Basic Training week 2

8/27/11

This week has been crazy.  We kept hearing about “Monday Funday” but it was actually really mellow.   We spent around 9 hours in the classroom learning about Combat Life Saving Techniques.  We learned how to get soldiers who have been wounded out of danger and give assistance.  We learned carries, ovags, how to treat gunshot wounds and we also learned how to do a needle chest decompression with a 14 gauge needle.  I think the drill sergeants liked this day because they really do not have to be around us.  We are with the medical people all day. 

Tuesday was a bit different.  We woke up at 0400 and went on a 3 mile march in full ACU’s (Army Combat Uniforms) 40 lbs assault pack, gallon of water and our M16A4 assault rifles.  When we got back we had breakfast and then started the rest of our classes on combat lifesaving.  When we got back our bay (where my platoon stays) was trashed.  Bunks were all flipped, wall lockers were torn down, some people left their lockers open so the drill sergeants wrote on the floor, walls and in the showers with shaving cream and tooth paste.  We then spent most of that night cleaning and studying for our test that we had the next day.

Wednesday sucked we took our test in the morning and I passed, I guess I took good notes in the combat lifesaver class because I only missed a couple of the questions.  Then the next part of the day we as a company (all 4 platoons) broke up into 10 men squads and ran through the safety course.   My squad was the last one up and we never got to go.  My Squad just had to sit in the sun for 6 hours and do nothing because we ran out of time.  When we got back we changed into our PT uniform with is shorts, T-shirt and running shoes and we went to our sexual harassment class which is pretty boring but served a big purpose seeing as the military is very strict about this and will dishonorably discharge you if you are accused.  No issues here my basic training is all male.

Thursday was actually a lot of fun we went to the Confidence Course for heights.  My first obstacle was to climb up wooden planks about 30 ft and cross under the last one and go down the other side.  The next obstacle was with a team of 4, we had to ascend up around 50 ft from platform to platform it was more challenging but we worked together and completed it pretty quickly.  Next we had to climb up a 30 ft rope then walk across a log over to a latter that takes you around 60 to 70 ft in the air, then  you climb down the other side which is rope netting.  By this point my body was hurting once again we are doing all this in full ACU’s and it was about 105 outside.  We then had our typical lunch a cold MRE, we still can’t use the heat packs to warm them up.  I got a cold vege burger patti with some random seasoning and applesauce.  After lunch we went back to the course to the German walls.  This is a row of walls that you and your team must get over it starts at 6ft and goes up to 10 ft.  Seeing as I am an OCS trainee I am expected to be team leader; so I did wall squats and let my entire team climb over my thighs then shoulders, needless to say I have some pretty crazy bruises from that.  The next one really sucked…. I had completed everything, now I had to climb up a ladder to a platform about 70 -80 ft in the air.  From here you go down head first on a rope that s stretched out at about a 45 degree angle.  So I get up fine grab the rope wrap my ankles around it and start heading down hand over hand mind you there is a safety net underneath you just in case you fall.  I get around half way and my hands start slipping because they are very wet, I went to wipe them off thinking it was sweat but in actuality because we were not allowed to use gloves I had gotten rope burn and my hands were completely blistered and bloody.  So, I’m about half way down and I realize that I have completed every obstacle since I hae been here so I carried on and made it to the bottom.  I was stoked and proud of myself and my hands were on fire.  I thought I was done but I was wrong there was a rope climb after so I charged it and got over the rope and wall.  On the other side of the wall were monkey bars that we had to climb across there were around 50 and it was softly zig zagged.  The Sergeant sees my hands at this point and tells me that I am just going to slip off the monkey bars.  He advised me to put my hands in the sand to build traction…..that sucked but I did it and completed the course.  It was extremely long and painful but I beat it even though my body still aches.

Friday came and I figured we would get a break we had a communicational radio function class in the morning till around 1100.  We then had to go to our land navigation course which they claim is 1 mile away.  B.S. it was over two miles, again in full ACU’s 40 lbs assault pack, gallon of H2O and our M16A4 assault rifle.  I thought Georgia was flat but we found the one damn hill to go up.  It was around 105 and 5 guys got heat stroke and the ambulance had to come take them to the hospital.  We finally made it to the land navigation course.  We got in groups of 4 and given maps, compass and protractor.  We had 3 hours to find our 3 grid locations.  My team was solid and we finished in an hour and twenty minutes.  Only 10 teams passed you had to get 2 out of 3 to pass and we got 3 out of 3.  We then had to do the same thing at night.  This time is was 2 locations but you had to get both and do it in 1 hour.  We got 2 out of 2 and we completed it in about 25 minutes.  It was an extremely long and hot day but in the end I was happy my team was 1 of maybe 5 that went 5 for 5.  There were about 50 teams.

Saturday, today was the day I was a little bit scared of, the CS Chamber or Gas Chamber.  This is where you walk into a room that has tear gas going off.  You have your mask on and there are around 60 guys in the room.  The first thing you notice is that any exposed skin starts to burn, once everyone is in an instructor will point to you.  When he points you have to break the seal of the mask say your last name and last 4 digits of your SSN, then reseal and clear your mask.  This was no problem for me.  After everyone did this we had to go back into the chamber in groups of 12.  This time we had to completely take off the mask and put on our combat helmets (if you drop anything or do not have your helmet on correctly they make you go again) so I’m about 4 people back from the door, I get my stuff squared away but the first guy is fumbling around so we are all just sitting there breathing in the gas.  Surprisingly, it had very little effect on me my eyes watered but that was pretty much it.  Everyone else was coughing a few guys threw up but all in all I was fine.

This was pretty much my week.  I miss you all and hope you are all doing well.

Love,

Patrick