Coast Guard Recruit Company Charlie 186 weekly journal posted Feb 2, 2012

Mon 23Jan12

The morning started with a fire drill, then ran topside to get ready for weight training at the gym nothing like pumping iron first thing in the morning. Afterwards we spent time marching around the regiment singing cadence. Once back home we hit the showers, got into uniforms, and stepped off for chow. Next we headed back to the house and split into two groups. Half went to class on first aid and the other went to a practical CPR class. In first aid we learned about heat exhaustion, hypothermia, types of bleeding, and how to treat these symptoms. In CPR we learned how to administer CPR to an adult, child, and infant. After class we practice manual arms for a little bit just before noon chow and once we arrived at the galley everyone was pumped up for food from the busy day. Next we headed home and started our cleaning and did another round weigh-ins. For the rest of the day we were able to take care of our permanent duty station requirements like making phone calls and sending emails. Once time was up we started evening routine, read mail, said prayer, and hit the racks.

 Tues 24Jan12

The FIRE, FIRE, FIRE alarm clock without a snooze button went off to started our productive day. After taking care of the morning routine we went to chow and went directly to seamanship class where we learned and practiced line handling. We practiced docking a vessel to a pier for about 03 hours. Next we went to lunch and then straight to the gym where we had our last official water circuit work out with our instructor. everyone pushed hard through this swimming exercise with a sense of pride and duty. After gym we headed home and prepared for our dress uniform inspection by the Battalion officer and we did very well. After the inspection we had our long awaited close order drill test which we were nervous about because we have practiced very little. We achieved a 09 out of 10 which is not bad at all based on weather and other conditions of the day. Next we went to evening chow, came home, started evening routine and hit the racks.

 Weds 25Jan12

As usually the fire drill got us pumped for the day ahead of us. We came topside commencing morning of hygiene and uniforms, then formed up outside for morning chow. Breakfast consisted of mouth watering banana pancakes, sausage links, biscuits and gravy, and eggs. After chow we headed to seamanship to continue our training on line handling while some of us went to the range for those going to operational units such as small boat station and patrol cutters. Afterwards we had lunch then after that is when things went south for Charlie company. Once back at the house we were informed that we had failed a squad bay inspection  and consequently losing our colors and all of the earned privileges that came with them. Then we were evicted from James hall, packed all of our belongings, then moved over to Healy hall. Then we were informed we were not staying in Healy Hall, and therefore moving back into James Hall. So we carried all of our belongings back to James Hall only to discover that the senior company completely destroyed our squad bay by redecorating the walls, floors, and windows with shaving cream, toilet paper, soap, and shampoo. Once back to the squad bay we started cleaning the mess. This taught us the value of teamwork to complete a mission that we could not have done by ourselves. After a very long night of cleaning Charlie finally hit the racks with an attitude of anger, pride, and motivation.

 Thurs 26Jan12

Today was a productive one. Waking up to a call of reveille was exactly what Charlie needed. We started morning routine and sent out laundry. Then we headed to chow for some waffles, eggs, and bacon. Next we headed back to the house to finish cleaning the abomination the senior company had left for us. Then we started to take care of all of our permanent unit problems, so we went to use the computers and phones, and we went to administration to finish scheduling moving arrangements. Then we had a class where we reviewed and finally signed our orders. Next was lunch and then a class on STD's, protection, contraception, and self exams. This was definitely a class that Charlie wont forget. Although some recruits were a little thrown off our instructor taught the class in such a relaxed, fun way. Once back at the house we cleaned, ran abandon ship drills, and did very well according to our Lead Company Commander. This helped us earn our colors backs along with all the privileges that came with it. Next we marched to chow like we were 10ft tall, bullet proof, echo 01 robots. After chow we came home started evening routine, had prayer and gladly hit the racks.

 Fri 27Jan12

Fire drill to start our busy day. Today was the Graduation for Bravo 186. Therefore we had a major time objective to get ready, get to chow, and vacuum down our food. Next we split into 02 groups, one was graduation detail to help at graduation and the other who stayed back cleaned and took the final exam on the computers. This was a new version of testing because it was fast, easy, and gave you a countdown clock to see your time. Afterwards we went to chow and enjoyed our lunch. Then our shipmates returned and we basically started getting our uniforms ready for off base liberty tomorrow. We did this till evening chow. Once back home our lead company commander sat us in the squad bay class room, pulled up a chair and gave us his debriefing. It was an awesome feeling Charlie had for our lead company commander to tell us to relax and actually look at him and listen to his story of why and how he got into the coast guard and how he is able to sit before us. It was an open floor for discussion, questions, answers, and laughs. We felt honored and privileged to have a normal conversation with our lead company commander, and a lot of us appreciate and respect him more because of it. Afterwards we started evening routine and hit the racks looking forward to off base liberty.

 Sat 28Jan12

The Fire, Fire, Fire drill was this morning. Off base liberty morning that is and Charlie was pumped. We rushed back topside after incentive training and started morning routine then we stepped off for quick morning chow wasting no time. Once back home we changed into our dress uniform and began uniform inspections, once done Charlie signed out and was gone!!! We were gone from 0900 to 2100 a full 12 hours of normalcy. Everyone broke up into groups, marched to the cabs, and hit up Rio Grand. First we went to Wally World AKA Wal-mart where we bought track phones and phone cards to call our families. We bought candy, energy drinks, and all kinds of things we've been deprived of for the past 02 months. Next we went to Starbucks got hyped up on expresso then went to Five Guys for some pure meaty burgers yum, yum. Then we went to the movies where we watched Underworld 4 in 3D. it was awesome and action packed especially with things flying at your face. Some shipmates even rented hotel rooms where they relaxed, watched TV, called family and friends, and caught up on sleep. When it came time for dinner the groups split and got sushi and other went to a sports bar where we enjoyed the juke box and TV. When the time came we hopped in the cabs and headed home to the regiment, signed in, and began evening routine. Today was an amazing a blissful day for Charlie. Amazing for the great time we had and shared and blessed for freedom granted to us and privileged to represent the US Coast Guard.

 Sun 29Jan12

Nothing like a fire drill and incentive training to start our Sunday. Once topside we got ready for chow where we had eggs, biscuit and gravy, and oatmeal. Then we marched home and started our divine hours where we ironed uniforms, got our racks inspection ready, wrote mail, and went to Chapel. At Chapel we gave the younger companies advise on boot camp and spiritual guidance on how to get through it. Next we went to chow and then started our big day which consisted of our last Company run. Everyone couldn’t wait to march around Cape May in double time singing cadence alongside our Company Commanders. When we got back we jumped in the shower and got back into our Operational Dress uniforms, grabbed our pieces and marched to Goff Hall to turn in our pieces and say bye and farewell. Afterwards was evening chow which we were all hungry for after the company run. Once we got back home we had 02 more debriefs with 02 of our Company commanders. It turned out that both of them are really genuine down to earth people, and have a cool sense of humor. They told us their stories of how they got to where they are and showed us a side of themselves that we were all happy to see and experience.

Next we started evening routine and hit the racks for taps.