Monday, 09NOV09

Today started with a morning run, 04 laps around the quad.  The morning run is the perfect start for some and a horrible awakening to others.  The brain is willing but the body is sometimes still counting sheep.  Today however we were in the zone as we started week 05 here at Cape May.  After the morning run we made our way out to the pugil-stick arena down by the track.  NOVEMBER suited up head to toe, donned our helmets, decommissioned flak jackets, mouth guards and entered the arena.  We were enabled to shake our military bearing and cheer on our shipmates as they combated each other toe to toe in vicious melee.  Two recruits enter, one recruit leaves... then another recruit leaves shortly after being declared the victor. It was nice to see our company commanders encourage as well as jeer at recruits who were either too intense, or not nearly passionate enough.  We were able to leave the aggression we expelled on the pugil arena, as we returned to clean ODUs and collected ourselves to finish the day gaining knowledge at seamanship. We learned how to properly don PFDs (Personal Floatation Devices) as well as survival gear packs for harsh weather.  The rest of class was spent learning about how to properly respond during SAR scenarios, Rescue 21 responses, VHF/FM (high frequency) and general radio etiquette.  We haven't yet tried it but now have the means to apply proper response techniques. The night went a little sour later in the evening, as we let some details by us.  Our teamwork thrives but our attention to every detail needs to be finely polished, just like our boondockers (boots).  Mail call came with an abundance of letters from our loved ones; we thank you for every word.  Then NOVEMBER retired to its nightly routine of disbursing to cleaning crews, watch crews, historian crews, and those anxious for the night's sleep.

Goodnight, NOVEMBER-182

Tuesday, 10NOV09

The days are different now that we've entered week 05, and our confidence level is starting to augment our performance.  Petty Officer Sutton and Petty Officer Durrant were able to leave us well enough alone, while we made some of our own deadlines, paid attention to the schedules and started to act professional during long days and a stressful agenda.  They aren't done micromanaging us yet in some areas, as we are not all the way there; however NOVEMBER is turning the corner.  We spent our mornings fitting into our Bravos and tropical blues (dress uniforms). This lasted from morning chow all the way till lunch, as we shuffled in and out of the tailor shop looking sharp and professional as ever.  Trying on the uniforms we will wear at the finale of training started to make everyone feel as if we have started to head down 'the other side of the mountain', the steep incline of INDOC was left far on the other side, and without supervision we have started to "lock it up"(stand fast).  Afternoon chow was rifled down and we made an expedited march down to seamanship.  Seamanship consisted of very important training evolutions. We were able to launch MK-79 and MK-124 emergency signals (smoke flares, light flares, and signal flares). This knowledge could mean the difference between civilians, shipmates, or even our own life.  The rest of the afternoon was spent mock drilling radio rescue scenarios between a small boat station and a rescue life boat.  The Company Commanders are starting to push the gas on required knowledge as we are now a senior company, it's our responsibility.  The Battalion Commander inspection is tomorrow, as well as ESPNs film crews touring our base doing a special on training facilities for Veteran's Day.  This isn't going to help NOVEMBER sleep tonight, between the stress of an inspection, and the pressure to not look foolish on national television. We'll be grinding the caps off our teeth and reporting to dental by Thursday.  Wish us luck, we'll need it.

Goodnight, NOVEMBER-182

Wednesday, 11NOV09

Veterans Day, a day we honor the people of America who have shed a part of themselves so that we could maintain justice and the American way.  The air was crisp and furious today at Cape May just like our American fighting men and women, tropical storm Ida is moving in, and we are tasting a bit of our working weather.  Our Battalion Commander inspection was postponed due to an ESPN special airing live today on national television right here in TRACEN.  Check for us online if you missed the live broadcast this afternoon. We sounded off in the gymnasium on behalf of the Coast Guard while some of the enlisted permanent party members asked and answered questions about the training program.  The network toured around TRACEN and filmed the full experience showing how an average “Joe” turns into a Guardian.  The whole experience was surreal, our company has already had an astonishing adventure, between a Q&A with the Vice Admiral, to National Television, and we don't even get our orders until tomorrow. The main highlight of the day was Chief Howe's inspirational speech, and we don't take lightly to that fact.  Living in cities all over the country from San Diego to Chicago to right here in Jersey we all pass veterans by on the street every day, from our grandfathers in WWII, to our fathers in Vietnam, and our brothers and sisters in Iraq and Afghanistan we don't give them enough due credit.  We are charged today as members of the armed forces of the United States. Before we take benefit from the fights our forefathers have fought and died for, we need to take a moment to thank them. To carry on the legacy of a great nation and represent professionally on behalf of the future generations, and to put forth the extra effort in our lives and duties.  "An ounce of sweat saves a gallon of blood." -General George S. Patton. Happy Veterans Day. 

Goodnight, NOVEMBER-182

Thursday, 12NOV09

Today the squad bays were filled with murmurs before reveille as NOVEMBER was ripe with anticipation to hear word from their new duty stations (or cutters).  Many recruits woke up early and lay in their racks like kids on Christmas morning waiting to see what they got.  What we got was a tropical storm.  Ida was raging through Cape May blowing the squad bay to and fro with 40-60 knot winds.  The day continued through the storm as we were not allowed to falter our steps or turn away from the freezing rain stinging our frozen gobs.  We made our way through the day practicing Manual of Arms while we left Munro only to go to the cybex gym, chow and a couple classes.  Risk management class was next and it flew by as it was taught by our seamanship instructor Boatswains Mate Second Class Humphrey, one of our favorite instructors as he is a very knowledgeable and experienced seaman. During class we learned how easy it is to assess risk quickly and to make a dangerous situation several times safer in the time it takes to tie your shoes.  The wait at this time was killing us as we entered finance class. We thought that this would be the moment of truth as we waited through credit management, savings, retirement funds, and special armed forces benefits.  The class ended and we filed out back into the rain, we practiced more manual of arms sheltered from the tempest. Petty Officer Durrant broke up our study session with a reminder of what happens when we let our guard down, lose attention to detail, and not maintaining our immaculate squad bays. So from 2000 to 2100 we played emergency clean up drills and scraped every hair from the head floors (washroom).  Finally after showers, we learned where we will all be stationed. Don't worry folks you will soon learn where your loved ones will be sailing.  We get phone calls soon, and you will hear all the details. The anticipation we pass on your way. Enjoy. 

Goodnight, NOVEMBER-182

Friday, 13NOV09

Another beautiful day in the military this morning as we woke up for more Health Services Technicians poking and prodding us. Today we received our small pox vaccine, don't worry our new scars aren't from our company commanders pounding us into the dirt, just a side effect from the multiple sticks from a bifurcated needle. Tropical storm Ida is still hanging around, not a big deal for a Guardian marching in time into 60knot winds, but it does make for a bit of extra swabbing (mopping the deck).  Today we learned more about our orders, our first station, and where we will be reporting to, and living once we get there.  It's exciting for some recruits who are glad to be out on their own for the first time.  It's also making some of the junior recruits anxious for the same reason. Most of us joined to "get out of the house", some of the stations in Hawaii, Guam, and Alaska can ensure that happens.  Spending time on some of the High Endurance Cutters will even be a floating home for several months at a time. NOVEMBER might not have gotten to fit the billets that we wanted as our first choice, but that hasn't put a sour look on a single recruits face.  Everyone seems ecstatic to fit the roles that the Coast Guard requires.  We might not have all been stationed in tropical paradise, but hopefully there is a long career ahead of us to take a gander at seas across the world.  The rest of the day was spent wondering and preparing for the dreaded inspection by Battalion Commander Senior Chief Health Services Technician Wong.  Many of our boondockers which were once glassed to perfection and ready for inspection are now waterlogged from our friendly neighborhood tropical storm.  We were given ample time to fix our discrepancies by our Company Commanders, so there are no excuses for not pulling it together at 0830 tomorrow. Better get a good night sleep.

Goodnight, NOVEMBER-182

Saturday, 14NOV09

As I'm sure we have mentioned before, Saturdays are not the prime time for relaxation here at TRACEN, in fact they compose strenuous activities and stressful situations into the hardest days of our week.  Wake ups was no different than any other day, but soon after we were put to work ironing our operational dress, polishing out the scuffs in our boondockers and preparing for Senior Chief Wong as our inspection. We lined up outside Munro Hall and Senior Chief made his way out to us.  He was not as intimidating by his demeanor as he did not slam us into the deck with push-ups, but the way he carried himself demanded our respect and every recruit in NOVEMBER stood statuesque. Both Senior Chief, and Chief Howe were pleased with the results, as none of us were "Jacked Up" (looking like we got hit by a wrinkle grenade), and the inspection, although there is always room for improvement, was a resounding success.  We then discussed with Senior Chief and identified all our struggles, and set goals for the future of NOVEMBER. We were told INDOC weekend from the start that our company commanders were the best TRACEN had to offer, therefore we are expected to be the best, and to that goal we will settle for no less.  After our spirits rose from an inspection we cleaned and polished and studied while waiting to make phone calls home for some travel planning and first unit reporting.  The afternoon was a little more downhill as it usually is.  "Build 'em up, knock 'em down" as they say, we want to be confident not cocky, knowledgeable, and always improving.  YN1(Yeoman First Class) Durrant is the perfect outlet for this, we marched to rapidly changing close order drill commands till our blisters had blisters. 01 inspection down, plenty to go, and tomorrow we get back to work, after 'Divine Hours' that is.

Goodnight, NOVEMBER-182

Sunday, 15NOV09

Today started out smooth as Sundays here normally do, being the only time we have to relax from the normal rigid experience.  Petty Officer Sutton was on NOVEMBER watch today, instructing us and leading us through our working day.  Divine Hours went trouble-free and efficient more so than in previous weeks. We are starting to act as if the proverbial "on switch" has been jammed into the working position. It was a topic of discussion during our free time amongst most recruits that there seemed to be more hours in the day. Troublesome past weeks in which we struggled to use our free hours wisely, cramming, ironing, polishing, folding, letter writing, and the like seem to be behind us. At this point in our progression we are becoming more proficient, and it now takes almost half the time to become mission complete.  In the galley the same demeanor was noticed, some tried to slow down their pace and still found themselves finishing food like it was going out of style.  Our schedule has been changed slightly due to our last minute national television experience. We had a surprise visit to the Cybex gym where we were pushed to the limits on the exercise bikes. The male squad bays have been divided into two sections, main muster squad bay and secondary squad bay, this afternoon to this evening we gathered our belongings and 'mixed it up' a bit, switching half the racks in the primary to the secondary.  Some days the primary and secondary squad bays don't have a lot of time together, this evolution will give us an extra spin on how we mesh and some recruits who have not become as tight will now get the chance.  Most of NOVEMBER was disappointed that we did not partake in an off base run this Sunday. Throughout the squad bays we have found ourselves muttering the words "We applied with no hesitation, we earn our pay at a Coast Guard Station" and other cadences provided to us by YNC Howe and YN1 Durrant during our previous run. Week 06 is just around the corner and small mistakes will suffer even more dire consequences, as by this time in training we should be more focused on our practical training and the Manual of Arms test, than hygiene remedial.  We are all looking forward to finding out more about our First Units and firefighting instruction. Here we come week 06.

Goodnight, NOVEMBER-182

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