10 Aug 09

Alfa seemed to have its batteries completely recharged today. We were pretty focused, energetic, and had an air of confidence. Our big event of the day was another round of pugil sticks. Letting off some steam and tightening our shipmate bond through close contact pummeling really seemed to lighten our spirits. Afterwards we locked right back on and set our sights on radio communications class at seamanship. We learned the lingo of radio and the phonetic alphabet. The weather here in Cape May has been brutal hot and humid for several days out of the past few weeks. Everyone has been taking precautions such as plentiful hydration, sunscreen, and at times we are authorized to wear just our navy USCG t-shirts to beat the heat. Today the heat index was especially high and we (gratefully) spent a portion of the day in our physical fitness gear. We also attended our flags and pennants class, after evening chow, many of us moved into whiskey company's now empty squad bays. We are so much closer to our goal. We are picking up steam. We have 04 more days of growth to show the regiment what Alfa's made of.

11 Aug 09

Week 05 is proving to be productive for Alfa. Now over the hump of our midterm and physical tests, we are zeroing in on the real-life operations of a guardian. At seamanship, we practiced our radio skills by responding to a distressed vessel report. We're also perfecting our knot-tying abilities. We are mulling things over less and reacting more. Shipmates are perfecting their internal teamwork to get it all done. In fact, now we answer to one shipmate who leads and motivates us all. We are proud to be led by one of our own, even if it is taking us several tries to get things right. It is forcing us to be aware of our core value respect at all times. Out in the field, it's possible that someone much younger than yourself could be your boss or you are working alongside a less experienced group both situations demand not only respect for your leadership, but also your shipmates to accomplish each mission effectively. These are the values and habits that Alfa is learning not in a classroom, but in every move we make as a company.

12Aug09

Alfa's agenda for today was filled with requirements for seamanship. We began with our class on boat crew duties taught by our valued Coast Guard auxiliarists. Again emphasizing teamwork, our instructors let us through the typical duties and qualifications for each member of a small boat team. Each must know the duties and typical reactions of the others to produce the quickest response or to fill in if a member is injured. We also completed our pfd (personal floatation device) class. We participated in a timed event to see who was the fastest at donning the jacket, although all of us had to have it on and adjusted from stowed position in less than one minute. We also took our seamanship midterm, which will up the ante on who will win the marlinspike seamanship award at graduation but as our biggest boost of morale for the day, our commanding offices Captain Thomas sweated it out with us through a blistering bike workout, then gave each of us an individual fist pump of encouragement. It was truly a special moment for all of us. It proved to us that no matter your rank, we all have to work hard and we are all here to support each other.

13Aug09

Today was Alfa’s defining day. Amidst rain, sun, mosquitoes, laundry bags, and a full class schedule, Alfa-182 finally carved out it's niche on the regiment. It was the day we've been waiting for - our assignments. We waited on pins and needles until after lunch time, when the time finally came. There was a glimpse of our futures as Guardians in every location thinkable, from the arctic to the tropics. While some of us were surprised, most of us were excited with possibility. Suddenly we were no longer bumbling through boot camp for no reason - we now had a vision, a mission. A recommitment to the reasons we are here and overwhelming emotions about the process of getting from here to there in 03 short weeks. But before we could possibly think, we were off again. In the end, we emerged locked on and looking good - with our newly earned colors flying from our usually naked guidon post, signaling - Alfa has arrived, we are now visible, recognizable - not just as recruits, but as Guardians marching toward their purposes and passions.

14Aug09

Alfa began the day pounding the pavement on our morning quadrangle run. It's just long enough to get our blood pumping and open our eyes to the new day. Today it was a especially important that we were at our best, because the Commandant of the Coast Guard, Admiral Allen, was in attendance at X-Ray 181's graduation. Alfa struck out onto the parade field in sharp uniforms and "blinging" boots, ready to impress. Our company seems to march a little taller and straighter when we know our appearance is squared away, so our cc's raised the bar on our uniform standards. We are starting to look and act like a more senior company, with the exception of some fidgeting that we can't seem to quit. In the evening, we met up from some inter-company march with seabags and pieces that undoubtly got all the fidgets out. A little friendly competition for the loudest, most squared away company boosts our spirits and sets the tone for another day of training tomorrow.

15Aug09

Some days in boot camp it's difficult to find motivation, even if the day before was great, or even the last hour. Some much occurs in a 24 hour period in training that each experience may turn a completely new page. Alfa struggled today with this, and our moods tend to fluctuate in general. Short bursts of motivation quickly dwindle into mediocre efforts until we are corrected. Today we spent time with our company mentor, who presented us with coast guard footage of rescue operations after hurricane Katrina. As civilians, we saw our helicopters plucking survivors from rooftops with distracted and disconnected hearts and minds. Today, we saw these heroes as our shipmates - people who once walked these same halls and slept in the same racks - they were made here the same way we are being made. Many of us will one day be those heroes, but the same applies to all of us. The coast guard demands our service, but our shipmates and the civilians lives that depend on us demand our commitment every hour and every day. Alfa is learning, that we must find it within ourselves to commit to excellence regardless of situation or mood.

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