Our Lead Company Commander took the time to give us advice regarding our first assignment, which has let loose a flood of questions. "What will I do?", "What are the chances of getting stationed near home?", "How often will I be with my spouse?" All of these questions are pertinent, but we still have another couple of weeks before they will be answered. For the rest of us who don't have responsibilities to loved ones, we just want to make sure that we don't get stuck in the middle of nowhere shoveling dirt for a year (or longer.) Reality has started to set into most minds that they won't be stationed at home, they are now property of the United States and will go where ever they need us.

We've started to learn more about the Coast Guard history, helping to give a backbone to the structure we will be depending on for the next some years. The Seamanship classes we've started are teaching us knots, vessels and ship nomenclature. We even got to use the 'Helmsman Simulator', teaching us how to steer a ship. The next couple of days we will be at the range, learning how to use firearms properly and safely.

Though there are lots of new events running across our path at lightning speed we still miss home and relish the time for mail dispersal every night. Each letter, note and post card helps to remind us why we're here sacrificing so much. Even though we are sad to be missing birthdays and walking siblings to school, those letters keep us connected to our own personal reasons as to why we signed our name on that dotted line, so keep 'em coming.

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