I have returned...
It’s obviously been awhile since I updated… a real testament not only to the amount of time this job takes out of your life, but how willing one is to do absolutely nothing but sit on one’s ass when not actively engaged in training!
I reported to my company on the 7th of September, and we picked up 8 days later. In that short period, I learned trial-by-fire about some of the different personalities in the company. The first sergeant is one of the most detail-oriented that I’ve ever worked for. In the first month, I must have cursed his name a thousand times. If you haven’t figured out by the tone thus far, we have what could be charitably described as an… adversarial relationship. In the interest of fairness, I will say that it’s making me a better drill and NCO in the long run.
In a nutshell, the first cycle has graduated, we had a month-long cycle break, then I went on Exodus leave. I returned to work Tuesday, and we’ve been working balls-to-the-wall since then to prep for the next cycle. We got inspected just a few short minutes ago and were told that the reception battalion is already holding about 140 Soldiers for us. That means by next Thursday, we’re looking at a full boat-load, or pretty close to the maximum capacity of 240 Soldiers per company.
We also have painted a new mural on the floor – we’re the “Ruff Ryders,” the horse motif is a must. One of the other drills found a cool logo from some minor league ball team in Ohio, and adapted it with the gayest tagline ever – “Boom, you’re dead!”
Unfortunately, it’s printed on the floor as “Boom your dead.” I get this 2 days before we pick up.
By the way, isn’t it nice that our battalion commander has a hang up on proper grammar? Can’t WAIT for the pre-pickup inspection… “Uhhhh, Drill Sergeant, isn’t Y-O-U-APOSTRAPHE-E the possessive version of your?”
I reported to my company on the 7th of September, and we picked up 8 days later. In that short period, I learned trial-by-fire about some of the different personalities in the company. The first sergeant is one of the most detail-oriented that I’ve ever worked for. In the first month, I must have cursed his name a thousand times. If you haven’t figured out by the tone thus far, we have what could be charitably described as an… adversarial relationship. In the interest of fairness, I will say that it’s making me a better drill and NCO in the long run.
In a nutshell, the first cycle has graduated, we had a month-long cycle break, then I went on Exodus leave. I returned to work Tuesday, and we’ve been working balls-to-the-wall since then to prep for the next cycle. We got inspected just a few short minutes ago and were told that the reception battalion is already holding about 140 Soldiers for us. That means by next Thursday, we’re looking at a full boat-load, or pretty close to the maximum capacity of 240 Soldiers per company.
We also have painted a new mural on the floor – we’re the “Ruff Ryders,” the horse motif is a must. One of the other drills found a cool logo from some minor league ball team in Ohio, and adapted it with the gayest tagline ever – “Boom, you’re dead!”
Unfortunately, it’s printed on the floor as “Boom your dead.” I get this 2 days before we pick up.
By the way, isn’t it nice that our battalion commander has a hang up on proper grammar? Can’t WAIT for the pre-pickup inspection… “Uhhhh, Drill Sergeant, isn’t Y-O-U-APOSTRAPHE-E the possessive version of your?”
posted by broadcastmike at 7:20 AM
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