5/5/09 – Tuesday
Cinco De Mayo, but you wouldn’t know it here. Today we have “Marlin Spike,” it’s our 4-1 day, and the first day of Hell Week. They call it Hell Week because it’s so packed full of mandatory events.
Marlin Spike is a simulation on a ship (which was built inside for simulation purposes). We have 25 minutes to do all the procedures for getting the ship underway, a man overboard drill and securing the ship back at the pier. It requires everyone working together, each at their position to make it happen. Our division is slap full of individuals with attitudes, most don’t have business here. I’m not sure what they thought joining the military, but it seems they think this is some kinda summer camp, and they are not taking it serious at all. So… Marlin Spike will probably be an exercise of complete chaos. God I hope we miraculously bring it together.
24 days till graduation and I’ve been here 28 days so at the 1/2 way point I guess. We’ve lost 3-4 people to health reasons, and after tomorrow’s 2nd physical fitness assessment, I expect 4-5 more to be ASMO’ed.
ASMO’e is when you get put back several weeks because you aren’t ready yet. I’ve never heard so many excuses for giving up, being lazy and not trying. 95% of the females when caught doing something, fail to own up to being wrong and be accountable.
I’m so frustrated. I am pretty sure I am progressing and doing find but laying in close quarters with all these immature, selfish and non goal oriented young folk… I just want to smack ‘em and say, “GROW UP!”
My mind is replaying the last year of my life and all the things I went through to get me here. The events, the people, the places and the relationships. And I won’t lie, part of me wants my old life back, I miss so many people. But I’ve made the decision to be here so I will follow through. In a short time I will be back in Pensacola learning all kinds of awesome stuff about aviation and repairing them. And I will be back in the loop and about to be in contact with everyone again. Then a short 6-8 weeks later I will be on a ship or base somewhere in this world doing the Navy thing. Being a sailor and doing my part to defend our country.
So, this morning, to all of those out there laying heavy on my heart, I miss you tons, love you tons and I am so sorry I bailed on what we had. I needed, need and on my way to finding my true me. Who knows what the future will bring. Thanks for letting me go and fulfill my dreams.
Scrapbook for Leigh
I’m compiling a scrapbook for Leigh filled with predesigned pages so that when she gets out of boot camp, she’ll be able to start pasting her memories in so much easier. I am going to start with her journal entries and what I’d like is for all of you, her friends and family is to email me a personal memory about Leigh so that I can include these thoughts in the scrapbook of how we were feeling while she was away from us. I know you all are sending a lot of letters, and she is so thankful for it, but something that she can read after the fact and is cemented in the book is great. You can send these thoughts to:
LeadDogLeigh@gmail.com <— This is actually an account I started for her that forwards currently to my email but won’t once she’s out of boot camp, she’ll own it. If you have something to say that you don’t want me to read but want it included, you can email me for my address and mail it to me and rest assured that I will not open it and leave it sealed but pasted in the book for her eyes only.
This is special to her because it is going to give her insight into how special she is to us while she is cut off from all contact. She graduates in about 20 days so the quicker you can get your notes to me, the better. Once she’s stationed and can receive mail as large as the scrapbook, I’ll be sending it to her…. Although knowing Leigh, she’ll probably make me keep it and keep mailing it to me to do for her!!!
Personal Note to Family & Friends
I MISS EVERYONE and can’t wait to be back in the loop! Keep me informed of what’s going on in the real world. We get no news/tv or contact outside bootcamp.
♡, Leigh
Thurs 05-01-09 ~ Sat 05-03-09
Past few days have flown by. Doing a lot of march practice and studying for our 2nd test.
Got appointed a new job, (Ship Staff). This job basically involves leaving the compartment and the division a lot to meet up with approximately 80 others to clean the building / stand watch / raise and lower the flags. We meet every evening and twice on Sundays. Glorified janitors but it gets us out of the compartment and away from the division. It’s a good opportunity to get practice with rank & recognition and addressing superior officers. 26 days till graduation!!!
Busy week next week. More inspections, 2nd PT test, live fire weapons and beginning seamanship.
043009
Less then a month to go. Slept in till 0600 this morning, chow, laundry crew and cleaning duties. March to main building (2 miles) for a 3 hour classification briefing. 2 mile march back. Raining on us…damn.
042909 Wed
Classes, PT, marching practice and haircuts (not for me). The males got their buzz cuts shaped up – looking handsome.
Tuesday – 28 APR 09
Really early PT (0445 sprint.)
Job at 0600 this morning then chow. (We eat a lot here.) Phone calls this afternoon. I made a two mile trek to the main medical building, back to the compartment (2 miles) then turned around and did it again. Oh boy, now time to hike back another mile to the phones. MARCH MARCH MARCH.
27 APR 09
Up at 0600, told to switch bunks with the other recruit that took over my Master at Arms job, a sure sign I won’t be getting it back.
Chow at 0715, blueberry pancakes and sausage this morning. Head out to the “mini practice” drill hall for an hour of PT, calisthenics, (push ups, curl ups, jumping jacks, squats, back/trunk exercises) – Time to eat again. Extra dry chicken nuggets, marching off to the in processing building (Golden Thirteen) the place where all this madness started. It’s about a 2 1/2 mile march but we are headed to our 2nd uniform issue.
We are getting fitting for our Dress or Summer Whites (Cracker Jacks), Dress Blues (Flight Attendant Suits), Coveralls, and Pea Coat. Oh yeah, our Covers (hats) too. Kinda exciting and damn do I look good, esp in my Dress Blues. We all cooperated during fitting and didn’t get too loud so the females are leaving fitting on a good foot.
Oops! The males didn’t behave during their fitting. Great. Now the RDs are pissed. Nothing much more I can remember.
A personal note to all from Leigh in her Journal
Thanks to all for the notes, pictures and cards everyone. It means so much to get words of love and encouragement from home at the end of the long stress and self doubt filled days. Even when you think your doing everything right, the instructor finds some way of busting your bubble. We are all fucking garbage right now.
Today is the first time we will be allowed to send mail home. So I have a huge stack coming home to all my family and friends.
Please keep the mail coming, I miss you all. I’ve been away from home for 20 days now and I’m a little homesick.
Until I am able to write again….
I love you all and SMOOTH SAILING…
Sunday April 26, 2009
“On Holiday Routine” – we live for this 6 hour block of semi-free time. There are still lots of rules involved but it’s a little looser.
This week we had our first exam, personal inspection, bunk/rack inspection, a zone inspection (covers the entire compartment), 2 regular running PT sessions, 1 “bases” PT (which is like a circuit system of different exercises). I passed them all, I didn’t do perfect but I passed.
I got de-crowned (my position as Master of Arms) taken away when a young attitude filled hot-head went to the RDC’s and told them she could do the job better. So far she is not doing a good job and the Division is chaotic. I’m just keeping my mouth shut, laying low and watching her.
Monday (tomorrow) we head into day 24 and we have a weapons inspection (covering weapons safety) and another personal inspection.
