Week 01

Charlie-182 arrived at TRACEN cape may on July 28th. The arrival and first week quickly became a major culture shock for everyone, for they had to learn to adjust to a completely different lifestyle and environment. Uniforms were issued and haircuts were given to everyone. At this stage Charlie-182 was known as a forming company, since processing was still in progress as well as medical screening. We had not met our permanent company commanders who would guide us through the rest of the eight weeks of basic training either. Everyone learned how to interact properly and how to get from point A to B and what rules to adhere to and everything that was considered as becoming oriented. This was a lot of information to get down and memorized in a short time, and the days became some of the most stressful days anyone had had, since everyone has been rushed from his or her family and friends. Everyone was on edge because they wanted to apply everything they had learned without making mistakes.

On Friday July 31, the forming company was ready to enter the next stage of training and officially become a company of young men and women eager to learn how to become a Guardian. We met our commanding officer and command master chief, who gave speeches on why enlisting in the Coast Guard is an honor and how we should apply ourselves to the next eight weeks. At 1500, we officially became Charlie-182 and we met our company commanders BM1 Vedder, SK1 Stamos, and OS1 Moon. These individuals have become the three most important leaders in our lives, for they are entrusted with the responsibility of teaching and guiding us so that we can transform into working men and women of the United States Coast Guard and ultimately, Guardians of the sea.

The first weekend was spent fine-tuning what we learned in our first week, and it gave our company commanders time to see who they were working with. Charlie-182 learned how to properly set their squad bays and racks (in civilian terms-our living area and beds) and wear their uniforms properly and with pride. Charlie-182 also learned how to maintain their uniforms and adhere properly to grooming standards. More orientation classes were taught on how to use the physical fitness facilities and chapel and medical services. The company was slowly getting used to the new lifestyle.

Week 02-

On Monday, Charlie-182 began attending classes designed for everyone to learn how to properly adhere to standards in the Coast Guard, such as diversity, customs and courtesies, ranks and rates, how to address people in the military, and how to interpret pay statements. We continued to learn close order drill and marching, and Charlie-182 began to perfect working as a company here at Cape May. Tuesday was the swim test day, and was also the United States Coast Guard's Birthday (Aug 4th 1790) for the civilians who don't know, the Coast Guard was founded as the Revenue Cutter Service under the Treasury Department by Alexander Hamilton as a means to enforce maritime taxes that were designed to help pay off the debt from the revolutionary war several years prior. The day was spent with good weather overhead and a large BBQ picnic. That evening, all the companies participated in a sunset parade for the command and sang a happy birthday to the Coast Guard.

 As the week progressed, Charlie-182 began to lag a little. They began to miss time objectives such as getting dressed or completing tasks on time. The general attitude began to go sour. Petty officer Vedder said that the three survival tips for recruit training was to stand at attention, sound off (be loud) and move with a sense of urgency. Unfortunately, a lot of recruits were not doing this. The company needs to learn to move with a sense of purpose, since time is very critical when you are in the Coast Guard. You only have so much time to respond to a situation. Charlie-182 was trying to take this to heart, but unfortunately there are a handful of recruits who still is oblivious to this fact. As the week progressed, Charlie-182 began showing signs of improvement, and slowly gained more respect of their company commanders. Charlie-182 was issued their "pieces", which are demilitarized M-1 rifles designed for drill and come with a sense of pride, honor, and uniformity in the armed forces. Our company commanders taught us how to treat them with respect and how to act around them. The week continued with basic classes and physical training so that everyone could meet their physical fitness test in week 04. On Saturday night, the week culminated with long march with our rucksacks and pieces and several other companies also participated. At the end, the group felt tired but had a sense of pride and accomplishment as everyone pushed along.

With the beginning of week 03 to come, Charlie-182 hopes to show their company commanders more heart and that they are truly devoted to their training. Hopefully everyone can work together and push through to week 08.

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