WEEK 06

05OCT09 - Monday

HOTEL-182 started a very important section of their training today as they began to learn about fire fighting and fire prevention. Recruits learned about the four different classifications of fires—a, b, c, and d class fires, their characteristics, and how to combat each. Recruits were introduced to some of the firefighting equipment used in the fleet. Later this week HOTEL company will actually don this equipment and run through several training simulations of how to combat fire.

What a way to kick off week 06—stress levels are at their peak as recruits desperately try to assemble together in order to demonstrate accurate accounts of teamwork. All of the little mistakes we continue to make are getting us more attention than we want; and the pressure is only mounting as more and more expectations are weighed upon us. Accountability: that’s the word we hear more often than not now. The standards are set and now we are expected to be “squared away” with minimal to no error whatsoever. Tomorrow we will have our manual of arms test which will be given to us by our section commander. Once again, the purpose of manual arms is to build teamwork within a company and promote confidence with a firearm. Teamwork-- probably the most valuable ingredient that dictates our performance here at boot camp. It has been said that the military is the ultimate teamwork sport.

06OCT09 - Tuesday

A rude awakening was revealed today shortly after our manual of arms test. The result was less than consoling, especially to recruits who had wished to earn their colors. After scoring a dampening six out of ten, it was quite apparent that HOTEL-182 really needs to take some initiative in weeding out whatever issues are holding us back from achieving perfection. Some believe the problem lies in our own motivation, while others think we’re just not meeting the standards of a 06 week company in terms of our teamwork. Although many of us are ending the day discouraged and dejected to some degree, we mustn’t forget that tomorrow is another day to learn from our mistakes, try harder than before, and move forward on the left foot.

07OCT09 - Wednesday

We got our military identification cards today which made us feel very official. We also attended our career counseling class which tied up any loose ends we had concerning reporting to our unit and what career path we should take in the Coast Guard. We all left pretty satisfied with the answers we were given and now we feel confident in our new endeavor.

We went to the uniform distribution center to receive a fitting for our tropical blue dress uniform which will be worn on liberty and graduation. We received our uniforms early in order to practice correct maintenance as well as practicing how to wear them correctly. Our company commander pulled us aside this evening and shared some of his own personal techniques in efficiently maintaining uniforms.

HOTEL-182 watched a brief film about one of our most celebrated Guardian heroes, Douglas Munro, who sacrificed his own life in order to save US. Marines during WWII. Munro selflessly volunteered for many dangerous rescue missions, including his last in which he used his own boat as a shield, providing protective cover fire so that marines could safely evacuate off an island. If it had not been for Munro’s valor, many more lives would have been lost that day. As the last marine was evacuated off the island, Munro turned his boat to leave and was fatally wounded by the last shot fired. Munro’s devotion to duty is best summarized in his last words, “did they get off?” To this day, Munro is the only Coast Guard Medal of Honor recipient, embodying all of the Coast Guard core values: honor, respect, and devotion to duty. The qualities found inside Douglas Munro is something we all wish to see reflected in ourselves.

08OCT09 - Thursday

Today we participated in yet another round of the glorious pugil sticks. Once again, recruits were paired off to compete against one another in giant q-tip combat.

We also were counseled on how we can go about shipping our belongings to our new units and also for those of us who are going overseas, shipping our vehicles as well.

Later in the evening we practiced for our close order drill test coming up in the following week. This test will either make us or break us as far as the perception of our teamwork is concerned. Also, on a side note, we are to be standing watch around the regiment during foxtrot’s graduation tomorrow. It is imperative that we know how to properly greet our higher ups. Pretty much, our on-base liberty and the well-being of our company is on the line. Fortune favors the bold.

09OCT09 - Friday

Great news for HOTEL-182!!! It was just announced that we will in fact be having our on-base liberty tomorrow. It would be nothing short of an understatement to say recruits are looking very forward to the day off. As for today, recruits spent a good majority of the day performing uniform maintenance on their tropical blues that we will be wearing around the regiment tomorrow. Although we were given this liberty, it is still unknown if we truly deserve it or not. One of our company commanders pulled us aside tonight and lectured on how tomorrow will be a true test for us. In that, he meant our on-base liberty is a test in how we will conduct ourselves without a company commander telling us what to do and how to do it. It is a test to see how well we will represent the united states Coast Guard. “it only takes one person to screw it up. You have one person who does something stupid, something he shouldn’t have done, and now the whole core suffers for it. Remember, when you wear that uniform, you are not only representing your name, you are representing the armed forces. Civilians trust us to do the right thing. When they see you in that uniform, they want to thank you. Have some pride in how you present yourself.” He went on to discuss the concept of pride and patriotism once again with us. He told us that we are no longer those individuals who stepped off the bus some odd six weeks ago, but part of a family. Not just HOTEL-182, and not just the Coast Guard, but all military branches. We are linked together and we share that understanding, that sacred bond between all selfless, respectful, and devoted sons and daughters of the united states of America. “you joined to become something bigger than yourself; and you did—a lot bigger.” This evening we did something a little unconventional for the bootcamp environment, we watched an HBO film called “Taking Chance” –for those of you who have not seen the film, it is highly recommended. That film illustrated not only the purpose of our family, but the impact it has on others, military personnel and civilians alike.

10OCT09 - Saturday

As the big hand of the clock struck minute 0430, it was assumed by all that today was going to suck for HOTEL-182. We awoke to intense shouting coming from the fire exit ladder well. We were rushed from our racks and ordered to report outside of the building. Schools of confusion and dread swam through our minds as we quickly slipped on our go-fasters (sneakers) and high-tailed it outside. Did we do something wrong? --we initially thought. Just then, our company commanders assembled us together in formation and marched us down the regiment. We then took a turn down a road we had never been on before. As we continued to march, the sound of waves crashing nearby seemed to grow more and more. Not before long, we reached a trail of sand. Next, we were instructed to single file it down the trail and assemble into formation on the beach! Once everyone was in line, our company commanders had us begin one of our famous incentive training sessions. Squeezing the sand through our fingers while performing a round of push-ups, we had no idea what was in store for us. Just then, after we finished, we heard the voice of our lead company commander behind us. “you finally did it. You finally are working as a team.” He then gave out the “about-face” command; we simultaneously slipped our foot behind the other and turned around only to see our guideon standing erect in the sand with our colors proudly flying in the early morning breeze. We did it, we suddenly realized. We have earned our colors. What an extraordinary moment. The entire company hastily ran and gathered around the guideon. We hoisted it in the air and began chanting as loud as we could, “HOTEL-182!” It was then announced that we will be going on our on-base liberty this afternoon. As many of you already know… we made phone calls home, gorged ourselves with junk food, and enjoy a film at our movie plex on base. What am epical day for HOTEL-182.

11OCT09 - Sunday

At morning muster today it was announced that we will be taking our company down to the galley for morning chow without our company commanders. Apparently, companies are allowed to march themselves around the regiment without company commanders once they have received their colors. At 0800 we had our divine hours. While some recruits wrote letters home, other recruits spent the morning hours performing uniform maintenance; it was instructed by our company commanders that we arrive to afternoon chow in our tropical blue dress uniform. Once divine hours were over, we met up with our company commanders along with the top senior company who will be graduating this week, GOLF-182. Both HOTEL and golf company joined together to for yet another off base run. The run today consisted of 3 miles. Despite having corrupted our bodies the day before with junk food, recruits did a decent job conquering the 3 mile stretch. We were given an opportunity this evening to utilize the learning resource center in order to contact our sponsors to our units via email and also for those of us who will be living on the economy, to go house hunting as well.

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