28 SEP 09

WEEK 07

Today we had classes in first aid and CPR. We practiced responding and treating various injuries, and performing CPR. When we are out in the fleet, we will be faced with emergency situations and what we are learning now is preparing us for then. We spent this evening getting ready for our uniform inspection in our tropical blue uniforms. We have been working hard on them but there always seems to be more threads to snip, wrinkles to iron out, and lint to tape off.

Right now Foxtrot 182 is quickly approaching graduation day- the end of boot camp is in sight! We have learned so much in the six weeks we have been at here- an experience that is truly life transforming. We have learned the importance and value of discipline and hard work; we have gained pride and devotion to our country we did not have before; and we are constantly realizing how the Coast Guard core values are a part of everything we do- honor, respect and devotion to duty.

All of us in Foxtrot want to thank loved ones back home for all the letters you have sent! Your support is invaluable and keeps us going strong.

30 SEP 09

WEEK 07

Yesterday was Foxtrot's tropical blue long uniform inspection and close order drill test. We worked hard on our uniforms and were thrilled to find out that we passed our inspection. As we came closer to the time, we would take our close order drill test, all of us recruits were nervous- very nervous. However we pulled together dressed to the right and passed 10 out of 10! It took teamwork, hard work, perfect practice (As our Company Commander instructed us) and all our Company Commanders pushing us on.

We are excited that we only have one and a half weeks left, but it has also made us complacent. We don't want to be a company that makes it to the end and then stops giving all we got. So together we must come together, push hard to the end and rock Cape May by how loud we sound off, fast we move, confidently we march and intricately we clean. We are Foxtrot 182!

02 OCT 09

WEEK 07

We completed our finals this morning and were excited as well as relieved to find out that our company average was high enough that we got the orange pennant to add to our colors. After taking our final test, we marched in Echo 182's graduation. It is amazing to think that our graduation is just around the corner-one week to go! Now Foxtrot 182 is the senior company on the regiment- an exciting achievement but also a serious responsibility. One glorious, triumphant event took place today- we turned in our pieces, but all in all we were ready to say goodbye.

After chow and turning in our pieces, we went through the Confidence course- an awesome obstacle course. Nothing was timed today, but we were practicing for when it will be next week. However, four recruits from our company went through it for time, seeing who would win. It was a close match, one of those recruits competing probably set a new record for the females on the confidence course. She sped through the course and made it up to the climbing rope in two minutes approximately. We are learning a lot here in Cape May. We definitely won't leave here the same people as we were when we first arrived.

Blog