Whoo.
Well, kids, I graduated Infantry OSUT today. I changed contracts about 2 weeks ago, though, so instead of Airborne then RIP, I'm going Airborne then SOPC; I have an 18X, Special Forces option. My opinion on the program changed since I was given a real taste of the regular Army.
I reported to Airborne School today, too, since they're rushing SF contract soldiers through ASAP. I start next friday. Who knows when I'll get to the SFAS prep course, but I'm guessing 5 weeks.
Well, that's my update. I'm tired and I don't feel much like writing right now other than to say I'm back, intermittently.
T-Minus 2 Hours
I leave at 4 today. It's just about 2 PM, and I'm just doing the finishing touches on my packing. I still have to shave my goatee, which I'll save for last. I'm tempted to take pictures... I really want to see what I look like with just a mustache. Like a total dork, I'm sure.
This is the last post I'll make, barring some unheard of miracle, for at least 3 months. I might give someone authorization to post on my status while I'm gone, from my letters and stuff, but I don't know. Hell, I don't know if I even remember the password to give!
Yep. Cya later, people, aka the two people that read my stuff on a regular basis. I have to go cut up old t-shirts and wrap my carbon steel knives in them with oil now, so I'm off.
- posted by Dave @ Tuesday, June 14, 2005
|
Monday, June 13, 2005
Trying to find some solace.
I leave for Syracuse MEPS in about 36 hours. Can't sleep tonight, so I'm up reading OSUT/BCT journals and such to try to get a feel for what it's like. I always try to quell nerves with information; the unknown fucks with me if I have a lot of free time to think about it.
It strikes me just how much perception must influence the Basic experience. This one guy makes it sound like absolute hell, and while I'm sure it's hard, I've just run across this part of the journal that leads me to believe he's a pretty soft guy. I don't consider myself hard, but I've been through some shit, and I'm praying it has tempered my mind some. I've heard too many guys say that OSUT was really easy compared to RIP to believe it's quite so hard as he makes it sound; if it was, I wouldn't have a chance in hell of making it through RIP.
The funny thing is, the stuff that's really bothering me tonight is stuff like what to bring with me when I ship. In the end I'm sure it's no big deal, but little details really fuck with me. Should I bring index cards to help fold my shirt/underwear? What kind of underwear do they mean? What the hell do I need a comb for if I have no hair? And so on. In trying to find answers to those questions, I've only gotten more worried. Some people say don't bring a damn thing but some toiletries and a change of clothes, while others say bring a ton of extra shit to help with tasks. I really think it depends on where you go and your Drill Sergeants, but I guess in the end I'll simply pack everything--no more, no less--that's on the Infantry OSUT website and hope it's right.
I'm torn between hoping for a really hard platoon to get more PT and hoping for an easy one so I don't get mind-fucked. Maybe a nice middle ground without the potential for major injuries will suffice.
Another thing that's really bothering me is getting to Benning. It's not like I'll have an escort, and I'm always worried I'll fuck up something simple and get in an assload of trouble for it, or look like a total shitbag right off the bat. Wouldn't it be great to miss a flight on your first fucking day in the US Army? That's AWOL. Shit. I just hope I have another recruit coming with me... partially so I don't psych myself out and partially so if something happens I'm not the only one up shit creek.
Many a doubt waltzes through my head in these last few days. I think I'm tough, I think I have a strong mind, and I think I can will myself through really tough shit. But can I? I guess we'll find out.
You see how fucking nervous I am? Christ. I'm off for a drive to relax, then hopefully I can salvage some of the night to sleep.
- posted by Dave @ Monday, June 13, 2005
|
Sunday, June 12, 2005
Sunday.
Two days left. My extended family just left, and I'm relaxing here in front of the Yankee game... I'm not sure how I feel about things. Tomorrow is going to be another stressful, run-around day, so hopefully I won't have time to worry about things.
Tuesday morning I'm going to shave my goatee.
Oh. Went to see The Longest Yard yesterday. I'm sure it would be good if you hadn't seen the movies it ripped off, but all I could think the entire last half is how much bullshit Hollywood is filled with these days. It was funny, at least.
We played croquet this morning. I only played 1.5 games, as I took over my Aunt's spot the first game when I first woke up. Our yard really sucks for croquet; it's got tons of bumps and holes and the grass is too high. That's hardly an excuse, though, since even with a big handicap I finished second the first game and playing the whole game myself I finished first; still lost both, though, because I suck as poison. For some reason I just can't manage to hit people when I'm going to get them out.
It's funny how much a year can change you.
I fucked up one of my knives yesterday. My Hissatsu from Columbia River was the black finish model, and apparently they're not designed to be sharpened. Or something. On one side of my knife, after absolutely normal sharpening (the same as the other 20 knives I sharpened yesterday, all of which survived very well), the finish is wrecked. I was not doing anything wrong, but I guess once a bit of finish caught on the stone next to the edge I was making it just ripped a huge swath of finish right off. At least it's damn sharp now. Maybe if I still really like it after hard use I'll get it refinished with boron carbide or something like that, with a millimeter of clearance from the edge to where the finish begins to avoid tearing it off again.
Eh. I'd still like to leave some insightful political posts before I ship, but I just don't see it happening. I don't know if I'll post again until tomorrow, depending on how the getting ready goes.
- posted by Dave @ Sunday, June 12, 2005
|
Bastards
Gerber, that is. As in Gerber Knives. See, I bought a Gerber folder today, because it was a neat slim little thing that just looked so sexy on the rack. The folder I bought was the "new" Evo.
Yeah. New. It's new alright, freshly stolen from Kit Carson and Columbia River. I didn't do any research on it because it was an impulse purchase and now I have a knife the design of which was stolen without license by those bastards at Gerber.
If you curious, go look at the CRKT M16-13T folder and compare it to the Gerber Evo. Exact fuckin same thing. Now I'm going to have to buy a CRKT or two in the M16 series--I have room for them in my collection without being redundant--to make up for my ignorance.
I really like this knife, and now I'll always look at it with distaste... until I buy the real thing anyway. Just damn.
- posted by Dave @ Sunday, June 12, 2005
|
Saturday, June 11, 2005
Sweet, Sweet, A/C
Put in the AC yesterday 'bout 5 PM. Since my family is coming up I can't sleep in the basement, and my room was peaking at over 100 degrees yesterday, so it was a necessity. That, along with discovering that my damn attic door was open--one of the reasons it was so hot in here--leaves me a happy dweller.
When I went to sleep it was still about 80 degrees in here, but when I woke up (13 hours later, with weird dreams) it was cold enough that I had pulled my comforter and a wool blanket on top of me to keep warm. Figure below 60 in here.
I have to wonder if I'm getting sick or the caffeine withdrawel is getting to me. I feel woozy, like I'm going to drop off to sleep at any moment. I don't remember exactly what it was like the last time I cut caffeine off, but I know it wasn't pleasant. Splitting headaches, at least--those will probably wait until my first days at reception to fuck with me.
Off to clean the room some more. Rather, I'm boxing all my shit up and moving it to the basement or attic so people can use this room when I'm gone. Good times. I'd like to put up some more substantial posts before I leave, but I just don't know if I'll have time.
- posted by Dave @ Saturday, June 11, 2005
