QUEBEC-182

HISTORIAN LOG

WEEK Ø3

17 NOV

Week Ø3 has officially begun. Our company is still struggling with self discipline but a program called RAMP (Recruit Appititude and Motivation Program) has now been made avalailable to our company and Ø3 of been placed there. Basically RAMP is for recruits that are not conforming and need extra attention to overcome their deficiencies and shortcomings. It can be used as a last chance to get squared away before you are reverted. The word reversion sends chills down our backs because normally it sets recruits back Ø1 week but due to the timing of when our company is here and Veterans day a reversion would set us back Ø2 weeks.

This week our schedule has also thickened with more classes, though our Company Commanders still find time for remedial instruction and incentive training. Tonight we had a class on Coast Guard History and so far that has been the only class everyone was very alert for. It was interesting to find out how involved the Coast Guard has been in every war and to hear the stories of just a handful of the heroes to serve in our branch. After tonight everyone has a stronger appreciation for the Coast Guard and our history that we are becoming a part of.

We are still training to stand watch and the sleep talkers are not letting us down. In the male squadbay a shipmate was talking in his sleep, saying "I just want to go to bed" over and over again. Another one keeps throwing his arms up and doing Manual of Arms movements in his sleep. We've started this week off pretty rough but hopefully we can get our acts together soon because the new company arrives tonight and none of us want to join them.

19NOV

Earlier this week our company had the opportunity to earn "Evening Routine". This is time in the evening where the company gets time to work on their uniform maintenance. Something we definitely need. Still lacking a lot of self discipline and not meeting our time objectives has prevented us from earning it. This is a huge incentive but people are still struggling with very basic things like holding the position of attention and not talking.

The handful of those that aren't struggling are growing more and more frustrated resulting in heads butting and tempers flaring. We are all trying to keep the work teamwork in mind but for some reason there are several making it difficult.

Yesterday the chaplain came to visit us in the evening and informed us that families throughout Cape May are volunteering to take recruits into their homes for Thanksgiving dinner. We are all excited about maybe getting the opportunity to call home.

Today began our first day at Seamanship. With it being the start, we learned basic terms for various parts of boats and cutters. The building that we go for these classes is really neat. There are models of various Coast Guard Cutter. On the bulkheads (walls) there are boards with different knots on them.

With the change of environment more than half of our company is sick right now. A class cant go more than Ø3 minutes before a ripple of coughs echoes throughout the compartment. Some of our shipmates have also had their wisdom teeth pulled, so right now we look like a green belt crew. Green belts are exactly what they sound like, really thick green belts. They are to be worn when a recruit cannot perform certain drills and is put on light duty due to an injury.

Hopefully as the days go on and our required knowledge list grows we start to get our ducks in a row to earn evening routine. Our company is too far into training to be struggling with all of these simple things. During our head and water breaks our squad leaders stand up and address the company with their frustrations. It's just a matter of when it will all start sinking into our skulls.

22NOV

For most of us in Q-182 today marks Ø1 month until graduation. Our progress is coming along but it's still pretty slow. We have yet to earn evening routine and those of us that are really trying are growing more and more frustrated. It seems as though it is always the same people that are falling asleep in class and not holding still in formation and overall lacking self discipline.

Tomorrow marks the start of week Ø4 and according to Petty Officer Rosas that is when the reversions begin. We have already gained a couple of new shipmates from Papa-182. Training is tough and a couple our shipmates are letting all of the stress and pressure get to them.

We have started leaning helm commands and our basic knots in Seamanship. It was pretty neat getting on the helm simulator to practice our command. In this upcoming week we going to the gun range.

Also coming up this week is our physical fitness assessment. Some of us are ready to it done and over with but the rest of us are really nervous.

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