Week Two

27JUL09

After starting the morning off with chow, we were taken to our indoctrination to the cybex workout.  While here, we learned about the machines we would be using to perform our strength training excercises.  In the cybex gym, there are machines that help strengthen the recruits biceps, legs, and other important muscles.  After cleaning up, we headed to the galley to eat lunch.  A lot of today was built around marching, however after seeing how well our senior recruit company was marching, Chief Pena decided to instruct us about some othe close order drills.  We later headed to our class about stress management and suicide prevention which was held in the chapel and taught by the two chaplains of training center Cape May.  This class provided some useful insight about how to manage stress as a member of the Coast Guard and how to help someone who is showing signs of suicide.  At the conclusion of this class, BM2 Jansen and OS1 Ricketts further honed our marching in formation skills.  This time however, the weather was pretty unforgiving.  The rain began pouring, leaving Bravo-182 completely soaked, but we continued our marching with hopes of improvement.  Dinner chow was next on our agenda and was closely followed by a class that reviewed our recruit rules and regulations manual.  The night was ended with a lot not so traditional method of doing laundry which left most of the recruits exhausted and ready to hit the racks for the night.

28JUL09

After morning chow, Bravo company headed to the pool for their initial swim assessment.  Chief Pena told the recruits that we were above average for the amount of recruits that passed the swim qualification. We had a few classes today including effective Communication and saluting.  The highlight of many recruits day however came when Chief Pena let us out of the classroom to see a Coast Guard helicopter from air station Elizabeth City land on the parade field.  This caused many recruits to become excited about their futures since many want to be involved with aviation related jobs.  Bravo Company has really been struggling with time objectives and we need to start to come together as a team.  After dinner chow, Company Commanders OS1  Ricketts and BM2 Jansen expressed their displeasure with the lack of self discipline the company possesses.  For failing to meet time objectives, not addressing personnel properly, and some recruits lack of personal hygiene, the company commanders presented Bravo Company with a long, exhausting incentive training session.  Hopefully we will be able to come together as a company and start meeting the tasks the company commanders lay before us.

29JUL09

Today, instead of morning chow, we started the day of with a 01 mile run on the track.  Chow came next and was quickly followed by our indoctrination to a life cycle workout.  The life cycle workout was a very rigourous workout in which recruits were required to pedal as hard as they could for timed intervals.  This exercise left many recruits exhausted and sweaty.  Bravo Company attended a couple important classes such as rates and ranks, and how to address military personnel respectively.  Later in the afternoon, Chief Pena marched us down to pick up our “pieces,” a demilitarized M1 Garand rifle. Chief Pena referred to them as “nine pounds of fun.”  We would later learn the meaning of this when we were introduced to the piece incentive training routine.  The highlight of the day however came at night we recruits were allowed some personal to read and write mail home.

30JUL09

Today started off with morning chow which was followed by our second core strength workout.  This workout helps recruits build up body strength to pass the required physical fitness test.  Our to classes today dealt with pay and allowances and inappropriate relationships and hazing.  Chief Pena allowed us to watch graduation practice where we were able to see how well the graduating company was marching.  This made the recruits more hopeful. We then practiced our marching, and are steadily improving marching in formation.  One thing however that is not improving is Bravo Company’s self discipline.  We are struggling to meet time objectives and are paying for our mistakes with incentive training.  After paying for our missed time objectives, we were allowed some free time.  Most recruits used this time for uniform maintenance such as ironing their operational dress uniform, or shining their boondockers (boots). 

31JUL09

Today after reveille, we headed to the track for a morning company run.  After morning chow, we had our second Cybex workout which any recruits really enjoyed.  Today, Bravo Company had lots of incentive training to many recruits not paying close attention to detail and lacking self discipline still.  We had an introduction to manual of arms later in the afternoon as well.  We worked on the manual f arms today since Bravo company may be marching in the sunset parade and the Coast Guard day parade next week with our pieces.  If our CCs think we are up to the task of marching with our pieces, the parades will be a nice break from the everyday rigors of basic training.

01AUG09

This morning started off on a good note when Chief Pena took us down to the beach.  Chief Pena gave us a motivational speech to keep going strong through the stressful times of boot camp.  All the recruits looked out to the ocean and Chief Pena told us “it was our new office.”  We had a class about military courtesies in which we learned about saluting colors.  After class however, the recruits self discipline went down, therefore making the rest of the day unpleasant.  Our self discipline was brought back up to par with a team integrity drill and helped bring the recruits together.  Our spirits rose when informed that we will be meeting our company sponser.  Our sponser Lt. Sharp, answered many question recruits had about their Coast Guard futures.  Later on in the day, we worked on manual of arms movements.  The company lost their military bearing, essentially asking for punishment.  The company commanders decided to make the recruits fill their seabags with items in their racks, grab their pieces, and make a grueling walk to the beach with their seabags on their backs and piece in their hand.  This experience gave the recruits a taste of what it would be like serving their country with the demands of the military.  This ended up being too much of a task for may recruits, but the company was able to help the weaker recruits accomplish their task, this being the first sign of teamwork.  After evening chow, we practiced our marching for the upcoming parades we are participating in in the upcoming days.  To end the night, mail was passed out, a time many recruits look forward to.

Summary

While Bravo Company is slowing getting in the routines of Coast Guard boot camp, our self discipline and teamwork continues to decline.  Our week has presented us with many challenges, but if Bravo Company learns to come together as one, rather than individuals we will have the teamwork to accomplish our goals. 

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