Gas chamber

Christmas exodus is not a good idea during basic because people tend to lose their minds while they are home.  Which means the first few weeks after you get back it's like you are starting with the smoke sessions all over again. 

Once you get out of the initial phase of basic, you spend your time out learning skills hands on instead of in a powerpoint presentation.  During this phase is when you go to the range and learn how to shoot an M16 rifle, throw hand grenades, go through the gas chamber, complete obstacle courses and complete your first field exercise and ruck marches. 

The day we went to the gas chamber was the same day that we completed our first major obstacle course.  We were out at the course before the sun rose and spent the majority of the first few hours making our way through the course which included climbing walls, low crawling under barbed wire (and through the mud) and other random obstacles over the course of a little over 1/4 of a mile.  Once we completed it the first time, each platoon had to pick eight soldiers to compete against the other platoons... somehow I ended up in that eight - so we went through the course again and our platoon won.  From the course, the gas chamber was our next 'obstacle' for the day. 

Everyone in our company was lined up outside this small shack waiting for our turn to go into the chamber.  Once you got into the chamber you had to ensure your mask was sealed, which of course, mine didn't seal immediately.  I was already starting to snot and tear up by the time my mask was sealed.  We had to stay in there for about 15 minutes, then before you could leave you were put in groups of four.  Everyone in your group had to take their mask off, have their eyes open and be repeating a phase that the drill sergeants chose before they could leave the chamber.  The funny thing about where the chamber is positioned is there is a tree on the path immediately out of the exit.  Even without my glasses on, I managed to miss the tree coming out.  While I was 'airing' out, I watched as other soldiers ran out, a few of them caught the edge of the tree, but one hit the tree straight on.

After we had finished the obstacle course and completed the gas chamber, we were loaded back on the buses and headed back to the company.  We then were filed onto some bleachers to have our platoon picture taken.  If you look closely at the picture, our eyes are blood shot and red, we are covered in dirt and mud.  Great day for a picture!