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Ft. Benning
July 2002
Hey all,
It's Saturday the 6th. I'm not sure when you'll get this, maybe not
even until I get home. I can't get anything to work yet. My cell phone
won't work down here even though they told me it would, and my laptop
works, but I can't find a phone line to plug into. They have a library
on post fairly close, but it's closed over the holiday weekend. If I
don't find any lines by Monday, I'll just use that when I get a chance.
If that's the case, you won't get this until I get home as this will
be saved on my laptop's hard drive.
I'm bored out of my mind today. The airline lost my luggage so the
only thing I have is my carry on bag, (which is where I had my laptop)
and the set of clothes I was wearing. It was actually a good thing,
because it's giving me a day to acclimate to the heat. Also, Sundays
are not a training day so tomorrow will be easy as well. We're still
with the Privates, but we let them sleep until 6:am. Then we take them
to chow, then to church if they wish, and the rest of the day is set
aside for laundry and barracks cleaning, and time for them to write
and use the phones. So I'm not going to really have a hard day until
Monday, which will give me time to get used to the heat, the schedule,
the bed, and the food. The rest of the Drills from my unit are out on
the trail right now but since the airlines lost my luggage which contained
my uniforms, I can't be around the troops, therefore I'm stuck in the
barracks. I can't really go anywhere because I wore those boots Merle
gave me and they'll destroy my feet, especially in this heat. I walked
up to the chow hall this morning which is only about half a mile and
it about killed them. So I'm sitting around here barefooted. Therefore,
as I said, I'm bored out of my mind. I did bring a Hemingway book in
my carry on but I'm bored with that already. As I said, as long as my
luggage does come today or tomorrow, this mishap will actually be a
good thing for me. I've been calling the airlines and they say that
they have located it, and it is in transit to Columbus, Georgia right
now. I wonder where it has been?
Man it's hot down here!! When I left the Columbus Airport in the taxi
to Ft. Benning, I saw a bank sign that said 104 degrees. Then I rode
to our first formation with the Company Commander and his truck had
one of those outside temperature things and it said 106, but it had
been sitting in the sun. The only good thing is that it does cool down
nicely at night. Plus these barracks are all brick and designed well
with good ventilation and windows. So it wasn't as terrible as I suspected
last night. These barracks were built for the World War One Doughboys
and are the worse place I've ever stayed. They are absolutely filthy
with great big holes everywhere and every kind of Southern bug you can
think of living in them. There's a wasp's nest three feet above my pillow,
and I even had a raccoon under my bed I had to kill and dispose of when
I moved in. Worse than that, it looks like he'd been here for a while
by the size of the pile I had to clean out of my locker where he'd been
crapping.
There is no hot water here either, which actually didn't feel too bad
last night after the hot day, but it kind of sucked shaving this morning.
Plus a hot shower will feel good on my sore muscles later in this venture
I'm sure. The Supply Sergeant thought he could get it turned on Monday.
Most soldiers don't stay here any more. These are the former Ranger
school barracks and haven't been used for Active Duty since the 70s.
They are now only used for us Reserve Drill Sergeants. We had the option
of staying in a separate wing of the same building that the Privates
are in, and most of the Drills chose that, but about a dozen of us decided
to come over here because we get our own rooms, and are away from the
Privates at night.
Despite the heat and deplorable barracks, I love being at Ft. Benning.
This is the Home of the Infantry and internationally known as the greatest
military institution on the face of the earth. No single base or post
has even come close to producing the number of combat troops as Ft.
Benning over the past century. This place epitomizes the defense of
freedom and liberty around the world. I haven't been here for over 15
years and it is nice to be back. It's much better this time because
when I was here last, I was in Boot Camp and wasn't able to enjoy it.
This time I intend to take in all the sites and do some exploring. That's
another great thing about Benning, it's huge and is almost all timber
and has an incredible collection of wildlife. From alligators and Eastern
Diamondback rattlesnakes, to porcupines, wild hogs, and lynx. It's pretty
cool down here. I can't wait to get my luggage and put on some shorts
and tennis shoes to delve into it. That's also going to depend on how
much free time we have of course, but it sounds like there will be some
anyway.
All of the Army's elite combat forces are trained here. From the 11
Bravo Infantry Grunt, (which makes up the bulk of the US Military's
ground combat force) to the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions, to the
outstanding Special Forces of the Army Rangers and Green Berets. Even
the US Marine Corps and the Navy Seals advanced combat schools are here
at Ft. Benning because this is the best place to train for war.
Much to my surprise I did land in the cycle I was told I would and
it's the best cycle a Drill Sergeant could ask for. I'll be here for
the Private's weeks 2 & 3. The first week they're all miserable
and crying to go home, as well as they are stupid and don't know what
they're doing. After a week the Drills have taught them how to move
and act like soldiers and as a group, and they're over the homesickness
for the most part. Weeks 2 & 3 concentrates both on getting them
in shape, and in teaching them the knowledge part of being a soldier,
i.e. rules and regulations, benefits, NATO, Geneva Convention, and other
rules of international warfare, First Aid, prisoner of war things, hand-to-hand
combat, the gas chamber, and bayonet training…just to name a few.
Most of this is done in classrooms and gymnasiums so I will be out of
the sun a lot. Nothing down here is air conditioned, but it makes a
big difference being out of the sun.
The most difficult thing during this cycle will be the emphasis on
physical fitness. This is the time the Army really concentrates on that
because they get too busy in later cycles with training, and they want
to weed out the kids that aren't going to make it, as well as prepare
for the tougher stuff to come. The morning PT sessions won't be a problem
because I'm fresh and they'll be before the sun even comes up, but they
PT again in the evening after chow. That's going to kill me. After 12-14
hours in this heat, and then my biggest meal of the day…the last
thing I'm going to want to do is go one a five mile run, but I'll get
through it.
They also do a lot of ruck marches during this cycle to start developing
the kids backs and shoulders and feet for the long marches out to the
ranges and bivouacs in later cycles. Again these will be before the
morning chow so I don't expect to have much problem with them.
During my second week here we'll start them on the weapons training.
That will consist of classes teaching them safety and the use of the
various weapons the infantry uses such as the hand grenade, M-60, (machine
gun) AT-4, (bazooka) Claymore Land Mine, and of course the M-16 rife.
This still won't be a piece of cake, there are miles between the classrooms,
as well as the chow halls and barracks. The gas chamber is 12 miles
away and the bayonet course is almost 15, so there are still plenty
of rough, hot miles to put on with them, as well as the long days. Not
to mention all the PT, but later cycles would be much more arduous.
I expect to be able to sleep in my bed every night through this cycle,
which makes a huge difference vs. out on the ground as in later through
the process.
The week after I leave they will start marching out to the ranges for
the live fire training. That's when this Boot Camp thing gets real tough,
then the following weeks they learn combat maneuvers and actually live
out in the field. Those are they cycles I was dreading and am so thankful
I going to miss.
Well I guess that's all I know so far. If all goes as planned they'll
deliverer my luggage sometime yet today and I'll have an easy day tomorrow
and start on the real deal Monday morning. I'm sure I'll have much more
to write about after that.
Later.
Hey everyone,
It's Sunday the 7th and I finally received my luggage about 3:30pm
today. The good part of that is I got yet another day off to acclimate
to the heat and all down here before I head down range with the troops,
but it sucked being in the same clothes for three days.
I've been able to shower, but putting back on the same dirty clothes
sucks, especially down here in this heat.
My Senior Drill was good enough to loan me his truck so I just called
the airlines and told them to hold it and I drove back to the Columbus
Airport and picked it up myself. Gave me a pretty good look at things
as well.
I needed to get out, I was dying from all this is the boredom. Without
internet, music, radio, or TV, I only have four walls to stare at and
the book I'm reading.
The first thing I did after I unpacked was put on a pair of shorts
and tennis shoes and went out and did some walking and exploring around
base. I was trying to get myself good and wore out tonight so I can
get to sleep, because I'll be up and on the trail at 3:30am tomorrow.
I'm really glad to have my gear and to be on the trail tomorrow because
we're taking the Privates to the gas chamber right after morning PT
and chow. I've endured that twice myself and am very much looking forward
to watching it as a spectator this time instead of a participant. I
sure feel sorry for those kids going through it in this heat. That gas
would really stick to you in this humidity. Also, once I get down range
and actually get started with this stuff, it'll make time go much faster.
I finally found an internet connection as you can tell. There are phone
jacks all over these barracks from when the Rangers used to live here,
but they've all been shut off and most are rotting off the walls. The
only active phone lines coming in are to the Supply Sergeant's room.
So…I got snooping around in the basement yesterday and found the
main junction box. He has three lines coming in there and they're all
marked. I simply unplugged his fax line, and plugged in my laptop and
logged on. Trouble is, I look kind of suspicious walking in and out
of the barracks with my laptop, and if anyone saw me going into the
basement I'm sure they'd question me. If all goes as planned, I'll probably
start using the library's computer and internet connection tomorrow,
and only use this method on the weekends when it's closed. However I'll
have to see, I may be too tired to walk over there each night after
the long days pushing troops. Its a couple miles each way.
I'm all wore out now. I walked for about three hours, with the exception
of about 20 minutes I was eating in the chow hall. I walked up to the
chow hall, then to the PX and got some laundry detergent and a pop for
in the morning, then came back. I'm kind of scared of tomorrow now,
I was in t-shirt and shorts and tennis shoes and I got so hot I wasn't
sure I was going to make it back, I can't imagine being in full battle
gear as I will be tomorrow. I'm telling you, it's hot! They put my laundry
detergent bottle in a plastic bag at the PX and before I made it back
to the barracks the handles had melted. It's terrible down here.
It was way too hot to go exploring the swamps today for gators and
such, but I sure saw a bunch of armadillos. They have a mess of them
down here.
Well, I guess that's all I know for today. I still have some gear to
put together and I want to get to bed by 9:pm. 3:30am will come mighty
early tomorrow and it's going to be a long, hot, and hard day.
Later.
Hey,
God I'm beat! What a day. It was a long, mean day…but I did enjoy
it. You haven't had fun until you've watched 260 Privates come out of
the CS Gas Chamber puking their guts out and snot running from their
noses to the ground. Then when they got out, they had to deal with us.
We were screaming and yelling at them if they had done the least little
thing wrong, like have their weapon and their masks in the wrong hands
or something silly like that. Those poor kids would just look at us,
confused and in pain not even able to comprehend what we were yelling
at them. It was funny. I had one dumb Private come out of there and
actually asked me for a tissue. LOL I was so shocked, I didn't know
what to say, but one of the other Drills lit him up right quick
Things are much different than I expected, the Company Commander back
in Davenport was very clear on what I could and couldn't do because
I haven't graduated from school yet and don't have my hat. I wasn't
supposed to punish the troops or ever be alone with them or lead them.
However all the Active Duty Drills here thought that was crap and I
was in charge of a platoon of 58 all by myself by 2:30pm. They told
me to punish them all I see fit, in fact asked me to scuff them up so
they could take a break. I was a little concerned how the Active Drills
would treat us Reserves but the two I'm with are great. The rest of
the guys from my unit I've talked to so far say the same thing about
theirs.
Its 6:pm and I just got back to the barracks. I can tell right now
these daily emails probably won't happen any more. I'm beat now and
I got home a little early today because my ride is on CQ duty tonight.
I worked from 3:30 until 5:30pm and only sit down for about ten minutes
for breakfast. We ran four miles this morning, then marched I don't
know how many miles to the gas chamber and back. Then ran two more this
afternoon before chow.
I'm absolutely shot. I'm going to shower and go to bed right now.
Later.
Hey,
It's Tuesday, another day down. Today wasn't too hot either; we've
kind of had a break from the heat since Sunday night's storms. When
I say a break from the heat, I mean it's in the low 90s though.
Today wasn't too bad, but I'm suffering now. All our classes today
were in the Company area so we didn't have to march anywhere. Trouble
is, the afternoon class was Hand-to-Hand and being I'm the biggest Drill,
(and the new guy) I got nominated to teach it. My argument about being
the oldest Drill didn't seem to hold much water with them. So, along
with choke holding, take downs, arm breaks and all that other crap,
I had to flip 58 Privates over my back. I'm telling you, you throw 58
full grown teenagers standing out in 90 some degree heat you know you've
done something. Plus, where we did it in is called 'Goodyear Field'.
It's a pit the size of a football field filled up with chopped up tires,
pieces of black rubber no larger than a ball bearing. That black rubber
really heats up; it was almost too hot to even touch. It was miserable.
The only benefit to it was since I had to teach the class I spent the
entire morning, while another Drill was teaching First Aid, brushing
up on it by reading training manuals. Therefore I got to sit inside
most of the morning reading.
My Drills keep telling me I'm doing great, but that I need to come
down harder on the Privates. This is sure something I didn't expect.
I'm not sure if I'm a good enough actor to do this. I can't act that
mad.
The Privates were sure tired. The overnight Drill Sergeant got them
up and smoked them at 11:pm, then a few hours later one of them tried
to hang himself with the shower curtain so that got the entire Platoon
up again.
Well, speaking of being tired, it's 8:pm and I still have to shower,
do laundry, go in the basement and send this mail, and shine boots.
I just got off duty, and I have to be in early tomorrow because we're
going on our first ruck march since I've been here. It's only 14 miles
and we're stepping at 4:am so we should be done before it gets too bad
hot. I'm hoping to be gone before they start the 24 mile rucks. Those
are going to be a killer in this heat.
So…I'll say goodnight.
Hey,
It's a little after 7:pm Wednesday and I just got off. Today was a
great day! Days like today are why I'm down here. We had our 14 mile
ruck march this morning and the Privates were terrible. We had Privates
falling out, and screwing up, and not sounding off, and one even left
his weapon leaned up against a Cypress tree after a hydration break.
So, when we got back, we have them take off all their equipment, including
dog tags and ID cards and pens, then we took them out in the swamp and
thoroughly thrashed the dog crap out of them. We smoked them in about
four inches of stagnant water for over an hour. Constant pushups, running
in place, flutter kicks, then start all over again. They were so ragged,
and filthy when we got done with them, we couldn't even take them in
the chow hall so we had to feed them MREs. They were hurting.
After that, my two Active Duty Drill Sergeants asked me if I'd teach
the classes today so they could have the day off. So, I was alone with
the Platoon all day. I taught First Aid in the morning and Guard Duty
in the afternoon.
It was an easy, confidence building day for me.
I had a little fun too. OK…first I have to explain the entire
deal. A wall locker is the Private's entire life. Everything he owns
is kept in it, and of course being this is the Army, everything has
to be in an exact place, and perfectly rolled or hung. This morning
when they formed up for the road march, the Drill asked me to check
for unsecured lockers, which means Privates that forgot to lock their
padlock on their wall locker. He told me to tear them up if I did. I
found eight, so those eight I took all their stuff that was on hangers,
and threw it down on the floor, and wrote their number down. I then
went down stairs, (my Platoon's barracks is on the third floor) and
I had the eight Privates who's number I called off come up front and
center and I dropped them for 30 push ups. Then I gave the entire Platoon
the standard speech about keeping your stuff secure.
That should be enough right? Not for Privates. Before the noon chow,
I reminded them again and sure enough while they were eating I checked
again and there was five unlocked. So, this time I take the entire lockers
and tip them over, dumping all their stuff out on the floor. I mean
everything they own. Then I kicked it all in the middle of the room
into one big pile so they have to sort through it.
Then I go down and get those five Privates and make them do sit ups
right after eating for about ten minutes while I'm bitching out the
rest of the Platoon for not taking care of their Battle Buddies.
So you'd think by now it'd get through their thick skulls wouldn't
you? Nope. While they're at chow for supper I check again, and there's
three unsecured lockers. So this time, I dump everything those three
Privates owned out on the floor, gathered it all up, and threw it out
the window and down into the brush!
I then went down and just tore into the entire Platoon. I Front, Back,
Go'ed them until they were ready to puke up supper as I bitched them
out about not taking care of their buddies. See this kind of stuff builds
teamwork, and teaches them responsibility and to take care of their
equipment. Those wall lockers could have just as easily been weapons
depots or ammo cashes.
Being the only Drill today, I yelled and screamed so much I lost my
voice. I wondered when it would happen. The Drills say that's when you
know you're getting right. LOL
Then about 6:30pm one of my Active Drills came back and relieved me.
He'll take them through yet another block of First Aid tonight, then
barracks maintenance, and then tuck them in at 9:pm.
I also had a Private bit by a Brown Recluse Spider today. They usually
aren't deadly, but the venom eats a pretty nasty spot in your skin.
This kid was hyperventilating and going crazy so we shot him full of
adrenalin and iced the bite to slow the poison and Medivacted him to
the hospital. So, I'm down to 56 Privates. I lost two more this week
to feet and back injuries. My Platoon started with 66 and they're in
their 17th day.
There was also a death on base today. Not anywhere's near me, but another
training company. I guess a Private screwed up and got real ammo mixed
up with blanks and during a training exercise fired on an attacking
Squad. The first round blew off the black protector on the end of his
weapon and the next several went into the chest of another soldier and
killed him. They also had a Private die somewhere here on base from
the heat. I guess his head got so hot his brain swelled up against his
skull and killed him. They thought he was trying to lose weight and
wasn't eating and that's what caused the swelling.
Today was an easy day because it was all classroom in the morning,
and my afternoon Guard Duty class was outside in the sun, but we didn't
have to march anywhere to get there. Tomorrow will be a tough one because
we're going to the Leadership Development course. It's a live combat
problem solving course. It's a long march out there, then out in the
sun all day, and a long march back. I'm not sure how far it is but they
allowed 90 minutes each way for marching time. Therefore, I'm going
to get cleaned up and get to bed. It's sure weird going to bed when
the sun's still up…but it feels good.
Later.
Hey all,
I've got a little time to kill so I thought I'd write. It's almost
8:pm and not only am I still here, but we're about to step again. We
have night maneuvers tonight. I have internet connection right here
in the Drill Sergeant's room in the Private's barracks now. I'm just
killing some time while they change their wet uniforms so they don't
get sick tonight, (Commander's Orders). We got caught in a Hell of a
storm today and it just about drowned us. I sure wish I had a dry uniform
to put on but it's back on Main Post where I stay.
Until now, today was another good day for me. I got out of PT this
morning because it was my turn to drive the follow vehicle that follows
the formations during runs in case one of the Privates has a heart attack
or one of us Drills beats him up for falling out of the run or something
of that nature. We've got about a dozen turds that keep falling out
so the Senior Drill told them that this morning I had permission to
run them over if they fell out, so when I'd come up on them I'd, (very
carefully) bump them with the fender. So I just sit in there in the
air conditioning listening to Art Bell this morning relaxing.
We had one Private that went down to heat stroke last week, and went
down again today. The other soldiers were supposed to be making sure
he was drinking enough water so since they obviously had failed at that,
we made the rest of them go up and get on all their winter gear and
we stood them at attention in the sun for an hour after chow. Of course
we made them drink a canteen of water in that hour because we're nice
like that.
However it got tough quick today, we had a long, hard day in the field
with this training today. It was hot this morning but we had a huge
storm come in and it really cooled things off.
The Army does its boot camp by what's called a Company. That consists
of four Platoons. Each Platoon tries to start with 70 Privates, (we're
down to 56 now). Each Platoon has two Active Duty Drill Sergeants that
stay with them the entire cycle, and then a Reserve Drill Sergeant,
(such as myself) is rotated in every two weeks through the cycle. A
cycle is ten weeks from the time the scum bag steps off the bus until
the day he graduates a soldier and goes on to his school.
Today one of my Platoon's Actives learned of a family emergency and
has to leave Friday evening to go home for the weekend. That's going
to leave just one Active and me for the entire weekend. The other Active
had planned on Saturday off and has plans so asked if I could take it,
and then he'd take Sunday and give it to me off. Of course I agreed
so that means I'll have the Pukes all to myself all day Saturday and
there's no Company training that day so it'll be JUST me with them.
I'll come crashing in there screaming and yelling to wake them up 4:30am
and I'll tuck them in gently at 9:30pm that night. That'll be a long
hard one but that'll give me Sunday off. I also found out my scheduled
day off is next Wednesday…so I'll actually have two days off during
this venture which is two more than I expected.
Speaking of the Pukes, remember I was telling you about the unsecured
wall lockers yesterday? Well this morning after the run they came up
and changed into their BDUs and the other Drill took them to morning
Chow. I didn't expend any energy at PT as usual since I drove the van,
so I was feeling frisky and checked their lockers. I found five unlocked.
I turned that entire barracks into a scene from the movie "The
Wild Bunch." Anything that wasn't bolted to the floor got tossed.
I turned over every bunk, stripped every bed, knocked over every wall
locker, threw every towel, ruck sack, pair of boots, running shoes,
everything to the middle of the room. The stuff I got out of those five
unsecured lockers I shoved down in the toilet bowls. While in the latrine,
I found several cans of scouring powder, (Comet) so I threw those all
over the barracks and that crap went everywhere….and I made sure
I was aiming for their beds. One of the Creeps left a full can of foot
powder on the sink so I spread every bit that was left all over the
latrine, and one left some tooth paste so I smeared it all over the
mirrors.
So, when the Joes came back just now after a long hot day in the field
training, and then a long road march back in a thunderstorm, they walked
into that. They're still out there now trying to figure out what stuff
belongs to who, I can hear them arguing about it. LOL When we walked
in and the Active Drill saw the destruction I'd brought down on them
he simply smiled and shook his head.
Now I know many of you are wondering why I punished all of them for
five's mistakes. That's teambuilding. I told them yesterday that if
their Battle Buddy was too stupid to secure his gear, they would have
to take care of him. They concluded I was just talking because I like
to hear myself speak, and they paid for it today.
These maneuvers we're about to perform are Company wide so I won't
be teaching anything but I have to go with them to control and move
my Platoon. Since I'm the late Drill tonight I get to be late Drill
in the morning which means I won't have to be in here until 5:30 am
which would normally be great, but I have no idea how late this thing
is going to run now. I'm not even real sure what we're doing.
OK…The Company is stepping at 9:pm so I need to kick these kids
in the ass and get them ready. Plus I guess I've said enough for one
letter. Thanks for all the kind words and support everyone, I appreciate
it, particularly on a difficult night like tonight's going to be. I'm
tired already, these 5 hour nights are starting to catch up with me,
and my knee is on fire.
Later.
Hey everyone,
I didn't write last night, I was too tired. I just answered emails,
got my gear ready, showered and went to bed. Many of you seem to be
enjoying these letters and living this experience vicariously though
me so I'll try to fill you in. Plus it'll be nice for me to come back
and read these later.
When I last wrote Thursday night, I was telling you the Privates were
out there bickering over their stuff since I threw everything in the
middle of the room; well it ended up in a fight. I had to run out there
and knock their heads together, then council them. I told those Privates
anytime they feel they need to throw down with someone to simply knock
on my door and I'll oblige them. By the time I got that mess straightened
out it was time to go, that's why that email didn't come until way late
that night, actually Friday morning.
Thursday night's maneuvers were a tough go for me. I had been up and
with them since 3:30am that morning, and we didn't get back until 1:30am
Friday. I had to be back in at 5:am and I still had to shower, shine
boots, get my next day's uniform ready, and write those two counseling
statements for those fighting Privates. Therefore I just hit the shower
and coffee and pulled an all-nighter. It really wasn't too bad because
I stayed so busy Friday; however I didn't get off Duty until 6:30pm
Friday night so that made for a long haul. I got a good night's sleep
last night and feel pretty good today.
Today's Saturday and the day I have the Platoon all to myself, all
day. We did PT as a Company this morning, then I took them to chow,
and we had an Army Values class as a Company after chow, but the rest
of the day is what's called Drill Sergeant time. This is where the Drill
has them all sit down in the barracks and we have informal classes on
being a soldier. I can pretty much do anything I want. I can work on
weapons training, Drill & Ceremony, Nuclear, Biological, Chemical
knowledge, hand-to-hand, or anything I wish. I taught a class on heat
and cold injuries earlier and then just sit around and let them ask
me questions about the Army for about an hour. They got a lot of good
out of that. I have them doing barracks maintenance now and then I'm
going to take them to chow. After chow, I'm going to delve into History.
I'm going to teach them about all our wars and conflicts and try to
instill some pride in them about that uniform they're wearing. I think
the Army does a terrible job at that. I was stationed in Germany with
kids that had no clue why we were there.
I'll probably take up the entire afternoon with that and then after
evening chow PT the crap out of them because only three of them have
passed their PT test thus far, so they need work on that or they're
not going to make it.
Several of you are getting a kick out of the unsecured locker ordeal
and are asking me how they did yesterday. Would you believe that four
of the knuckleheads did it again last night at chow? So, by that time
of the day I was simply too exhausted to tear up their barracks. The
four that did leave them unlocked, I took everything they owned and
threw it out the window and it was still good and wet out. I was going
to destroy the rest of the Platoon's stuff for not looking out for their
battle buddies, but I just didn't have the energy and it obviously wasn't
doing any good anyway. So, when they came back up from chow, I had them
all take their pillow cases off their pillows and leave them on their
beds. Then I had them all form up with their pillows outside. I turned
on the hose and made them walk past me single file and I soaked their
pillows. Then I made them go back up, and make their beds again, with
the wet pillow. When I did a locker inspection at chow this morning
I didn't find a single unsecured locker.
I had some real fun this morning, I made my first Private cry. Not that
that was the fun part, but the entire thing was fun. As I told you,
we're a Company of four Platoons and we try to keep a lot of rivalry
and competition going between the Platoons to keep them motivated. Well
one of my Platoon's Drill Sergeant's has kind of a nasally voice and
isn't the best singer during marching. The word got around that a Private
from Second Platoon was making fun of him, so of course our Privates
wanted to fight them. Our Senior Drill, who is the head Drill of the
entire Company, is a real bad ass. X-Ranger and all that and he's just
returned from Afghanistan. He wants this kid put straight, so he sets
up a little scheme and since I was the only Drill from 4th Platoon today,
it was on me. He briefed me on how he wanted it to work ahead of time
and it worked exactly as he planned. After the Army Values class all
four Platoons were standing in formation in the Company area waiting
for their Drills to take them. 2nd Platoon's Drill didn't come back
from classes, instead he went upstairs where he could watch the show.
So 1st and 3rd's Drills have their Platoons fall back into the barracks
and start cleaning, then they went upstairs to watch the show from above
as well. I stayed with my Platoon and was putting out some information
and dragging on time and 2nd was just standing there, waiting on their
Drill. Well about this time the Senior Drill comes out and starts bitching
at them. He said "Privates, remember one of your seven Army Values
that you just learned in that class is Integrity. I want some integrity
from you now. I have heard that one of you is making fun of a Drill
Sergeant from 4th Platoon and I want to know which one of you punks
it is, and I'm going to know right now!"
Well they hem haw a long for a bit and he starts thrashing them and
finally they give up the kid. Senior Drill has him get up in front of
the Platoon and he fesses up that he was indeed the one. So the Senior
Drill puts him marching in place and then instructs him to call cadence.
If the kid could have, we would have just dropped it but of course he
couldn't at all. So, the Senior Drill starts in on them about it being
time to grow up, and you don't make fun of anyone, and all that crap.
Then he asks them: "Privates, what would you do if someone was
making fun of your battle buddy?" Of course they all yell out how
they'd beat him up and stuff. So Senior Drill says: "That's right,
we take care of our own don't we?" They all agreed. He says that
us Drills are just like you Privates, so something needs to be done.
Since that Drill isn't here to deal with this, it's going to fall on
that Drill Sergeant's battle buddy. So then he calls me up. He explains
to me in front of this kid and the Platoon what happened, (which of
course I already knew) and as he does I'm staring this kid down with
the worse look I could muster, all the time trying not to crack a smile.
Then Senior Drill says since your battle buddy isn't here you're going
to have to fill in for him. I said: "Oh Yea! Senior Drill…oh
yeah!" and I tore off my BDU top down to my T-shirt and started
warming up and doing push ups and stuff and I said to the Platoon: "Since
I've been down here with you weak-tits I haven't been able to get my
PT on because you're so soft…I need this."
This poor Private's sitting over there just about to piss down his
leg. So after about 60 seconds of warming up and stuff I walk up to
him, right in his face. I must have had eight inches and 75 pounds on
this kid. He was an 18 year old from St. Louis. I just towered over
him and he looked up and me and tried to swallow and said: "I'm
sorry Drill Sergeant." I told him I'd even let him have the first
three strikes unmolested to make it more even, (which of course I wouldn't
have if he'd have actually tried to fight me).
He just stood there shaking. I said: "Come on Dickhead, (that's
what we call the real dumb ones) I don't have all day for this. Hit
me Scumbag."
He squeaked out, "I don't want to get in trouble Drill Sergeant."
Then the Senior Drill stepped in and said: "Private, you're not
going to get in any trouble, I'm authorizing this. The Army Regs say
the Drill Sergeants can fight the Privates if the Private hits him first,
(which is true) and I'm giving you the OK. After you get back from the
hospital, we'll put you right back in training. This won't go on your
record, and nobody will even be mad at you. We're just taking care of
some business here. I promise I won't let Drill Sergeant Foster hurt
you so bad you'll miss any training. Besides, if you do knock down the
Drill nobody else is going to mess with you, this is a great opportunity
for you. You can surely knock him down with three free hits can't you
Private?"
The Private looked back up at me and was just shaking all over. He
couldn't even maintain the position of attention anymore.
So I yell right down in his face, "Come on Private, make your
move!"
"No Drill Sergeant"
"Hit Me!...Hit me puke! Chicken, scared, weak!!"
Then he breaks down in tears, I mean out in full tears, right in front
of his Platoon.
The Senior Drill let him stand there a bit and get good and embarrassed
then asked him if he was going to put down someone again if he couldn't
do better. The Private said no. Then he asked him if he was going to
talk behind someone's back again and he said no. Then he told him to
fall back in with his Platoon.
The Senior Drill nodded at me with a little smile so I went and got
my BDU top on and went back to my Platoon and brought them up here.
They had seen all the happenings and were all motivated and yelling
and stuff as I released them to move upstairs.
Then all us Drills got together and had a good laugh about it. It worked
exactly as the Senior Drill had planned it. I guess they get something
like this every cycle and it's usually during this week. He'd told me
before we did this that if the Private did attempt to fight to simply
choke him out, but not to hit him. I guess about one in ten cycles they
have a Private try and they just choke him until he passes out and then
throw a bucket of water on him. I was hoping that'd be the case this
time.
So, I got what we call my 'first tear' so I guess I'm on my way. Now
I'm waiting on my 'yellow wings'. That's what we call it when you make
your first Private piss his pants. This is not something we really strive
for, just something to joke about when it does. I saw this kid the night
I got here standing at attention right in front of his bunk piss his
pants and make about a six foot puddle right there on the barracks tile
he was getting yelled at so bad..
Many of you have asked me about their ages so I got the board down
and looked and it goes like this:
Of the 58 still currently assigned, (although a few of them aren't
going to make it):
28 are 17 years old
19 are 18 years old
and the remaining are 20, 21, and 22 going up to the old man of the
Platoon who is 23.
I ended up with just tomorrow off for my entire 17 days here. Each
week we go through and pick who is going to teach what classes on a
Company level. They asked me of next week's classes which one I was
strong in and wanted to instruct. They let us Reservist have some choice
because we're not doing it every day like the Actives and they don't
want us teaching something we're weak in. I picked Bayonet training
because I like it and am good at it and have had a class in it just
since I joined this unit so I'm up to speed on it. However when picking,
you don't get to see what day it is and it turned out to be Wednesday,
my planned day off. That's fine though, I don't really care. With no
car, there's really nothing to do on very many days off so that'll just
make them go slow. I can get everything I want to do done tomorrow.
Besides, I'm here to train so I should take advantage of it. It'll be
nice to sleep in tomorrow.
These kids really make me feel old. As I look at their records and
see their birth years, I was in high school when many of them were born
and here they are old enough to be soldiers now.
It's a wonderful feeling when I teach classes or have chat sessions
with them, how these Privates are trying to absorb what I know. These
very Privates, (or at least the ones that make it to graduation) are
all Infantry. That's the Army's ground forces.
About 85% of them will go on to Airborne School here at Benning and
join the 82nd or 101st Airborne Divisions…very hard core fighters.
A small percent of them will go on to be Rangers, and even a smaller
few will become Green Berets. As I look at these kids now, I think to
myself that in a few months, these brave guys will probably be the first
major wave in the invasion of Iraq. With that in mind, I don't take
any shortcuts with them and that's why I try to be so hard on them now.
I'm trying to teach them everything I know. Many of you are commenting
that you can't believe how mean I am to them. It's not that I enjoy
doing it, (although we do joke about it later) nor do I hate these kids,
it's just the contrast, I have all the respect in the world for them,
that's why I'm doing this to make them as good as I can before they
move on to their next phase of training. I just wish I had more time
with them.
Now this is just boot camp, basic combat training, they'll get their
real skills when they go to Infantry school here in seven more weeks,
but it feels good to do my part. During classes that other Drills teach,
I walk around and if I find them nodding off, I take them out in the
hallway and make them do push ups. Almost every single one of them has
felt my wrath in this manner. Today during that time I let them ask
me questions, that was something they brought up. They said they're
so tired they can't keep their eyes open no matter how hard they try.
I told them this speech, which I just sort of made up on the spot but
it really inspired them. I said: "Privates, listen. In six months,
we may all be invading Iraq. What if I'm your Platoon Sergeant over
there and we're on the outskirts of Baghdad ready to go in. I tell you
to meet me at a certain grid coordinate with more ammo, and you can't
find it because you slept through the map reading class? What if one
of those Towelheads shoots me and I bleed to death because you were
sleeping in First Aid and can't remember how to tie a tourniquet. For
the good of the Army, for your own good, and my good as well…I
will not let you fall asleep in a class while I'm here!"
They all started cheering and have been doing much better since. That's
a perfect example of some of the great stuff about being a Drill Sergeant,
and speaking of that, this Drill needs to get his troops fed.
Later.
Hey,
It's 3:45am Wednesday morning. I got up early today because I feel
asleep last night without changing my alarm from Monday morning, when
I did have to get up early. I don't have to be there until 4:45 so since
I have a little time I'll write being I couldn't yesterday.
I'm telling you, all my writings before have been with a cocky attitude
about how well I'm doing down here…well it all ended yesterday
and I was put in my place. We had a 24 mile ruck march with 76 lbs of
weight on our backs in 96 degree weather. We marched from 5:am until
4:pm. I honestly didn't think I was going to make it at the end. I think
yesterday was the hardest day of my life. This morning, every muscle
in my body hurts, my knee feels like it has a knife stuck in it, and
my feet feel like I'm walking on hot coals. I have blisters on top of
blisters from last week. I am in bad shape.
Then to make matters worse, the Active Drills dumped everything on
us. They had a Sergeant Major's Retirement party to go to so we rucked
out twelve miles, ate MREs, and a big van came and picked them all up
and left the four Platoons to four of us Reservists. Therefore not only
was I dying, but I had to be responsible as well. When we got back,
I just told them to clean the barracks and study from their books, I
couldn't deal with them. I went in the Drill Sergeant's office and shut
off the lights and cooled off with Gatorade and checked my email.
I had my guys to myself from about noon on and being the only Drill
that meant I had to tuck them in at 9:pm. So, my duty day yesterday
was from 3:30am until 9:pm at night. I took them to chow at 5:pm and
taught a quick class on Military Mannerisms after chow, then gave them
an extra hour of personal time tonight because I simply couldn't deal
with them. However they had a million issues to take care of so I ended
up with them anyway.
When I got home last night about 9:45, I took off my boots and they
felt like an oven inside. I got a safely pin and bent the pin part back
and went to the First Sergeant who lives next to me for a lighter to
disinfect it with. He doesn't smoke so he didn't have one, but he gave
me a small glass of whisky. I came back to my room and disinfected the
pin with the whisky and popped all those blisters on my feet, drank
the whiskey, (which does wonders for your throat when you've been yelling
all day) and leaned back on my bed to catch my breath. The next thing
I know, my alarm's going off at 3:am this morning. I slept in full uniform,
with my feet on the floor and my back on the bed. That's how tired I
was.
So…I'm glad I got up early because I had to do everything I normally
do at night, i.e. shower, polish boots, and get uniform ready.
This thing is really catching up with me now, I'm ready to come home.
Yesterday really wore me down, I'm a mess, but still driving on. I'm
on the downhill slide now.
Later
Hey all,
Well, today isn't as bad as yesterday, but it's sucking nonetheless.
Today wasn't too bad; we had their second class on Hand-to-Hand Combat
this morning, then various other soldiering classes through the afternoon.
Therefore it was hot as Hell out in that sun all day, but at least I
didn't have to march anywhere. My feet would have been destroyed if
would have. I tapped out of the run this morning. It's the first time
since I've been here that I didn't do something with the Platoon. My
feet are a mess and it was a Company run so each Platoon had its two
Active Drills, as well as the Company's First Sergeant, XO, and Commander
and I decided they didn't need me.
After supper chow tonight I gave the Platoon their Phase One testing
which included me testing them on various soldiering skills and them
putting on their gas mask in less than nine seconds. They all passed.
So other than being hot and tired, today wasn't so bad until they told
me I have CQ Duty tonight. At night when each Platoon's Drills put the
Private's to bed, that Drill goes home so the Company, (all four Platoon's)
takes turn leaving one Drill overnight. Now of the Privates, every hour
for one hour, two Privates have Fireguard so there are always two of
them up in each Platoon. The only thing the CQ, (me) has to do is at
the beginning of each hour go to the Fireguard and walk through the
barracks with him and count each Private in his bed. Then I check my
roster to make sure that is the right number. I also deal with emergencies
and phone calls coming into the Company. I just had a Sergeant Major
from Ft. Bliss, Texas call me because his sister's kid is down here
and hasn't called home yet. I'll have to round him up in the morning
and give him special permission to call his folks. Must be nice to have
high ranking family.
Being I have duty tonight, I did get two hours off this afternoon which
gave me the chance to get to the PX and get some supplies. Also, I get
to watch TV tonight for the first time and Star Trek is on!
This is a tough go though, I've been up since 3:30am today, and will
be the first off tomorrow but that won't be until at least 4:pm tomorrow
afternoon. If we were in the field it wouldn't be too bad but staying
away like this is tough.
I'm telling you, these Privates are tired. That Hand-to-Hand this morning
really wore them out. They're all just snoring away. I can't believe
they left the entire Company under my command since I haven't graduated
from Drill Sergeant School yet. I've got 260 men under me right now.
I guess most of these Drill Sergeants aren't any higher rank than me,
and none are over one rank higher than me. I'm older than all of them
as well so it's just that school they've completed that makes them different.
I guess it just feels strange, the last time I was in this situation
I was a Private myself.
Well, I think I'm going to finish Star Trek and try to nod off a bit
and have the Fireguards wake me up at the top of each hour for my walk
through.
At least I can get a little bit of a powernap in that way. I need every
bit I can get. Tomorrow doesn't look that bad, but Thursday and Friday
look to be living Hell. I just got word that Saturday is my last day.
I'm ready for it now, this is really starting to wear me down.
Later.
Hey everyone,
It's about 4:am Thursday morning. I'm all ready to go for the day and
have a little time so I thought I'd write since I was too tired last
night. I got off duty about 1:pm yesterday afternoon and had been up
since 3:30am the day before. I wanted to come right home and go to bed,
but I knew if I did that I'd wake up about 10:pm and then be paying
for it today so I just stayed up. I came home and took a long shower,
then went to the PX and had some pizza. Then I went to the Infantry
Museum here on Benning. That was really neat but I was about too tired
to enjoy it. I came back home and did some much needed laundry and by
6:pm I couldn't take it any longer so I went to bed. That's the earliest
I've ever went to bed in my life I'm sure. I slept through until 3:am
this morning without budging.
I'm going to need that sleep, these last two days are going to be tough.
They moved my bayonet class to today which I'm grateful for because
I would have been too tired to have taught it yesterday, and then us
Reservists have a meeting at 7:pm tonight to fill out an After Action
Report and to get our final travel arrangements home. So it's going
to be a long, hard, hot day. The heat is back on us. It's been 100+
the past several days and is supposed to continue through the week this
way. Then tomorrow, (my last hard day) is going to be from Hell. They're
starting Week 4 so we're starting Riflemanship with them. We'll march
eight miles out to the range in full battle gear, and then be out there
all day. Those ranges have no shade on them so they're terrible. I saw
the schedule and we're eating MREs out on the range for all three meals
so that tells me it's going to be a long, hard, and hot one. However,
that'll be it. That's our last real day with the troops, Saturday won't
be any problem. We're just administering a PT test to them which we'll
be done with before the sun comes up, and then we have classroom all
morning. Then they're going to let us Reservists go at noon so we can
pack, and those that drove can leave for home. The rest of us that are
flying are going to get released Saturday morning, however the earliest
I can get a flight out of here is late Sunday night as it stands right
now. My Chain of Command is working on that for me but I'm not going
to get my hopes up yet.
Well, it's 4:30am and we're letting the Privates sleep until 5:am this
morning so they'll be able to absorb this stuff better today because
it's really important.. So, my ride's leaving in a moment and therefore
I better stop for today.
Later.
Hey all,
Its 9:pm Thursday night. I still haven't sent yesterday's letter, the
Supply Sergeant here at the barracks caught me tapping into his phone
lines in the basement so he put a big chain and padlock on the door.
Therefore from now on the only place I can get on at is the Drill Sergeant's
office in the Platoon's barracks and I simply didn't have time today.
I got off about 8:pm tonight and am just now done with my shower and
polishing boots and ready for bed so I thought I'd wind down a bit by
writing.
Today was bad, but not as bad as I expected. For some reason, I was
really dreading the heat today. I guess it was because I saw the weather
forecast when I was on CQ Duty Wednesday night.
We had pugil stick fighting this morning. That's where the Privates
get sticks with pads on each end and practice bayonet fighting by beating
each other up. I was dreading that because it takes all morning and
its right out in the sun. However I got lucky. We have a Private that
is quitting, and his paperwork is done at Company level, but the Army
requires they see a Psychiatrist before the Private's paperwork can
move up to Battalion level. So I got asked to take the June bug, (that's
what we call quitters, I don't know why). I'm thinking…this is
going to be great, I'll be in some shrink's office listening to him
feel this Private's problems. Man was I wrong!!! I got to this guy's
office with the kid and he asked me to come in and the kid to wait outside.
He was ALL Army. A Black Sergeant First Class and a former Drill. He
was nice as Hell to me, bought me a Diet Coke and had me sit down with
him as he read the kid's paperwork. Then he asked me to stay in with
him because he always wanted another NCO present in these matters. He
then called the kid in.
The kid stood before him at Parade Rest and he started asking him some
questions. The kid said he was quitting because he couldn't run. Then
the Sergeant came around the desk and got in his face. He said, "Private…let
me ask you something. If I came to your house, the house where you and
your mom and dad and family live…and I started breaking things,
and stealing things, and hurting your family what would you do?"
The Private didn't know what to say.
The Sergeant said: "Would you try to fight me?"
"Yes Sergeant," the kid said.
Then the Sergeant looked at me and said, "Drill Sergeant, would
you close my door? Close both sets of doors if you would. I'm about
to open up a can of whoop ass and I don't want anyone else to hear it."
Then he pulled out a big photo of the Twin Towers in NY burning and
shoved it right in that kid's face and started in on him. He said, "Private,
they have come to your house. They're hurting your brothers and sisters
and breaking your stuff. The United States is your house and those people
that died are your brothers and sisters and now you want to quit because
you can't run after three weeks."
He started screaming at this kid and finally the kid broke down. He
sent him out in the hallway and started smoking him. He made him do
push ups until he collapsed, then flutter kicks until he couldn't stand
it anymore. Then he put him in the dying cockroach and went back to
work. As he did his paperwork on the kid on the computer about every
five minutes he'd yell for him to start a different exercise. The only
breaks he gave the kid were when he needed him to sign something, then
it was right back at it. He tore him up!
I couldn't believe how wrong I was. This guy was great, he really inspired
me. We got talking about history and how the kids serving today know
nothing of it. He was a great American.
Not only did I immensely enjoy my time with this Sergeant, but it kept
me out of the sun for a big portion of the morning.
When I got back, the Company was just finishing up and coming back.
We hydrated them in the shade, then checked out rifles and bayonets.
This gave me some time to brush up on my class. After noon chow, we
marched them out to the range, and thankfully this was one range that
wasn't too far. I taught my class to the Company, (which was the first
time I taught a class at Company level) and then being I taught the
class, I had to be the demonstrator for the Bayonet Assault Course and
it was mean. This thing is a quarter of a mile long, laced with obstacles
and dummies you must assault with the rifle and bayonet. This is run
at top speed, and in full battle uniform except for the ruck sack. I
had to go over six foot walls, jump trenches, climb fences, walk poles,
ect. Ect, ect…attacking dummies with the bayonet all throughout
the course, the entire time the Company of Privates running along both
sides of the course as another Drill verbally described each event or
obstacle.. The worse part is when you have to crawl for 25 meters on
your back under barbed wire, which is 14" off the ground and real
bullets being fired at 16" above your head. Plus, they had the
Ft. Benning Fire Department come out and wet the entire thing down so
it was all hot mud.
The hardest part is the entire Company watching me do this. We make
them really show the motivation and yell and scream and stuff, so of
course I demonstrating it have to as well. That was the hardest part,
I was panting for my life, and having to yell out during each obstacle.
However I made it and made it look good. When I was done, I was almost
heat causality. I was suffering from heat exhaustion. I was cold skinned
and shaking terrible and wanted to puke my guts out. My brain was cooking
in my skull. I had an Active Drill go through it with me so Privates
on both sides of the course could see a Drill Demonstrating. As we finished,
the other Drills moved the Company back to the start and began moving
them through eight at a time. The other Drill and I walked slowly back,
dying, knees hurting from all the crawling, and so hot we could die,
(it was over 100 again today). I'm trying my best to keep my composure
in front of the Privates to look tough. This other Drill isn't moving
except for his walk. He's not saying anything, or panting, or anything
but sweating. We get back, each drink a canteen of water, then another
Drill took us back. As soon as we got in the back of the truck and away
from the Privates that Drill cracked. He started hacking out his lungs
and began to puke. That thing killed him just as it did me, but he was
better at hiding it.
So, that thing was as tough and terrible in the heat as I'd been afraid
of, but they let us go back and shower and change uniforms right after,
plus I went to the PX and bought two 32 ounce bottles of Gatorade and
drank them down. Even though it was tough, getting it over with and
then out of there was better than sitting in the heat all afternoon
pushing the Privates through it, so it turned out OK. We had about 20
heat strokes today including one Drill. They were still bringing them
back from the hospital when I left a little after 8:pm.
When they came back, we two Drills that were now fresh took over and
let the other Drills break. They didn't go through the course, but pushing
soldiers through it all afternoon in this heat would actually be worse.
I guess that's the most intriguing parts of my day. I better get to
bed, tomorrow is going to be terrible as well. It is the Private's first
day on the range, and it is a long walk out there, we're scheduled to
eat all three meals out there so I know it's going to be a long hot
one again.
Later.
Hey everyone,
It's Friday night, 19 July and I am done!! I have completed my two
weeks in his Hell and it is time to head for the house. I have to report
tomorrow to give my Platoon a Physical Fitness test at 4:30am which
should take about two hours, and then I'm released.
I have been diligently training and worrying enormously for several
months about this, it was so nice to finally see the Company area come
in to view late this afternoon as we marched in. At that point, I knew
I had made it. Up until that point, I wasn't sure.
And what a bang I went out on, today was the second worse day since
I've been here. There was no worse than that 24 mile ruck on Monday,
but today was close. We stepped off at 4:am in full battle gear. We
marched eight miles to the range. There we spent all day on the range
firing their rifles for the first time. The ranges are the worse in
the heat because they're all open and there's no shade. We ate all three
meals on the range. The Army has to feed Basic Trainees at least one
hot meal a day, so on long hard training days like today, they have
the chow hall prepare stuff for us and then a couple of the Drills bring
it out in a Deuce and a Half, (big Army truck).
So today after breakfast and lunch being MREs, we were all, (Privates
and Drills) ready for a good meal at supper. Guess what they brought
us? Beef Stew!!! It was 104 degrees out there today real temperature,
I'm sure the Heat Index was 110. We're out in the sun all day, with
no shade, and they bring us hot beef stew. I seriously considered grabbing
one of the Private's rifles and going back to the chow hall and turning
it into a scene from "The Wild Bunch"…and I probably
would have if I hadn't have been so tired and hot.
Well after chow we had one more firing group to get through and then
we put on our packs and headed the eight miles back home. I'm telling
you, that was the road march from Hell. It wasn't as bad coming out
because we were fresh and the sun wasn't beating down on us, but going
home tonight…I thought I was going to die. Every part of my body
hurt, and my body and brain were actually cooking. My feet got so hot
in those black combat boots I expected them to flare up at any moment.
However I did better than the Privates…we had our Company spread
out over three miles because Privates couldn't keep up. We had about
the same amount of heat injuries as yesterday, many of the same Privates.
If they've went down twice they won't make it. We're down to 52 officially
now in my Platoon and I expect to lose a couple more before graduation
on 29 August.
I guess the biggest excitement today was this. These Privates get real
stupid in times like this. Between the exhaustion of boot camp itself,
then the pain of the morning's road march, then being in the sun all
day…you could just see it in them. They couldn't talk, couldn't
think, couldn't move. You'd ask some of them something and they'd slur
their words, and talk real soft. These are the Privates who don't listen
to us and drink water. We make them drink two canteens an hour, but
it's also on them to actually do it. When these Privates go down to
Heat Stroke, they often go delirious. Between here and Ft. Leonard Wood,
I've seen Privates talk to trees, step off ledges, and about every other
crazy thing you can think of during a Heat Stroke. Anyway, today another
Platoon in my Company was on the firing range while we were doing dime
drills, (putting a dime on their barrel and have them squeeze a round
off without dropping the dime). I guess a Private in the foxhole on
the firing range went crazy in the sun. The tower saw he was losing
it and called for a Drill. That Platoon's Drill went over to eat him
up, and the Private just threw the rifle barrel straight up.
The Drill grabbed the stock, but the Private was squeezing the trigger
and two rounds went up through the Drill's hat. One out on the brim,
but one right along the band. The Drill went down, but pulled the weapon
away from the Private. As soon as he got his bearing, and figured out
what happened, and that he was OK…he went off. He grabbed the Private
by the top of the Kevlar, (helmet) and held on with his left hand and
started punching with his right. Before the other Drills could tackle
him and get him off the Private, he'd busted his nose very well. The
Army Regs are very clear on us hitting them, we can only do it if they
hit us first, or on ranges when they cause danger to themselves or others.
This happens a lot on the hand grenades range when Privates pull the
pin, and then freeze up. The SOP is for the Drill to simply deck the
Private, secure the grenade, and get it the Hell downrange ASAP.
Although this was within my Company, these ranges are huge so I didn't
see any of it. I did know the Drill though. They sent him home to cool
off but he'll be OK I think. I'm not sure what they'll do with the Private.
An accidental discharge of a weapon is punishable with UCMJ actions,
which means up to as much as going to Ft. Leavenworth, and the Army
is serous about safety on the ranges, however I doubt it will go that
far being that he meant no harm. He'll probably just get recycled to
week one with another Company, or maybe sent home.
Man o' man was it hot out there today. I've got about $5 in Gatorade
and three salt packets in me since I got back and I'm just now getting
myself fixed. I think I've spent $75-$100 on Gatorade down here. I'm
sweating it out of my pores like you see on those commercials. I never
have been that big of fan of it before, but you can really feel it when
you're out here. You can drink canteen after canteen of water, but one
Gatorade really makes you feel better, especially if you have a salt
pill or packet to mix into it.
Well, I guess that's enough for tonight. I'm in a great mood now that
this thing if over, but I still have to get up at 3:30am tomorrow so
I should get to bed. Even though I should be done by 7:am tomorrow,
my flight isn't until Sunday so I don't know what I'll do all day tomorrow
and Sunday. Probably just sleep and eat junk food.
Oh also…being I don't have access here at the barracks anymore,
and that when I leave the Company area after the PT test tomorrow morning,
this may be my last email until I get home. Thanks for the support everyone.
Hey all,
Well it's the 21st and I'm in Charlotte, North Carolina on my way home.
I'm more than ready, I'm shot! Although I really gained a lot of experience
down here, this has been one hard go. God I'm tired. These Active Duty
Drills are as close to Supermen as I've ever seen. I don't know how
they do it. I guess it's like anything else, it's a matter of what you
get used to.
This venture has been haunting me for the past six weeks, and now that
it's over, and I've done it well, I've sunk into a state of absolute
fatigue and lethargy. Yesterday I was contemplating waiting another
day to come home because I was simply too tired to deal with three airports
and switching flights and cabs and layovers and all that crap that comes
with flying. This morning I feel a little better, but I need some true
rest. I'm not certain if I'm simply worn to a nub and weather-beaten,
or if I'm getting sick. Every kind of aliment known to mankind is running
through those Privates, I sure hope I didn't catch something. Hopefully
a couple nights in my own bed, with air conditioning, and eating my
own cooking will fix me up. I had originally taken off the day after
I get home but I've recently emailed ahead and am taking two days now.
The first is going to be spent sleeping and relaxing, and the second
getting caught up on things.
I am completely broke down today. Maybe it's merely because my mind
knows it's over, but I don't think I could have lasted another day out
there on the trail without a day off. You never know what you can do
until you're forced to do it, but I can't imagine going any further
without at least 24 hours off. The Active First Sergeant asked me to
stay another two weeks, and I could have, the Reserves allow up to 31
days Active per year, (not including schools). I told them where they
could go with that idea real quick he laughed and gave me a Ft. Benning
coin.
It's strange to look back at this endeavor. The things I was worried
about weren't a problem, and the things that were problems never crossed
my mind. I was mostly concerned with PTing with these kids, but that
wasn't an issue. Most of these kids were 17 and have grown up on TV
and video games and computers. When we gave them the PT test yesterday
morning, I had about 30 kids in my row and only two of them could do
more push ups than me, and only one could do more sit ups. Several of
them could run faster than my time, but not by much. That's to be expected
since I'm 15 years older than most these kids.
Another neat thing was seeing the improvement they've made since their
last PT test. Almost every single one of them doubled their push up
and sit up scores, and knocked five minutes off their run. We also do
weigh in before the PT test. We have one kid that has lost 45 pounds
so far, and they're not quite to the half way point yet. We have a very
skinny kid we've nicknamed Bones and he's put on 12 pounds. I always
make him go to the front of the chow line so he has the longest time
to eat and I make him show me his plate of food when he comes by.
The PT thing wasn't an issue because on muscle failure days, us Drills
don't PT with them, we're up walking around yelling at them for doing
it wrong. Runs weren't a problem either because from day one the Actives
asked me to grab the Privates that fall out so they could concentrate
on the group that can run and work them well. Normally I ran about a
mile with the Platoon at full speed and then about that point is where
a couple started falling out. They'd never stop because they know if
they do we'll write them a counseling statement and after three of those
you get thrown out, however they can't keep up with the group. With
these I'd run slow and yell at them the rest of the way. So running
was never a problem for me here.
I was concerned about the heat, and it did kill me, but it wasn't as
bad as I expected. Us Drill Sergeants can cheat. During classes or range
fires or whatever, we'll rotate out about every hour and go get us some
shade. Also, we always have a vehicle with us in case someone gets hurt
but not bad enough to need a Medivac, (helicopter ride to the hospital).
On this vehicle we keep a big cooler of ice and we all keep several
bottles of Gatorade in that. That is night and day better than water
in these African temperatures.
I was also concerned about doing something wrong and looking stupid
in front of the Privates, but my Active Drills made sure I was up to
speed and squared away before I gave any classes or anything. I did
make one mistake while marching them but I just started yelling and
blamed it on the Privates at the front of the formation.
The one thing I didn't expect to be a problem was the ruck marches,
I'd always kind of liked them in boot camp because it was the one time
you were sort of alone, (we walk five meters apart from each other so
a grenade or automatic weapon fire can't do as much damage). Plus you
didn't have to listen to a Drill Sergeant and you didn't have to stay
in step. It was about the only time other than when you were sleeping
you could have some independent thought. Well ruck marches are one thing
a Drill can't cheat on, you're walking right along with them. This isn't
a pleasant stroll through the Georgia woods either, this is speed walking
with 76 pounds of gear and that damned Kevlar helmet on your head. These
things are merciless down here in this heat. They are the number one
thing that Privates have trouble with. That 24 mile ruck we did on Monday
just about did me in. I was bruised from my gear and my feet looked
like a pepperoni pizza.
As tough as this was, this has been a wonderful experience for me.
I would say that this and Europe were the two best things the Army has
paid me back with in my five years service. Even if I decide to not
continue with this unit and go back to my web designer MOS (Army job)
this is something I'll always have and will always look back on with
pride. I realize much of this I say doesn't mean much to those of you
that don't know the Army, but being a US Army Drill Sergeant at Ft.
Benning, Georgia is a Hell of a thing.
OK…I'm going to find me some junk food, I saw a Burger King somewhere
in this airport, that sounds good. I won't be able to send this until
I get home, so when you receive this, you'll know I'm home.
Later.
--Stacy
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