WEEK 6

Monday of week six was the beginning of one of the more exciting weeks in Coast Guard boot camp here in the Cape May Training Center. We started off the week with a class on the basics of firefighting with Petty Officer Gehrke. In that class we learned the basics for firefighting and how to walk fire lines and get dressed down into the proper firefighting equipment. Later that evening we learned how to wear our dress uniforms properly so that when it came to our off base liberty and graduation we represented the Coast Guard with pride.

Tuesday was the day that half of the company got what we all wanted, while the other half had another class. Our firefighting practical! We had four minutes to get dressed out into our firefighting equipment consisting of a flash hood, fire boots, and a fire suit. Then we hustled into the SCBA(self contained breathing apparatus) room and had six minutes to put on the SCBA, air mask, helmet, and gloves. From there went in to fight the "fire". We were placed in a dark room, red lights on, loud radio playing, and smoke coming from where the "fire" was. We were watched carefully by two instructors and instructed on how to do everything properly so that if we were to ever be placed in that situation on a cutter or small boat we would be ready to react quickly and efficiently.

Wednesday the firefighting group went to classes and the classes group went to firefighting. The classes were very important classes. One of the classes was career counseling and the Montgomery G.I. Bill. And the other class was where we went to the administration building to get issued our I.D. cards and get caught up on our travel arrangements.

Thursday was a great day for the company. We got to go off base with host families to enjoy a nice thanksgiving away from the regiment! Many kids got to go back to their host families homes and enjoy a nice home style thanksgiving including a great meal, football, and using the phones and internet to connect with friends and family.

Friday was a very calm day. we had our small pox vaccine review, and luckily there is no outbreaks in Oscar-182.

Saturday was another day that the whole company was looking forward to! On base liberty! But before we could go on, on base liberty we had to have our operational dress uniforms inspected so we looked nice and crisp on the regiment. On base liberty consisted of most people going to the exchange to get food and drink and whatever they may have needed in the squad bays. Then we could either go call families or friends using the pay phones or go to the Harbor View club. At the Harbor View club we played pool, listened to great music, and finally had a reprieve from the galley food! Then we had the choice to either return to the squad bay for the rest of the night or go to a movie at the Ida Lewis Auditorium. The movie playing was Transformers 2 so needless to say almost the whole company opted to go to the movie.

Sunday was just like any other Sunday. Wake up and go to chow, return to the squad bays and clean until 0800, and then carry out divine hours until 1300. After 1300 we went on our off base run and it was nice because we were finally running in the week seven spot, which means only two more weeks to go!

Well that's it for week six, hopefully you'll tune in for week seven!

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