Week 03

August 03, 2009

After a morning run and chow, we had our core strength training class.  While these drills are pretty routine, one big thing in the schedule occurred.  Since Bravo Company continually misses time objectives, the company commanders felt a change in rack assignments was needed.  Following a random rack inspection, the recruits packed all their belongings and prepared to get settled into their new rack assignments.  Chief Pena told us that if our cleanliness and carelessness didn’t improve, we could expect to be changing racks every 03 to 04 days.  Since Bravo Company doesn’t want to continue switching racks, hopefully we can improve ourselves to earn the company commanders’ approval.  On a brighter note, Bravo Company will be marching tomorrow to celebrate the United States Coast Guard’s birthday.

August 04, 2009

Bravo had a very eventful day today.  We had our swim survival class.  In this class, we learned how to properly put on a Mustang suit and survive in the water by means of floatation.  We learned how to relax and float alone, and also how to survive in a group by floating in a large, interlocked circle.  Our classes today included a general safety class and a very important class about Coast Guard history.   Since today was Coast Guard Day, we were able to relax and eat our lunch outside.  Later in the evening, all the companies marched around the parade field and incentive trained as a whole.  Bravo Company got loads more of incentive training afterwards as well due to many recruits failing to address personnel properly and respecting them in general.  This made Bravo Company tired and ready to hit their racks.

August 05, 2009

Today we had our Cybex workout in the gym.  Along with working on the machines, the recruits we given their first chance to see how they would perform in the push up and sit up part of their physical fitness test.  While many recruits passed easily, others couldn’t complete the minimum requirements and must work hard to be able to pass the test later on in training.  Our first class was entitled Roles and Missions.  This class highlighted the many functions of the Coast Guard, and what we could expect to see in the fleet.  Chief Pena told us some pretty neat stories from his career and told us we were in for some great experiences.  Our second class was Advancements and Leave and Liberty.  These classes taught us about how to earn promotions in the fleet and about the leave we earn while on active duty.  While the company is slowly improving as a whole, some recruits were placed on the “Shipwreck List.”  Those recruits on the list we told they need to improve in all aspects if they want to graduate with Bravo 182.

August 06, 2009

Today started with a relaxing chow, but was quickly made unpleasant when the dreaded Lifecycle class came along.  This time, the intervals were increased as was the reward.  Chief Pena told Bravo Company that the male and female who accumulated the most miles during the session would receive a prize of extra personal time. This caused recruits to really push themselves extra hard.  Our classes today included Code of Conduct as well as Standards of Conduct.  These classes taught us about what to do if certain military conditions, such as being taken prisoner of war, arose.  In the afternoon, Bravo Company had their first seamanship class in which we learned about the parts of the cutters in the Coast Guard fleet.  This class was very intriguing because there were many models and pictures of the various small boats and cutters recruits may be stationed on.  The recruits were also given an incentive to do well in seamanship when instructor Petty Officer Martin told us there was a seamanship award and prize given to the top student in seamanship.  Bravo Company is still failing to earn the company commanders respect.  We are not sounding off, not moving quickly and with a sense of urgency, ad failing to learn our required knowledge.  Unless we change our ways quickly, the punishment will continue. Hopefully we can start to pull together as a company and begin to earn the company commanders approval.

August 07, 2009

After our morning run and chow, we attended another seamanship class.  This class was about the units, vessels, and aircrafts the Coast Guard uses.  We learned about the many boats, cutters, and aircraft the Coast Guard is able to deploy.  The middle of the day was quite enjoyable because we were able to march in the graduation ceremony of the graduating company, Whiskey 181.  This gave Bravo 182 a sense of hope that graduation was not out of reach.  The afternoon was mostly filled with more seamanship.  We learned about the different types of lines, knots, and the other valuable aspects of line handling.  We were allowed some free time to shine our boots and this helped recruits wind down a little.  The little amount of incentive training we performed today hopefully shows we are pulling together and improving as a company.  To end the night, recruits were allowed to read mail which is always an enjoyable experience.

August 08, 2009

After uniform maintenance in the morning, we headed to seamanship for a full day of classes. We learned about helm commands and were able to operate the helm simulators to put the skills we had learned into practice.  The simulators gave recruits a small taste of what they could expect if they go underway on the sea.  Another class taught us about lookout duties while underway on a cutter.  Our last class taught us about basic knot tying.  We learned and tied knots such as the bowline, square knot and clove hitch.  These knots will prove to be very useful when recruits head into the fleet and start handling lines on their own.  We ended our day with a long march in which we were accompanied by two of our fellow companies on our march. OS1 Ricketts told us afterwards that this wasn’t punishment, and was intended as a relaxing, teamwork oriented exercise.  Our punishment would come later however when we failed to meet a time objective.  While Bravo Company still needs some work, the signs of improvement are encouraging.

Summary

This week was full of interesting events in which we were able to attend more hands on training.  This training gave the company a sense of what performing Coast Guard duties is like.  As a company we must remember that this information is useful and given to us for specific reasons.  While boot camp may seem tedious and unrelated, the company commanders continually tell us they put these tasks upon us for a purpose.  This week showed small signs of improvement in company’s progress which leads us to believe the upcoming weeks may get a little easier.  Though the upcoming weeks may not be as stressful as previous ones, we must keep our military bearing and self discipline intact if we want to continue to succeed.

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