Sunday, May 1, 2011
Boot Camp - End of First Week
It’s now Sunday, April 3, so my first full week of actual basic is over! It’s been a hard week, but definitely good. We got on the bus Monday to go over from reception to basic and the second we got off the bus they rushed us over into formation. After a week sitting in reception it was pretty overwhelming all of a sudden being surrounded by screaming drill sergeants, but it wasn’t too bad – but then we got our first smoking, right off the bus. We had our big duffle bags with all the stuff they issued us at reception, that weighted at least 50 pounds each, if not quite a bit more. We all had to get them up over our heads and hold them there, no joke, for the next 30-40 minutes. Without a break. Of course that is impossible, so it was a fun time. The drill sergeants really had their fun with us. Especially with their whole “shark attack” thing, when 4 or 5 drill sgts or more surround you, all yelling at you right in your face all at the same time. A lot of people really had a tough time with that first day. Since then it hasn’t been bad. I mean it’s been super tough physically, we’re always getting smoked, but it hasn’t been too bad. In between smoke sessions we’ve just been going to all sorts of long pointless briefings on like STD’s and suicide and stuff like that. Our training actually really started Friday, when we did our first series of “confidence courses”, or obstacle courses. That was fun. We were divided into teams and at the beginning we were the best out there, until later on a couple of guys started trying to be heroes and destroyed oru communication and teamwork, so after nailing the first 4, we failed the last 2 courses. Yesterday was rough, because of some idiots in 1st platoon (I’m in 2nd) the whole company got pulled out of bed and smoked then we had ot sit there while the drill sergeant lectured us for like 2 hours. Between that and pulling fireguard, I only got about 3 hours of sleep. Then because of some other dumb people we spend all yesterday morning getting smoked. Then after lunch we were issued our M16s then of course everyone was stupid and we got smoked hard again, though now a whole new set of ? was available to the drill sgts now that we have our weapons… I hope (though I doubt it) that people start figuring things out soon, because there isn’t a single part of my body that doesn’t hurt. A lot. I really am enjoying it, though. This week we’ll jump fully into our training. Tomorrow will be our first ruck march and the gas chamber (I can’t wait!) an then the rest of the week will be combat lifesaver training (like medic stuff). It should be a good week. As rough as things have been we do have a good platoon, I’m optimistic for the next 9 weeks. I love you all so much!
Boot Camp - Reception
March 24, 2011
Hey! I don’t know how much time I’ll have right now, but I’ll at least start this letter while I have a chance. It’s about 7:00 on Thursday night so my first full day here is about over. Everything has kind of run together though, because after our bus got into Ft. Leonard Wood at about 11 last night we immediately started our processing and didn’t go to bed until 3 am. Wake up was at 4. So after getting up at 4:30 Wednesday and spending all day flying and hanging out in the San Francisco airport, only getting an hour of sleep wasn’t too exciting, but it is what it is. We got a lot done this morning, drawing blood and getting eye exams and a bunch of other stuff, then we’ve just kind of hung out all afternoon and waited. We would wait and wait and wait, then a brief briefing, then wait some more, then more waiting, then another short briefing, then more waiting. Most of it wasn’t too bad because our main drill sgt, drill sgt *** is really cool. He’s been a “real” drill sgt out in the field for the last couple years and they just moved him to the reception battalion last week. I think he’s enjoying the more laid back atmosphere, he’s pretty chill. Then there is this other chick who is a lot harder on us (she’s smoked us a couple of times today. Well, at least kind of physically disciplined us. It wasn’t very intense.) Those are our 2 drill sergeants, then there is our platoon sgt . Today has gone on forever; already I can’t wait to get to real basic training. A couple of funny mission related stories though. Last night the first drill sgt who brought us in, who I haven’t seen since then, was going down the line and then just stopped at me and started asking me tones of questions. “What’s your name?” “Where are you from?” “Where’s that?” “Are you here for AIT?” “No?” “Then do you have family in the army?” “Has he come through here recently?” “No?” “Gosh, I know I know you from somewhere! You look so familiar!” Then all of a sudden it hit me. I remembered exactly who he is. Of course I didn’t tell him that a year ago I knocked on his door as a Moron missionary and that we had had a big long talk out on his porch, so I’m sure he still doesn’t realize where he knows me from, but I thought that was really funny. Then I also saw Tina Wills, one of my old investigators here. A lot of the medical stuff here is done by civilians, and she did my eye exam. She recognized me almost immediately; and was super excited to see me. That was a lot of fun. It took her a minute because I don’t have any hair but it was fun. I think that’s all I have to talk about after just one day, of course at this point. I don’t have my address yet of course, so for now I’ll kind of make this an ongoing letter until I get to actual BCT and then I’ll send it off. Hopefully that isn’t too far away. I doubt that I’ll usually have this much time to write, it’s now past 8 and it’s clear that we are done for the night. They didn’t really tell us the plan when they first marched us over here…But I’m sure it will be extremely rare to see this much free time again. I miss you all! I think leaving this time was harder than last time, for my mission. But it won’t be too long. I love you!
It’s Friday now (3/25), about 8 pm. I don’t really have much to add from yesterday but this gives me something to do. Also, these letters will basically become my journal of this whole experience so it won’t hurt to add some daily if possible. Today we got our ACUs and everything that needed to be issued to us, it was funny how excited some guys were. Us Guard guys were like whatever…it’s good to have a uniform again. Speaking of which, Christopher could you text Sgt. Z and Sgt Stace and tell them thank you from me? I’m only in reception and already I’m super grateful for RSP and how much more prepared I am thanks to hem. Other than that, more medical stuff, and a lot more standing around. It snowed today, not much, not even enough to stick, but it’s crazy that it was 33 degrees and snowing after it got up to 80 here two days ago. Gotta love Missouri.
Sunday night (3/27), lights out is an hour early tonight, 8 pm because we’re shopping out of reception tomorrow to actual basic training. This weekend has been laid back because we don’t have anything left to do. Saturday we finished our dental exams, got our shots and really that was it. I got 6 regular vaccinations, 3 in each arm, that part wasn’t bad. You just walk down the line and they slam all of them pretty quick. The bad part was the next part. They give everyone a penicillin shot to protect against strep and upper respiratory infections like pneumonia. I guess that tuff is pretty common at basic. That’s a nasty one though, first of all because of where they put it and second because of how think it is. It feels like they’re injecting peanut butter into you…That spot is still sore when I sit down! Today was super laid back. I didn’t really like it all that much because I think they’re kind of luring us into a false sense of security before all hell breaks loose tomorrow. Church was awesome though. It was fun to see tons of people I knew from when I served here on my mission. Of course because of that I ended up passing the sacrament today, giving a talk, and getting called as a branch missionary. The calling basically just means that I’ll be teaching one of the investigator Sunday School classes, which is no big deal because it’s just the missionary lessons. The talk was funny because Elder Maughan announced the speaker and then was like “oh, he’s not here. Well Private Goodale will be happy to fill in.” So I had to get up and give a totally impromptu talk. No topic or anything…
Hey! I don’t know how much time I’ll have right now, but I’ll at least start this letter while I have a chance. It’s about 7:00 on Thursday night so my first full day here is about over. Everything has kind of run together though, because after our bus got into Ft. Leonard Wood at about 11 last night we immediately started our processing and didn’t go to bed until 3 am. Wake up was at 4. So after getting up at 4:30 Wednesday and spending all day flying and hanging out in the San Francisco airport, only getting an hour of sleep wasn’t too exciting, but it is what it is. We got a lot done this morning, drawing blood and getting eye exams and a bunch of other stuff, then we’ve just kind of hung out all afternoon and waited. We would wait and wait and wait, then a brief briefing, then wait some more, then more waiting, then another short briefing, then more waiting. Most of it wasn’t too bad because our main drill sgt, drill sgt *** is really cool. He’s been a “real” drill sgt out in the field for the last couple years and they just moved him to the reception battalion last week. I think he’s enjoying the more laid back atmosphere, he’s pretty chill. Then there is this other chick who is a lot harder on us (she’s smoked us a couple of times today. Well, at least kind of physically disciplined us. It wasn’t very intense.) Those are our 2 drill sergeants, then there is our platoon sgt . Today has gone on forever; already I can’t wait to get to real basic training. A couple of funny mission related stories though. Last night the first drill sgt who brought us in, who I haven’t seen since then, was going down the line and then just stopped at me and started asking me tones of questions. “What’s your name?” “Where are you from?” “Where’s that?” “Are you here for AIT?” “No?” “Then do you have family in the army?” “Has he come through here recently?” “No?” “Gosh, I know I know you from somewhere! You look so familiar!” Then all of a sudden it hit me. I remembered exactly who he is. Of course I didn’t tell him that a year ago I knocked on his door as a Moron missionary and that we had had a big long talk out on his porch, so I’m sure he still doesn’t realize where he knows me from, but I thought that was really funny. Then I also saw Tina Wills, one of my old investigators here. A lot of the medical stuff here is done by civilians, and she did my eye exam. She recognized me almost immediately; and was super excited to see me. That was a lot of fun. It took her a minute because I don’t have any hair but it was fun. I think that’s all I have to talk about after just one day, of course at this point. I don’t have my address yet of course, so for now I’ll kind of make this an ongoing letter until I get to actual BCT and then I’ll send it off. Hopefully that isn’t too far away. I doubt that I’ll usually have this much time to write, it’s now past 8 and it’s clear that we are done for the night. They didn’t really tell us the plan when they first marched us over here…But I’m sure it will be extremely rare to see this much free time again. I miss you all! I think leaving this time was harder than last time, for my mission. But it won’t be too long. I love you!
It’s Friday now (3/25), about 8 pm. I don’t really have much to add from yesterday but this gives me something to do. Also, these letters will basically become my journal of this whole experience so it won’t hurt to add some daily if possible. Today we got our ACUs and everything that needed to be issued to us, it was funny how excited some guys were. Us Guard guys were like whatever…it’s good to have a uniform again. Speaking of which, Christopher could you text Sgt. Z and Sgt Stace and tell them thank you from me? I’m only in reception and already I’m super grateful for RSP and how much more prepared I am thanks to hem. Other than that, more medical stuff, and a lot more standing around. It snowed today, not much, not even enough to stick, but it’s crazy that it was 33 degrees and snowing after it got up to 80 here two days ago. Gotta love Missouri.
Sunday night (3/27), lights out is an hour early tonight, 8 pm because we’re shopping out of reception tomorrow to actual basic training. This weekend has been laid back because we don’t have anything left to do. Saturday we finished our dental exams, got our shots and really that was it. I got 6 regular vaccinations, 3 in each arm, that part wasn’t bad. You just walk down the line and they slam all of them pretty quick. The bad part was the next part. They give everyone a penicillin shot to protect against strep and upper respiratory infections like pneumonia. I guess that tuff is pretty common at basic. That’s a nasty one though, first of all because of where they put it and second because of how think it is. It feels like they’re injecting peanut butter into you…That spot is still sore when I sit down! Today was super laid back. I didn’t really like it all that much because I think they’re kind of luring us into a false sense of security before all hell breaks loose tomorrow. Church was awesome though. It was fun to see tons of people I knew from when I served here on my mission. Of course because of that I ended up passing the sacrament today, giving a talk, and getting called as a branch missionary. The calling basically just means that I’ll be teaching one of the investigator Sunday School classes, which is no big deal because it’s just the missionary lessons. The talk was funny because Elder Maughan announced the speaker and then was like “oh, he’s not here. Well Private Goodale will be happy to fill in.” So I had to get up and give a totally impromptu talk. No topic or anything…
Monday, March 21, 2011
PFC Justin Goodale Reports
This evening we dropped Justin off at the downtown Marriott Courtyard, from where he goes to MEPS tomorrow morning and then flies out to U.S. Army Basic Training at Ft. Leonard Wood in St. Robert, Missouri. Here is a picture with he and mom, as we're saying our good-byes.It may be up to two weeks before we hear from him, but we'll post his letters here on this blog. As soon as we know his snail-mail address, we'll post that here, too.
Now... I am hoping that we'll be able to find out when he flies out tomorrow, and if so, I will go down to BOI to see him off, too.
To see all 14 of the pics I posted from dropping Justin off tonight, you can see them here on Flickr, or here on Facebook.
Stay tuned...
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