WEEK 08

19 OCT 09

Today, in a very moving ceremony, Recruits were lead out to the parade field to receive the pins for their hats during the capping ceremony. During this ceremony, Recruits again restated and reaffirmed their oath of enlistment. This symbolic act reflects the final transition from Recruits to enlisted member of the coast guard that will take place this Friday at graduation. After the capping ceremony, Recruits also received the section Commander purple pennant for all their efforts at becoming a cohesive, strong, and well disciplined Company.

In the evening, we also had our last de-brief—this time from our lead Company Commander. It was a relief to learn that we were not the worst Company that any of our Commanders have taught. It has been a privilege to be afforded these de-briefs—a time when we as Recruits can catch a glimpse into who our Company Commanders are outside of their jobs here with us.

20 OCT 09

Today’s activities moved somewhat slower than yesterday. Recruits went to class to discuss health and wellness. This involved receiving results of a health questionnaire Recruits filled out weeks ago. These results give an overview of each Recruit’s wellbeing and should be used as a tool to help improve certain areas of overall health.

One of the more exciting things that took place was going to sexton hall to retrieve our personal bags that we arrived with here at the Cape May training center. We are still not allowed to open them and access our personal civilian items, but it seems symbolic—as if we hold within our hands a link between our lives now as Recruits and the new lives we will enter into as Guardians in the world outside the training center.

The evening promised another interesting event. HOTEL was allowed to march over to sexton hall, stand in formation at parade rest, and watch the forming Company arrive and fallout from the bus. It was a difficult experience, which brought back some of the nerves and butterflies we all felt upon our arrival at cape may, but it also created a sense of pride in HOTEL that we have come so far and completed so much, having started out just as this new Company did tonight.

21 OCT 09

The days just keep getting better and more eventful for HOTEL-182. We had such a full day today; it’s hard to know where to begin. Probably the most out-of-the-ordinary news involves ESPN’s coverage of our day. Yes, ESPN2 came to shoot footage of HOTEL Company’s activities today. These activities included another round of pugil stick fighting as well as HOTEL’s first attempt at the training center’s “confidence course.” Footage of HOTEL Company should be available for viewing on ESPN2 on the ninth, tenth, and eleventh of November, so remember to set your TiVo’s for these days.

The confidence course itself was long and difficult for some, but all Recruits were able to finish the course. Obstacles placed on the course included hurdles, rope climbs, wall climbs, and pole obstacles to which Recruits latched on and swung their bodies over in complicated positions. All-in-all it was a challenging but fun course that many Recruits wished to have another chance to complete again.

ESPN also filmed Recruits marching by the parade field and on the beach, eating during their afternoon chow time, and during an incentive training session, which should give viewer’s somewhat of an idea of what Recruits experience here at cape may. While marching at the beach, our lead Company Commander gave HOTEL-182 a motivational speech recounting the effort we have put forth to reach the fruition of our training. As he was speaking, a large group of dolphins began surfacing near the shore as if they were cheering HOTEL Company on to graduation and bigger and better things. It was a beautiful day on the beach, and all of these things combined to make for an unforgettable day.

Another very important incident occurred for Recruits as they were awarded the coveted silver Battalion Commander pennant. This pennant is only awarded to companies that show overall teamwork, have clean and organized squadbays, and are current and fluent in all their required knowledge. To test for this pennant, Recruits were lined up and asked specific questions about required knowledge, squadbays were inspected, and the overall progress of the Company was taken into account. Out of the last ten companies to graduate from Cape May, HOTEL is only the second to be awarded the Battalion Commander pennant. We are so proud to be in a Company that cares and whose individuals submit to the greater needs of the team.

22 OCT 09

All of us were dreading today because we thought it would creep by. This, however, was far from the truth. Last minute classes, administrative work, lunch with the executive officer and master chief here at Cape May, packing, and the Company pizza party made the day fly.

Recruits who will receive special recognition at graduation were allowed to have lunch with the executive officer and master chief here at Cape May. It was an excellent time for Recruits to ask questions about their new life in the coast guard, and conversation was lively. It was definitely a nice break from the normal conventions of chow time. Recruits asked questions ranging from what rating to choose to whether or not they should become officers or stay enlisted.

The pizza party was definitely the highlight of the day and involved all-you-can-eat pizza, soft drinks (Recruits were all starved for soda), and cake. During the pizza party, Recruits were allowed to talk with one another as well as the Company Commanders, their families who attended, and the Company mentor. This was certainly a treat for Recruits who always have enjoyed talking to one another, but have never had much time to do so and get to know all of their fellow shipmates.

Two other aspects of the Company party really showed HOTEL’s spirit. They were a showing and explanation session of the art club’s Company ditty bag banners and a round of skits acted out by several Recruits. The ditty bags (Recruits laundry sacks which had been emptied and painted) have been on display in the galley for the entire week leading up to HOTEL’s graduation. All of the bags were expertly painted to capture moments in

After the pizza party, Recruits returned to the barracks to organize for departure tomorrow. We also gathered in the main muster squad bay for our last evening muster and an awards ceremony. Recruits who won awards for honor graduate, seamanship, most physically fit, best shipmate, best leader, manual of arms, and best improvement of physical fitness received tokens marking their achievements as well as a round of applause and congratulations from their shipmates. After the awards each of our Company Commanders gave us words of advice—words which echo each aspect of our training. Put simply we are to always keep in our minds and hearts the core values behind what it is to be a truly dedicated, highly motivated coast guardsman—honor, respect, and devotion to duty.

Recruits are in great spirits as we head into our last hours here at training center Cape May. We all have butterflies in our stomachs at the thought of graduation and returning to the world outside the training center. It is hard to believe our training has brought us so far in what has been the longest eight weeks that ever occurred in the blink of an eye. But we are not leaving the training center alone. The voices of our Company Commanders will ever ring true in our minds and hearts, driving us to always stay the course of moral courage, fortitude of spirit, and to keep moving forward with all our endeavors to reach the height of our potential. Only then will we count ourselves in the ranks of the Guardians. We have been given all the tools and shown the way by the most competent, honorable, and disciplined of Company Commanders. It is now up to us, the shipmates of the only HOTEL-182 that will ever exist, to usher in the new generation of Guardians of the Sea.

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