August 31, 2009

After eating morning chow with Chief Pena, we headed off to our first classes, CPR and First Aid.  Here the company learned basic first aid skills that are to be used in case of emergency.  Bravo learned how to treat injuries such as broken bones, joints, and open wounds. The company worked on executing these techniques as well on their shipmates.  The CPR portion of the class instructed recruits how to provide CPR and rescue breathing to adults, children, and infants.  The highlight of the day came when Bravo was invited to destroy the squad bay of a junior company, Foxtrot.  Due to a poor squad bay inspection, the junior company was treated to a Bravo storm that included messed up racks, towels everywhere, and overall destruction of their squad bay.  It was fun for Bravo, probably not so much for Foxtrot.  In the afternoon, Bravo worked hard on close order drill for our test tomorrow.  To finish the night, Bravo had a company run and was treated to personal time to work on uniforms and read their mail.  Tomorrow is a full day and includes a uniform inspection, close order drill (marching) test, and our seamanship final exam.  All of these are very important and Bravo must work hard to succeed in all of them in order to graduate.

September 1, 2009

Bravo Company had one of their best days of training so far today.  At seamanship, we learned about line handling and took our final exam.  Our instructor, Petty Officer Martin was disappointed in the test scores however.  After the test was completed, we worked on line handling.  Line handling included throwing a mooring line from the boat to the pier.  After seamanship, we had our very important Battalion Officer uniform inspection.  The inspection went very well and both Lt. Cromer and Chief Pena were very impressed with our uniforms.  Immediately following our inspection, we had our close order drill test, which is required for graduation.  We did well on the test overall, but had minor flaws that earned us a 8/10.  This is a respectable score and all our company commanders were pleased.  We had our second water circuit workout as well today.  Swimming in the pool is always enjoyable for recruits and is a break from the outdoors heat.  Out improvement as a company has really earned the respect of our company commanders and leads us to believe we will soon be one of the best companies on the regiment.

September 2, 2009

After a rough morning in which we lost our colors, we headed to seamanship.  While here, we practiced our line handling skill on a simulated boat platform.  The company practiced following mooring commands and worked as a team to successfully moor the boat to the pier.  Also at seamanship we had the competition to determine who would get the seamanship award.  The competition included all we had learned in seamanship such as knot tying and line handling.  Even after a terrible morning full of slacking off and being punished, Bravo was able to pull themselves together and have a pretty good day.  We spent the remainder of the day getting in touch with out units to straighten out the final details of our big transition into the fleet.  In the evening, males went to the barber shop to get their “high and tight” haircuts and the rest of the day was spent painting the squad bays and performing uniform maintenance.

September 3, 2009

Hoping to start today’s morning off better that yesterday, we headed to our “Work Life” class.  In this class, we learned about the services provided to help families who have family members in the service deal with their lifestyles.  These services include counseling, help with money problems, and other needs these families may have.  The recruits also started on the company ditty bags today.  These bags are painted by the company art team to represent each company commander, and then one to tell the story of the company as a whole.  In the afternoon, we attended a class about contraception and STDs.  In this class, we learned about the many STDs and their severity.  We also learned about how to prevent and avoid them as well as pregnancy by means of contraception.  This class was very important due to the prominence of sex in today’s society.  The night was spent practicing for graduation and for the final exam tomorrow.  The exam will be required for recruits to graduate and will also be the determining factor as to whether the recruit will be allowed to go on off base liberty Saturday. 

September 4, 2009

Our morning started off with our final exam.  The studying paid off because all recruits successfully passed the exam.  After the exam was complete, we stayed in the classroom and watched a few videos.  The first video was off when we got “picked up” by our company commanders our first week here.  Looking back, we were pretty sorry in terms of marching, responding, and being productive members of the Coast Guard.  The second sets of videos were mainly to motivate and inspire recruits.  We marched in Alpha’s graduation today as well.  With this graduation, Bravo Company is now officially the senior company on the regiment.  After graduation we headed to the much anticipated confidence course.  The confidence course is an obstacle course consisting of ropes to climb, walls to get over, and logs to hurdle.  With the help of their shipmates, all recruits were able to complete the course.  In the evening we were able to take a tour of the Dependable, a 210 foot cutter based out of Cape May.  This tour allowed recruits going to cutters to see what living, eating and working on the ship would be like.  After the tour we headed back to the squad bays to work on our uniforms for off base liberty tomorrow.  Now that bravo is the senior company on the regiment, we must set the standards for the junior companies to follow.

Septembet 5, 2009

The day all recruits have been waiting for, off base liberty.  While off base, many recruits headed to Rio Grande and Wildwood, both hot spots for recruits.  Most recruits made a trip to Wal Mart as well to purchase prepaid cell phones to call home on.  Recruits found the opportunity to eat off base nice as well.  Many recruits went to buffets to get their fill of both Chinese and Japanese foods.  While off base recruits were able to ride roller coasters, go to the movies, go shopping and just relax in general and get a small glimpse of the outside world again.  While off base was amazing, recruits must get back to the grind of basic training and finish our final week strong!  All recruits are looking forward to graduation when they will be able to see their families and friends once again after a very long 8 weeks.

August 24, 2009

Today started a fresh new week for a slipping Bravo Company.  When recruits start to lose their military bearing in the fifth week of training, it is called the “week five dive.”  Unfortunately, Bravo participated in the dive and that resulted in three disappointed company commanders. As for our training today, we started off the day with fire school. Here, we learned about different types of fire fighting equipment and techniques for extinguishing real life fires.  Our practical fire fighting will start tomorrow when we actually put on the fire retardant suits and work on extinguishing fires.  In the afternoon, we attended a health and wellness class where recruits filled out a personal wellness log.  The instructor will submit the results of the log and present each recruit with a packet that informs recruits how to improve their lifestyles and live a healthier life.  The last part of the day was spent working on our manual of arms for our test tomorrow.  Overall, Bravo’s manual of arms looks good, so hopefully we will be able to perform well when we are graded on our performance tomorrow.

August 25, 2009

Today we attended the practical aspect of fire school.  Recruits were able to put on the self contained breathing apparatus, or SCBA. This tank, worn like a backpack, is the main way recruits would breathe in a real life fire fighting situation.  Recruits were also able to practice putting out fires using fire extinguishers.  The most important part of our day was the manual of arms test administered by Senior Chief Martinowsky.  While Bravo passed with a score of 06/10, our lackluster performance didn’t settle well with the company commanders.  Our poor manual of arms performance, along with recruit’s lack of motivation led for a long, hard day for Bravo.  The day was filled with punishment driven exercises to help keep recruits from making the same mistakes. We started our water workouts today as well.  We headed to the pool for a workout that included underwater push ups, pool flutter kicks and freestyle sprints.  Most recruits were glad to get into the water after a hot humid morning. To end the night, Bravo Company had a Tropical Blue Long uniform inspection.  It is very important to look good in this uniform as it s the one we will be wearing at graduation.

August 26, 2009

Today the company went to fire school were recruits practiced real life fire situations in full fire fighting gear.  Recruits with into a simulated smoke and flame filled room and were required to work as a team to extinguish the blaze.  Our class today was entitled “Legacy.” This class taught us about traditions of the Coast Guard and the heroes that have served in the Coast Guard before us.  Bravo Company also went to get their dress uniforms checked to see if they fit properly after tailoring.  To end the night, Bravo went for a company run, change in the usual evening routine.

August 27, 2009

Today the company went to administration to get their ID cards and travel arrangements made.  The ID cards will be used to log into government computers and to access military buildings and bases.  Bravo Company had round two of their pugil sticks today as well.  Some recruits weren’t able to fight last time so those recruits were able to get their hits in today.  We had a class today that informed us how to move our personal and household goods to our new duty stations.  Many recruits found this class very useful since they will be moving items from overseas locations such as Guam and Hawaii.  To end the night, Bravo practiced for graduation tomorrow.  Since we are week six, we are going to be responsible for helping parents and friends of recruits find their way around base, passing out programs, and providing water to these persons.  Bravo Company is steadily progressing through recruit training and will hopefully earn our on base liberty Saturday.  On base liberty requires us to pass a uniform inspection Saturday morning however.  Let’s hope for the best.

August 28, 2009

Bravo Company started the day by helping set up for Zulu company’s graduation.  This included setting up flags around the parade field, helping people around the base, and directing traffic.  After graduation concluded, we had a long incentive training session due to many recruits lacking self discipline still.  This included push ups, sit ups, flutter kicks, and staring at the grass for a while.  Today we also had our smallpox sites checked to see if everything looked normal.  Normal for a smallpox shot doesn’t really look to normal though.  In the afternoon, we disassembled the graduation ceremony area and later head to our Cybex workout.  We were scheduled to run in the evening, but had to call the run off due to bad weather.

August 29, 2009

Today is the day that Bravo 182 has been waiting for, on base liberty.  During on base liberty, recruits would have free time to roam the base going places not usually allowed for recruits.  Most recruits headed to the exchange to pig out on junk food, candy, and soda for the first time since being at boot camp.  After filling up at the exchange, most recruits searched for a pay phone to call family and friends away from the supervision of their company commanders.  There was also a movie provided at night for recruits to watch.  The movie allowed recruits to get a small taste of the civilian world again.  All these delicacies didn’t come easily though.  Recruits had to undergo a uniform inspection in order to earn their liberty.  Bravo did well and nobody failed the inspection.  This meant everyone would be allowed liberty unless they were in the sick ward or told otherwise they couldn’t go.  Evening muster was pretty relaxed just like the rest of the day until Petty Officer Jansen took all the “contraband” recruits had bought at the exchange.  This included candy, gum, and cough drops, common items recruits bought.  Now the liberty is over, Bravo must return to boot camp mode and prepare for next week, week seven.  Next week Bravo must perform at their best as they will have many companies looking at them and how they act.  Bravo company is now the second most senior company, and must continue to wok hard until graduation in order to succeed.

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August 17, 2009

Bravo started the morning with a run around the quad and a physical fitness session. This was not fun in comparison to what came next however, pugil sticks.  The company was really excited to begin fighting because it would be a time to cheer on their shipmates and let out a little aggression.  Bravo company came out with a bang, cheering and fighting their hearts out.  For our efforts, we were able to put our colors on our guidon for the regiment to see.  This was an encouraging moment for Bravo because it showed our hard work had paid off.  Afterwards, we attended a class about flags and pennants in which we learned about all the different flags and their meanings. Bravo also went to seamanship today to learn about communicating properly on the watch station radios.  We learned the proper way to identify ourselves, request vessel position, and signal alerts.  The day ended on a fun note when Bravo attended a country music concert.  Following the National Anthem, sung by a Bravo recruit, three country music acts performed.  Recruits were able to sing along and kick back a little.  This was a fun way to end an already great day.

August 18, 2009

Today was an exciting day for Bravo because we headed down to the uniform distribution center to get fitted for our dress uniforms.  It felt good to be wearing the uniform of both a lifesaving service and an armed service of the United States.  After getting our uniforms, we headed to seamanship where we learned about signaling devices.  Since every recruit passed their signaling devices test, we were able to go outside and fire off some pyrotechnics, a good time for recruits.  Bravo had another uniform inspection by Chief Hampton today as well.  Overall, we did well, but he reminded us it’s the little things that count.  After the inspection, we had some piece IT in which we used teamwork to help each other support the weight of our pieces.  The night was ended with some manual of arms because our manual of arms test will be here before we know it.  Lastly, recruits are getting really anxious to get their orders, and Chief Pena isn’t helping the matter much by reminding recruits that he has received their orders.  We will not find out our orders until Chief Pena has gotten everyone’s orders however.  Until then, Bravo will have to wait patiently and anxiously both.

August 19, 2009

What a day for Bravo 182.  In the morning, we had an intense Lifecycle and core workout.  This workout left many recruits the sweatiest they had been all throughout boot camp and pushed them to their limits.  The afternoon was spent in Goff Hall where recruits learned about personal floatation devices, or PFDs. After learning how to properly wear the PFD, recruits underwent a challenge to see who could don the PFD the fastest.  After this challenge, our instructor encouraged us to come together and create a Coast Guard related item using the PFDs. Of course, Bravo created their company flag.  In order to get our long awaited orders, Bravo was required to change in and out of different uniforms while trying to meet time objectives.  As a group, Bravo did well and earned the privilege of hearing their orders.  All recruits were relieved to finally find out their futures as Guardians of the Sea.  Recruits are heading to places ranging from Hawaii to Alaska, Florida, California, Puerto Rico and all points in between.  Now that the company has their orders, they must focus on the remaining tasks of boot camp.

August 20, 2009

Following our morning Lifecycle workout, we had a class about operational risk management. This class showed us measures to take to determine if we should go out on a case or not.  We used different scales to weigh the risks and rewards of the case, and how to make a safe, intelligent decision.  The ultimate goal in al SAR cases is to get both the victims and Coast Guard members back safely and effectively.  The second class we had focused on financial management.  Since many recruits have never had to manage money and credit before, this class proved to be very valuable.  The instructor gave good advice on investing and helped recruits learn how to do things such as balance checkbooks.

August 21, 2009

After a morning run and chow, we took time to prepare our uniforms for graduation ceremonies.  Marching in graduation is always encouraging for Bravo because it means we are moving closer towards being the senior company, and ultimately graduation.  Bravo Company received their smallpox shots today as well.  Many recruits are nervous about the effects of the shot because they usually last around three weeks, and aren’t fun.  Recruits stationed on cutters also received their yellow fever shot since they will likely be traveling to many different foreign countries.  Recruits began calling their units also to get travel plans and other things worked situated before departing Cape May.  Our class today was about the different types of housing available in the Coast Guard.  There are many factors determining what type of housing recruits will receive and this class addressed the many options.  Some recruits will live in barracks, others onboard their ship and those married will be provided with basic housing allowance to live on the economy. 

August 22, 2009

Today was a pretty slow day for Bravo.  In the morning we spoke with our company sponsor LT. Sharp and his wife LT. Soriano.  Recruits were able to ask anything about Coast Guard life, their stations, or anything else Coast Guard related.  After this Bravo company had a “field day.” During the field day, we were responsible for cleaning our building, organizing our racks, and maintaining our uniforms.  We also practiced manual of arms and close order drill for our upcoming tests, which will be here before we know it.  The night was ended when Bravo Company was able to watch their colors team retire the National ensign and other colors flying on the mast.

August 10, 2009

After a morning run, Bravo was split into Port and Starboard sides.  Port side was indoctrinated into the shooting range and learned about the parts of the Sig P229 pistol we would be shooting.  We headed to the range where recruits would try and earn their basic pistol marksmanship qualification.  Most recruits had a blast on the range and a few recruits even shot a Sharpshooter qualification.  After shooting at the range, port side headed to Dempsey Hall to get their military dress photo taken.  Here, recruits also had the option to purchase a Coast Guard company ring.  While Port was at the range, Starboard had a class about commitment.  This taught us how important our dedication to the Coast Guard and our country is.  Another class followed where we logged in and received our usernames for the Coast Guard network.  In this class we received our email and learned the procedures used to log into the network.  Starboards last class of the day was about “Colors.”   This class was important because the recruits learned how to properly execute the ceremony about how to pay respect to our nation’s flag.  After a unsatisfactory inspection of our squadbays, Petty Officer Ricketts gave us a bit of advice on how to come together as a team and accomplish our goals.  Although we were given helpful advice, we still had to pay for our mistakes somehow.  The company as a whole endured an incentive training session in which we competed with the other companies to see who could sound off the loudest.  The company commanders assured us we had some fun weeks ahead of us as long as we fulfilled our roles as good recruits.

August 11, 2009

Bravo 182 started the morning with disappointment when Chief Pena talked to us about how our behavior had been slacking.  He took us into the classroom to reiterate the importance of the rules and regulations we are to abide by. Today, port side completed the tasks starboard had done yesterday and starboard headed to the range to shoot.  Afterwards Petty Officer Hernandez came to the squadbay and chose recruits to perform color guard and drill team duties.  While recruits chosen to perform these duties went outside and practiced, the rest of the company worked on manual of arms.  Due to recruits not taking the manual of arms exercises seriously and large amounts of shooting range violations, Bravo 182 endured some serious piece incentive training and discipline drills. Tomorrow, Bravo company has our physical fitness assessment. Hopefully we will be able to perform well and prove to our company commanders that we really want to be here.

August 12, 2009

Overall, Bravo Company had a pretty good day.  We learned about the enlisted careers in the Coast Guard.  This was helpful as it informed recruits about the duties they would be expected to fulfill under each career.  This was a very important class since tomorrow we will be filling out our assignment data cards, or “Dream Sheets.”  The “Dream Sheet” gives recruits the opportunity to choose where they would like to be stationed.  It is important however to remember that the needs of the service come first.  In the afternoon, we headed to the gym for our week 04 physical fitness test.  Recruits were tested on their running, push ups, sit ups, and flexibility.  For many recruits, this was a wake up call to improve their physical fitness.  Those who didn’t pass will be required to attend remedial fitness in the mornings until they are able to meet the minimum fitness requirements.  To end an already good day, one Bravo recruit sang the national anthem in front of the company.  This was an emotional moment for many recruits and was used as a time to reflect on those who have given their lives for the country that they loved.  Chief Pena told us as long as we continued to improve, good things would start to happen.

August 13, 2009

Bravo 182 began the day with seamanship in which we had out practical tests on knot tying abilities and  helm commands using the helm simulators.  The basic knot tying skills and obeying helm commands gave recruits a sense of what operating and working on a vessel contained.  Bravo Company filled out their dream sheets as well.  Recruits were given the opportunity to talk to recruiters about different cutters and duty stations and then chose their permanent duty station preferences.  After filling out the sheets, many recruits are anxious to get their orders and find out where they will be heading.  Bravo worked on close order drill quite a bit today for graduation tomorrow as well.  Tomorrow’s graduation will be a huge event due to the presence of two very important Coast Guard figures.  Both the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Bowen and Commandant Admiral Allen will be in attendance.  This event will be a once in a lifetime event for most recruits, therefore recruits must look and act their best.  The night ended with recruits studying for their midterm tomorrow.  The midterm will test recruits on all they have learned thus far in training and is essential to recruit success.

Auust 14, 2009

Today was an important day for Bravo for many reasons.  First because we had our midterm test which recruits were required to pass.  When the results came in, Chief Pena informed us everyone passed.  This is finally a sign of promise for a struggling Bravo Company.  Marching in the graduation for X Ray 181 was also a very memorable moment for recruits.  The Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard was in attendance and the Commandant delivered the speech to the graduating company.  Seing both these important figures is a rare event for recruits, so recruits here should feel honored.  After graduation, we headed to the gym for our Cybex workout.  The goals of these workouts are the make recruits “bigger, faster, and stronger.”  After our Cybex workout, OS1 Ricketts led us in an extra core strength workout.  At the end of the day, we had a regimental march with seabags and pieces intact.  This march led recruits off the regiment and close to the ocean.  After the march, the whole regiment had an IT session which of course included their pieces.  It seems today was a successful day for Bravo because all recruits passed their midterms, saw the two highest ranked enlisted and officer Coast Guard members, and had no incentive training as punishment.

August 15, 2009

Most of today was spent practicing manual of arms and close order drill.  Working hard on these skills is essential because towards the end of training, we will be tested on these drills by the section commander, Chief Hampton.  Chief Pena emphasized how important it was to try to be perfect as the tests are graded in a very strict manner.  The highlight of the day came when recruits were introduced into the pugil stick training.  We had a class that showed the proper way to both attack and block while fighting our opponents.  After learning the pugil stick basics, we headed to the fighting pit to observe some senior company fights.  Bravo had a good time watching and cheering on the other companies fights and by doing so, became anxious to start their own fights.  After watching the pugil stick fights, Bravo headed back to the squadbay to choose who they wanted as their opponent.  Bravo has picked their opponents and are ready to go to war on Monday.

August 16, 2009

This morning’s wake up was a bit different.  Today Chief Hampton woke Bravo up rather pleasantly.  The recruits were given divine hours in which they could work on what needed to be done.  In the afternoon Chief Hampton instructed the Employee Review System class.  In this class the recruits were informed of the standards needed to advance as an enlisted member.  Afterwards, Bravo was given a mission complete drill where Chief Hampton chose two recruits to give instructions to accomplish the mission with no verbal communication.  The task was difficult, but Bravo managed to split the workload and work as a team.  Overall Bravo did well on the drill, which shows we are coming together as a company.  The day ended with a two mile off base run which allowed recruits to see something other than Training Center Cape May.

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Week Two

27JUL09

After starting the morning off with chow, we were taken to our indoctrination to the cybex workout.  While here, we learned about the machines we would be using to perform our strength training excercises.  In the cybex gym, there are machines that help strengthen the recruits biceps, legs, and other important muscles.  After cleaning up, we headed to the galley to eat lunch.  A lot of today was built around marching, however after seeing how well our senior recruit company was marching, Chief Pena decided to instruct us about some othe close order drills.  We later headed to our class about stress management and suicide prevention which was held in the chapel and taught by the two chaplains of training center Cape May.  This class provided some useful insight about how to manage stress as a member of the Coast Guard and how to help someone who is showing signs of suicide.  At the conclusion of this class, BM2 Jansen and OS1 Ricketts further honed our marching in formation skills.  This time however, the weather was pretty unforgiving.  The rain began pouring, leaving Bravo-182 completely soaked, but we continued our marching with hopes of improvement.  Dinner chow was next on our agenda and was closely followed by a class that reviewed our recruit rules and regulations manual.  The night was ended with a lot not so traditional method of doing laundry which left most of the recruits exhausted and ready to hit the racks for the night.

28JUL09

After morning chow, Bravo company headed to the pool for their initial swim assessment.  Chief Pena told the recruits that we were above average for the amount of recruits that passed the swim qualification. We had a few classes today including effective Communication and saluting.  The highlight of many recruits day however came when Chief Pena let us out of the classroom to see a Coast Guard helicopter from air station Elizabeth City land on the parade field.  This caused many recruits to become excited about their futures since many want to be involved with aviation related jobs.  Bravo Company has really been struggling with time objectives and we need to start to come together as a team.  After dinner chow, Company Commanders OS1  Ricketts and BM2 Jansen expressed their displeasure with the lack of self discipline the company possesses.  For failing to meet time objectives, not addressing personnel properly, and some recruits lack of personal hygiene, the company commanders presented Bravo Company with a long, exhausting incentive training session.  Hopefully we will be able to come together as a company and start meeting the tasks the company commanders lay before us.

29JUL09

Today, instead of morning chow, we started the day of with a 01 mile run on the track.  Chow came next and was quickly followed by our indoctrination to a life cycle workout.  The life cycle workout was a very rigourous workout in which recruits were required to pedal as hard as they could for timed intervals.  This exercise left many recruits exhausted and sweaty.  Bravo Company attended a couple important classes such as rates and ranks, and how to address military personnel respectively.  Later in the afternoon, Chief Pena marched us down to pick up our “pieces,” a demilitarized M1 Garand rifle. Chief Pena referred to them as “nine pounds of fun.”  We would later learn the meaning of this when we were introduced to the piece incentive training routine.  The highlight of the day however came at night we recruits were allowed some personal to read and write mail home.

30JUL09

Today started off with morning chow which was followed by our second core strength workout.  This workout helps recruits build up body strength to pass the required physical fitness test.  Our to classes today dealt with pay and allowances and inappropriate relationships and hazing.  Chief Pena allowed us to watch graduation practice where we were able to see how well the graduating company was marching.  This made the recruits more hopeful. We then practiced our marching, and are steadily improving marching in formation.  One thing however that is not improving is Bravo Company’s self discipline.  We are struggling to meet time objectives and are paying for our mistakes with incentive training.  After paying for our missed time objectives, we were allowed some free time.  Most recruits used this time for uniform maintenance such as ironing their operational dress uniform, or shining their boondockers (boots). 

31JUL09

Today after reveille, we headed to the track for a morning company run.  After morning chow, we had our second Cybex workout which any recruits really enjoyed.  Today, Bravo Company had lots of incentive training to many recruits not paying close attention to detail and lacking self discipline still.  We had an introduction to manual of arms later in the afternoon as well.  We worked on the manual f arms today since Bravo company may be marching in the sunset parade and the Coast Guard day parade next week with our pieces.  If our CCs think we are up to the task of marching with our pieces, the parades will be a nice break from the everyday rigors of basic training.

01AUG09

This morning started off on a good note when Chief Pena took us down to the beach.  Chief Pena gave us a motivational speech to keep going strong through the stressful times of boot camp.  All the recruits looked out to the ocean and Chief Pena told us “it was our new office.”  We had a class about military courtesies in which we learned about saluting colors.  After class however, the recruits self discipline went down, therefore making the rest of the day unpleasant.  Our self discipline was brought back up to par with a team integrity drill and helped bring the recruits together.  Our spirits rose when informed that we will be meeting our company sponser.  Our sponser Lt. Sharp, answered many question recruits had about their Coast Guard futures.  Later on in the day, we worked on manual of arms movements.  The company lost their military bearing, essentially asking for punishment.  The company commanders decided to make the recruits fill their seabags with items in their racks, grab their pieces, and make a grueling walk to the beach with their seabags on their backs and piece in their hand.  This experience gave the recruits a taste of what it would be like serving their country with the demands of the military.  This ended up being too much of a task for may recruits, but the company was able to help the weaker recruits accomplish their task, this being the first sign of teamwork.  After evening chow, we practiced our marching for the upcoming parades we are participating in in the upcoming days.  To end the night, mail was passed out, a time many recruits look forward to.

Summary

While Bravo Company is slowing getting in the routines of Coast Guard boot camp, our self discipline and teamwork continues to decline.  Our week has presented us with many challenges, but if Bravo Company learns to come together as one, rather than individuals we will have the teamwork to accomplish our goals. 

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