N-182 HISTORIAN LOG

WEEK Ø3

Monday, 26OCTØ9

Today in the world of NOVEMBER-182 we spent most of our day either in dental appointments, working out on core strength exercises, or eating delicious meals at chow.  All this began after a Ø1 mile run at Ø6ØØ.  The classroom was the main event for the evening; we spent our time with Senior Chief Snyder a seasoned member of the United States Coast Guard with more years under his belt at the mast, than we have in our lives.  Great wisdom was bestowed upon us, especially about sexual harassment and how it can become a serious impairment to our lives at sea.  The company is in turmoil as week Ø3 began today.  Some of our shipmates have disappeared from the ranks, and the only thing left are their stripped empty racks.  R.A.M.P was instituted today, we couldn't tell you what it means, all we know is that our stomachs were full of butterflies when the list for 'candidates' was read off. You leave, and you either come back Schwarzenegger, or not at all.  We are all pulling for our shipmates to make it back to NOVEMBER Company unscathed.  We miss our loved ones more and more as our joints ache but every morning at revile we are motivated to push harder hearing our National Anthem played and our colors wave.  More and more every day we may miss our loved ones, but we are reminded that it is them that motivate our strife.  Between company pride, the love for our nation, the longing for our loved ones, and bacon at breakfast, fail doesn't make it into our vocabulary. Our vocabulary has changed a bit though as things that we once called something else now have new names and new meanings.  A pen is no longer a pen but an 'inkstick'.  Bunk beds are now called 'racks'.  Tennis shoes are called 'go fasters' (our personal favorite).  Our ball caps are now  'covers'.   It's the little things like that which make us think of home and how all of you will react to the new way we do things and say things.  We will still be the people you love we will just be the people you love that now protect you each and every day.  We'll just come with a new view of the world from our office atop a mast in the big blue.

Goodnight, NOVEMBER-182  

Tuesday, 27OCTØ9

Nothing says "good morning" like a nice stroll down the fire stairs in gym shorts in Jersey weather, simulating what it would be like to be burning alive.  I guess if you think about it, that’s the only real way to prepare for the real deal.  I think it woke NOVEMBER to its senses; either that or we were too busy rushing from chow to class to have any more incentive training.  Today was survival float training.  We donned what looked like arctic cold weather gear but for one exception, it floats.  After shuffling along in a warm pool deck we tossed ourselves 'overboard' simulating sea water survival scenarios and learning how to stay not only warm, but alive.  Should the worst happen we learned float positions including huddle positions to prolong survival at open sea should we have to abandon ship, or are blown over the deck.  Everyone took this very seriously, and even the Chief was impressed with our interest in real-deal drills.  Sometimes I think that those of us that make it to latter weeks of training in NOVEMBER will thrive, as learning drills from our gym instructor Petty Officer LaKose, and a Chief AST (Aviation Survival Technician) seemed to revitalize everyone's hopes for success in the United States Coast Guard.  Whenever you see recruitment posters you see ASTs hanging in gale winds from orange whirly-birds hauling unlucky sailors from the unforgiving sea, meeting one face to face was humbling.  The latter parts of the day we're filled with classroom lessons.  We learned about the history of the Coast Guard, from its humble beginnings, and the caliber of people who founded this great organization.  We learned about Douglas Munro, the coast guard hero whom our home 'Munro Hall' was named.  He was a coxswain (at the wheel of the boat) during an unsuccessful marine siege, the troops of our United States were pushed back to the beach, at the helm Munro split the shore with his boat shielding the retreat and laying down suppressing fire, putting his own life at risk in order to save scores of lives. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor as he gave his life for our great nation.  I think this speaks volumes of the organization we are attempting to be a part of.  Stories like these spoken from great life savers, of great life savers, after weeks without electronic entertainment, in a world of television, and digital entertainment, shows you the kind of history your missing out on, watching reruns.  I don't think there was an inattentive eye or a posture not square, while listening to epic stories about such memorable vessels, people, and death defying rescues. You can have your satellite television; the Coast Guard will give you something to watch.

Goodnight, NOVEMBER-182

Wednesday, 28OCTØ9

Today was just like any other day-except for one big difference.  In our personal fitness class we were shown how to do the exercises we are going to perform that will allow us to pass or physical fitness test.  Those exercises consist of pushups, sit ups, and a run.  Now before we say anything about how difficult these things are you have to understand how much we have been busting our butts in order to do this.  We thought that our Company Commanders were just making us move to discipline and knock some much needed sense into us.  Now we can see very different.  Today some comments were made like "If our CCs hadn't been so rough on us I don't think I would to do it." Or my favorite "Man, our Company Commanders have made us strong!".  Needless to say many of us were very surprised to see just how far we have come in a short time as we now have a new hope for our future.  It will not be easy as we are very green still, but things are coming together finally like a puzzle that just couldn't be figured out.  In this puzzle though some of the pieces need to be forced to fit in.  Not with finesse, but with fear of our Company Commanders and lots of exercising. Today we also were reminded of a tradition that takes place here in Cape May.  Families from the surrounding area come to the training center on Thanksgiving and pick up anywhere from one to four recruits for the entire day.  We get a home cooked meal a chance to use a telephone and computer.  These things are now the staples of missed technology here in NOVEMBER-182.  The simple ease of a couple keystrokes can get you into contact with your family and other loved ones.  Ten simple digits on a telephone and you can talk to anyone in the United States.  At first the company seemed to miss their video games and televisions.  We are starting to learn a lot about not only the Coast Guard, but about ourselves.  Priorities are shifting in the company and things are becoming more precise.  I could go on and on.  The last thing I want to say today though is remember what I said about the Thanksgiving tradition.  You may get in contact with your loved ones a little sooner than you think.  Keep sending the letters and keep sending your love, it is much more appreciated than you know.

Goodnight, NOVEMBER-182

Thursday, 29OCTØ9

FIRE, FIRE, FIRE! The way we've experienced the mornings here at Cape May. Ø53Ø and already donning our go-fasters to rush down to the parade field and take a muster (crew accountability).  The goal here is to be able to secure the building and take count of NOVEMBER in 12Ø seconds; well... we have at least groggily managed twice that.  Week Ø3 has flown by, our total roster number has already dwindled to 6Ø from our original 66 recruits, and nearly 2Ø recruits we're sent to dental for extractions.  When they tell you boot camp is like pulling teeth, no one expected it to be in a literal sense.  With half the roster on 'light duty' (limited workout participate by doctors order) or R.A.M.P it’s a good thing that this week entails mostly classroom sessions.  Seamanship classes started today, a seemingly mile march down to the beautiful docks, that most of us only saw for the first time today.  It's surprisingly striking weather here, and catching a glimpse of the sunrise during our incentive training is always a treat, even if we're hugging pavement doing push-ups.  Walking down to the dock for seamanship we were greeted by Boatswains Mate Second Class Humphrey, a very knowledgeable experienced professional seaman.  As most of the instructors here, he is a bit more relaxed than our CCs, his relaxed attitude didn't stop us from maintaining our military bearing, and classroom etiquette.  We started learning all the maritime terminology for the components of our docks, and vessels. This training is a breath of fresh air for NOVEMBER's morale. As we progress in weeks we get further and further from marching to and from the parade field, and closer to the sea, our big blue office.  Secretly the company is starting to think, that behind their fierce exterior our Company Commanders have a strategy to test out military resolve and self discipline.  Both DC2 (Damage Controlman Second Class) Sutton and YN1 (Yeoman First Class) Durrant have now told mirthful anecdotes to break recruits into damaging their calm, a few times they have succeeded and the seaman recruits have pushed the deck.  Even Chief Howe has made a quote here and there to try to split our sides. We strongly believe that sometimes although they are very serious in their demeanor, they know they are being humorous.  All the more reason to fear and respect them, as their experience shows after every day they invent a new way of testing us.  Tests that we've upped our success rate exponentially.  Be a week Ø3 act like a week Ø8, that’s the goal.  After a glorious meal, we learned more about our rates and ranks as a Senior Chief joined us at the chow line.  The Galley is set up so that the recruits file in incognito, and file out directly past the "CC" table (the company commanders and senior enlisted rates table) if you do not exercise speed, efficiency, and proper military drill, you're walking the green mile.  Some recruits found a new rate waiting for them at the end of the line, as the senior chief helped 'motivate' us on our way back to Munro Hall.  Ostensibly safe in our squad bays we began a five minute drill, enabling the 'light duty' folks to stretch their bored muscles, by a session of rack making. Several failed attempts to make sixty beds in Ø5 minutes later, we finally prevailed, much to our chagrin Company Commander, YN1Durrant was weary of saying "Strip em" "Make em" "Strip em" "Make em" and had departed down the stairs on business and never saw our triumphant Ø5 minute victory.  Hopefully this experience will help the pokey shipmates maintain the 'sense of urgency' that has been taught to us throughout training.  It's hard to say on a large vessel or a small boat station; when you will just be getting to bed, sitting down to chow, or preparing for the morning muster, when disaster can strike and a tired, dirty, hungry Guardian will have to spend countless hours on a SAR (search and Rescue) forgetting selfishness and embracing our Military Code of Conduct.  Bring on the weekend.

Goodnight, NOVEMBER-182

Friday, 3ØOCTØ9

Most jobs you would pray for Friday night to come along, to go out with your friends, and kick back as the five day week comes to a close.  We however always have Saturday to look forward to, and then again Sunday evening.  The morning started with a run around the beautiful parade field of TRACEN. Some recruits made their way to the ward for Sick-Call; blister packs, cold meds, lozenges, and other small luxuries were dished out to fight the ongoing cold season.  Chow time was uneventful for the first time in a long time, the food tasted first-class as usual, but extra sweet when you don't make a common Galley mistake.  The procedures put in place during chow time enable all hundred some recruits to get in and get out as quickly and efficiently as possible, however if you make a mistake, your quick to be called on it, and then to answer your daily required knowledge.  Luckily we survived breakfast without any casualties. We hurried on to a classroom seamanship class to learn how to identify the various vessels we could quite possibly be navigating in less than two months.  Everything from the ice breaking vessels in the northern districts to the response boats that fly out of The National Security Cutters and small boat stations to stop smugglers and pirates in southern districts. Unfortunately we learned that The United States Coast Guard had troubled in the water, as a C-13Ø Fixed wing aircraft collided with a Marine Corps helicopter early this morning resulting in all hands lost.  Our hearts go out to their families and loved ones, and far beyond the shock of hearing of military members lost on the news a few months ago, in the comfort of our safe homes, today we felt the ache as it was our brothers and sisters. We could hear the anger and frustration in our Company Commanders voice as they no doubt took the blow deeper than ourselves.  We shoved off to seamanship later to learn more required knowledge about knots, ties, and fastens, bringing us back to the roots of a basic boatswain. Late in the evening we were treated to meet the elite face of the Coast Guard organization, The Honor Guard.  These are the elite, the people who defend our colors as their holy grail, who honor our fallen, and protect our world’s leaders.  The few who make it among these ranks, started where we did today, as a few recruits stayed behind to try to make the cut, and join these immaculate military professionals. Short, flatulent, non-disciplined folks with two left feet need not apply.  After it was off to swab the decks, eat our cold fighting granola snacks, mount the racks, and think of our loved ones.

Goodnight, NOVEMBER-182

Saturday, 31OCTØ9

Happy Halloween! Today is supposed to be a festive day with candy and scary ghouls.  What do you think Coast Guard recruits are doing?  That’s right we are training and working our butts off to make sure that all of our loved ones will be safe and protected on their holidays.  So while everyone else is eating their candy and having a good time we were tying our Ø5 basic knots today which are the clove hitch, the slip clove hitch, the bow line, the square not, and the round turn with two half hitches.  If you don't know what they are your recruits will be happy to show you when they get home.  Today was also full of surprises as our Commanding Officer Captain Thomas came onto our Quarterdeck (a place designated for ceremonial purposes, and a hallway between squad bays.) and was dressed up like a witch or some other equally impressive black dressed woman.  We got the opportunity to trick or treat from her as she had a bowl mounding with delicious goodies.  Most people savored every bite they got and with good reason.  We have not had candy of any kind now going on Ø4 weeks.  Speaking of which this marks the half way point for boot camp.  Many of us can see the light at the end of the tunnel and some of us are stuck in utter disbelief.  Out Squad Leader Seaman Recruit Hoff just told me today that tomorrow is his one year wedding anniversary and he is missing it for boot camp.  I've never seen a man so sullen after a realization like that.  The best part is that he has been keeping his military bearing and discipline the entire time despite the heartache.  He is truly an inspiration to all the recruits here in NOVEMBER company.  Many look to him for direction and he is constantly answering questions from every recruit as well as the tasks the Company Commanders have for him.  We are all very thankful for him and we hope you share in that sentiment.  Tonight we also get an extra hour of sleep as daylight savings time is helping us with that. The next week we have our personal fitness tests to get through so the rest will be much needed and used.

Goodnight, NOVEMBER-182 

Sunday, Ø1NOVØ9

Today as we woke we knew only 2 things this is the last day of Week Ø3, and that our sleeves on our Operations Dress Uniform had to be rolled down.  Normally we have them rolled up mid-bicep, but today as it was the first day of November, and due to regimental regulations, we start to keep them rolled down.  This doesn't sound so bad and in fact is a lot less worrisome than the rolls however; some of the recruits have never seen an iron before, much less know how to use one.  The trouser legs and sleeves of our operations dress uniforms require, for inspections sake, a crease in the pant leg.  Running with the pleat all the way down to the ankle front and back.  Many were having difficulties with this and others know exactly what to do.  The sleeves have a crease as well running from the top of the shoulder with the seam down to the cuff.  Needless to say after a hard Ø1 to Ø2 hours for some these uniforms really start to look sharp.  On the agenda today was Ø2 important training activities.  First was the range where half of our company went to learn the basics of shooting.  The other half was learning Manual of Arms.  The cadence and movement of our pieces during drill.  This went over pretty well even considering the barrels are lead filled (you can imagine why).  After the piece movements we were taken onto the Quarter Deck to learn about assignments.  Where are we going to go after basic?  This was the only time YN1 Durrant has spoke even the slightest bit casual.  We were all a little shaken by that, however also impressed that he could do that but still keep his stern military bearing.  All of us lucky enough to hear his experiences were in total awe of what he has experienced.  It's what we all hope to experience. Talking about cutters, buoy tenders, islands, exotic people, and the overall experience of his many years in the Coast Guard.  He let us know the inside and outs of all the "stuff" our recruiters said to us.  He said that it was all true however in some cases we were given a disservice in some areas.  That's okay for some of us though.  Everything still became exciting for us.  Thanks to the Coast Guard, there are avenues open to us that would otherwise never have happened.  We will get to do things no one else in the world can do for free.  They can do it but in some cases it may cost thousands to tens of thousands of dollars.  We are truly blessed to be part of this service.  We hope to continue on our training to pass boot camp, so we can experience things that should be experienced, and not forgotten.  Wish us luck as week Ø4 starts tomorrow.  We may need it because it only gets harder from hear.

Goodnight, NOVEMBER-182

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