Coast Guard Recruit Company Delta 186 weekly journal posted Feb 10, 2012

 29JAN12

I am going to start this entry a little different normally I go in order but tonight is worth talking about. PO Bailey normally comes in and talks to us on nights that he is here. Tonight was not different. He told us on nights that he is here. Tonight was no different. He told us about the week five dive where recruit companies fall apart. Divine hours went well but we did miss an easy time objective set by PO Simcox. It was a stupid mistake. After lunch we went for our first off base run. You don’t know the feeling unless you go to a recruiter and enlist.

 30JAN12

Start of week 05. The day went pretty well, normal fire drill and IT to start the day.  We worked on manual of arms for most of the morning and then had a class on pennants and flags. Taught by two Auxillarist USCG members. Men like them are few and far between. It was nice to be around some old military men. After lunch we had a class on communication (radio) and signaling devices, such as flares. We will actually shoot some off tomorrow. PO Bailey let us sing cadence again on the way back. Man I hope we earn our colors fast. Can’t wait to shatter the windows on this regiment. After chow we did our usual laundry run and had a rack inspection. Ended the night with some motivational IT (the good kind). Sorry that this one is short. Didn’t get much time and I got a tracker pulled in the process. It was a goof on my part. Anyway, all in all a good day for Delta. Let’s hope for more.

 31JAN12

Speed is still something we need in Delta. Sometimes we are screaming past and then there are times like this morning when we are not. We always pay it back though, usually in our own sweat. Anyway after that fun fest we made our way to the Uniform Distribution Center to get our dress uniforms and other stuff. Felt like forming week again except no one was nervous. Just super boring. It felt good to put on those jackets. Just 03 more weeks after this one. Later we had a class down at seamanship. We got to see some MK-79 and MK-124s go off.  We spent the rest of the afternoon there learning and studying for our midterm tomorrow. Chow came at around 1715 but we were supposed to be there at 1705. This made us have less time to get ready for our uniform inspection. After we were pressed we marched down to Healy Hall and formed up in an empty squad bay. Master Chief Carlson, the Battalion Commander walked around inspecting us and asking required knowledge questions. Sweating bullets is an understatement and he wasn’t even yelling. We get yelled at constantly by our Company Commanders, you would think that it would be a breeze. It turned out that we did pretty well on the inspection part but the required knowledge, not so much. PO Bailey was not happy with that so we got left with PO Garza for the night. Ha ha, oh fun we have together. We got worked for a little but we deserved it. We got a pep talk from PO Garza like we normally do when we mess up. He then took us outside to observe taps. He told us the story of how it started. Chills.

 01FEB12

 The time until graduation is becoming less and less as everyday passes. Today started out kind of nice. Only had to do pushups and squats for fire fire fire. We had an early morning class on boat crew duties. Taught again by two Auxiliary Coast Guardsmen. Always cool to be around men like that. Afterwards was our last bike workout run by the gym. Man was it a hard one. We ended up doing two extra sprints. Let’s go Delta. We asked for more but PO Bailey said no.  After lunch it was off to seamanship but it was down at Golf Hall. A pretty long march but it gave us a chance to work on our singing; no one can wait until we get our colors and can start singing on the regiment. Anyway we took our seamanship midterm. Most people seemed pretty happy with their scores.  Then we took a course on Personal Flotation Devises(PFD).  A very normal class until we got to try them on.  We all lined up with a stowed (PFD) and then had 01 minute to put it on correctly.  Easy enough.  Then PO Kaese had us do it in shorter time and if you didn’t make it you were out.  It came down to two recruits.  PO Kaese sent them outside.  Little did they know that he was planning something different.  The two recruits came back in the room and were told that they had to run across the room and put on the PFD but when PO Kaese said go the lights went out.  The race was close but there could only be one winner.  After chow we came back with PO Simcox.  We worked on Manual of Arms for a pretty long time.  Toward the end of the night, Chief Howe came in to speak to us.  Apparently our squad bays were not up to par.  We will be ready next time. 

 02FEB12

 The only thing worth mentioning today is that PO Bailey told us that we were going to be his last company. If people did not have a reason before to bust their butt, well here we go. The rest of the day doesn’t really mean anything. We ate food, had a class, gave blood, and a couple of people ticked off PO Garza enough now we are calling him sir again. We better fix this quick.

 03FEB12

 Man today started out rough with PO Simcox. No sounding off, no motivation, no nothing. After morning chow we went to medical to get more shots. Yay, not really. Among them was the small pox vaccine. They should call it your worst nightmare. First they stab you in the arm 1 8times then they proceed to tell us if you touch it anytime over the next month and touch anywhere else on your body you will spread the infection. We then worked on Manual of Arms.  It is more fun now that it seems people are starting to catch on.  PO Simcox is relentless when it comes to MOA training.  We did each move over and over and over again, which is probably the best way to do it to develop good muscle memory.  Later in the afternoon we had a travel class that informed us of what the Government would or would not pay for.  It sure would be nice to find out where we are going.

 04FEB12

 Today redemption is spelled Delta. What a great morning! Fire Fire Fire from PO Garza we ran outside for some IT.  To start our day but we were ready.  Everyone sounded off like never before. Your trying to make my job easy aren’t you said PO Garza. Yes sir we replied. 45 seconds to get topside and we made it. This is the same company that failed to do it in 90 seconds just 05 weeks ago. We changed into our ODUs faster than normal and got on line.  “Mission Complete Sir” we shouted in which he replied “My name is not Sir”, “Mission Complete Petty Officer Garza!”.  It felt good to say that again.  It’s hard to describe the relationship between recruit and CC.  People tell you that you end up really liking your CCs.  It’s true, you want to make them proud of you, respect you, and make them look even better for having an awesome company.  We have been working on our MOA a lot lately and the morning was no different.  After MOA we headed to the confidence course.  It looked kind of daunting from afar.  All the CC’s went through the course went to show us technique.  This place really gives you some great experiences.  This, like the pugel stick bouts was a chance for us to let loose a little and cheer on our shipmates.  This was an activity to build confidence in oneself while having some fun.  It was a great time for all.  After lunch we filled up a class room in Healy Hall.  All of our CCs and mentors were seated to the side.  PO Baily was at the podium.  We sat down and a side popped up on the screen, “Got Orders?”  Finally it was time to know where we would be going in a few short weeks.  Everyone was called up individually, announced where we are going and given a welcome aboard package.  Delta-186 is spread out across the whole Contry, Wow this is happening!  Almost everyone was extremely pleased with their orders.  PO Baily had a pictorial slide for each one of our units.  Talk about going above and beyond. But you can expect that with PO Baily , as well as our other CCs.  As I have said before we will be the best because we are being trained by the best, no doubt about it.  We spent the rest of the afternoon with our mentors, asking questions about what lay before us.  The night ended with phone calls home.  Lots of tears in the eyes of everyone but we must push on. Week 06 is upon us.