Letter #1
Dear Mom and Dad (and everyone else)
Well, I'll try and sum up and regular day: 05:00 - wake up, then we clean the squad bay, then drill, then go to chow, which is around 06:00. We get 20 min. NO juice or sugars, eyes front & eat. Then, back to the house for clean up. I am in 3rd Squad, which means I get to "Police the grounds" outside. We socialize because there are no DI's around. Its cool because you can relax, and the sun is almost up & the temperature is nice.(75) 1st, 2nd, and 4th squads clean the head and barracks...suckers! Anyway, then we from for PT, which lasts for about 2 hrs. We usually do excercises & 1 1/2 - 3 mile run, or the circuit course. Fun! Then, we have a 1 1/2 hr. martial arts class. Then we go to lunch. Again, like breakfast, 20 min. no dessert & water only! After that, we go tto the house to drill again or to another calss, usually martial arts. Then we do more drill, then to evening chow (17:30). Then, after we eat, we drill for about an hour, or possibly more, i dont know - we dont really have any clocks - only the DI's watches when you can steal a glance. Then, we have our "hygene-time". about 5 minutes for 67 recruits to shower, piss, and shave. After that, we have Senior Drill Instructor square time. (basically free time) Still no talking. It usually lasts for an hour. After that, we hit the rack at 21:00, and sleep till 05:00 again, unless you have you fire-watch. A one hour guard shift with one other recruit during the night. I've had it twice already - its not bad, its relaxing actually, and the time flies by.
So you're probably wondering how I'm doing. Good, i guess- This hasnt been to good of a week though. The platoon had to go to the pit twice - no dice! The pit is a giant sand box where you are RIGOROUSLY PT for a length of time. The worst part is that you end up looking like a sugar cookie at the end. Thats because its sooo hot and humid. Everything sticks to you. Not only that, bu t you feel gritty all day. We've also had the "House of Pain"- That means punative PT in the squad bay. Usually that means Dips on our foot lockers OR pushups that seem to go on FOREVER! Oh well, it only happens when we deserve it. Except the whole platoon is punnished for the faults of a few. Other than those times, its not bad - youve just got to chunk the day (weeks) out. Chow to chow, day to day, Church to Church. Oh well, long story short: I'll live. Oh, another note, were all sick here. Chest colds and the like 67 (down from 72) people in one room isnt exactly the best conditions, even if we keep the house clean enough to eat off of. But, enough about me & here. Any questions just write and ask.
How is everyone doing? whats going on back home? Write me and let me know. (Nick, post my adress on LJ)
Oh! - Youre probably wondering if i get in trouble. No, not really. The DI's dont even know my name yet. (thats a good thing) I've only been yelled at twice and hit once. Nothing major. Other kids have had it much worse. MUCH WORSE!
I should probably tell you about the DI's.
SSGT Gern: our SDI (Senior Drill Instructor). Hes a cool guy usually, he takes on the typical 'father figure' role. He only gets mad when people mess up his drill. His motto: "Drill or Kill"
Kill= the pit
SGT Walker: our primary DI. hes ok i guess, kind of an asshole, but not too bad. (hes the one that hit me) He does most of the Teaching when the SDI sint around, which is often. Like i said, hes not too bad - the thing i hate most about him is when he punishes us for not staying in step, when he himself cant keep a cadence!
SGT Griffith: REAL DICK! and a huge sadist. Gets his rocks off by hurting the recruits and telling us we suck.
Oh well, ill live i guess. Like i said, i usually stay out of trouble. Well, its sunday, and im about to go to church - sundays are different - we get up at 06:00, eat, then have 3 hours free time, then go to church (optional). Then its a field day, (Clean the barracks). Exciting. Anywhoo - like i said, im supposed to be leaving for church now, so im going to close this letter.
SEMPER FI!
Justin
P.S. DO NOT: send packages, or letters with perfume, lipstick, or stickers on the envelope.
DO: send pictures
Well, I'll try and sum up and regular day: 05:00 - wake up, then we clean the squad bay, then drill, then go to chow, which is around 06:00. We get 20 min. NO juice or sugars, eyes front & eat. Then, back to the house for clean up. I am in 3rd Squad, which means I get to "Police the grounds" outside. We socialize because there are no DI's around. Its cool because you can relax, and the sun is almost up & the temperature is nice.(75) 1st, 2nd, and 4th squads clean the head and barracks...suckers! Anyway, then we from for PT, which lasts for about 2 hrs. We usually do excercises & 1 1/2 - 3 mile run, or the circuit course. Fun! Then, we have a 1 1/2 hr. martial arts class. Then we go to lunch. Again, like breakfast, 20 min. no dessert & water only! After that, we go tto the house to drill again or to another calss, usually martial arts. Then we do more drill, then to evening chow (17:30). Then, after we eat, we drill for about an hour, or possibly more, i dont know - we dont really have any clocks - only the DI's watches when you can steal a glance. Then, we have our "hygene-time". about 5 minutes for 67 recruits to shower, piss, and shave. After that, we have Senior Drill Instructor square time. (basically free time) Still no talking. It usually lasts for an hour. After that, we hit the rack at 21:00, and sleep till 05:00 again, unless you have you fire-watch. A one hour guard shift with one other recruit during the night. I've had it twice already - its not bad, its relaxing actually, and the time flies by.
So you're probably wondering how I'm doing. Good, i guess- This hasnt been to good of a week though. The platoon had to go to the pit twice - no dice! The pit is a giant sand box where you are RIGOROUSLY PT for a length of time. The worst part is that you end up looking like a sugar cookie at the end. Thats because its sooo hot and humid. Everything sticks to you. Not only that, bu t you feel gritty all day. We've also had the "House of Pain"- That means punative PT in the squad bay. Usually that means Dips on our foot lockers OR pushups that seem to go on FOREVER! Oh well, it only happens when we deserve it. Except the whole platoon is punnished for the faults of a few. Other than those times, its not bad - youve just got to chunk the day (weeks) out. Chow to chow, day to day, Church to Church. Oh well, long story short: I'll live. Oh, another note, were all sick here. Chest colds and the like 67 (down from 72) people in one room isnt exactly the best conditions, even if we keep the house clean enough to eat off of. But, enough about me & here. Any questions just write and ask.
How is everyone doing? whats going on back home? Write me and let me know. (Nick, post my adress on LJ)
Oh! - Youre probably wondering if i get in trouble. No, not really. The DI's dont even know my name yet. (thats a good thing) I've only been yelled at twice and hit once. Nothing major. Other kids have had it much worse. MUCH WORSE!
I should probably tell you about the DI's.
SSGT Gern: our SDI (Senior Drill Instructor). Hes a cool guy usually, he takes on the typical 'father figure' role. He only gets mad when people mess up his drill. His motto: "Drill or Kill"
Kill= the pit
SGT Walker: our primary DI. hes ok i guess, kind of an asshole, but not too bad. (hes the one that hit me) He does most of the Teaching when the SDI sint around, which is often. Like i said, hes not too bad - the thing i hate most about him is when he punishes us for not staying in step, when he himself cant keep a cadence!
SGT Griffith: REAL DICK! and a huge sadist. Gets his rocks off by hurting the recruits and telling us we suck.
Oh well, ill live i guess. Like i said, i usually stay out of trouble. Well, its sunday, and im about to go to church - sundays are different - we get up at 06:00, eat, then have 3 hours free time, then go to church (optional). Then its a field day, (Clean the barracks). Exciting. Anywhoo - like i said, im supposed to be leaving for church now, so im going to close this letter.
SEMPER FI!
Justin
P.S. DO NOT: send packages, or letters with perfume, lipstick, or stickers on the envelope.
DO: send pictures