Week One

The first week is.....slow. There are lots of classes (admin-related, UCMJ, personal hygiene, customs and courtesies, etc., etc.). There is also lots of marching. Because plenty of us aren't disciplined enough to shut up and listen to the DS, we also become well-acquainted with the front-leaning rest position. While that might sound restful, it is anything but. It is actually the position you reach while on the top-half of a pushup. If you have any doubt as to how "restful" the front-leaning position is, try it out for a minute....or 5...or 10. You can arch your back up high, or sag in the middle, as long as your knee doesn't touch down. One thing is for sure....it builds muscle! Near the end of the week, we were issued an M-16. While that might sound cool, but it loses much of its charm when you realize that your weapon will be with you from daybreak to sunset. That litttle 8lbs gets to be quite heavy after 12 hours of carrying it around in your hands (never slung over your shoulders). It also makes for an excellent exercise accessory. If your're not quite sure how to incorporate it in your daily workout routine, just ask any DS. Notice I called the M-16 a weapon. In the Army, it can be referred to as an M-16, a weapon, or a rifle....but never as a gun. Kind of like telling the captain of the Nimitz that you like his boat. Our DS explained that to us in no uncertain terms. He said if anyone calls it a gun, they might as well get down and start pushing. No more than three minutes after that, Garcia (a slightly overweight, generally intelligent Hispanic) asked the DS a question about his "gun". None of us could believe he f*cked that up in just three mintes. We also got to disassemble/assemble the M-16. I was 4th when we tried to disassemble for time. First place was a guy from "the block" who cleans his AK-47 every night back home. The first three weeks are called Red Phase. After that come White and Blue Phase. They say, although Red Phase seems to pass at a snails pace, the other phases fly by. Let's hope so!