Week Five

Two warriors step onto the tire chips – surrounded by white padded barriers – and a sea of blue uniforms cheering. Vest, helmet, mouth guard, and war face on. They pick up their weapons: pugil sticks. They arm themselves, like tigers ready to pounce – and then the whistle blows. Cheers ring out into the cool morning air as they do battle. Adrenaline is pumping and the whistle blows. Point!

Monday India 182 went to battle in the pugil stick ring. It was fun and exciting. For a moment we were warriors ready to kill, always moving forward toward the enemy. In the ring shipmates found out what they were really made of – many surprised themselves.

The Coast Guard is multi-missioned and many of us joined to save lives not take it away. However, we are charged with the mission to protect this country from all enemies, foreign and domestic. If fighting is what we are called to do – then we shall – war faces and all.

Still, saving lives is the greatest reward. To know your hands saved someone from the blue and to hear them say Thank you – there is no better feeling in the world (so we have been told.)

In Seamanship we began our radio procedures. Armed with a radio and a compass two teams searched for “missing boats” and marked each vessel as they went to the next. Some were easier to find than others. We felt frustrated when we could not our target – to imagine the expanse of the ocean we gained awareness of how challenging search and rescue can be.

We also learned about personal flotation devices and emergency signals should we ourselves fall into the blue. As I have said safety is pivotal. A cutter could sink in two minutes – so we drilled getting PFD’s on in 45 seconds. At first it was awkward but we got faster. If we don’t use the equipment properly and swiftly it is the difference between life and death. And as our instructor would say – that would be a bad day in the Coast Guard.

The medical onslaught still continues on, even now. Shipmates come and go to medical to have their teeth cleaned and even pulled. Faces swollen and in pain they return – always ready. Small pox vaccinations were given to us this week as well. We hope this is to be our final shot – we never know.

This week we were also issued our dress blues. We wear our dress blues at graduation. We are getting closer! Trying the uniform on and being fitted we could visualize the future – amazing.

And then finally after weeks which felt like a lifetime the answer to our biggest question finally came. The company left class and all three CC’s were there screaming hurry up. We were lead in a strange way unsure of what was happening. Fear caught in our throats and our stomachs dropped – what had we done? What is happening? Formed up we marched and suddenly as it all began – “Company Halt,” breaks the rhythm of our steps. Incentive Training began – “Get Louder,” they ordered and so we did! “Get lower” and so we did. Exercise after exercise we pushed ourselves unsure of what happened to demand this lesson in discipline and motivation.  “Stop!”  “Aye aye,  Petty Officer Wagner!” “About face!” Upon executing the command we see before us a 44’ Motor Life Boat flying the India flag!

We earned our colors – now, where ever we go on the regiment they will know we are India-182. Bright yellow flag with a black circle in the center waves proudly on our Guidon. We are India-182 and we wear our color proud.

The excitement felt like electricity in the air as we marched with our colors proudly waving in the breeze. Then, another change. We marched down a grey gravel road – destination unknown. Trusting our squad leaders. Footsteps before us and responding to commands we follow until we find ourselves face to face with our future – the ocean. Black boon dockers sink into the powdery white sand as we looked out into our office. We won’t be needed on calm seas and sunny afternoons – we will be called out into the storm to battle Poseidon himself to rescue lost mariners at sea. Our future is out in the blue – we took it in and then our CC’s presented our orders.

Orders to stations and to cutters – from Guam to Puerto Rico, from Alaska to Key West, from New York to California we were given the destination we have been toiling for. Some got exactly what they wanted while others received orders unplanned or imagined. We took our orders with pride – we have a job to do and people to serve and protect.

However, we are not done yet. We still have 3 weeks more of training to go and so much more to learn. We are so excited but cannot express it fully yet. Our dreams are slowly becoming real – but they are not ours yet. We must continue acting as a team. As a family, as a company, as India.

The weeks to come more freedom may be given – with more responsibility – in that time shipmates will call home and tell you themselves their adventures – but that time is earned not given and so we continue.

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