 minutes, the NCO's figured out it was just a pine cone.
Because I was out on the range waiting for an 'all clear', it calmed my nerves. I threw both grenades with no issues. The NCO's on my lane got a kick on how fast I dropped to the ground after the grenade left my hand. Instead of squatting & tucking in my head, I dropped to my elbows and knees in the tornado position. I have bruised knees and elbows but I was able to throw live grenades today. I was kind of disappointed because I couldn't see it explode and it wasn't as loud as I thought it would be!
Before we could throw a real grenade, we had a 1 hour safety briefing & had to throw 2 practice grenades in order to get certified to throw a live one. I had no issues throwing the practice ones.
It was quite intense at the live grenade range. We were told that this is the most dangerous thing we would do at BCT. While waiting in line to throw, we stood in tight quarters in a bunker. When it was finally my turn, I ran out on the range to where I was to throw & the NCO's were yelling at me to take cover. Apparently the lane next to mine thought their grenade was a dud and didn't explode. After 20 minutes, the NCO's figured out it was just a pine cone.
Because I was out on the range waiting for an 'all clear', it calmed my nerves. I threw both grenades with no issues. The NCO's on my lane got a kick on how fast I dropped to the ground after the grenade left my hand. Instead of squatting & tucking in my head, I dropped to my elbows and knees in the tornado position. I have bruised knees and elbows but I was able to throw live grenades today. I was kind of disappointed because I couldn't see it explode and it wasn't as loud as I thought it would be!
Day 44
Day 44: After PT (pullup bars) and chow, we headed to the range to throw grenades. Although the one's we threw today were just fuses, they could still harm us. It took a few throws to get used to it but they are not hard. I was pretty nervous the first time I threw the grenade but got more comfortable. We did buddy throws in an obstacle-like course. I wish we would have practiced throwing before we actually threw the grenades. "Proper grip, thumb to clip, twist pull pin, grenade out, get down" was what we have to say & do every time.
I forgot to mention yesterday that we are officially in blue phase. The DS mentioned that we were phasing a few days ago but the phase banner did not change until today.
I forgot to mention yesterday that we are officially in blue phase. The DS mentioned that we were phasing a few days ago but the phase banner did not change until today.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Days 42 - 43
Day 42: I was able to go to mass today. During breakfast, I heard the DS yelling at red phase privates. I am glad that I am not in their position anymore. It's crazy to look back and remember all of the stuff I have been through and have actually accomplished. I have no regrets!
We finally went to the PX for the first time in 4 weeks. It took almost three hours for the whole company to make their purchases.
Day 43: Had another easy day today since it was Labor Day. After PT, we had to clean our Bays for an inspection. We cleaned our weapons for an hour and were told that we had a 5 minute phone call. It was the last phone call we have since graduation is just around the corner. My phone calls were a bit longer but oh well. It was good to hear from everyone.
In the afternoon, we watched a documentary about war. I actually watched the same documentary before I left for BCT. I have a totally different perspective now since I am being trained to fight.
We finally went to the PX for the first time in 4 weeks. It took almost three hours for the whole company to make their purchases.
Day 43: Had another easy day today since it was Labor Day. After PT, we had to clean our Bays for an inspection. We cleaned our weapons for an hour and were told that we had a 5 minute phone call. It was the last phone call we have since graduation is just around the corner. My phone calls were a bit longer but oh well. It was good to hear from everyone.
In the afternoon, we watched a documentary about war. I actually watched the same documentary before I left for BCT. I have a totally different perspective now since I am being trained to fight.
Days 40 - 41
Day 40: It was so nice to somewhat catch up on sleep! We had a company-wide run this morning. It was probably the hardest run I've ever ran. It took a while for me to recover. I volunteered for post duty since I wanted to get out of the bay. We picked up trash around post. It was actually pretty fun since we got to tour the post. The DS bought us candy for lunch which was nice. In the afternoon we had to walk down streets picking up trash and probably walked about 7 miles. I am glad that I didn't stay back at the bay because they ended up having to cut grass with their hands.
Since we are constantly sweating and wearing ACU's and boots, it is very common for heat rashes to occur. I was treating the rash on my inner legs like a regular heat rash until it started to get bright red and blister. I ended up having poison oak; I am surprised that it does not itch, burn or hurt. It just looks bad.
Day 41: Did not do too much today besides PT and chow. I was able to catch up on sleep, laundry, and organizing my wall locker. We were supposed to go to the PX but it looks like I will have to wait until tomorrow. I can't believe that we have three weeks left. Time is flying by.
I decided to make a list of things that I will never take for granted:
1. Toilet paper: we have to keep our own roll locked up in the lockers. For some reason, we can't keep them in the bathrooms. The males ran completely out and are having their families mail them some.
2. Cell phones: It is hard not being able to pick up the phone and call someone when you need to escape. I have been luck and able to call my parents a few times. You just need to ask the right person at the right time.
3. Civilian life: It is a big adjustment going from being able to do what you want to being sucked in the Army life. It is not too bad, I just want to break away once in awhile. I have learned to accept the Army for what it is and to never make plans until you know for sure what is going to happen. I was expecting to have a few days off to spend with family between BCT and OCS. I found out a few days ago that I have to report to Ft. Benning the day after graduation by 1700. Although I am disappointed, at least my parents will be able to drive me and I will be able to be with my family.
Since we are constantly sweating and wearing ACU's and boots, it is very common for heat rashes to occur. I was treating the rash on my inner legs like a regular heat rash until it started to get bright red and blister. I ended up having poison oak; I am surprised that it does not itch, burn or hurt. It just looks bad.
Day 41: Did not do too much today besides PT and chow. I was able to catch up on sleep, laundry, and organizing my wall locker. We were supposed to go to the PX but it looks like I will have to wait until tomorrow. I can't believe that we have three weeks left. Time is flying by.
I decided to make a list of things that I will never take for granted:
1. Toilet paper: we have to keep our own roll locked up in the lockers. For some reason, we can't keep them in the bathrooms. The males ran completely out and are having their families mail them some.
2. Cell phones: It is hard not being able to pick up the phone and call someone when you need to escape. I have been luck and able to call my parents a few times. You just need to ask the right person at the right time.
3. Civilian life: It is a big adjustment going from being able to do what you want to being sucked in the Army life. It is not too bad, I just want to break away once in awhile. I have learned to accept the Army for what it is and to never make plans until you know for sure what is going to happen. I was expecting to have a few days off to spend with family between BCT and OCS. I found out a few days ago that I have to report to Ft. Benning the day after graduation by 1700. Although I am disappointed, at least my parents will be able to drive me and I will be able to be with my family.
Days 37 - 39
Day 37: We had our 10k (6.2 miles) road march this morning. It was not too difficult. The worst part was walking in the thick sand. Marches are very mental. I don't mind them because I get to do a lot of thinking. I was hot, exhausted, and sore by the end. After eating MRE's and setting up tents, we learned about squad maneuver. We had to act out scenarios and used blank bullets. In the lat afternoon we headed to NIC (Night Infiltration Course). We had to low crawl, high crawl, and maneuvering on our backs under barbed wire fences. For most of the way, we were able to high crawl. We had full gear on (helmet, bullet proof vest, and knee/elbow pads). While we were crawling, live rounds were being shot. It was pretty neat crawling under live rounds. I made sure that the guys behind me kept me motivated. They pushed me and I was one of the first ones finished. I was sandy, exhausted and extremely hot. We had to dunk our arms into ice water to cool down our air core temperature. Another graduation requirement is checked off the list. We got back around 2300 and I fell right asleep. The weather was much more comfortable in this FTX than the previous one.
Day 38: Like always, I woke up early. It was chaotic getting dressed in the pitch black. We learned urban fighting today & practice clearing out buildings in teams of 2, 3 and 4. We also practiced scenarios dealing with indirect and direct fire, along with IEDs. I can't wait until we head back tomorrow morning so that I can take a shower.
Day 39: We woke up one hour early (0300) and the DS's were impressed that we were packed up by 0345. We had to wait until 0630 for the buses. After chow, I took the best shower! We spent 2 hours cleaning our weapons because we had a platoon competition on the cleanest weapons. They were extra dirty with sand since we had to low crawl with them. Didn't do too much else the rest of the day except organize lockers and do some laundry.
Day 38: Like always, I woke up early. It was chaotic getting dressed in the pitch black. We learned urban fighting today & practice clearing out buildings in teams of 2, 3 and 4. We also practiced scenarios dealing with indirect and direct fire, along with IEDs. I can't wait until we head back tomorrow morning so that I can take a shower.
Day 39: We woke up one hour early (0300) and the DS's were impressed that we were packed up by 0345. We had to wait until 0630 for the buses. After chow, I took the best shower! We spent 2 hours cleaning our weapons because we had a platoon competition on the cleanest weapons. They were extra dirty with sand since we had to low crawl with them. Didn't do too much else the rest of the day except organize lockers and do some laundry.
Days 34 - 36
Day 34: Didn't do too much today. My platoon worked on Drill & Ceremony for a few hours. We have really improved over the last week since the new DS is strict about Drill and Ceremony.
Day 35: Our company had a rough morning. As soon as we went through chow line, the DS told us it was time to leave before we even sat down to eat. I also didn't get a change to go to mass since some of the guys were late to morning formation. After getting yelled at for quite a bit, we were able to go back to our bays for bay maintenance and personal time.
Day 36: We went back to reception/120th all day to get our ASU's/class A's. It was a long and tiring process which started at 0700 and did not end for the females until 1800. We would try on clothes, get measured, wait for them to get sewn and then try it on for the DS's so that they could approve of the fit. We received our berets that we wear for the last week of BCT and for family day/graduation. Did not get back until 2000 and had to pack for the road march/FTX the next day.
Day 35: Our company had a rough morning. As soon as we went through chow line, the DS told us it was time to leave before we even sat down to eat. I also didn't get a change to go to mass since some of the guys were late to morning formation. After getting yelled at for quite a bit, we were able to go back to our bays for bay maintenance and personal time.
Day 36: We went back to reception/120th all day to get our ASU's/class A's. It was a long and tiring process which started at 0700 and did not end for the females until 1800. We would try on clothes, get measured, wait for them to get sewn and then try it on for the DS's so that they could approve of the fit. We received our berets that we wear for the last week of BCT and for family day/graduation. Did not get back until 2000 and had to pack for the road march/FTX the next day.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Day 31 - 33
Day 31: Today was a long day! After PT and breakfast chow, we practiced our new firing positions for awhile. After lunch we headed to the range. We started ARM (Advanced Rifle Marksmanship) where basically we shoot standing and walking. We were at the range from 1300 to 2300. It was fun shooting at night using the lasers. It was probably the only time many of us will ever use that equipment. Our goal today was to not necessarily knock down the target, but to be in the correct stance and be familiar with putting our weapon on safety. The DS told us today & tomorrow are the only days they have permission to knock us on the ground due to safety reasons.
Day 32: Had another very long day today. After running 60/120s at PT, we went to the range from 0900 to 2330. It was extremely hot, category 5 before 1100. We shot over 200 rounds at different positions and distances, in full battle gear. Our company got in trouble and is currently in no phase until we get discipline. I agree that our company as a whole needs discipline; however, my platoon is disciplined.
Day 33: Had light PT this morning since today was recovery day. The only things we did today was go to chow, clean our bays, learn how to hold the weapons in our opposite hands and practice drill & ceremony. We also got mail for the first time in 5 days since we have been so busy. Tonight we had to pack an emergency bag just in case the hurricane hits since our bays are manufactured and not very sturdy.
Day 32: Had another very long day today. After running 60/120s at PT, we went to the range from 0900 to 2330. It was extremely hot, category 5 before 1100. We shot over 200 rounds at different positions and distances, in full battle gear. Our company got in trouble and is currently in no phase until we get discipline. I agree that our company as a whole needs discipline; however, my platoon is disciplined.
Day 33: Had light PT this morning since today was recovery day. The only things we did today was go to chow, clean our bays, learn how to hold the weapons in our opposite hands and practice drill & ceremony. We also got mail for the first time in 5 days since we have been so busy. Tonight we had to pack an emergency bag just in case the hurricane hits since our bays are manufactured and not very sturdy.
Days 29 - 30
Day 29: We marched to our last obstacle course of BCT this morning, the Confidence Course. The obstacles consisted of: walking across a balance beam with only a net to break our fall, zip lining, climbing up and down a tall ladder that consisted of different length boards, and climbing down a rope upside down with our boots crossed together using our hands to maneuver. I achieved all of the obstacles. I was most worried about climbing the rope since the last time I did it, I fell. Our platoon really came together today and kept everybody motivated. I am now beginning to related to the males in our platoon as brothers and females as sisters. We are always cutting up with each other and helping each other out. I am exhausted; it's 1900 and I am already ready for bed.
Day 30: Today we went to the weapon simulation. I find it pointless because we wait outside for 5.5 hours and only practice for 10 minutes. The simulation is nothing like live firing on the range. We did practice our new firing positions. We also got mail for the first time in 4 or 5 days which always lightens the mood.
Day 30: Today we went to the weapon simulation. I find it pointless because we wait outside for 5.5 hours and only practice for 10 minutes. The simulation is nothing like live firing on the range. We did practice our new firing positions. We also got mail for the first time in 4 or 5 days which always lightens the mood.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Days 27 - 28
Day 27: Had staff duty from 0500 to 0800; I just had to set up cones on the road for PT. I did get to speak with my parents for the first time in a month which was nice.
We did combatives this afternoon and learned some new fighting moves. We also were taught some exercises to help with combatives. By the end of training, I could barely walk. We had personal time at 1800.
Day 28: I was actually able to enjoy breakfast this morning since we had 10 more extra minutes to east. Since I have not had any icecream for dinner, I decided to splurge on coffee. It was the first caffeine I have had in 5 weeks and now I am all wired after I got back from Mass. Right now I am doing laundry, writing letters, updating the blog, and studying combat lifesaving. It is always nice to be able to catch up on everything on Sundays.
We did have some classroom time but all we did was get our ACH's (helmets) checked for this week and clean our weapons.
We had MRE's for chow. The DS gave us 15 minutes to pass them out, cook, eat, and clean up. If we were able to accomplish it within that time period, then we would have personal time beginning at 1730. We did accomplish it which gave us plenty of time to prepare for the upcoming week.
We did combatives this afternoon and learned some new fighting moves. We also were taught some exercises to help with combatives. By the end of training, I could barely walk. We had personal time at 1800.
Day 28: I was actually able to enjoy breakfast this morning since we had 10 more extra minutes to east. Since I have not had any icecream for dinner, I decided to splurge on coffee. It was the first caffeine I have had in 5 weeks and now I am all wired after I got back from Mass. Right now I am doing laundry, writing letters, updating the blog, and studying combat lifesaving. It is always nice to be able to catch up on everything on Sundays.
We did have some classroom time but all we did was get our ACH's (helmets) checked for this week and clean our weapons.
We had MRE's for chow. The DS gave us 15 minutes to pass them out, cook, eat, and clean up. If we were able to accomplish it within that time period, then we would have personal time beginning at 1730. We did accomplish it which gave us plenty of time to prepare for the upcoming week.
Days 25 - 26
Day 25: We were supposed to be up at 0400 for muscle failure PT; apparently the DS do care about us since we got to wake up at 0500 and skip PT. They wanted us to rest up for BRM (Basic Rifle Marksmanship) Qualifications. To qualify, we had to shoot 23 out of 40 moveable and time targets at a distance between 50 and 300 meters. We had to shoot in the unsupported and supported proned, and kneeling positions. If we did not quality within 10 tries, then we would be restarted to the first week of BCT. I did qualify in my second try; I shot 26 out of 40. I was expecting to try about 5 times but was relieved that I qualified during my second try.
Those who qualified sat around in the heat doing absolutely nothing. Next time, I will bring paper to write letters. I am definitely motivated, especially when we road by graduation field on the way back to the barracks.
It is so nice to be showered and relaxed at 7:30. I can actually catch up on the blog and letters! Tomorrow will be another boring day since the whole company has to go to the range tomorrow while 20 people attempt to qualify.
Day 26: After PT (running) this morning, we went to the range again. We sat around doing nothing. We did learn new shooting positions (standing) for ARM (Advanced Rifle Marksmanship) that we have to qualify for next week. Three people did not pass and are restarting to red phase. Buses showed up a few hours early today. I thought we had the rest of the afternoon to relax; I was wrong! Female bay had a surprise locker inspection. The DS threw everything in our lockers across the floor and emptied our canteens everywhere. Although we had a big mess to clean up, I was relieved to not have any contraband. About 1/4th of the females got Article 15's for razors, tweezers and food. The DS explained to us why we can't shave: staph infection is common when we are out in the field sweating with open sores. We sweat constantly here.
Those who qualified sat around in the heat doing absolutely nothing. Next time, I will bring paper to write letters. I am definitely motivated, especially when we road by graduation field on the way back to the barracks.
It is so nice to be showered and relaxed at 7:30. I can actually catch up on the blog and letters! Tomorrow will be another boring day since the whole company has to go to the range tomorrow while 20 people attempt to qualify.
Day 26: After PT (running) this morning, we went to the range again. We sat around doing nothing. We did learn new shooting positions (standing) for ARM (Advanced Rifle Marksmanship) that we have to qualify for next week. Three people did not pass and are restarting to red phase. Buses showed up a few hours early today. I thought we had the rest of the afternoon to relax; I was wrong! Female bay had a surprise locker inspection. The DS threw everything in our lockers across the floor and emptied our canteens everywhere. Although we had a big mess to clean up, I was relieved to not have any contraband. About 1/4th of the females got Article 15's for razors, tweezers and food. The DS explained to us why we can't shave: staph infection is common when we are out in the field sweating with open sores. We sweat constantly here.
Days 22 - 24
Day 22: I went to the range today to work on shooting at different distance targets. My magazine got stuck 7 times which messed me up. I now realize the importance of having a clean rifle (although it was mostly the magazine's fault). We went back to the classroom and I spent almost two hours cleaning my weapon.
Day 23: Had en early wake up (0330) and headed for our road march by 0430 in full gear, including: ACH (helmet), flick (vest), knee/elbow pads and an assault pack, weighing about 60 pounds. The marches are getting easier, especially when you have boots that actually fit. After much enjoyed chow, we did the rifle simulation course and worked on shooting drills. Basically, once again, we sat around doing pretty much nothing.
Day 24: After PT (ran 60/120s), we went to the range and shot single & multiple targets between 50 and 300 meters. We had to shoot in the unsupported and supported prone and kneeling positions. I did pretty well. It was extremely hot at the range. Another male tried to commit suicide. The DS and officers lectured us about suicide preventions.
Day 23: Had en early wake up (0330) and headed for our road march by 0430 in full gear, including: ACH (helmet), flick (vest), knee/elbow pads and an assault pack, weighing about 60 pounds. The marches are getting easier, especially when you have boots that actually fit. After much enjoyed chow, we did the rifle simulation course and worked on shooting drills. Basically, once again, we sat around doing pretty much nothing.
Day 24: After PT (ran 60/120s), we went to the range and shot single & multiple targets between 50 and 300 meters. We had to shoot in the unsupported and supported prone and kneeling positions. I did pretty well. It was extremely hot at the range. Another male tried to commit suicide. The DS and officers lectured us about suicide preventions.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Days 20 - 21
Day 20: Had our first Pt test today. I was nervous about my run since I have only ran twice at Pt. I did better than I thought; I dropped 4 minutes off my run time and was able to control breathing. It gave me a big boost of confidence! We headed to a field and did pugil stick fighting for the rest of the morning and afternoon. We learned combat fighting with our weapons and then had competitions with each platoon. We had a company-wide tournament at the end. It was actually a fun day and everyone was able to get aggressions out. It kind of reminded me of a high school pep rally since we were all cheering & cutting up. It was decent weather until it down-poured, but that just created more fun for us as we got all muddy. We got more personal time today. It's still strange how my life has changed. I am spending my Saturday evening washing clothes, writing letters, catching up on the blog and going to sleep at 2100.
Day 21: First time in 4 weeks that I was able to get 8 hours of sleep. I was able to go to mass which is the only thing that reminds me of home. It is a 3 hour event just to go to the service since we have to wait for the bus for one hour each way.
We had a formation before lunch chow where we phased into the white phase officially. BCT is already much better since, instead of 45 minutes of personal time, we have almost 3 hours. The formations are all soldier led also.
I can't believe that I have been here for 4 weeks now. Time has been moving more quickly. We had a company-wide meeting to discuss a suicide attempt that many soldiers witnessed. I did not see it or know the person. Many people are having issues but I have my head on straight. You cannot bring personal issues to BCT or it will effect you negatively since it is such a stressful environment. They also keep telling us to remind family/friends back home not to tell us things what will worry us.
Day 21: First time in 4 weeks that I was able to get 8 hours of sleep. I was able to go to mass which is the only thing that reminds me of home. It is a 3 hour event just to go to the service since we have to wait for the bus for one hour each way.
We had a formation before lunch chow where we phased into the white phase officially. BCT is already much better since, instead of 45 minutes of personal time, we have almost 3 hours. The formations are all soldier led also.
I can't believe that I have been here for 4 weeks now. Time has been moving more quickly. We had a company-wide meeting to discuss a suicide attempt that many soldiers witnessed. I did not see it or know the person. Many people are having issues but I have my head on straight. You cannot bring personal issues to BCT or it will effect you negatively since it is such a stressful environment. They also keep telling us to remind family/friends back home not to tell us things what will worry us.
Day 18 - 19
Day 18: After Pt & chow, we had to attend a change of command ceremony. After standing completely still at a position of attention for over an hour, my legs were so stiff & sore. The cadre are handing out article 15's right & left for anyone who moves in formation. I am not taking any chances. After the ceremony, one of the other DS's sat us down & gave us advice. It was very informational until we got smoked pretty good. We went back to our classrooms and basically did nothing for the rest of the day. I was able to catch up on the blog, letters, and study up for the combat lifesaver course. The cadets did update us on the news; apparently we are limited on the types of news. They also updated the officer candidates on OCS. We are all freaked out about OCS but must get through BCT first. Looks like I will be doing extra Pt at night!
Day 19: We went to the range again today but got to ride the bus instead of march. Today we worked on shooting at the 175 and 300 meter target. I was okay with the 175 but the 300 was more difficult. We sat around at the range for 4 hours straight, waiting for the buses.
Day 19: We went to the range again today but got to ride the bus instead of march. Today we worked on shooting at the 175 and 300 meter target. I was okay with the 175 but the 300 was more difficult. We sat around at the range for 4 hours straight, waiting for the buses.
Days 15 - 17
Day 15: I thought we were going to the range today but, instead, practiced our breathing & positions. Once again, we sat around for hours, doing nothing.
Day 16: We finally went to the range today. We left for the walk at 0600 and got there at 0700. The road marches with all of our equipment are getting easier. It was about a 3 mile march. We had MREs for breakfast. I am getting used to eating pasta for breakfast since you need the fuel to survive in this heat. We shot from 0800 to 1600. It was a long day. Only at BCT can you fall asleep at the range, listening to the live rounds. I did pretty well. The rifle is actually easy to shoot. You just have to remember the 4 fundamentals (breathing, steady position, trigger squeeze, and aiming). We were able to ride back since it was so hot outside.
Day 17: Went to the range again today to finish zeroing in within the center mass. It was another long, hot day. I probably shot for 5 hours straight today. Time passes more quickly on the days we are actually doing stuff. Our minds are not thinking about home.
Day 16: We finally went to the range today. We left for the walk at 0600 and got there at 0700. The road marches with all of our equipment are getting easier. It was about a 3 mile march. We had MREs for breakfast. I am getting used to eating pasta for breakfast since you need the fuel to survive in this heat. We shot from 0800 to 1600. It was a long day. Only at BCT can you fall asleep at the range, listening to the live rounds. I did pretty well. The rifle is actually easy to shoot. You just have to remember the 4 fundamentals (breathing, steady position, trigger squeeze, and aiming). We were able to ride back since it was so hot outside.
Day 17: Went to the range again today to finish zeroing in within the center mass. It was another long, hot day. I probably shot for 5 hours straight today. Time passes more quickly on the days we are actually doing stuff. Our minds are not thinking about home.
Friday, August 12, 2011
BCT: Days 12 - 14
Day 12: After scrambling to pack everything in the pitch black, we headed back to our company. I had an interesting walk back and let's just say that I'm lucky I didn't break my hand. After a quick but much needed shower, we headed to weapon simulation course where we practiced shooting rifles. It was fun but shooting our rifles next week will be different! We sat outside for 6 hours but only participated in the simulation for 20 minutes. Once again, too much time was wasted. We also were able to make our first trip to the Px. Most common items purchased were: cough drops (like candy), mole skin & febreeze.
Day 13: We got to sleep in to 0500 today. Had a good run at Pt today but my legs are killing me from the road marches & running up and down hills. We started combatives today which was fun. It was a relief to be actually sitting down in AC instead of being outside. We also had a lot of inspections since a new commander is coming next week. Once again, 7 hours was wasted doing useless stuff.
Day 14: We got to sleep in again until 0545. After chow, I was able to go to Mass. It actually reminded me of home, except for the fact that everyone had ACU's and rifles. After we waited 2 hours for the bus, I was able to organize my locker & prepare for another inspection of all our the gear that we have accumulated. It's nice to have personal time & to study because the weeks are getting busier and busier. We are heading to the range next week.
Thanks everybody for all of the letters. It is really helping me stay positive! I may not be able to write back right away since things are getting busier but will try to as soon as I can!
Day 13: We got to sleep in to 0500 today. Had a good run at Pt today but my legs are killing me from the road marches & running up and down hills. We started combatives today which was fun. It was a relief to be actually sitting down in AC instead of being outside. We also had a lot of inspections since a new commander is coming next week. Once again, 7 hours was wasted doing useless stuff.
Day 14: We got to sleep in again until 0545. After chow, I was able to go to Mass. It actually reminded me of home, except for the fact that everyone had ACU's and rifles. After we waited 2 hours for the bus, I was able to organize my locker & prepare for another inspection of all our the gear that we have accumulated. It's nice to have personal time & to study because the weeks are getting busier and busier. We are heading to the range next week.
BCT: Day 11
We were up at 0330 and left for the road march at 0430. We did the fit to win obstacle course in the morning. We had to run through the woods doing different obstacles, such as low crawl, high crawl, rope climbing and jumping. It was very challenging and I was covered from head to toe in mud since it had rained the night before. We sat around for about 3 hours before we headed to the campsite. One thing that I am surprised about BCT is how much time is wasted just sitting around. BCT could be condensed to at least 6 weeks if the Army was efficient.
We marched to the campsite which was 1 mile away and learned the low & high crawl. I was so dirty by the end of the day & of course there was no shower facilities.
All the females stayed in individual tents in the woods. I had to pull fire guard duty & every 10 minutes I heard a scream because of ants crawling on them. They need to get used to roughing it since it is the Army. It was extremely hot and humid so I decided to take the rain cover off. Of course it would downpour at 0100. Trying to figure out how to put the rain cover on while you are half asleep and drenched was no fun!
We marched to the campsite which was 1 mile away and learned the low & high crawl. I was so dirty by the end of the day & of course there was no shower facilities.
All the females stayed in individual tents in the woods. I had to pull fire guard duty & every 10 minutes I heard a scream because of ants crawling on them. They need to get used to roughing it since it is the Army. It was extremely hot and humid so I decided to take the rain cover off. Of course it would downpour at 0100. Trying to figure out how to put the rain cover on while you are half asleep and drenched was no fun!
Monday, August 8, 2011
BCT: Days 9 - 10
Day 9: We had our first road march this morning. We started off at 0500 and marched 2.5 miles with about 50 bs of equipment. I have never sweated so much; it was extremely hot. I got an extra workout this morning since I was stuck being a road guard. After a hot breakfast, we began land navigation exercise where we had to find plotted points in the woods by using a compass, map and protractor. It took my group an hour to find all 4 plots. We waited 3 hours for the other groups to finish the exercise. I took a good nap in the woods. I have gotten used to sleeping wherever I can because 0400 comes way too early. After being out in the heat for 8 hours, the white buses were a sign of relief since we didn't have to march back.
We hung out in the classroom in the afternoon. I finally got the hang of taking the weapon apart and putting it back together. Thank goodness most of the guys are very familiar with rifles or I would be totally lost!
Day 10: After PT & chow this morning, we marched to the CS gas chamber. (We got extra time at chow and other platoons received ice cream. I didn't eat much breakfast because I didn't want to get sick!) I realized last minute that I did not have a seal on the gas mask. The gas caused our skin to burn and it basically collapsed our lungs. We were told to keep our eyes closed the entire time but a female behind started freaking out so I was trying to calm her down. We only stayed in the chamber for about 2 minutes. When we were released outside, everybody was coughing, gasping for air with snot running down our faces. We were told to flap our arms and not touch our faces. After 10 minutes, the effects subsided. Looking back, the gas chamber was not that bad but when you are actually inside, it was miserable.
We are heading to the field tomorrow to camp out. First, we have to march to a fit-to-win obstacle course where we compete against other platoons in our company.
We hung out in the classroom in the afternoon. I finally got the hang of taking the weapon apart and putting it back together. Thank goodness most of the guys are very familiar with rifles or I would be totally lost!
Day 10: After PT & chow this morning, we marched to the CS gas chamber. (We got extra time at chow and other platoons received ice cream. I didn't eat much breakfast because I didn't want to get sick!) I realized last minute that I did not have a seal on the gas mask. The gas caused our skin to burn and it basically collapsed our lungs. We were told to keep our eyes closed the entire time but a female behind started freaking out so I was trying to calm her down. We only stayed in the chamber for about 2 minutes. When we were released outside, everybody was coughing, gasping for air with snot running down our faces. We were told to flap our arms and not touch our faces. After 10 minutes, the effects subsided. Looking back, the gas chamber was not that bad but when you are actually inside, it was miserable.
We are heading to the field tomorrow to camp out. First, we have to march to a fit-to-win obstacle course where we compete against other platoons in our company.
BCT: Days 6 - 8
Day 6: We have PT every morning at 0600. It's not a bad workout. It feels good to be able to exercise again. We had to sit through more classes today about warfare.
Day 7: I can't believe that I have been at BCT for a week. I didn't get much sleep last night since I had fire guard duty at the CQ desk from 1200 to 0200 but ended up staying an extra hour since the next shift overslept. After chow, we had the option to attend a neutral church orientation service. I ended up leaving after 10 minutes because I felt so uncomfortable. I am glad I ended up leaving because I was able to finish up organizing my locker and sneak an hour nap in the laundry room. Today was an easy day. We learned how to take our weapon apart and put it back together. We also had a course on land navigation. It was nice to be able to get back to the barracks at 1500 but apparently a crazy girl who just got out of anger management was placed in our barracks because she was bullying females in her platoon. I had to move all my stuff in my locker so she can be carefully monitored.
Day 8: I was actually able to get 7 hours of sleep last night. Instead of Pt, we headed to the team development course. It was a lot of fun. It consisted of 5 different activities where we had to use teamwork to accomplish the missions. On the last obstacle, we had to maneuver on a wire upside down via our hands while wrapping our legs around the wire. My legs are all bruised up now. After spending 7 hours at the obstacle course, we went back to the platoon classrooms to study.
I have noticed a change in my platoon. We are becoming a team. However, today it seemed like I heard "front leaning rest position, MOVE!" quite a bit. I have noticed that my arms are leaner from all the pushups we have done. We also had to be in the squat position for 30 minutes.
Our DS's aren't that bad compared to other platoons. As my DS said "don't mistake kindness for weakness." We are getting smoked for stuff like not calling "at ease" when a DS walks in.
Day 7: I can't believe that I have been at BCT for a week. I didn't get much sleep last night since I had fire guard duty at the CQ desk from 1200 to 0200 but ended up staying an extra hour since the next shift overslept. After chow, we had the option to attend a neutral church orientation service. I ended up leaving after 10 minutes because I felt so uncomfortable. I am glad I ended up leaving because I was able to finish up organizing my locker and sneak an hour nap in the laundry room. Today was an easy day. We learned how to take our weapon apart and put it back together. We also had a course on land navigation. It was nice to be able to get back to the barracks at 1500 but apparently a crazy girl who just got out of anger management was placed in our barracks because she was bullying females in her platoon. I had to move all my stuff in my locker so she can be carefully monitored.
Day 8: I was actually able to get 7 hours of sleep last night. Instead of Pt, we headed to the team development course. It was a lot of fun. It consisted of 5 different activities where we had to use teamwork to accomplish the missions. On the last obstacle, we had to maneuver on a wire upside down via our hands while wrapping our legs around the wire. My legs are all bruised up now. After spending 7 hours at the obstacle course, we went back to the platoon classrooms to study.
I have noticed a change in my platoon. We are becoming a team. However, today it seemed like I heard "front leaning rest position, MOVE!" quite a bit. I have noticed that my arms are leaner from all the pushups we have done. We also had to be in the squat position for 30 minutes.
Our DS's aren't that bad compared to other platoons. As my DS said "don't mistake kindness for weakness." We are getting smoked for stuff like not calling "at ease" when a DS walks in.
BCT: Day 5
Day 5: I woke up feeling much better today & was able to go back to my platoon. Although yesterday was nice & relaxing since I was able to sleep and catch up on my letters, I missed BCT. We practiced D&C with the weapons. We have to be with our weapons at all times, except in the latrine. They are starting to get heavy carrying them around all the time.
We had to sit through more briefings today and started to discuss warfare & the laws associated with it. These long, boring briefings are the worst part of BCT so far.
We had to do some squats for an hour because people do not know how to keep their mouths shut. If we do as we are told and show up in 15 minutes in the right uniform, then BCT isn't so bad. Most of the people here are fresh out of high school. Apparently they do not get the concept of discipline. At least I will be in better shape by the end of BCT.
One thing I have noticed is that all the DS's and the ISG's know my name by now. The ISG asked my mos today to I know they will expect more out of me. They don't necessarily yell at me or call me out.
An incident happened at Defax before dinner tonight and my female DS will be leaving our platoon. I was just starting to respect her. I hope my platoon isn't stuck with a bad DS!
We had 2 females in my platoon on suicide watch. We have only been at BCT for 5 days and they have already quit. One girl got an article 15. BCT is not that bad. Yes, at times, it does suck but when things are bad you turn to your battle buddy or release your thoughts in letters. It's easier and quicker to graduate BCT than to get out of the Army at this point. We are now down to 10 females and 49 males.
We had to sit through more briefings today and started to discuss warfare & the laws associated with it. These long, boring briefings are the worst part of BCT so far.
We had to do some squats for an hour because people do not know how to keep their mouths shut. If we do as we are told and show up in 15 minutes in the right uniform, then BCT isn't so bad. Most of the people here are fresh out of high school. Apparently they do not get the concept of discipline. At least I will be in better shape by the end of BCT.
One thing I have noticed is that all the DS's and the ISG's know my name by now. The ISG asked my mos today to I know they will expect more out of me. They don't necessarily yell at me or call me out.
An incident happened at Defax before dinner tonight and my female DS will be leaving our platoon. I was just starting to respect her. I hope my platoon isn't stuck with a bad DS!
We had 2 females in my platoon on suicide watch. We have only been at BCT for 5 days and they have already quit. One girl got an article 15. BCT is not that bad. Yes, at times, it does suck but when things are bad you turn to your battle buddy or release your thoughts in letters. It's easier and quicker to graduate BCT than to get out of the Army at this point. We are now down to 10 females and 49 males.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
BCT Day 4
Today I was able to catch up on my sleep at the med quarters. I just got my temp taken & it was normal. Looks like I will be able to go back to the barracks in the morning.
BCT Day 3
We had our first PT test this morning. I did okay on my running but realized something was off with my running. We had classroom with my platoon so it was nice to have a somewhat relaxed day. We had a 3 hour meeting in the afternoon.
Living with so many people results in a lot of germ exposure. Apparently I caught something in a few days. A female in the same barracks caught the same symptoms and jumped to the conclusion that it was strep throat. Since we can't miss any training, which is when sick call is, she dragged me to the hospital. Come to find out, I have a fever and have to be monitored with a 6 hour waiting room wait while she was given medicine and sent home. I was looking forward to a good night's sleep but instead, I am spending the night at the ER.
Update: After waiting 7 hours to see the doctor, I found out that I have a bad summer cold. I was given antibiotics and sent to medical quarters for 24 hours so that I can sleep.
Living with so many people results in a lot of germ exposure. Apparently I caught something in a few days. A female in the same barracks caught the same symptoms and jumped to the conclusion that it was strep throat. Since we can't miss any training, which is when sick call is, she dragged me to the hospital. Come to find out, I have a fever and have to be monitored with a 6 hour waiting room wait while she was given medicine and sent home. I was looking forward to a good night's sleep but instead, I am spending the night at the ER.
Update: After waiting 7 hours to see the doctor, I found out that I have a bad summer cold. I was given antibiotics and sent to medical quarters for 24 hours so that I can sleep.
BCT Day 2
Today started early at 0330. We went to the victory tower, which is an obstacle course. We had to propel down a 40 foot wall. It was a lot of fun. You can check out the victory tower on BCT website. The heat caused 4 heat casualties from my platoon. Heat has really been an issue here. We had to sit through briefings in the afternoon. Everybody in the company is always struggling to stay awake during these lectures - that's the hardest part of BCT so far.
I got smoked 8 times. I was smoked twice before 0500. I am not a big fan of our female DS who makes it know that she hates females by pointing out everything that is wrong with us. We had to do pushups until muscle failure this morning. I am sure that I will feel it tomorrow.
One thing about BCT is that they give you just enough time to get everything done. You have to choose your priorities. 45 minutes of personal time at night is when we take showers, organize closets, prepare for the next day, write letters, and do laundry. It seems like I can only fit in a quick shower before I have to prepare for formation at 2045.
I got smoked 8 times. I was smoked twice before 0500. I am not a big fan of our female DS who makes it know that she hates females by pointing out everything that is wrong with us. We had to do pushups until muscle failure this morning. I am sure that I will feel it tomorrow.
One thing about BCT is that they give you just enough time to get everything done. You have to choose your priorities. 45 minutes of personal time at night is when we take showers, organize closets, prepare for the next day, write letters, and do laundry. It seems like I can only fit in a quick shower before I have to prepare for formation at 2045.
BCT Day 1
Today started early with wakeup at 0300 and formation at 0330. After waiting outside for 2 hours, the buses and DS's finally showed up. We got on the bus & were asked to lay our heads down on our bags. We were greeted with the DS's yelling, telling us we have 10 seconds to get off the bus. Of course, it took a lot longer & the DS's were yelling at us, telling us how slow we were as we were running with our heavy bags. After an introduction, we were divided into our platoons. We sat in a classroom & were handed out equipment (helmet, bullet proof vest & tent). We also got to learn some drill and circumstance. Chow is interesting ... we have to move side swipe as we get our food & only have 5 minutes to scarf it down.
I did not want to let my DS know that I am going to OCS & my educational background. If course, that was one of the first questions she asked. Although my DS yelled and we got smoked pretty good, they have been great instructors. They will turn on you if you address them incorrectly or say the wrong thing. It's hard to get used to. After a long day, I was looking forward to a good shower & early bedtime. Of course I would have fire duty from 2100 to 2300 when I was stuck scrubbing the bathroom. I'm looking forward to tomorrow when I get to propel down the 40 foot victory tower.
I did not want to let my DS know that I am going to OCS & my educational background. If course, that was one of the first questions she asked. Although my DS yelled and we got smoked pretty good, they have been great instructors. They will turn on you if you address them incorrectly or say the wrong thing. It's hard to get used to. After a long day, I was looking forward to a good shower & early bedtime. Of course I would have fire duty from 2100 to 2300 when I was stuck scrubbing the bathroom. I'm looking forward to tomorrow when I get to propel down the 40 foot victory tower.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Reception: (3/3)
Today (Saturday) we actually got to sleep in til 0500! We went back to the barracks between chow. I was able to get caught up on laundry and packed the duffel for Monday. I am excited & anxious for Monday and read to get it over with!
Reception: (2/3)
Its 2100 and the DS made us all go to sleep. We have to hurry everywhere: to chow, get up in the mornings, to formations, showers, etc. It gets stressful because we are always running short on time.
Today was better than the previous ones sinCe we are almost through with inprocessing. I had 6 shots at 6AM which were not too bad.
One thing that we have to worry about is heat casualties. So far, 10 soldiers have been taken to the hospital this week. We are always carrying canteens around to stay hydrated. If we end up at the hospital then we will not get the chance to attend BCT Monday.
We are required to wear full ACU's (Army Combat Uniforms) now. I hope my feet heal and my boots break in soon!
Today was better than the previous ones sinCe we are almost through with inprocessing. I had 6 shots at 6AM which were not too bad.
One thing that we have to worry about is heat casualties. So far, 10 soldiers have been taken to the hospital this week. We are always carrying canteens around to stay hydrated. If we end up at the hospital then we will not get the chance to attend BCT Monday.
We are required to wear full ACU's (Army Combat Uniforms) now. I hope my feet heal and my boots break in soon!
Reception: (1/3)
When I arrived at Ft. Jackson on Sunday (17th) and was first introduced to the DS (Drill Sergeant), I didn't think reception would be too bad. I was wrong! Since arriving Sunday, we have had 3 hours of sleep. Sunday night, we spent the wee hours of the morning standing at attention outside the barracks because some idiot decided to sell drugs. Monday (18th) started bright at early at 4AM. After chow, we had to go to a survey meeting. The funny thing is that we were all half asleep and signed up to attend a volunteer meeting. Come to find out the meeting is scheduled for tonight (Wednesday) at 12AM.
Yesterday (19th) was such a long day. We were issued uniforms, went to medical and received our boots. Everybody is always yelling at us, including the other females in my platoon.
Yesterday (19th) was such a long day. We were issued uniforms, went to medical and received our boots. Everybody is always yelling at us, including the other females in my platoon.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Current Address
Unfortunately, I cannot publish Stacy's current address due to privacy issues; however, if you would like Stacy's address, please email Jamie (jamiermulvaney@yahoo.com) or Stephanie (stephanie.wassel@yahoo.com) and we can send you the information ASAP.
I will have a posting later this week from Stacy so stay tuned!
I will have a posting later this week from Stacy so stay tuned!
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Day 3
Stacy called in and spoke with Mom and Dad today during a short break. She is tired and busy. Below is a picture she sent today:
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Day 0
I decided to start up a blog so that family and friends can be informed of all the fun stuff I'll be doing during my journey into the Army. I can't believe that I will be leaving Savannah in just a couple of hours. The past couple of months have flown by! I started the long process of entering the U.S. Army back in December. I decided to apply to Officer Candidate School (OCS) and was accepted the last week of March. I found out my ship date the first week of April. I was a bit surprised to find out that I would be leaving in just 3 short months, in the middle of summer! But, I am honored to have the opportunity to attend OCS.
My sister, Stephanie, will update the blog via letters I will send to her since I will not have access to the internet. I am anxious and excited about this journey and look forward to all of the opportunities that will present itself within the U.S. Army.
My sister, Stephanie, will update the blog via letters I will send to her since I will not have access to the internet. I am anxious and excited about this journey and look forward to all of the opportunities that will present itself within the U.S. Army.
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