Days 19-22

14 May 2009  (Day 19)

Last night, I had laundry detail, where people place their laundry at the front of the barrack, and then laundry detail takes it downstairs to the laundry room, and does the laundry and waits until it is done.  It was only a one hour shift, so I had about 30 minutes of sleep before I had to get up at 2200 to do my shift.  I was able to write a few letters and mailed them out once I got back upstairs.  Then, in the morning, we did PT that focused on abs and arms.  My body is really killing me.  I can;t even do pushups now because I don't think my body has time to recover from the previous day.  Looking in the mirror today, I think I look a little slimmer, or at least slightly more tone.  It's not enough of a difference to get too excited about yet, because I am so sore, I feel sluggish and still out of shape.  Anyway, yesterday we also were told to square away our assault pack (I thought it was a change of clothes for the gas chamber).  We then came back upstairs after breakfast and double-checked our gear, and were told to also pack our knee and elbow pads.  When everyone was ready, we got into formation downstairs and headed out on a road march.  Surprisingly, after about a quarter of a mile, we loaded onto five buses to head further down range (It was about a 25 minute bus ride).  When we arrived at our destination, it was a leadership course.  The course was similar to other courses I had done -- Different stations where we had to use either boards, rope, or barrels to get across, except this course was all over freezing cold water.  So while 3rd and 4th platoons did the course first, 1st and 2nd platoons learned how to low crawl, high crawl, and move when under enemy fire.  This is why we needed elbow and knee pads (Along with the gear we had to wear -- battle rattle without the bulletproof vest).  We ate more MREs for lunch again (eating MREs more than I thought we would).  After lunch, it was my group's turn to do the leadership course.  they made everyone jump into the water (reason for the extra clothes), and it was really cold.  Because it was in the upper 80s, the water actually felt good (even though we were in full ACUs).  Our squad didn't do so well, but it was overall a good experience.  We finally changed out of our wet clothes and headed back to the barracks.  The day was pretty much over, except in a matter of 10 minutes, we had four guys in my platoon pass out due to heat exhaustion or dehydration.  We were all told to drink water after that, and got a 2 minute cold shower.  It was refreshing!  We then headed to dinner, and then back up to the barracks to clean and put away gear from today's activities.  We have a mandatory laundry night tonight.  I have first shift fire watch as well, so at least I get one solid night of sleep!  The only thing that has been bothering me is the fact that we don't know when mail is distributed.  Rumors around say we'll get it next weekend, because with 220 new trainees, the mail room needs time to organize.  Oh well.  Other than that, I'm pretty sun burnt from the last 3 days worth of activities.  Hopefully I can borrow sun screen and when we go back to the PX next week I can buy some Aloe!  Time to get ready for firewatch, then sleep, then start a brand new day in a few short, but much needed, hours!

15 May 2009  (Day 20)

This morning we had PT and split off into our running agility groups.  My running has suffered because we didn't do any physical activities during reception, so we ship down range only to have done a few lunges and pushups.  After PT and breakfast, we put on full battle and loaded buses again to head to a firing range where we shot a 50 caliber and an MK-19 (grenade launcher).  It was a long hot day, but it was a fun experience, especially since I have only shot shot guns and rifles in scouts.  These were "big boy weapons," but I'd rather not use them.  I'm not really into violence or anything, and that is another reason I did National Guard instead of Active Duty Army.  When we got back to our barrack, we cleaned and put everything away.  The whole platoon got a counseling form that said our bay didn't pass inspection.  Another individual, who transferred from a different platoon due to restart, said his drill sergeants did the same thing, so this is more of a scare tactic.  Oh well, my gear was squared away.  Now back at home, this weekend is the Ordeal, which is the first Ordeal I will have missed in 5 years or so.  I hope everyone has a fun time, and I will be thinking of you all.

16 May 2009  (Day 21)

I have been putting of going to sick call for nearly 10 days now, so last night, after not seeing any improvement, I got a sick call form and filled it out.  I also had firewatch from 0200-0300, which is the third night in a row now I have had a night shift (One laundry detail and two fireguard).  So when I woke up this morning, I got ready (along with 9 others from my platoon), and was about to head to sick call, when I vomited all over the floor (just a lot of water and mucus).  So after that was cleaned up, we all went downstairs and waited around for over an hour.  We met up with the other three platoon's sick call people, which totaled our group to 19.  We went to breakfast, and then headed to TMC #7 (Troop Medical Center #7).  When we got there, we were denied access at the door, saying unless it was life threatening, we should just go back.  That really blew.  I have been putting up with a sore throat, constant coughing, clogged/runny nose, headache, and now vomiting for over 10 days, and I get rejected and told to come back on Monday.  Whatever.  So the group walks the half mile or so back to our barracks, where we just missed the group leaving for the day's training.  one of the drill sergeants got a 16 passenger van, which all 19 of us crammed into, and we met up with the group.  Today's training was about communication.  we learned about the 9 line medivac (9 steps to call over the radio for a medical pickup), and then how to assemble and set up a radio to call on.  It was interesting, but my cold is messing with my head, and I have all sorts of trouble staying awake and am becoming disoriented.  I haven't been caught by a drill sergeant for falling asleep yet, so at least I have been lucky in that sense.  Anyway, we got back from training and practically had the rest of the day off.  Someone in our platoon left their wall locker unlocked while we were gone, and so the drill sergeant played a joke on us and said someone stile his hat (which no one even TOUCHES a drill sergeant's hat), so everyone opened their lockers and the guy who left his wall locker open had it inside, and so everyone was either shocked or thought he had been set up by someone else.  The drill sergeant explained what happened and everyone in the platoon was still shocked about what had just happened.  I thought it was great.  Later on, I was called into the drill sergeant's office and received another counseling statement.  This one was unfair, and I explained it to the other drill sergeant who was giving it to me because the drill sergeant who wrote me up went home for the day, but I was written up for lack of motivation.  I was the last person to get out of the van at training, and I went to join my platoon (who had already undressed out of their full battle rattle).  When I got to my platoon, the drill sergeant was counting down from 15 seconds that everyone needed to be undressed.  I failed to meet that deadline, because I had to take off my assault pack (camo backpack), my FLC (carries canteens and magazines for my M4), my bulletproof vest, and my helmet, while stacking it by my feet in a specific way.  I was told I wasn't motivated?!?!  I said I undressed as fast as I possibly could, and that I had just gotten there, but the drill sergeant said that I need to follow directions and I don't have much time to change if I am deployed.  UGH!  Oh well, a couple of counseling forms don't hurt, and after Basic they are thrown away.  The only bad thing they do is, if there are enough repeats, I could get restarted (which isn't an option), or if I build up enough unique ones, then I lose my family day pass (which also is not an option).  I just have to step up my performance even more.  Oh well, enough about that.  For dinner tonight, I went with a pasta.  It wasn't labeled, but it looked good, so I got it, and about half way through it, my stomach felt queasy.  I was about to take my tray up when I threw up a little on it.  I then took my tray up and threw up a little more.  I made it outside and asked for a battle buddy and stepped into the bathroom where I threw up the rest of my dinner.  I later found out that it was a tuna casserole.  Again, I do not like fish or seafood of any kind!  I do not make this stuff up.  Here is the good news - we got mail today!  I stayed up to read all the letters I received (mom's, dad's, grandpap's, Mr. Schumacher's, and two from Brittney).  It was so nice to read mail from everyone, even though I had to do 10 pushups per letter received, it was definitely worth it!  Thank you all so much for mailing me and write as often as you want.  I have to maintain my record of the most mail received!

17 May 2009  (Day 22)

Last night, at about 2130 (9:30 pm), the fire alarm went off and everyone evacuated the barracks.  I was right in the middle of reading my mom's letter, so I had to set it down and go outside.  It was raining outside, and the Ft. Benning Fire Dept. showed up and let us go back in within 10 minutes or so.  I finished reading my mail, and then went to sleep.  Wake up was at 0600, which is nice to be able to sleep in, except I had to be on suicide watch (4 nights in a row I have pulled a duty of some sort).  The guy we are watching is not even suicidal.  He is being medically discharged for pins in his legs that are hurting him, so he is going home in a day or two to his wife and kids.  He isn't suicidal and this watch is pointless.  Oh well, I am just doing what I'm told.  At least I was able to sit on the floor and write this journal entry up to this point!

After my shift was over, everyone woke up, and those who were going to church changed into ACUs, and those who weren't stayed in summer PTs.  The nice thing about the Protestant service here is that it is about the same time as the first service back home, so from 8:30-9:45 I am at church and feel that I am in worship (a few hundred miles away) with my family.  Also, today I ran into Brandon Clymer, who is a Construction Management major and ROTC cadet like myself at Ball State.  It was really nice to see a familiar face.  We aren't best friends or anything, but out here I am really by myself and not knowing anybody, just something familiar is comforting, but the letters last night really helped.  When we got back from church, I changed out of my ACUs and into summer PTs.  While I was gone, the platoon wiped everything down with bleach, because a good 75% or so is sick here, and we are trying to get everyone in 1st platoon healthy again.  The last four nights I have needed my laundry off at the front of the barrack to have the laundry detail wash it, but it has failed to be selected to get clean.  So today is free for all laundry day, meaning anyone can wash whenever there is an open machine today.  However, before I was able to do my laundry, the drill sergeants told us we were going to rearrange the barrack.  So instead of four rows of single bunks, we not have two rows of bunk beds along the walls.  All of the wall lockers are then lined up side by side, blocking all of the windows, which I think is stupid, but oh well, less than 13 weeks left here!  After the barracks were straight, I went downstairs and started my laundry, then we had a brief land navigation and map reading course (which we had at reception, as well).  When class was over, I moved my laundry into the dryer.  We went to dinner, came back, and so I started folding my laundry when our drill sergeant decided to show us how to load, clean, and unjam our M4s.  When he called on me to see what I had picked up, I did everything correctly.  Luckily, my battle buddy is awesome and he was helping me out before I was called, so he really helped me out.  After class, we took showers.  I finished folding laundry, and now at 2130 (9:30 pm) I am going to sleep!  Night all!!!