During the last week of basic, you have an inspection where the Command Sergeant Major (CSM) comes down. For this inspection, each soldier has to be in their class As and have all of your gear that you used over the last nine weeks laid out and ready to be checked.
We were all standing by our bunks waiting for the drill sergeants and CSM to come in one of the other females noticed one set of my boots had been bumped and fell over. I did the logical thing and reached down to fix it, as I did I heard a loud rip and the room went silent. My dress pants had just split completely open. I stood up and asked one of the other soldiers how bad it was and even though she told me it would be okay - I could see in her face that it was BAD!
I stepped out of the room desperately looking for a drill sergeant, finally I saw one of the female drill sergeants who yelled at me for not being by my bunk. I snapped to parade rest and explained to her what had happened. She proceeded to tell me to turn around so she could see if it was a big deal. As I turned around, her eyes got huge and she rushed me back into the room.
About that time, we could hear the CSM stepping into the hallway to check our stuff. The drill sergeant got a panicked look on her face and told me just to make sure I didn't turn my back to anyone and we would deal with it after the inspection. The CSM came in and checked our gear and uniforms. The whole time I ensured that my back stayed to the wall.
After the CSM left, the drill sergeant came back in and I changed quickly into the other pair of dress pants. Thankfully, the second pair fit.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
BRM
BRM or Basic Rifle Markmanship is the beginning for most to learn how to fire an M16. For a lot of people entering basic, this is the first time firing a weapon. Besides shooting two clay pigeons, this was the first for me as well. There is a list of basics that take place that you have to become proficient at to be successful at this. These basics took me a little longer to master.
The day we went to the range was a challenge for me. Anyone who had taken a while to zero their weapon had to start out on the firing line first, since they knew they would also probably be the individuals who were going to have to attempt to qualify more than once. I was in the first group. After my first go at it, I found myself back in line to attempt to qualify again. This happened a few times...before one of the drill sergeants, whose MOS was Infantry came up and offered some advice. Since these were pop up targets you didn't have very long to aim and shoot before they laid back down. With him kneeling there, he called out the distance for each target as they popped up.
There are a couple of sequences during the pop ups that two targets come up at one time. One of those times, I got the perfect shot. The 150 m and 300 m target both popped up at the same time. I established my breathing, aimed and squeezed the trigger - both targets fell with the one shot. At first I thought that I had taken too long and the had both timed out, but the drill sergeants looked up to the tower who had just seen the same thing. They verified that I had hit both targets with one round. That turn at qualifying I was finally a go.
My shooting abilities improved significantly during my time in the Army. Well, on the rifle at least. The pistol is more effective if I throw it at someone than if I were to shoot it.
The day we went to the range was a challenge for me. Anyone who had taken a while to zero their weapon had to start out on the firing line first, since they knew they would also probably be the individuals who were going to have to attempt to qualify more than once. I was in the first group. After my first go at it, I found myself back in line to attempt to qualify again. This happened a few times...before one of the drill sergeants, whose MOS was Infantry came up and offered some advice. Since these were pop up targets you didn't have very long to aim and shoot before they laid back down. With him kneeling there, he called out the distance for each target as they popped up.
There are a couple of sequences during the pop ups that two targets come up at one time. One of those times, I got the perfect shot. The 150 m and 300 m target both popped up at the same time. I established my breathing, aimed and squeezed the trigger - both targets fell with the one shot. At first I thought that I had taken too long and the had both timed out, but the drill sergeants looked up to the tower who had just seen the same thing. They verified that I had hit both targets with one round. That turn at qualifying I was finally a go.
My shooting abilities improved significantly during my time in the Army. Well, on the rifle at least. The pistol is more effective if I throw it at someone than if I were to shoot it.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Battle Buddies and Blue Falcons
The first experience with battle buddies comes during basic training, as you can't go anywhere or speak to any of the drill sergeants without one. You quickly learn that there are several people that are great battle buddies and there are some you pray that you don't get paired with. I had a few great battles in basic. A few, even now over seven years later, I still talk to on a semi-regular basis. There are two I remember the most as far as getting me through the tougher times. Since they were both in my platoon, they normally ended up right in front of me and right behind me during ruck marches. They became my source of motivation when the blisters started or when it seemed like the march would never end.
During those times when you have to go into the prone during the marches, you would have whispered conversations about anything and everything. It could have been what you missed about home, or the fact that you knew deployment was pending and there was a plan of not coming home. One of the soldiers had a plan for his little brother and that was why he has enlisted in a more dangerous job. He had planned to have his death gratuity left for him. We had a lot of really long talks about this thought process and each time I wondered if anything would change his mind. Eventually, something changed his mind because he was finally convinced that his little brother needed him more than he needed money. Those two were the driving force behind me when I was in basic and true battle buddies.
There is the negative of the battle buddy - or the blue falcon. This is someone who whether intentional or not, messes everything up for everyone else. We had one soldier who had been moved out of the cycle ahead of us because of issues. Somehow he managed to get ahold of the most random stuff - like chocolate and chewing tobacco. One night our whole platoon was pulled out of bed because they had found a stash of chewing tobacco in the ceiling tiles on the guys side of the barracks. We spent the next four hours 'sitting on the wall', which is leaning against the wall with your knees at a 90 degree angle and holding your arms out straight in front of you.
Of course, the same soldier as before decided he didn't like basic anymore so one night he snuck out not just of the barracks, but also off post and decided to hitch hike. A trucker picked him up and noticed that he didn't have any unit patches, so when they were stopped at the next stop the trucker called the MPs (Military Police) and asked if they were missing a soldier. The MPs came out and picked him up. That was another long night for the rest of us.
During those times when you have to go into the prone during the marches, you would have whispered conversations about anything and everything. It could have been what you missed about home, or the fact that you knew deployment was pending and there was a plan of not coming home. One of the soldiers had a plan for his little brother and that was why he has enlisted in a more dangerous job. He had planned to have his death gratuity left for him. We had a lot of really long talks about this thought process and each time I wondered if anything would change his mind. Eventually, something changed his mind because he was finally convinced that his little brother needed him more than he needed money. Those two were the driving force behind me when I was in basic and true battle buddies.
There is the negative of the battle buddy - or the blue falcon. This is someone who whether intentional or not, messes everything up for everyone else. We had one soldier who had been moved out of the cycle ahead of us because of issues. Somehow he managed to get ahold of the most random stuff - like chocolate and chewing tobacco. One night our whole platoon was pulled out of bed because they had found a stash of chewing tobacco in the ceiling tiles on the guys side of the barracks. We spent the next four hours 'sitting on the wall', which is leaning against the wall with your knees at a 90 degree angle and holding your arms out straight in front of you.
Of course, the same soldier as before decided he didn't like basic anymore so one night he snuck out not just of the barracks, but also off post and decided to hitch hike. A trucker picked him up and noticed that he didn't have any unit patches, so when they were stopped at the next stop the trucker called the MPs (Military Police) and asked if they were missing a soldier. The MPs came out and picked him up. That was another long night for the rest of us.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
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!
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!
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Basic
Basic training is the beginning of proving you have what it takes to be a soldier. The first few weeks are the most 'fun'. Everyday is an endless cycle of 'death by powerpoint' combined with constant smoke sessions. During this time you get the chance to learn about all the regulations and manuals that would will spend the rest of your time in the Army living by. I was slightly amused during one of these 'powerpoint' sessions when our company commander stood up and proudly stated that Fort Jackson (where I was in Basic) was where Jessica Lynch had gone through her training. I had to wonder what part of her situation made him proud to say that - whether it was the fact that she was a famous female soldier or if it was the fact that she failed to perform basic soldier tasks such as keeping her weapon clean.
The smoke sessions varied in length depending on what we had done to deserve them. Sometimes it was not standing properly in line at the chow hall or being caught up after lights out. The worst smoke session we had was the last night before we all went home for Christmas Exodus (which although I enjoyed being able to be home with my family - exodus is one of the things that made no sense to me). We had been learning land navigation earlier that week and that night was our official test to determine that we could successfully navigate in both day and night. The day time went relatively smoothly, the night land nav did not. Everyone was excited to be heading home in less than 12 hours combine that with chem lights and not being able to see the drill sergeants walking through the woods, people lost their heads and started acting up.
Before we knew it we were all in formation. After about 30 minutes of standing at attention getting screamed at by the drill sergeants over our lack of discipline, the smoking began. I don't remember all the exercises we did at that point, but I do remember doing 'little man in the woods'. Imagine bending your knees at a 90 degree angle straight in front of you (like you are sitting down) and your arms bent at a 90 degree angle, hands up, straight in front of you - then jumping and opening both your legs and arms, keeping them at a 90 degree angle. After being smoked for about an hour at the land nav site we headed back to the company area.
We were hoping that was it, but it wasn't. We spent another three hours on the yard in front of the company doing front-back-go's, little man in the woods, pushups, flutter kicks, rolling left and right to the point where a good number of people had thrown up. In the midst of all the smoking - to ensure no one fell out - was mandatory hydration, which consisted of drinking 1-2 quarts of water within 30-45 seconds. By the time we were done, we were covered in sweat and who knows what else. None of that seemed to matter the next morning as we were all dressed in our class A's ready to get on the planes to head home.
Wearing class A's after that kind of 'workout' does not make for a comfortable bus or plane ride.
The smoke sessions varied in length depending on what we had done to deserve them. Sometimes it was not standing properly in line at the chow hall or being caught up after lights out. The worst smoke session we had was the last night before we all went home for Christmas Exodus (which although I enjoyed being able to be home with my family - exodus is one of the things that made no sense to me). We had been learning land navigation earlier that week and that night was our official test to determine that we could successfully navigate in both day and night. The day time went relatively smoothly, the night land nav did not. Everyone was excited to be heading home in less than 12 hours combine that with chem lights and not being able to see the drill sergeants walking through the woods, people lost their heads and started acting up.
Before we knew it we were all in formation. After about 30 minutes of standing at attention getting screamed at by the drill sergeants over our lack of discipline, the smoking began. I don't remember all the exercises we did at that point, but I do remember doing 'little man in the woods'. Imagine bending your knees at a 90 degree angle straight in front of you (like you are sitting down) and your arms bent at a 90 degree angle, hands up, straight in front of you - then jumping and opening both your legs and arms, keeping them at a 90 degree angle. After being smoked for about an hour at the land nav site we headed back to the company area.
We were hoping that was it, but it wasn't. We spent another three hours on the yard in front of the company doing front-back-go's, little man in the woods, pushups, flutter kicks, rolling left and right to the point where a good number of people had thrown up. In the midst of all the smoking - to ensure no one fell out - was mandatory hydration, which consisted of drinking 1-2 quarts of water within 30-45 seconds. By the time we were done, we were covered in sweat and who knows what else. None of that seemed to matter the next morning as we were all dressed in our class A's ready to get on the planes to head home.
Wearing class A's after that kind of 'workout' does not make for a comfortable bus or plane ride.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Reception
Basic training the first step after MEPS for any soldier to go through. Before you officially are in Basic though, you start in reception. This is where you go through the initial stripping of anything civilian you have on you - from your cell phone to the pair of jeans that you wore on the flight in. You first real interaction with a drill sergeant also takes place there.
During reception I was issued my marshmallow suit (the grey sweatsuit with the word 'ARMY' across the chest and down the leg), my first uniforms, class A's, more shots than I can count and BCGs. I've always been one that is hesitant of needles, well better yet, I just plain don't like them and then tend to not like me. The initial shots are given as you stand in a line and just follow it from one station to another until you meet the standard quota. This was going to be enough of a challenge until I was about three people from being up for my first set of shots and a female that had the first two shots already had a seizure (something interacted with her wrong, she was okay later). My current fear level rose about three notches, but I survived - at least this round of shots.
I left for basic two days before Thanksgiving and since that wasn't enough time to inprocess, I was stuck in reception for the long weekend. It was weird, the first time I had been away from home for any holiday and I was in a place where I didn't really know what to expect and I didn't really know anyone. At this point in time, I was starting to wonder if this was the right choice or if I was even going to make it through whatever they were going to throw at me during the next nine weeks...
During reception I was issued my marshmallow suit (the grey sweatsuit with the word 'ARMY' across the chest and down the leg), my first uniforms, class A's, more shots than I can count and BCGs. I've always been one that is hesitant of needles, well better yet, I just plain don't like them and then tend to not like me. The initial shots are given as you stand in a line and just follow it from one station to another until you meet the standard quota. This was going to be enough of a challenge until I was about three people from being up for my first set of shots and a female that had the first two shots already had a seizure (something interacted with her wrong, she was okay later). My current fear level rose about three notches, but I survived - at least this round of shots.
I left for basic two days before Thanksgiving and since that wasn't enough time to inprocess, I was stuck in reception for the long weekend. It was weird, the first time I had been away from home for any holiday and I was in a place where I didn't really know what to expect and I didn't really know anyone. At this point in time, I was starting to wonder if this was the right choice or if I was even going to make it through whatever they were going to throw at me during the next nine weeks...
Sunday, January 22, 2012
'Old Blue'
When you PCS to an overseas location, taking your car with you isn't always an option. This was the position my husband and I were in when we moved to Germany. He was living in the barracks since he got there a few months before I did. When it was almost time for me to head over he bought a car since he knew we would most likely be living offpost. Old Blue became our 'almost-always faithful'. She was a 1989 BMW who had been passed from one soldier to another, but for the time being she was ours.
The first major venture with Old Blue was moving all of my husband's stuff from the barracks to our apartment. Given that we only lived 3km from post, you wouldn't think this would be a big task, except a Polizei (Germany Police) thought that the overly stuffed car was a little suspicious. The officer pulled him over and proceeded a line of questioning, to include asking him if he had been drinking (it was 1pm) and asking if all the stuff in the car was his. He continued to complete two breath alcohol tests and then was asked for his registration, which was in the glove box that was completely shoved shut with all the stuff in the car. He then was asked if he had all of his emergency equipment to which he told the officer it was in the trunk... the officer asked him to open the trunk and acted completely surprised that not only was the car full but so was the trunk. By the time my husband made it to our house, he was so irritated.
Just a few short weeks later, a friend of mine and I had gone out to dinner. On the way to take her back to the barracks, I came to a stop light that was red, so I stopped. After the light turned green, I made a right hand turn (unless annotated you can't legally turn right on red in Germany) and was prompting pulled over. Given it was 10pm on a Friday, I assumed that I would receive all the standard questioning. This wasn't the case - they had pulled me over to ask me why I had stopped at the corner, to which I replyed that the light was red.... they then told me that there was a yield sign as well and that overrode the light. Then they told me to drive carefully and sent me on my way.
This same car was the one I lost the car keys to when we were about two hours away from home on our first snowboarding trip - which cost us over 300 euro (or about $500) to get back in our house. We also had many winter mornings that we weren't able to get out of the parking lot from our apartment because the incline was just too much for Old Blue to make. Or the many times the only reason we made it up one of the hills to work was by my husband and I rocking forward and back trying to give her a little extra 'power'. Old Blue never heated up before we made it to work, even if we started her a good little while before we left. We packed more single soldiers than we can count into her to bring them our to our house for a home cooked meal from time to time. And she picked up more drunk soldiers and ensured they made it home safely.
Old Blue lasted us a little over a year, got us back and forth to Grafenwohr to see each other when we were in WLC (Warrior Leader Course) or back and forth to Hohenfels when one of us was on MEDEVAC duty.
Shortly before our second deployment, we kept the tradition going and passed her on to another soldier. Even though we got a brand new car after deployment, we still have a special place in our heart for Old Blue.
The first major venture with Old Blue was moving all of my husband's stuff from the barracks to our apartment. Given that we only lived 3km from post, you wouldn't think this would be a big task, except a Polizei (Germany Police) thought that the overly stuffed car was a little suspicious. The officer pulled him over and proceeded a line of questioning, to include asking him if he had been drinking (it was 1pm) and asking if all the stuff in the car was his. He continued to complete two breath alcohol tests and then was asked for his registration, which was in the glove box that was completely shoved shut with all the stuff in the car. He then was asked if he had all of his emergency equipment to which he told the officer it was in the trunk... the officer asked him to open the trunk and acted completely surprised that not only was the car full but so was the trunk. By the time my husband made it to our house, he was so irritated.
Just a few short weeks later, a friend of mine and I had gone out to dinner. On the way to take her back to the barracks, I came to a stop light that was red, so I stopped. After the light turned green, I made a right hand turn (unless annotated you can't legally turn right on red in Germany) and was prompting pulled over. Given it was 10pm on a Friday, I assumed that I would receive all the standard questioning. This wasn't the case - they had pulled me over to ask me why I had stopped at the corner, to which I replyed that the light was red.... they then told me that there was a yield sign as well and that overrode the light. Then they told me to drive carefully and sent me on my way.
This same car was the one I lost the car keys to when we were about two hours away from home on our first snowboarding trip - which cost us over 300 euro (or about $500) to get back in our house. We also had many winter mornings that we weren't able to get out of the parking lot from our apartment because the incline was just too much for Old Blue to make. Or the many times the only reason we made it up one of the hills to work was by my husband and I rocking forward and back trying to give her a little extra 'power'. Old Blue never heated up before we made it to work, even if we started her a good little while before we left. We packed more single soldiers than we can count into her to bring them our to our house for a home cooked meal from time to time. And she picked up more drunk soldiers and ensured they made it home safely.
Old Blue lasted us a little over a year, got us back and forth to Grafenwohr to see each other when we were in WLC (Warrior Leader Course) or back and forth to Hohenfels when one of us was on MEDEVAC duty.
Shortly before our second deployment, we kept the tradition going and passed her on to another soldier. Even though we got a brand new car after deployment, we still have a special place in our heart for Old Blue.
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