Boot Camp Part 1

Friday 05SEP08

After the first three long and chaotic days in Cape May, we 52 strangers all felt the same intimidation to be meeting our three Company Commanders.  None of us knew what to expect and tried to judge the three men taking oaths to watch over and train us to the vest of their abilities.  We were told that these three were the toughest Company Commanders' the Coast Guard had to offer.  We soon found ourselves being herded and screamed at up the ladder where we stowed our belongings.  This would be our new home for the next eight weeks.  Friday was very eye-opening and shocking to the entire Juliet Company.  We all hit the racks that night worried and unsure of what we would be experiencing the next day.

Saturday 06SEP08

Saturday morning we were woken up by a company commander screaming at us to get up.  Still dazed and confused in our racks we were given 10 minutes to be up and ready.  We were taught so many things it was hard to keep them all straight: how to respond properly, how to stand, sit and eat.  If we didn't get it right, we were punished with incentive training.  At this point the company was doing very poorly and we needed to learn to work as a team.  Suddenly everyone realized how terrifying and stressful the next seven and a half weeks could be. 

Sunday 07SEP08   

Once again we were woken up abruptly by the Company Commanders around 0600 in the morning. We began to realize at the point that if one person fails, we all fail and pay the price.  There were still communication issues between the recruits.  We were still strangers outside of our comfort zone and never able to talk or look at each other.  Very few recruits took the initiative to help each other out.  Having failed miserably at most of the tasks given to us throughout the day, we all hit the racks disappointed and unsure if we were really meant to be here.

Monday 08SEP08

We woke up this morning to fire drills.  Every time the Company Commander's feel we aren't moving fast enough they call another fire drill.  Eventually we got the formation right after working as a team and coaching each other on where to go.  Throughout the morning, we were doing everything wrong and it was becoming obvious that the company morale was extremely low.  Not only were the Company Commanders frustrated but we became frustrated with each other.  It seemed to be the same people continuously messing up, which meant we all paid with incentive training.  Later on, the company had a class in the chapel.  The change of environment and words of the chaplain really motivated the company.  We finally had an opportunity to talk to each other a little and decided that we would work together and harder to bring things around.  We finished off the day feeling revitalized and although we paid for the mistakes we had made earlier, we felt that tomorrow would be different now that we all had a better mindset. 

Tuesday 09SEP08

Unlike other days, this one was passing by rather quickly.  We were finally getting the hang of things: the commands, the routine, and the language.  Of course during the course of the day a couple of our shipmates screwed up and we all had to take the pain, but the concept of "if one fails, we all do" was beginning to make more sense.  A lot of reasons behind the way of the Company Commanders were becoming more evident.  We pushed the deck for missing a button on our uniform because on the job if a rescue swimmer forgets to buckle his harness, lives can be lost.  We also have to sound off all the time so in hurricane winds on the deck, your shipmates will still be able to hear you.  We all get punished for ones mistake because if a person on a cutter forgets a critical detail, the lives of the whole crew could be in jeopardy.

Wednesday 10SEP08

We did decent today, we listened and tried to improve.  In one or our classes being instructed by a Company Commander, one of our shipmates refused to comply and then proceeded to quit the company.  We were all shocked and disgusted.  Although it was a loss to the company, we also feel that we are better off without someone that undedicated, weak minded, and selfish.  The company finished out the day minus one shipmate.

Thursday 11SEP08

Today was intense.  Being on base on the anniversary of September 11th allowed the company to witness a commemoration to those lost.  Our Company commander also organized a presentation.  It brought a lot of us back to reality, reminding us why we took the oath to serve our country.  Training went on as usual.  We did push-ups, sit-ups, flutter kicks, squats, and other painful exercises that were devised.  Fortunately, at night we were able to speak with one of the Chaplains.  She updated us on all the issues going on in the world outside of USCG TRACEN Cape May.  We found our about the hurricanes hitting the south as well as how the elections are going.  It was rewarding just to hear about everything going on.  Being locked up with no real connections to reality really takes its toll mentally.

Friday 12SEP08

The time seems to pass by so slowly here.  The senior company (Delta) had their graduation ceremony today.  Although we were happy for them, much of the company became upset.  It was hard to see them walking around feely with their families and uniforms knowing that that moment is still so far off for us.  They say you get the most homesick around the second or third week.  I guess they're right because both males and females in the company can think of nothing better that going home to see our loved ones.  It's hard enough being away from home but the addition of constant mental and physical stress makes it absolutely overwhelming. 

Saturday 13SEP08

As everyone knows, the military is huge on cleanliness and neatness.  Today we spent the better half of the morning cleaning the squad bays and quarterdeck.  As with everything, we had a time objective to meet.  We worked as a team and listened to our unit leaders, which enabled us to get a lot done.  We were told we did a good job, but needed to take more pride and put in the extra initiative to make things even better.  Midday we had the privilege and honor to speak with Rear Admiral, Upper Half Coogan, who is one of our company mentor's.  This opportunity is extremely rare and we were so fortunate to be able to hear of her experiences and ask questions.  A lot of our shipmates were worried about where they would be stationed.  She reminded us that this is an adventure and regardless of where we end up, we will experience amazing things.  In the evening, we did rack drills; where we pull all our linens off the rack and have 10 minutes to remake it inspection ready.  It sounds easy but with 53 people and the standards in which we have to make the rack, we were definitely unsuccessful the first couple times.  The day was not too exhausting and we all hit the racks resting easy knowing that we have divine hours to look forward to tomorrow. 

Sunday 14SEP08

Finally, we made it through week 02.  Now we get to enjoy our divine hours.  There from 0800-1300.  It's so relaxing to finally be able to take the time to iron our uniforms, shine our boon dockers and go to Chapel.  It's something that the whole company has looked forward to all week.  When divine hours were over, we attended a class on values and their correlation to our personal values.  The company did generally well and we got to go on a brisk jog later on.  In the evening we were randomly and spontaneously told to grab our pieces and form it up outside.  We marched to the center of the parade field where all the other companies were.  Apparently, the base had planned a surprise competition between companies.  We all did our incentive training exercises as a group while each company tried to out scream the others.  Our company is about half the size of the other companies here at the training center, so we have a harder time sounding off.  It got the company really pumped and gave us a real sense of unity.  With divine hours over and a full week ahead of us, we can only hope to get stronger, louder, and tighter as a company.