02Nov09

We are now into our third week and are getting into a routine. We were issued our pieces, which are demilitarized M1 rifles. We have also been learning about the G.I. Bill, sexual harassment policies, and various other aspects of our Coast Guard careers. We are meeting most of our time objectives now, which is a big improvement compared to our performance so far. Swim remedial has also started for those recruits needing extra help with swimming, which means waking up an hour earlier in exchange for becoming ready for the swim physical test. Most of our days are filled with classes, marching, practicing movements with our pieces, and of course, chow which provides a much needed morale boost for Oscar Company.

06Nov09

Time flies fast as our third week is slowly winding down. Our third week has found us extremely busy. Swim remedial is well underway for those recruits needing the extra help. The entire company has started learning about basic seamanship, which involves learning sea navigation and the various parts of vessels. We have also learned different knots and techniques with line. In addition, the Honor Guard gave Oscar Company a visit this week. We all looked at the Honor Guard class with respect and we were all very impressed, but only a few of us met the minimum requirements to apply, particularly the height requirement. Those of us that met such requirements and have the desire to be a respected member of the Honor Guard applied and are striving to be competitive applicants for this respected position. Oscar Company also saw an increase in dental appointments this week, as many of us have started getting our wisdom teeth pulled. It's all okay for Oscar Company, since the dental staff ensures we receive the best care in our recovery. We are all very excited for the coming weeks as we are beginning to feel like a team. We are no longer individuals, we are Guardians in training and we all can feel it in the air. Most of us are already thinking about graduation as we are considering what we will write on our dream sheets next week. As week three winds down, we are all looking forward to our fourth week in Cape May, and as a team we are ready for our coming challenges.

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