Play Some Catch Up

Alright, I've definitely fallen behind. I haven't written since family day so I'll hit the highlights.

First and foremost of course...Family Day! My dad bused in from Utah and we met up at the PX at about 8 in the morning. We had our manly reunion void of emotion followed by my own little shopping spree. I ended up spending about 300 dollars throughout the course of the day between a company and platoon t shirt, a high speed backpack, a suitcase, a hygiene kit, (fully camouflaged) and food, delicious, delicious, non DFAC food.

At 1300 I had to be back to the company area for graduation practice. We practiced a couple times, and then went on our ways back to meet up with our families. My dad had rented a car and we just sort of wandered around the base eating and shopping. Sounds kind of feminine I know, but a man needs the necessities.

The next day was graduation. As far as I know it went off without a hitch. Afterward we went out to eat at the Waffle House, but nothing looked good so we moved on and ended up at...I can't remember where. Somewhere better though, nicer than Applebee's. Later that night we went and saw The Immortals. We both fell asleep.

After the movie and a visit to the pawn shop where my dad ended up buying a bulletproof vest...(don't know how that worked out, but it was nicer than the one I used in basic that's for sure) we said our goodbyes. An emotional little episode if I've ever had one, but alas I soldiered on...get it?

The next day we shipped. I tried to go to the PX to buy a smaller backpack that I could put my laptop and my other valuables in but it turned into a big episode because one of the females that decided to come was an idiot and was supposed to ship at the same time as we left for the PX, so our senior Drill Sergeant, DS Mendes came to find us. Not good. We all double timed back to the company area because the 1st Sgt "had some questions to ask us." Also not good. Luckily the only question he asked me was if I had permission to go, which I did. He threatened the others with Article 15's but they never came to pass.

Our ship time got bumped up about an hour so we marched over to the collection area...and waited, for close to two hours. Finally our bus arrived, with fantastic news. It had power outlets. this 18 hour bus ride wasn't going to be as bad as I thought.

Long story short, we drove. And at the first stop half the bus took off at a full sprint to the smoke shop half a mile a way. They would never be able to run like that again. 30 minutes later once everyone had gotten their nicotine fix and snacks we got back on the road.

The next stop we took was at a Golden Corral in Muskagee, Oklahoma. This was the first time I'd ever really been out in public in my uniform and it felt good. I spent more time shaking hands and talking with vets...and hoping the cheerleading team that was there would end up looking our way, than I did eating food. It was a good feeling. It made the last 10 weeks feel just about worth it.

Bellies full, we got back on the bus for the last leg of our trip. Next stop San Antonio.

We pulled into Golf Company at about 3 in the morning, amazingly reminiscent of the first time I went through all this reception...

It didn't suck as bad this time though. Probably just because it was shorter. The NCOIC there was a jerk, but that was probably just because he screwed something up so they made him a paperpusher, can't really blame the guy for being bitter I guess. All in all processing just consisted of signing a couple papers saying that we weren't going to kill ourselves, and finally intimidating me into telling them that I had another ticket that I had received just before shipping to basic. So I got proof that I paid it and moved on. Oh, and apparently I forgot my ID card somewhere in Missouri, at least that's what I thought. A couple days ago my dad texted me and told me that he had found it in his wallet. I have it now though and that's all that matters.

The first real physical challenge I had in a while came next. We had to carry all of our bags to our new company AO, Alpha company. Doesn't sound so bad, but it sucked. I probably had about 150 pounds of stuff in my three bags that I couldn't really even wear. Just carry.

We got there though, Huerta (2nd Platoon's PG back in Comanche Co) and I were the first ones there. Comanche leads the way. The stragglers (females) finally showed up and we were sorted into our platoons alphabetically, leaving me in the 4th Platoon "Spartans." We did a bag check and made sure everyone had everything that they needed. This one was much less intense than the shark attack one the first day of basic.

The day we arrived was a Sunday which meant no church, but I wasn't too bothered. If it was basic I would have put up a fight because I just liked having a break, but in the 2 days I had been there I could tell that things were going to be a lot different than at Lost in the Woods.

In the 4 days that I've been in A Co I really can't say that I've accomplished a whole lot. I did however find out that since I have a current state EMT-B certification that I can challenge the NREMT test. If I pass that on Sunday then I can fast track to another company that is further along in their training and skip about 8 weeks. Which would be very, very nice.

I just got back from lunch at the METC, basically the DFAC of all DFACs. We had a special Thanksgiving lunch with turkey, stuffing, pie, and to top it off it was served to us by all the officers and senior enlisted in the Battalion. It was a really relaxed meal, definitely not something I was used to. There's still the tinge of loneliness being that this is the first major holiday I haven't spent with family, but it wasn't all bad. I like being alone.

Soo. Happy Thanksgiving!

Up in the Air

I'm on my way to BCT. Thus far it happened like this.

Yesterday all the recruits that were either shipping out or just going to MEPS checked into the Radisson and had a briefing at 8. Lights out was at 10. Our wake up call was at 4:30 and I've been awake since.

Typically everyone takes a chartered bus to MEPS in the morning but today they lost the bus. The hotel instead called a few cabs and shuttled us there a handful at a time.

Upon arrival to MEPS we all went through the motions of medical screenings and getting travel arrangements. Mine of course went awry. For some reason my name kept getting locked out of the computer system and I would have to wait for 10 minutes each time to try again.

The MEPS was short staffed and everyone was stressed, the one who most easily showed it of course was Scott. A civilian that was of equally bad demeanor the last time I went through MEPS.

Eventually I got on my way with my "travel squad." There are six of us that are all going to the same base and we all travel together.

The only real problem I encountered was when I showed up to the airport and my reservation was under the name "Manuel T Towse." With the wrong birthday to boot.

After making a call to the travel liaison who made a few more calls, the reservation was changed and I was on my way.

On our flight from Salt Lake City to Denver I sat next to a National Guardsmen, who had been in for 42 years.

Once we got to Denver we took out meal checks and went to the nicest place we could find. We were all allowed 23 dollars and all but one of us went over the limit and had to pay the difference. But 3.42 for a full rack of ribs isn't so bad...

Now I'm sitting at the gate waiting for our flight to St. Louis. Upon arrival, as far as I understand we should be getting on a bus to take ua to the reception center at Fort Leonard Wood. It is at the reception center at which we will all get to spend a couple days filling out paperwork and getting shots. 

I don't know if I'll have any time to add a last post but I want all of you to know that I am going to use the restroom aboard this flight and cross that off my bucket list.

Walking it Alone

Lately I've come to realize that no matter what you do, you're going to be alone. I've found this to be especially true since I've joined the military.

I grew up in Utah so you probably know that there are a few Mormons around. I'm one of them. Mormons you see, send their 19 year old young men out on missions to preach the gospel and whatnot. It's supposed to be viewed as an opportunity but I've come to find it as more of an expectation. I'm not of course trying to cheapen the faith and resolve of those who do serve missions I have the utmost respect for those who do since many of them are my closest friends. I'm just adding some substance to my next point.

When I tell someone, particularly a girl, (since I really don't care about and male's opinion about me...at all) I can see them instantly coming to a conclusion about me. It's pretty interesting. It basically boils down to these 5 courses of action.

1. You should be serving a mission.

2. You can't be that smart if you decided to throw away the opportunity to attend college.

3. You're leaving soon so we probably shouldn't date.

4. You're leaving soon and I want to kind of date you, but not call it a relationship since there's no way you'd ever be able to convince me to sustain any type of loyalty to you.

5. I'm a decent human being and I would love to associate myself with you without looking for your smallest mistakes to call you out on so that I don't seem like a jerk that really just wanted to hook up and dump you right before you leave.

5 of course is my personal favorite. Of course it hasn't happened, and probably won't happen in the next 7 and a half days, but it's always nice to think of it as an option.

As for family, I like my dad. That's about it.

Getting Nearer

I now have 16 days, 1 hour, and 18 minutes until I report for duty at the Provo Army Recruitment Center. I've been going to the gym and feel like I've been making progress. So hopefully BCT won't be nearly as miserable as it's going to be for most recruits.

In other news another one of my friends, Clayton Dunnivan has also decided to enlist in the Army. I'm a recruiting machine.

I also recently passed my APFT so I will officially be starting my Army career as an E-3, or in other words Private First Class. So I'm pretty excited for that. At this point I kind of wish I had gotten my Eagle Scout Award so I wouldn't have had to do all this extra recruitment stuff.

Now I've got 16 days. 1 hour, and 8 minutes. Time's a wastin'

Tagging Along

Just recently I think my friend Paul Sanchez decided to join the Army Reserves, I say maybe because it's not really in stone. More of a maybe than a hopefully even. The biggest reason he has decided to take this step in his life is for the money he will receive for education, which in this economy is a large factor for a lot of people that are deciding to enlist. My recruiter Sergeant Anderson gave him the packet to fill out and said bring it back ASAP. Hopefully he goes through with it. I feel like he needs the Army just as much as it needs him.

Sleeping In

My current job is allowing me about 5 hours of sleep per night, so getting up at 6:00 AM for our latest company sized Future Soldier function was pretty easy compared to my usual wake up time of 4:30.

All of the Future Soldiers met at the recruiting station and we left at 6:45 for the Army Reserve base up by Primary Children's Medical Center in Salt Lake City. I don't remember what it's called, so I'll probably add that in later.

There were about 75 Future Soldiers from the different recruiting stations around northern Utah present. We fell into formation in the parking lot and were given instructions on what we would be doing that day. There were 3 classes that we rotated through. A weapons information class, a simulated firing range with handguns, and a class from Army OneSource (A program designed to help the families of soldiers in any way it can) and Wells Fargo. Oh, and lunch, a really good catered Italian lunch, probably to try to convince us that food in the Army is going to be great.

The class from OneSource was pretty boring, probably because I don't have a family I need to support. Naturally I tood infinitely more interest in the weapons classes, and shot pretty well with the simulated pistols.

All in all it was a good experience and I'm glad I went. In the course of the function I met a couple more people that have aspirations of being something great in the Army, and are idiots.

Frisbee and Snacks!

Yesterday I went to my first Future Soldier Function. A Future Soldier Function is basically just a meeting all the recruits in the Army Delayed Entry Program at our recruiting station have every other Thursday. I asked my recruiter, Sgt Anderson what we do at these things. He said, "Basically we just play ultimate frisbee and have some food and stuff."

So I show up to the function ready to play some extremely feminine sports...like frisbee. But after a short presentation from some Human Resources lady outlining the benefits and programs available for our families, and taking pictures for the Future Soldier Wall of Fame in the office, we got ready to go play. It was at this moment that one of the recruiters said "Let's go run up to the Y!" It was at this moment that I thought to myself, "I've made a huge mistake..."

Long story short, we got to the Y and started running...which lasted all of like 50 feet for most of the recruits. I of course am no average recruit. I ran all the way to the second of ten switchbacks...immediately wishing I was as smart as the kids that didn't start hiking up the side of a mountain with a full sprint.

There was one recruit, that is apparently in my "squad," that was wearing weights on his ankles and wrists. He was also dressed like the Unabomber or something. He made it about twenty-five feet before looking like he was about to have a cardiac episode. So one of the recruiter's told him to take off his damn weights and keep going. I don't know what happened after that, but on of the recruiters said that he quit after the first switchback...Army Strong!

I'll just say that I hope that a couple of my fellow recruits end up in supply and logistics...like so far away from the combat that they supply the supply and logistics guys.

Anyway. We all made it to the top of the Y, with the exception of Mr. Kaczynski of course.

Then we all ran down, so that we'd impress girls.

Probably didn't work.

PFC Cody Towse...eventually.

Well there are a couple ways you can start at an advanced pay grade in the United States Army. Things like college credit, ROTC, Eagle Scout Awards, and things like that. Since I'm an underachiever...I have none of those things under my belt, but alas there was hope. Basically you just have to be able to pass the Army Physical Fitness Test, and refer either two of your borderline retarded friends, or just one that has at least some semblance of organized thought in their skull, meaning they get at least 50 on the ASVAB.

I got my cousin Dustin Campbell to sign up too. Unfortunately for my pride's sake, he can put together an organized thought pretty well. Since he beat my score on the ASVAB with a 96. (I got a 93) Bummer, I know. I haven't take the physical fitness test yet but I don't think there's really any way I can fail it, it's not a particularly grueling thing. So between Dustin and my PFT, I'm going to start as as E-3. (Private First Class) This all means I get more pay initially starting out, and there are going to be about 10 fewer people in the army that can give me orders...

Flame On!

At sometime in your life you will probably go to your grandmother's house for some In-N-Out just after you've gotten done with work for the day. And then immediately following this delightful dinner walk outside to find that your car is fully engulfed in a scorching hot mess of molten aluminum and exploding tires. Kidding. That probably won't happen to you. Ever. Because that doesn't happen to people. Except for me.

Hurry Up And Wait

Well I think I've been awake for about 27 hours now...so I'm slightly sleepy. Damn MEPS. The day went like this: First, everyone gets up at about 4:30 and gets all ready for processing, you know, showering, brushing your teeth, not putting on a thong (that was a specific instruction given to all recruits before going to processing...yeah I know). After a short bus ride from the Radisson hotel in Salt Lake City, we ended up at the actual MEPS building, about 20 minutes before they open apparently, so we waited outside. It was great.

The first thing that I learned today was that apparently recruiting stations are hotbeds for terrorist activities, since we were all frisked, wanded, and had our bags run through an x-ray machine...and naturally the metal detecting wand picked up the Juicy Fruit in my left pocket, but not the phone in my right.

Now the rest of MEPS is hard to remember in any specific order. I remember peeing in a cup. being taught how to "correctly" check a box on a form, getting a reasonably invasive physical exam, exercising in my underwear with five other recruits, and becoming pretty apprehensive about the fact that a couple of the guys in there were probably some day going to end up handling weapons that can wipe out small countries.

One of the new things I encountered was being told that no matter what I did, I did wrong, not because of incorrect procedure, but because of vague instruction or doing them too slow. A thing I'll have to get used to I guess.

There is also a lot of waiting at MEPS. Waiting for interviews, waiting for blood tests, waiting for urine tests, waiting for faxes, waiting for recruiters, waiting for paperwork, waiting for waiting rooms to have enough room for you. It's great.

We also had lunch. It was kind of like the stuff they gave you in elementary school, but withoutthe essential ingredient of lunch lady love, prepared by a guy that looks like he got the job as a service from the local prison unemployment bureau.

Oh, and if you end up going to MEPS any time in the future, try to avoid the fat guy named Scott, he is a lot like the cafeteria guy, but more condescending.

After lunch I went to the Army liaison to finalize my contract and DEP (Delayed Entry Program) in. I know DEP is a noun and not a verb, but I DEP'd nonetheless. I got my contract all assembled, promising me the MOS of 68W. (Health Care Specialist [Combat Medic])

Shortly after thumbprinting about a dozen pages I signed the dotted line...which is actually electronic now, so bummer.

Next step was to take my Oath of Enlistment, which ended up being just the Air Force major in charge of the facility, an aspiring Navy SEAL, and myself. Not much pomp and circumstance, and the whole thing lasted about 45 seconds.

Then I waited around to get a ride back home from my recruiter. By then of course I had mastered the ability to hurry up and wait.

The Future

Well it's 4:15 in the morning and I've been awake since whenever I woke up in the morning yesterday. My head is racing with the thoughts of what I'm going to be doing for the rest of my life. Mostly I'm just counting down the days until I move in with my ten best friends this summer. And then after that, Basic Training. After that, I'll have AIT where I'll learn to be a medic in the world's most elite fighting force. But today I'm going to see if there are any 18x Enlistment option MOS's available, and switch if they are. Because then I'd be a Green Beret. And my God complex would be justified.

MEPS

Well here I am. Sitting in a room at the Radisson awaiting my 4:45 am wake up call to get up and ready for MEPS tomorrow morning. My roommate is a guy in his late 20's with a master's degree and shipping off to basic training tomorrow followed by several months of training to become a rotary wing pilot. Meanwhile I'm going to be a medic...yup. Everyone here compares everything to Call of Duty...so I'm a little worried about the mental caliber of my fellow soldiers...

Rolling with the Caissons

I guess I'll have to find a new name for this blog now. I went to a scheduled meeting I had with the Navy recruiter at the beginning of the week (Monday) and he wasn't there...so I walked next door and joined the Army. We went through the potential jobs I could have in the Army and I found a couple that I would really like, first and foremost being 68W - Health Care Specialist...which is really just a liberal way of saying combat medic. The next day (Tuesday) Sergeant Anderson (my recruiter) called me and told me that a spot was open for 68W and that he could put a hold on it so I could get it guaranteed in my contract, so that's what we did. I went in yesterday (Wednesday) and finished up all the paperwork for my background check so I could get my Secret security clearance. Why I need a security clearance to walk around in the desert patching up wounded soldiers I will never know. I'm scheduled to go to MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station) on Monday the 22nd and spend the night at a hotel and get a physical and some other stuff done on Tuesday. I also got my ship date: 20110906. It seems forever far away, but hopefully it will come quick.

The ASVAB

Yesterday I took the ASVAB. Apparently I did pretty damn good...I mean damn well. My overall AFQT score was 93. Which means I did better than 93% of everyone else that has taken it. And with the exception of some nuclear fields, (because you have to take another test to see if you qualify) I qualified for every single job in the Navy. Of course I don't plan on changing my rate, but now I know it's an option, so that's always nice. Too bad just about every job other than HM (Corpsman) and SO (SEALs) require a lot of sitting, which interests me very little.

Oh, and after the test I called my recruiter telling him my score and he seemed shocked, I can't imagine why. Upon hearing I got a 93 he immediately wanted to talk about me changing my rate to something along the lines of a translator, but that sounds like a horribly boring job, so I'll let some other egghead take the ASVAB and do it instead of me.

The Beginning of an end

Today, after much running around, mail requests, mail denials, bitter frustration, requisition forms, and general disappointment, I have finally gotten all the medical records and personal documents together that I needed to enlist in the United States Navy. My recruiter has submitted all of my information and said that, barring any unforeseen circumstances, I should be able to leave for basic training in May or June. I've never been quite so excited for anything in my life. I've grown tired of living a mediocre life and can't wait to start a journey full of responsibility, honor, and dedication. I will try my best to keep this blog updated as I go through my various trainings and duty stations for a long time to come. I hope that this blog can be a tool for aspiring corpsman to use and better inform themselves and their families about what they can expect. I'll be going through MEPS this upcoming Wednesday and Friday. I'll be taking the ASVAB on Wednesday, followed by my physical on Friday. At least that's how we're planning it thus far.