Week 05

This past week was very busy and extremely exciting for Romeo-182. The week started off with the company facing off in pugil stick matches. We suited up in protective gear and proceeded to hit our opponents with certain moves to gain points. Everyone was swinging and blasting their opponents with everything they had in them. It was really fun for all of us because it gave us a chance to release some aggression and cheer our fellow shipmates on. We are all looking forward to doing it again in week six. Our physical training also continues with weight-lifting and cycling workouts. Many of us have seen a positive physical change in our bodies and are using that as motivation to continue trying harder.

Our seamanship mid-term was this week and it tested us on a wide array of knowledge which included vessel terminology, knots, aircrafts, and the different duties that keep the fleet going. Most of Romeo-182 did extremely well on it.

The most exciting part of this week was receiving our colors and our orders to our first units. Receiving our colors signifies that we have a achieved a level of teamwork and discipline worthy of having that company flag with us at all times. Romeo knows that to keep our colors we need to continue with the teamwork and improve in all areas. After we received our colors we were all feeling really good about accomplishing that goal and then we received another surprise. We were told that our orders to our first units had come in. One by one, we anxiously waited to find out where we were going to be in three weeks. The diverse unit locations were all over the country and overseas. We received orders to all types of units which included cutters, small boat stations, buoy tenders, air stations, and loran stations. Some of us on cutters will also even get to see different parts of the world like Asia and the South Pacific. Those that are not excited about the orders they may have received are encouraged to go there with open minds and make the best of it. Many times they will turn out to be the units that they will enjoy the most.

The snow is also coming down pretty good here in Cape May, NJ. Many recruits experienced their first snowfall with blasting winds and icy conditions. As Christmas day approaches us, our friends and families will be with all of us in our thoughts. Romeo-182 will continue to prepare for the beginning of a new future and we will put our hearts into our training to be ready for our first units.