31Aug09 Week 05 Day 01

Well, we are finally in week 05, and no longer a junior company on the regiment.  Things are starting to heat up now! 

Pugil stick fights were held today, and recruits faced off two at a time, gladiator style, with shipmates and company commanders alike cheering from the sidelines.  GET SOME, DELTA! It got everyone’s adrenaline pumping and there were some great knock-downs.  It was the perfect way to release all the aggression, frustration and anxiety built up in everyone over the previous weeks-not to mention a huge amount of fun to annihilate one another with giant foam sticks.

01Sep09 Week 05 Day 02

Today was the day Delta company finally “got it”.  All that incentive training seems to have paid off, because we were locked on!  In the morning we had our uniform inspection by HSCS Wong, who said we did better than average-a big compliment here.  Later, we went to the Uniform Distribution Center to have our Bravo dress jackets and pants tailored, and came back with seabags full of sharp looking new gear.  Seamanship class was about flares and emergency signaling devices, important things to know how to use.  With only a few exceptions, we stayed pretty well-behaved throughout the day, so everyone was bummed and a bit confused when we had a fire drill and incentive training in the evening.  YNC Howe and DC1 Wingate marched us around the regiment with our heads held down in shame until we were standing in front of Sexton Hall.  We then did an about face, looked up, and saw DCC Garry standing in the 44 foot motor lifeboat next to Delta’s colors!  That blue and yellow cloth flying high under the stars was a beautiful sight.  We earned it the hard way, through 05 weeks of blood, sweat and tears, and you could feel the pride in the entire company skyrocket in that moment.  Definitely a night we will remember for the rest of our lives.

02Sep09 Week 05 Day 03

On Wednesday we had our Seamanship midterm exam, which most of us scored high on.  Our class afterwards was about boat crews, and was taught by Auxilarists, civilians who volunteer their time to help out the Coast Guard.  It seems that earning our colors was a big morale booster since we didn’t get in too much trouble today.  Our Manual of Arms is also improving a lot, and if we can tighten it up just a little more we should rock the test next week. 

03Sep09 Week05 Day 04

Another landmark day in bootcamp for Delta-182; we received our orders to our first duty stations.  After all the anticipation, it is a relief to finally know exactly where we are going after graduation.  Most of us did not get the first pick from our dream sheets, and some even ended up with the opposite of what they had wanted.  Of course, the detailers try to match people up with assignments they will enjoy, but the needs of the service must come first.  Although many are feeling some disappointment right now, DCC Garry told us that those people will actually be the happiest in the end.  Whether we go to the sailing barque Eagle, a sector in Ohio, or a Loran station in remote Attu, AK, hopefully everyone will give it their all and take advantage of the incredible opportunities available now.  This is a very exciting time in our lives and many new doors are being opened for us.  A chance to travel, learn new job skills, go to school, enforce laws, save lives…the sky is truly the limit.

04Sep09 Week 05 Day 05

We spent Friday morning in medical receiving smallpox vaccinations-yuck!  We then marched in Alfa-182’s graduation, something we are getting better at every time.  Our marching was tight; everyone dressed to the right and in step for once.  We also earned our first pennant for the guidon because the company scored an average of over 90% on the midterm!  We are determined to earn more now from close order drill and Manual of Arms.  We can be the best company on this regiment, and we should continue to shoot high.

05Sep09 Week 05 Day 06

We spent a lot of time today with our sponsor, Mr. Daniel.  Mr. Daniel is a warrant officer with a great deal of experience, and he answered all the questions we could think to ask about our assignments and what life will be like once we enter the fleet.  What is A-School like?  What jobs do Firemen have on cutters? What do you do at a small boat station?  We are gradually learning more about our units and collecting the information we need to make travel arrangements.  Things are sure happening fast now.  Some recruits have even contacted their sponsors already; the rest of us will do that over the next week.  As long as we stay locked on (!) we will get on-base liberty next Saturday and be able to give all of you a call, so stand by those phones!

06Sep09 Week 05 Day 07

Sunday we had the honor of marching in the Sunset Parade in front of many civilians, and even the mayor of Cape May.  It was an important event so we spent most of the day after divine hours getting our uniforms in top shape and practicing marching with the pieces.  It turned out well and we seem to have made a good enough impression, as we should at this point. Tomorrow starts week 06 and even more excitement for Delta recruits.  Amazing to think that we only have a few more short weeks of training left!