21Sep09 - Monday

Hotel-182 began the week with some very exciting training at the gun range. Recruits were taught how to shoot a standard issued handgun of the Coast Guard- the P229 Sig Personal Defense Weapon (pdw), which is a semi-automatic, magazine fed, recoil-operated, double-action pistol. The Sig shoots a .40 caliber round and is used to “qualify” Coast Guard recruits and permanent party members to carry this weapon.

In Hotel-182 Monday and Tuesday were also days to learn about commitment and ceremonial colors, which symbolizes the commitment all military personnel have made. Honor, Respect, and Devotion to Duty are the Coast Guard core values – values that each recruit has sworn to uphold. Hotel-182 is learning commitment must be evident in everything we do, say, and feel because as Guardians of the Sea, we are responsible for people’s lives and the quality of their freedom. Our military bearing must always be intact because we may never know when a crisis may strike. This mentality brought on by our commitment, is evident in many of the ceremonial functions we perform but is perhaps best symbolized by the ceremony of colors. Colors here at cape may is a semi-elaborate ceremony, consisting of seven people, each who take part by raising the national ensign, the preparatory pennant, the prisoner of war flag, and the coast guard ensign. The national ensign is our nation’s symbol and as such it represents all the people who have died to keep the values and freedoms that have made our country the best in the world. To those who have lost family in service, the flag is all they have left—it represents their child, their brother or sister, their wife or husband, their mother or father. When we perform the ceremony of colors, we remind ourselves of all the lives that were given and are give each day so that flag can be raised.

Ragged Old Flag

By: Johnny Cash

I walked through a country courthouse square; on a park bench an old man was sitting there.

I said, “Your old courthouse is kinda run down.”

He said, “Naw, it’ll do for our little town.”

I said, “Your flagpole has leaned a little bit, and that’s a ragged old flag you got hangin on it.”

He said, “Have a seat,” and I sat down.

“Is this the first time you’ve been to our little town?”

I said, “I think it is.” He said, “I don’t like to brag, but we’re kinda proud of that ragged old flag.”

“You see, we got a little hole in that flag there when Washington took it across the Delaware.

And it got powder-burned the night Francis Scott key sat watching it writing _oh say can you see_.

And it got a bad rip in New Orleans

With Packingham and Jackson tuggin’ at its seams.”

“And it almost fell at the Alamo

Beside the Texas flag, but she waved on through.

She got cut with a sword at Chancellorsville and she got cut again at Shiloh Hill.

There was Robert e. Lee, Beauregard, and Bragg, and the south wind blew hard on that ragged old flag.”

“On Flanders Field in World War I

She got a big hole from a bertha gun.

She turned blood red in World War II

She hung limp and low by the time it was through.

She was in Korea and Vietnam.

She went where she was sent by her Uncle Sam.”

“She waved from our ships upon the briny foam, and now they’ve about quit waving her back here at home.

In her own good land she’s been abused—

She’s been burned, dishonored, denied and refused.”

“And the government for which she stands is scandalized throughout the land.

And she’s getting threadbare and wearing thin, but she’s in good shape for the shape she’s in.

‘Cause she’s been through the fire before and I believe she can take a whole lot more.”

“So we raise her up every morning,

Take her down every night.

We don’t let her touch the ground

And we fold her up right.

On second thought I do like to brag

‘Cause I’m mighty proud of that ragged old flag.”

22Sep09 - Tuesday

More from the range with Hotel-182. After their basic introduction to the sig and its components, the recruits were instructed on the correct procedure as to how to shoot the weapon. Recruits quickly learned shooting involves slow, focused breathing and trigger squeeze. Correct stance and good sight alignment are also key to shooting correctly. Recruits first practiced “dry firing” during which the unloaded weapon is used to teach correct posture, sight alignment, and timing of breaths. Next, target practiced occurred and recruits were finally given a chance to “qualify” with their pistols as either a marksman, sharpshooter, or expert. The entire attending class, those on sick call excluded, was able to meet the requirements for participating in the class. Less than half the class qualified as either marksman or sharpshooter.

23Sep09 - Wednesday

Today we face yet another fitness requirement mandatory for graduation: we were tested on our push-ups, sit-ups, and our running time for a length of 1.5 miles. As we began our morning, many recruits expressed his/her own anxiety on how well he/she will perform on today’s assessments. As it turns out, several recruits found themselves undoubtedly relieved, knowing they had successfully passed all of the fitness requirements. On a bright note, 99% of the recruits passed his/her run; however, about 20 or so recruits will have to take up sit-ups/push-ups remedial in the mornings, starting at 0530 of next Monday. Also, on a more exciting note- tomorrow marks a significant day indeed for the recruits of Hotel-182. Tomorrow the recruits will be filling out their assignment data cards; in other words, we’re filling out our “wish list” on the geographical location of where we would prefer to be stationed. While the good number of us have come in with a guaranteed a-school or promised hometown recruiting contingent upon graduation, our company commander pulled us aside today and gave us some strong words of advice. “When it comes time for you to create your list, I hope most of you will pick a district in the complete opposite direction of where you came from.” What our company commander meant was that based on his experience the best thing we can do for ourselves is not to go back home. We each came to Cape May to in order to make better of our lives and to become part of something great. If we return home, we could basically subject ourselves to a stupid mistake that could ruin our highly respected careers. And besides, “some opportunities only come once.”

24Sep09 - Thursday

Recruits started out the day by heading off to seamanship class. Hotel-182 was tested on their knowledge of knots by tying five different knots before the instructor. These knots were: the square knot, the bowline, the clove hitch, the slip-clove hitch, and the round turn and two half hitches.

Along with knot tying, recruits were tested again on their helm commands.

25Sep09 - Friday

Today we took our midterm over all the material we have been learning since our first day at Cape May. Everyone successfully passed. Recruits also rallied together to donate blood, which is yet another way the coast guard is saving lives. Recruits spent a good majority of the afternoon perfecting their manual of arms march. The purpose of manual of arms is to build teamwork and promote confidence with firearms.

26Sep09 - Saturday

Recruits are starting to begin their confidence training, which involves pugil stick combat. For those of you at home who do not know what pugil sticks are- just imagine American gladiators and that giant q-tip shaped baton. Recruits went over both defensive and offensive techniques.

Recruits also began an “abandon ship” drill and were lectured on the importance of looking out for your shipmates. During one of the drills, the recruits quickly discovered the effects of what can occur when you choose not to communicate effectively.

27Sep09 - Sunday

Sunday brought forth a day of review for recruits. Recruits had an intense workout at the gym on the cycling bikes. For 50 minutes recruits pelted out, using every ounce of their maximum endurance. Everyone left the gym and in a soaked t-shirt. Later on, recruits once again spent time perfecting and going over their manual of arms. The objective now is to get everyone in sync with executing the commands given; obviously, this is where teamwork comes into play.

Blog