Week Ø4

Bang! – Bang! The bullet cuts through the air and lands dead center of the target – 5 points. Now if only every shot is as good as that one…

Week four came in with the sound of gun fire as we went to the range. At the range the Gunners Mates taught us the nomenclature of a Sig Sauer P229 (.40 Cal) and then we learned how to fire the weapon. Safety was the utmost importance while handling the weapon. We had ear and eye protections as well as safety coaches guiding us. The purpose of going to the range was to familiarize ourselves with the weapon. However with enough points shipmates could become qualified, sharp shooters, or even expert marksmen. For many this was their first time firing a weapon. We learned a lot about what we were capable of and how much harder it is than the movies like to portray. Real marksmanship is not like Lethal Weapon.

The range was a first of a series of tests and assessments. Week four is the halfway mark and it’s time to prove what we’ve learned.

On Wednesday we had our physical fitness assessment – a test to measure our strength and endurance, a test we trained for before we came to boot camp and have been training for while we have been here. Many of us were nervous – we didn’t want to fail. First we did pushups, then sit-ups, then a 1.5 mile run. It may not seem impossible but sometimes strength is another’s weakness.

We did pushups and stupid in the gym then we headed to the track. The stopclock started and 80 feet began running on the red track- 06 laps in 12 minutes for males and 15:33 for females. One by one shipmates crossed the line with time to spare- except one. The last time India ran 1.5 miles timed, this shipmate did not pass – this time it was close. Each lap she passed her Company Commanders who demanded she go faster until all of her shipmates passed and she had one lap to go. She ran knowing if she did not pass she would be waking up at 4 A.M. to go to remedial fitness or even be held from graduating. She ran her last lap and India came together in hopes of their shipmate crossing the line in time – and she did – 1519.

Thursday came and with it our helmsman and five knot test. The helmsman test is a simulator where the recruit controls the rudder of a vessel. The test ensures the recruit knows how to respond to an order, execute the order, and confirms the completion of the order. The test is not hard; however it does require a level of concentration and sensitivity when moving the rudder. The record 100’s on the test was 27 from larger, 80 plus companies. We broke the record with 30. We come from a generation of video games and computers - but so did the other recruits. Our knot test consisted of our making five different knots correctly – given 20 seconds. It seems tough but with practice 20 seconds is really a lot of time. Everyone in our company passed.

Friday came the toughest academic assessment yet – our midterm. After four weeks of information being poured into us from every direction our midterm arrived to test our retention of all that knowledge. We had all the tools to succeed and so we did our best.

After we completed our midterms we had the honor and privilege to march in Echo-182’s graduation ceremony. Hearing their families cheer for them made all our hearts swell knowing we would be in that position soon.

Also in the middle of all our exams we had the opportunity to fill out our dream sheets, our wish list of where we would like to go once we leave boot camp. Our instructors and CC’s did the best they could to advise and guide us. But in the end the decisions are our own and we made our list. Now we wait until next week to see what we are offered. We sit like children the night before Christmas – excited and hopeful, twinkles in our eyes of the bright day that will dawn the next chapter of our lives. Secret smiles beg to be released as we maintain our military bearing – we cannot wait until next week – so many questions waiting behind one answer.

Another team experience was the blood drive. Like lemmings one by one we marched through the doors sleeves rolled up and ready to give to the greater good. Every one participated but not all could give – those who did - saved lives and they have not even left boot yet.

Finally, Saturday (after watching others do it, taking a class on it, and talking about it) we learned and practiced how to raise the National Ensign – The American Flag. The Star Spangled Banner still waves over the land of the fee and India-182 is raising her, along with the prisoner of war flag, the Coast Guard ensign, and the preparatory flag.

The flag is a symbol of who and what we area as people, as India-182, as Coast Guardsmen.  Our Lead Company Commander, Mk1 Wagner explained to us the honor it is to hoist the flag and each of us felt our hearts strings pull. We stood a little taller, held our heads higher because we are joining a group of men and women who lived and died for those colors. We are joining a family of selfless hero’s committed to the flag and everything it symbolizes.

Life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness – since our country began our ideals and values we expressed in the constitution and the red, white, and blue waving in the wind reminds us of what we are serving, protecting, and saving.

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