Day 6

The following information is a portion of “Marck’s Boot Camp Diary”. The information contains a straight-forward look at Basic Training Life on a daily basis. The information contained within this page is used with the express written permission of the author. For more information about the author view the “Author’s Information” at the bottom of the page. Some choice phrases have been censored.

July 22nd, 2002

Wake-up was 0330. In civilian terms, that’s really ******* early. It’s all good though because I was knocked out by 10:30pm. We finally took our PT test. It was easy for me, but four of our guys weren’t as fortunate. They have to go to fat camp for 3 weeks before they can try again and go to basic training. I did the push-ups and sit-ups requirement(13 and 17 respectively) and the mile in under 8 minutes(the requirement was under 8.5 minutes). So we have completed all the steps of reception. Now we get to sit on our asses, stand in formation, eat 3 meals a day, clean our barracks and sleep for the next 3 days. After all that dicking around we finally ship to basic. Woo!

We also had a shake-down today. That’s when we take all the things that were issued to us and all the things we had to buy at the PX*, dumped it all on the floor, and made sure we had everything. That **** Sucking King told us I was missing a brown undershirt. Someone probably stole it when I did laundry. I had to go to the PX to buy it. They only had a package of three, so I had to buy it. Bastards. I sold one of the shirts to someone else though. Now boredom time until the 1630 formation for dinner.

No bowling today. Dinner’s done. I’m so bored I could punch through a brick wall now just to have the excitement of going to the emergency room. All this down time sucks. Some people can’t handle it. A fight almost broke out just out of restlessness. Two guys were wrestling just to do something. The two events happened in the big bay(48-man room) at the end of the hall, so I just moved in there to have some excitement. The room is maybe half-full. The guys told me that to move in, I’ll have to be initiated. I asked if it will involve pain and suffering. They said that it will involve a little bit of both and mattresses. My mission worked. Excitement, here I come. Eeeeeeeeexcellent.

I was cutting up the picture of Cendy with her cat with some nail clippers so I could fit it in the ID holder that has to go on my neck as part as my uniform. A little later someone in the room asked to see the picture. Then he said “Damn, your girlfriend’s got a nice *****!!!” .002 seconds later, 6 guys took their turn snatching the picture from each other with no regard for my complaints about leaving fingerprints.

A guy in the room is complaining to the world about his shiny red lump on his *****. He currently believes it will fall off soon….Ah crap. They are about to initiate me. Yay!…….Wait, they are afraid of the drill sergeant’s earlier threat to make the rounds through the barracks.

Captain obvious just informed us that we’re wearing our battle dress uniforms tomorrow. Duh. We’ve been wearing it the whole week.

*=Postal Exchange: Like a department store, except that no one sprays perfume in your face