On any other day, at 0700 I would have already been up for at least two hours and have a good workout in-- not today! The fireguard woke us up at 0700 (which was only about 6 and a half hours of sleep), and we cleaned the bay, changed into ACUs, and moved our weapon racks to third platoon's bay to be watched for the day. We then headed downstairs to form up and head to breakfast. After breakfast, we had around 90 minutes before transportation arrived, so we just hung out in the bay until it was time to be downstairs for the buses to take us to the National Infantry Museum. It was about a 15 minute ride to the museum, and when we got there, a class had just finished graduating and the place was really busy because of it. But anyway, the bus pulled around back and we unloaded and marched as a company to the museum. We went inside and filed into a room where we got a presentation over the history of the infantry. Spiva (the guy I did IVs with) recognized the speaker from a number of television shows such as Weaponry, Top Sniper, Modern Movers, Top 10 Rifles, and some other 20+ shows on the History, Discovery, and Military channels. After our very informative lecture, we went in groups through the museum. I started getting choked up walking through it, with history just now hitting me and what I have gotten myself into. Our country has come so far to defend the freedoms we take for granted- worshiping whatever we believe in, disagreeing and having our own opinions, and the rights that other countries have. One of the ladies who was a volunteer there held my hand for a couple of seconds and just thanked me. I haven't ever done anything worth being thanked for, but just her gratitude really made me think of home and I got teary eyed. After we had some time upstairs (exhibits about basic training), we went to lunch and swapped places with another group. Lunch was outside in a WWII style chow hall across from the stands at the graduation field. It was catered to us, so today was free-- no museum entrance fee and we didn't eat at the museum restaurant like we were told we would be doing (oh well, I didn't want to spend the money anyway!). After lunch, we marched back to the museum and toured the downstairs exhibits. Downstairs, it is broken up into rooms by either time frame and conflicts/wars. There are items from that time period and all sorts of videos and special effects throughout. I want to go back to the museum with my family, either next week during family day, or after my turning blue ceremony on August 13th (plus my parents will then know where to go the next day for graduation) At 1430, we formed up and marched back to the bus loading/unloading zone. We came back to the barracks and went up to our bays until dinner. After dinner, we changed into PTs, and for those who wanted to, they went out to the track for 30 minutes to do whatever PT they wanted to do. I decided to run 3 miles, so I got my 3 miles in and then cooled down and went back inside. I then joined those who didn't want to go and lifted weights and did pushups. I then got a quick shower and went downstairs for final formation. We had a mail call, and I got a letter from my Grandma Reinbold that included more address labels and the latest race stats for Dreyer and Reinbold racing team. After we came back up to the bay, I got ready for bed and fell asleep shortly after. It's nice to be on phase down for my basic training portion of this summer!
04 July 2009 (Day 70)
Happy 4th of July!!! We woke up this morning at 0500, cleaned the bay, and went downstairs for PT at 0600. Today's PT was more like a smoke session, but oh well, at least it was a good workout. The drill sergeant in charge had up do four laps around the track, but we sprinted one straight-away, did forward lunges around one turn, ran backwards down the back straight-away, and then did bear crawls (crawling on your hands and feet, stomach towards the ground) for two laps and crab walked the other two laps along the second turn. It wore me out! Afterwards, we did a little area cleaning and then took showers and changed into clean PTs. We then headed downstairs and on to breakfast. After breakfast, each platoon was assigned an area of our company area to compete area beautification for one hour. When we finished, we formed back up and went to our bay after the drill sergeant moved a TV in there to watch Body of Lies, starring Russel Crowe and Leonardo DiCaprio. We had to stop the movie to go to lunch, but finished it once we got back. Third platoon was in our bay and fourth platoon was down in second platoon's bay, so we switched DVDs, and started watching the HBO series, Band of Brothers. Before we finished the first episode, we had a 1520 formation, where we were told we had another hour of area beautification. We have done at least four hours this week, and with 200 people in the company--there is not 800 hours worth of area that needs to be beautified. Pretty much everyone just stood around and talked, because there wasn't anything left for us to do. When our hour was up, we came back upstairs and finished part one and then watched part two. When that was over, we had about 20 minutes until we had to head to dinner, so we took our time getting ready, and then went to dinner at 1800. At dinner, we caught sight of the 6 o'clock news, and North Korea launched 7 missiles. After dinner, we worked on drill and ceremony for about a half hour. When we came back, the drill sergeant on duty was on his soap box about making something out of our lives and how America is rotting away to technology. After listening to him rant for almost an hour (and going into movie time), we went back upstairs and just worked out and took showers. At 2100, lights went out, I finished writing, and then went to bed.
05 June 2009 (Day 71)
I was woken up at 0145 for my 0200-0300 fireguard shift, so I got changed into my ACUs and then reported to the front desk with Spence. I chose to be the roaming guard, which meant I walked around the bay, and Spence sat at the desk. While I was roaming, I decided to take a ten pound dumbbell and do arm workouts for over 30 minutes. I also counted out the ceiling tiles (4' x 2') and I know that it takes about 29 laps (28.8) to equal a mile, so I can easily walk 1.5 - 2 miles each fireguard shift (I walk at a slow patrolling pace). Anyway, we were relieved by Spiva and his battle buddy, and went back to sleep until 0600 wake up. When everyone got back up, we cleaned the bay and those who were going to church changed into ACUs. At 0730 we headed down for chow formation, and at 0745 the protestants went to breakfast, and then on to church! The sermon was pretty good today. The chaplain started out asking what freedom meant, and took answers from the congregation. He went on to preach that freedom is about making the right or wrong decision within a specific perimeter, such as when our forefathers made the decision to fight against the British to become a free nation, and how just a few make the decision for millions to enjoy their daily lives in America today. It is the same with Christ. Within Christianity, we have certain freedoms, but we have to make the decision that would fit within the perimeter or if we will indulge in sin. It sounded good and made more sense when he said it, but oh well, I got a lot out of it, it's just sort of hard to put it into words. After church, we came back and did an hour of more area beautification, and then came back up to the bay to cool down and then head to lunch. After lunch, we hung out in the bay for about an hour, and then we had the pay phones from 1300-1500. I was put in charge of timing everyone, making sure everyone stayed within their 12 minute phone call time frame. Our PG gave me extra time, because I gave up two hours of my time (time away from writing!) to time people, but at 1430, we had a couple of ladies come in to give a lecture about buying class/Army rings. So while the company was in the lecture, I chose not to get a ring, so I stayed back and talked to my family and then with Brittney! I can't wait to see them this weekend--but wait, maybe not :(. After everyone got back, a display ring was unaccounted for. The ladies said they brought 21 rings, and only had 20 now. We searched in what we were wearing- nothing. It was then time to eat dinner, but a lot of people lost their appetite...especially since if it wasn't found, we would be losing our family day pass and be going back to red phase for the rest of our duration here. By red phase, I mean red phase privileges: no phone calls, limited mail, drill sergeants always around, smokings for no reason...everything I wrote about 6-8 weeks ago. After dinner, our platoon guide and squad leaders went upstairs to search beds, shoes, rucksacks, and other areas in the bay while the rest of us were supposed to work on drill and ceremony--The motivation was gone. After dinner, we almost accepted the fact that the ring wasn't going to be turned in and the life had been sucked out of us. Mood swings started to flare. We came upstairs after dodging a few tempered individuals, and had to take our shoes and dump then upside down and take the soles out. Nothing was found by the drill sergeants, and I'm confident that my platoon is innocent. When the drill sergeant left, we had the rest of the evening to ourselves, which I sat and wrote out the events of today in my journal as well as talked through the different scenarios or outcomes that could happen. We really think it's too short of notice to let family cancel plans and that the blow to morale would do more harm than anything--but we'll see what it to come. I also did my laundry tonight, so at 2030, I got my laundry out of the dryer, started folding up my laundry, and then took a shower. I then went to bed and laid around thinking of what was to come, before I fell asleep around 2130.
06 July 2009 (Day 72)
Nothing happened throughout the night, except for me waking up thinking that something was going to happen. We woke up at 0430 and turned out linens in by 0500. We spent the next hour cleaning the bay and making sure our wall lockers would pass a white glove inspection. I finished folding my laundry and then helped others out. At 0600, we had first formation and headed out to do PT. Those who failed their final PT got to make it up this morning. Today's PT was pui sui. I really enjoyed it and felt like I got a lot out of the workout. After PT, we ate breakfast and then came upstairs to shower and change into ACUs. The retests came back from their PT test, and found out their scores. Five of the seven guys failed again and will be restarting with C company (pronounced "Charlie company"), which is just mow starting week 3. I'm glad I passed my PT test the first time, because I couldn't handle a restart. Out of the guys who did fail, unfortunately they were kind of the odd men out, and talked about computer games, and obviously didn't live active lives. As for the missing ring, nothing has been mentioned about it, and we are just going about today as normal and will enjoy our family day this weekend unless we are told otherwise. Only first and second platoons got to use the phones yesterday, so I'm thankful I got to talk to my family and Brittney yesterday! It's also good that they don't know about this, because when I talked to them, they sounded excited about seeing me, especially Brittney! It's hard enough for me to have this situation working about, so at least I only have to deal with this! I would hate for Brittney (and my family) to be thinking about this, wondering if they need to cancel hotel rooms and days off work. Anyway, we went downstairs at 0900 and had a class in the classroom over CQC (Close Quarter Combat), or room clearing. They had technical difficulties, so they had to write and draw everything out on the board. Our platoon was paired up with second platoon in the classroom while third and fourth platoons practiced the technique in our formation area. When we finished in the classroom, we went to our formation area, got new linens, and then practiced drill and ceremony for over 90 minutes until it was lunchtime. After lunch, we weren't sure if we were going to go through the process of clearing a room or not (we have practiced before), but we never did and were sent upstairs to make beds, clean weapons, and do something productive. Because of yesterday's ordeal, it took away my writing time, so after I finished making my bed, I wrote back to the Winkos. In the meantime, people were called into the drill sergeant's and more guys found out where they were going to be stationed. When everyone had been called into his office, he called for me, and I was caught off guard seeing the First Lieutenant in there as well. The drill sergeant was staring at the PT score board (or at least I think he was), and asked me how much weight I had lost. The the First Lieutenant asked me if my wife or parents were coming to see me, and I said, "Parents, drill sergeant...sir" (oops!). Then, the drill sergeant asked me if I was even married, and I said, "No, sir...drill sergeant." (I was all messed up). My drill sergeant told me to leave before I embarrassed him anymore (he could tell I was a bit flustered), so I left, now with all sorts of questions in my head. Why did he want to know? Are some of us or the squared away guys going to be able to stay out with our family for family day? I just want to know what their intentions were in asking those questions. That's going to bother me for a little while, and hopefully we get to stay out, because I would love to get out of here! Oh well, I can't dwell on this for too long. So anyway, we were told to go downstairs--and to our surprise, we had a mail call! I got two letters from Brittney, a letter from my mom about catching a criminal, and a letter from my dad. We then went to dinner, and when we got back, we had to pack for an eight mile ruck march in the morning, and stage our gear downstairs in our formation area for the night. We then took showers, and those who didn't get to make phone calls yesterday could make them tonight (our drill sergeant was on duty, so he took care of his platoon). For the remainder of the evening, I made sure to hydrate every 15-20 minutes and then had final formation at 2030. We didn't get any milk, so it was just a final head count before it was back up to the bay and off to bed!
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