As we march together toward our destination our Company Commander breaks the silence and begins to sing cadence.  We repeat every word in step and in rhythm:

"Here we go again!

Same old stuff again!

Marching down the avenue. 

Five more days and we'll be through. 

And I won't have to look at you. 

Ugly, Ugly, Ugly You! 

And you won't have to look at me! 

Pretty, Pretty, Pretty Me!"

05 more days and we will be through; just 05 more days.  To think that 07 weeks have come and gone and how much we have changed in that time is amazing.  We have come this far and accomplished so much together as a team.  Week 07 has been like all weeks before it, a challenge.  However, as challenging as it has been, we managed to succeed and prove to our company commanders all the work they have done and time that they have committed to us, to India 182, was not in vain. 

In the classroom we went over First Aid and CPR.  Accidents happen and in this line of work nearly every aspect has a level of danger where safety is pivotal.  When an accident does occur on the job or if during a rescue a person is injured, action needs to be taken right away.  A few moments can mean the difference between a life lost and a life saved.  So we learned how to administer first aid and give CPR.  Shipmates were "wounded" and together we worked on taking care of them until emergency medical technicians arrived on scene.  The wounds were gory and the knowledge invaluable.  We also took our last Seamanship course which was on Heaving Lines and Line Commands.  The first half of class was on safety and proper commands and then the second half was all practice.  We learned how to moor a ship and unmoor the ship.  As we practice and perfected our new found skill, the USCG stationed at the pier was setting out on tour.  So, we practice on our mock cutter and then saw the real thing in action.  We looked on in awe and excitement. In a few more days many of us will be doing that.  In Seamanship we also took our Seamanship final.  Our class average was not very high on the midterm and we knew we had to bring the score up on the final if we wanted to earn the Seamanship pennant.  They said that it was impossible and that no company did better on the final than on the midterm.  They said all that and then, we proved them wrong.  Knowing the challenge that faced us we studied harder and quizzed each other till we knew it all, inside and out.  We earned the Seamanship pennant that day.

Finally, after weeks of classes one everything from ships and vessels, fire prevention, STD's and Uniform wearing the time came for our Final Exam.  Whenever we had the opportunity we took time to study.  Typically it involved multi-tasking such as polishing boots and studying or ironing and reading over our notes.  We squeezed in as much knowledge as we possibly could.  We knocked the midterm out of the park and have been flying the yellow pennant on the guide arm to represent that achievement.  We wanted to excel on the final as well and earn the orange pennant. So, we studied.  We read and re-read, we quizzed each other, we copied notes down to double check we knew what we needed to know.  And like the time before, we knocked the test right out of the park and earned the orange pennant to hang on our guide arm. 

Outside the classroom other tests still remained.  That afternoon, after 07 weeks of practicing, we marched to the pavilion for our close order drill test with our Section Commander.  We tested before with our Section Commander with the Manual of Arms test.  During that test we passed but it was not without remark.  He explained things he wanted us to change so that when the time came for the close order drill test we would impress him.  We were all locked on and our ears were open as he spoke.  We took every word of criticism in.  We wanted to get a 10 out of 10.  We were expected to get a 10 out of 10.  To our company commander's call we performed each movement sharply and precisely.  We stood tall, leaned back, and walked as if we are 10 feet tall and bullet proof; confidence oozed from our every pore.  We are India 182 and we give no less than 110% because that is what it takes to shine and we shined.  Our Section Commander saw the confidence and the technique and we earned a rare 10 out of 10.  Another victory for the company.

Another test we have been preparing for since we came but had no idea when would come was the squad bay inspection.  In the beginning we had an inspection and the squad bays were so bad that the Section Commander did not even complete the inspection because he was so disgusted.  He did not give up on us though.  Instead, he gave us a second chance to pull it together.  The inspection could happen any day at any time.  Thus, every moment we had the opportunity we scurried around like ants cleaning, fixing, polishing, mopping, sweeping, dusting and disinfecting.  Not knowing when he would come and to live in comfort, we cleaned nonstop.  When the inspection did come, we were not home but we did manage to straighten up before we left the squad bays.  If we would have known we would have done more but in the end we managed to pass!  Not with a perfect score but we passed none the less. 

Because we passed the Manual of Arms test, passed the Close Order Drill test, passed the Squad bay inspection and proved to the Section Commander that India 182 is a team, the Section Commander presented us with the Section Commander Pennant.  Not every company can earn this pennant.  It is not give, it is earned and India 182 represented our colors with confidence and now we have another pennant to wave into the sky.

During this week, the last few who needed to pass the physical fitness test retested.  In the end, only one did not complete due to injury.  Everyone else passed.  They would stand watch in the night and then wake up at 0430 in the morning (one full hour earlier than everyone else) to go workout in the gym every morning conditioning their bodies to complete the test and meet the USCG standards of physical fitness.  In the end, they managed to push themselves off the deck, crunch up, and run their hearts out and achieved the goals.  We earned the physical fitness pennant.  We earned it not because we were all fit when we got here but because those of us who were not pushed themselves and did not give up.  The white pennant flies proudly against the India Flag.

Being that we just received our new Topical Blue Uniforms, just as with our Operation Dress Uniforms, an inspection was required.  We tightened our shirt stays, pressed our shirts and polished our low quarters to make ourselves look as sharp as possible.  The shirts were so stiff they felt like cardboard and the creases so sharp you could cut yourself.  Before us as our judge was our Battalion Officer.  The Battalion Officer has the power to take away Off Base Liberty.  After 07 weeks of enduring the high levels of physical excursion, sleep deprivation and stress we all wanted to go on off base liberty more than anything.  Knowing the power the Battalion Officer carries we presented ourselves in uniform ready to go.  Another victory, Off Base Liberty was granted. 

Although Liberty was granted a huge obstacle still stood in our way: The Confidence Course.  The Confidence course is a relatively new addition to the Coast Guard Recruit Training schedule.  It is the same as the one the US Marines use.  On black tire chip stands several obstacles to overcome and as a team we cheer each other on to make it over that which stood before them.  We charged forward under the watchful eyes of our company commanders and attacked each obstacle with all our might.  Some of us bounded over the obstacles as if they were not their while others struggled.  Shipmates helped each other when they could and we all made it to the finish line.  Winded, battered and bruised we stood amazed at what we over come. Confident in ourselves, knowing how many obstacles we have overcome during the last 07 weeks of recruit training.  As we stood there, taking our breaths and collecting ourselves from the adventure our Lead Company Commander pulled out a blue pennant, the Company Commander pennant.  The pennant is a symbol, a mark that allows everyone on the regiment to know that we are week 07 and almost done with our training.  A mark that shows our company commanders have faith in us as a company and as individuals to go out into the fleet, to be their shipmates and their replacements when they retire, to be the next watch in the night.  The blue pennant is a mark that we are moving in the right direction and our company commanders see that.  We stood beaming with pride as it was added to our guide arm. 

Our guide arm carries a rainbow of colors: white for physical fitness, Red for participation in the blood drive, Orange for our company average on the final, yellow for our company overage on the midterm, blue from our company commanders, green for our company seamanship average, and Purple from the section commander.  The only pennant we did not receive was the Marksmanship pennant; we needed two more people to qualify to have the right percentage.  We were very close.  At this point we are not looking back because we are very proud of the colors we have earned and now, there is only one more pennant left.  The Battalion Commander pennant is the silver pennant and it will be difficult to earn.  That being said, we qualify to earn it.  Our last test still stands before us to earn the pennant.  We each continue to study in preparation for the Battalion Commander.  Again, we do not know when it will happen but when it does, we will be ready.

As we gained pennants we lost something else dear to our hearts.  This Friday we returned out pieces.  Yes, the heavy burden that we carried for hours and trained with for weeks was finally lifted from our hands and placed back in the safe keeping of the armory.  It truly was an honor to carry them but I doubt anyone shed a tear for their loss.   

And so, the week came to an exciting end.  Counting our victories great and small, we marched out the gates of Training Center Cape May and back into the arms of the world we have left behind.  We were set free on Off Base Liberty!  We donned our Tropical Dress Blue Uniform and London Fog (in case of rain) and marched out together into the streets of the civilian world again.  We broke off into smaller groups and headed out to Rio Grande, each with our own missions and things to do.  The first stop for most was the Wal-Mart where To-Go phones waited for us, boxes already cut and instructions printed out.  We called home for the first time without a time limit or constraint, free to laugh and speak of more than work and business.  Some broke off to the movies while others headed out to Starbucks for a cup of coffee.  Then, for dinner many ate at the Rio Station while other ate at the Japanese restaurant.  We talked, laughed, and smiled without fear.  We were ourselves and then we were something more than ourselves.  The uniform caused random acts of kind words and acknowledgement wherever we walked.  We were thanked and given respect because of the uniform were wore.  Towns people see new recruits every week and still they carry respect for us as we walked out into their world.  We were welcomed in a way we did not anticipate.  We walked together and still find ourselves falling into formation.  We did not mean to nor did we have to but as we walked we fell into step, fists on our trouser seams, standing tall and looking forward.  We are ourselves and when we look into the mirrors we see ourselves the same and yet we know deep within us something has changed.  The 07 weeks we have been in training has been like metal in the forge.  We have been refined into something new, stronger, and better than what we were before.  We know it and yet we cannot place our fingers on exactly what it is.  We see ourselves in our uniforms and see the realization of what we are and we are taken aback. In only 05 more days we will be able to say "We are Guardians." 

"The Guardian Ethos":

"I am America Maritime Guardian

I serve the Citizens of the United States I will Protect them I will defend them I will save them I am their shield For them I am Semper Paratus I live the Coast Guard Core Values I am a Guardian We are the United States Coast Guard"

We are India-182!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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