Coast Guard Recruit Company Alpha 186 weekly journal posted Jan 16, 2012

                                              The End Is In Sight

         Our final full week at recruit training involved very important classes, exams, inspections, signing our orders and ended with an enjoyable and well-deserved off-base liberty.

     Week 07 began with a day spent mostly in the classroom but it was a very important class. After morning chow we went to first aid and CPR class where we learned a lot of basic yet vital information. In the first class we covered everything from how to react when first arriving on the scene of an accident, to how to provide first aid for different types of injuries. We learned about different degrees of burns, various types of bleeding, hypothermia, heat stroke, shock, cardiac arrest, amputations and how to initially treat these injuries. The second portion of the class was focused on learning CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver. We were each given adult and infant sized mannequins and were taught different CPR techniques for infants, children, and adults. Although we did not receive any official certification for our training, we know that some of us will be working in hazardous environments and that this training may someday be required until professional assistance arrives.

     The week continued with a few challenges for Alpha-186 to overcome. We had a chance to impress some people further up our chain of command than we normally do. After hours of working on getting our squad bays inspection ready, Master Chief Carlson, our Battalion Commander swept through for a squad bay inspection. The preparation paid off as we received great scores of 51, 54, 54 and 55 out of a total possible 55 points.

     Next, Alpha's weeks of hard work and practice around the regiment were put to the test as we had our Close Order Drill, or marching, test before our Section Commander, Chief Ruchser. Using all the marching techniques we've been practicing over the past 06 weeks, we were once again able to impress and scored another perfect 10 out of 10.

     But that day was not yet over for the recruits of Alpha-186 as we had a uniform inspection in our Service Dress Blues, evaluated by our Battalion Officer, Ltw Herbst.

All dressed up in the same uniforms our friends and families will see us in when we graduate, Lt Herbst walked through the room and inspected us each from head to toe. With only a few minor suggestions, Lt. Herbst informed us that we were good to go and walked out with a simple, "See you all next week", reminding us of just how close we now are.

           Another important event this week was the signing of our orders to our next duty station. Our orders described the details of our move to our first duty station and our leave time after Basic Training. We looked them over to make sure all of the details were correct, signed our names in ink and made them official.

     Our Seamanship and Regimental Finals were also conducted this week. The exams covered everything we've learned from the beginning of our Seamanship classes and first General Knowledge classes all the way up to our last classes from earlier this week.

     Because of our Seamanship Midterm and Final Exam averages, our company received a pennant to fly along with our company colors. We also received a pennant for having 100% participation in the Red Cross Blood Drive and yet another one for our overall Midterm average. Our colors continue to fly proudly around the regiment, only now with some added flair provided by the pennants we have earned.

     This coming week is our final week at Recruit Training, our Graduation Week. It is sure to be a busy and hectic week and although we can all see the light at the end of the tunnel, we also know that this end is simply the beginning. Upon leaving Training Center Cape May we will all be full-fledged members of the greatest maritime enforcement agency in the world, the United States Coast Guard. Everything we have learned here must be put to good use as we have been given the starting tools to make us successful in our future Coast Guard careers. Our emotions are varied as we prepare to conclude this life changing event. It is up to us now to go forward and continue to spread the standard of excellence that has been instilled in us here at TRACEN Cape May into everything else we do in our futures.