From Civilian to Sailor

New Country, New Blog!

2008-05-10T19:50:00.003-04:00

In honor of my new orders I'm starting a new blog.

From Civilian to Sailor: Chapter 2 BOOKMARK IT!

I'm leaving this blog up for anyone who may still find use or entertainment out of it, but from now on all posts will be on the new site.

Thanks for reading!

Graduation Number 2!

2008-05-03T08:30:00.009-04:00

Well it has happened.

Two rigorous months spent in boot camp and six months worth of photography, videography, journalism, graphic design and print production and I am finally ready to actually go out and do my job in the Navy. Most of my boot camp friends spent about 30 days in training and have been out in the fleet since December. The long training is completely worth it though, I cant imagine doing anything else now that I've made it through this. Plus the things I've learned and the people I've met are irreplaceable.

So here's to some of the friends I have made since I've been here

Green - Good Luck in Annapolis, I'm sure you'll do fine, especially if they're a fan of what if's... A School was a blast, and a lot of it was due to your craziness. So thanks for that. Keep in touch and I hope we run into each other again.

Midnight - Thanks for everything, you're a natural leader, and you know it, so use that to help others around you be leaders as well, like you did for me, I still have a lot to learn but you definitely put me on the right track.

Murphy - Together since boot camp, and now this. You are a good friend, a bit creepy at times but loyal and honest, and that's rare. I'm glad you got the orders you wanted. Although,I will miss hearing my voice come out of your mouth 24/7... "pt pt pt pt"

Sashegyi - I know we all gave you a lot of crap but class wouldn't have been the same without you, it probably would've been a lot quieter and made more sense. Seriously though, good luck in the rest of your Navy Career. Make sure to annoy the crap out of t-lake.

Thorpe - MC3... Congrats on that man I'm proud of you, you were a sleeper, I never saw you coming. You worked hard and you earned it so frock you. I hope you enjoy Millington, I'm pretty sure you'll do well there.

Timberlake - Good Luck in Ca. with Gagooch! You will have fun and you're lucky enough to be going with someone you know, even if his life is one big action movie and we're all sucked in by association ;)

Lauryn - You're so Ohio it makes me sick, really though these last few months were actually enjoyable, so thanks. I can't imagine the odds that you would get the same orders as me, just like I can't imagine going without you now. So I'm counting down the days until I pick you up from the airport.

Boyd - ... is... is... that Ashton over there? HA Anyway, good luck with whatever orders they give you, hopefully we'll see you in Sicily. Regardless you'll do fine, you're pretty good at making friends so I have no doubt you'll get by without me.

Stephanie - There's a lot to say to you and at the same time not much, as I've said most of it before. You've influenced me in ways you'll probably never understand. So thank you for that. Don't worry about me going to Sicily, I really don't think that will make a difference, and if it does I guess we will just have a lot to catch up on when we both get back.

Right now I am on leave in Ohio, spending some time with family and friends before I head out. In about 10 days I will be getting on a plane and flying to Sicily where I will live for two years. Living there will be an adventure no doubt, and luckily for me I will be taking a very close friend with me, who, amazingly enough, is also from Ohio.

Just so you all know I am probably not going to post for a while. I'm on leave, and will be working with my recruiter through the week, keeping busy with friends and family, and working on starting the new blog. I hope that once I get to Italy this will become more a photo blog which means I will have to buy a camera of my own I guess.

So goodbye for now, I hope to get things up and running again shortly!

Hang tight please!

2008-05-02T08:36:00.002-04:00

I know I graduated 3 days ago and I still haven't updated, but I'm super busy right now. So busy that I shouldn't even be stopping to type this out right now. But I've got a big post on the way just as soon as I get all packed and have some time, most likely while I'm sitting at the airport.

SO! For those of you in Chillicothe, I'll see you in a day or so. For everyone else, just hang in there, I'll post soon.

-Adam

Grad Status, Out-processing, and FTX.

2008-04-24T23:08:00.003-04:00

So to catch you up on what's been going on, I'll recap.

The past two weeks have been a blast. My best friend Stephanie flew into see me from Minnesota the weekend before last. Last weekend Brandon and Ashley flew in from Ohio to see me. Next week my mom is coming to visit for graduation, and by Friday I hope to be back in Ohio for the following week and a half.

I have been on grad status, which is amazing. Grad status means no physical training, no silly musters in the morning and afternoon and also no duty! Section leaders get two weeks of it, so I've been living the high life. Waking up anywhere from seven to seven-thirty.

On the down-side, I have been working on out-processing. Getting stuff signed off on, getting shots for overseas duty and bla bla bla. It's such a hassle.

Next week is the final event though, the field training exercise. FTX is where we do everything we have learned the whole course through. We will spend two days on site staying overnight and everything. Other than that I have no clue what goes on, other than we get night vision!

I made the class graduation program, along with Green. We also made individual class books with samples of our work and a course description. So in honor of that I'm going to post up samples of everything I've done and have a little review sometime next week. I want to put up some pictures from FTX as well. So be on the look out for that!

Changes to come.

2008-04-10T16:47:00.003-04:00

I need to start by apologizing for last time I posted. I said I'd come back from school and make a new entry. Oops!

I am about 19 days from graduating I think. I have been through the graphic design course, and now I have moved on to production. Printing, cutting, folding, and stapling books and packets and such. It's alright, I actually worked at a print shop with my dad before I joined the Navy so a lot of it is very familiar. We're pretty much wrapping things up. My friend Green and I are working on the graduation programs right now, and we're all working on our own personal class books. That's one of the good things about this rate we make all this stuff ourselves.

Anyway, as of right now the plan is, I will graduate on the 30th and fly back to Ohio on the next day or as soon as possible, where I will stay for about two weeks. I will be in the negative for vacation days but I don't care, I'm not going to be flying home very often for about 1500 per round trip. I will be working with my recruiters in Chillicothe for 5 days I hope, that way I don't lose too much of my leave time. So if you're reading this and want to see me let me know. I'm going to be gone for a while probably.

After leave I'm returning here to pack my stuff and I'm out of this country! Off to do video broadcasting in Sicily. How crazy is that? I will be stationed there until June of 2010, after that I see a ship in my future. I couldn't have asked for better orders honestly.

Ok, that's enough for now. It's almost chow time and I'm still in uniform, I need to change in to my civilian gear!

(Oh! Also I have a new Navy blog in the works, it will most likely be the same address and I will move all the stuff from this blog to a new address. So I will let you know when that's going to happen)

4 weeks till graduation!

2008-04-02T12:03:00.003-04:00

I have been in contact with my sponsor over the last few days. A sponsor is someone from my next duty station that will help me with things I may need, and let me know certain things. She let me know a little of what to expect once I start working in Sicily.

I will start out in the news department, which basically means I will be shooting stories and editing their nightly five minute newscast. A typical day consists of shooting video, editing and making sure any stories I have due are done by 2 p.m. and then preparing for the next day. They also do radio shows Monday through Friday, but I guess I will not have to worry about that until I've been there for a while. Which is O.K. with me.

As for the living arrangements I will share a bathroom and a kitchen with one roommate and I will have my own room. I am extremely excited about this! Those are better living conditions that I have had in seven months. Add to that the fact that I am going to an actual NAVY base, rather than another cruddy Army base...(no offense Army, but come on, these roaches are bigger than any dog I have ever owned)

I've gotta run back to school now, but when I get back I will update with a post about my leave situation.

On a lighter note...

2008-03-24T19:42:00.002-04:00

I'm going to Sicily! Orders came in today. To quote Chief as I walked by him in the passageway, "Oh, Wolfe, congratulations you're going to Sigonella." As if I had just won some game show or something.

Sorry about that last post, It was just a bad day, I'm not going to delete it, though. It's how I felt at the moment, and I can't say I disagree with it either.

Moving on, however. It's a broadcasting station. Go figure, the one class I almost failed is the job I get assigned. It's ok though, I'm excited either way. I'm going to Italy, how could I be bummed about that?

I will update this with more info as I get it, but I just found out this afternoon so I don't know much yet.

Hello Humility.

2008-03-22T10:50:00.002-04:00

After riding high for so long, I got a little taste of reality. I'm not as smart as I was letting myself believe. Or maybe if I am it's not my place to talk about it. I have always believed that it's ok to admit to yourself that you are good at something. It is when you start admitting to others that you are good at something, or you start gaining that arrogance that a lot of times comes with skill, that you will get put in your place. Well I found my place.

I know this is a bit of a different style post for this blog but it applies. I had gotten used to being "the smart one." People brag on me here, and I let it go to my head. I began to hold myself to the standards everyone else has, and because of that I felt a lot of pressure to keep up the work. Then I started the video broadcasting course. Ten days of 2 years worth of schooling. Not a lot of time to learn a lot of information.

By Wednesday of last week I was two hours from failing, Scoring a 38% on my second graded assignment. Me and about five others in my class of 12 were given two extra hours to fix the mistakes we had made and redeem ourselves and our grades.

I made it up and passed the class Friday. The worst part, though, was all the comments like "Wolfe is failing!?" "I thought you were the Genius!" "bla bla bla" none of them meant to be insulting I don't think, but were none-the-less. All in all I think of it as a reminder that modesty is a valued trait in anyone worth admiring. Something that I had forgotten.

on another note... Orders are still not in for the 5 of us in our class who don't have them yet. Chief is going to a diving school on April 2nd and says we should have them before he leaves. Rumor is that there are no good sets of orders left, so I'm not even worried about it anymore.

6 weeks to go! I think.

2008-03-15T23:12:00.002-04:00

It has been another week since my last post, and still no orders. We are off lock down at least.

Actually wednesday I had an interview for a writing job in Annapolis, for the Naval Academy. Where Officers are made. I didn't want the job, so when the Chief interviewing me asked me, I told her I'd rather do graphic design or take photos than write stories. I told her that I had confidence that I could do it, but writing was my least favorite of all the things we've learned so far. So, I didn't get those orders. Now, again, I am waiting to find out where I am going. I have my fingers crossed for this week, usually orders come mid-month.

In other news, I graduated from Basic Still Photography last week. Finished with an average over 93% that's all I know. On our final project I got a 98%, my instructors said it was the best grade they've ever given out. Kinda blew me away when the said that! Below is a smaller version of what I handed in.

Now we have moved on to EJC, or broadcast journalism. It's supposed to be the hardest class we'll have, so I'm a little apprehensive. So far though it's a lot of fun, recording video, narrating news stories, doing interviews, and then editing it all together.

I will update this as soon as I get my orders... well after I call a bunch of people first.

LOCK DOWN!

2008-03-04T13:49:00.002-05:00

Due to some people making some bad decisions, and us not doing the right thing and looking out for them, the whole Navy detachment here is on seven glorious days of lock down.

What that means:

Everyone is in uniform at all times
We will meet in the day room at 4:30, 6:30, and 9:00 p.m. after school everyday.
We can have uniform inspections at any of those musters.
No one is allowed to leave base.
No one is allowed to leave the building unless to go to chow, otherwise special permission has to be granted by their section leaders.

The worst part of all of it is my section was supposed to be on duty this weekend. However, since all sections will be on duty, my section's weekend is getting pushed back to next weekend. Which happens to be the three day weekend during which I was planning on going back to Ohio to surprise visit my family and friends.

So the moral of the story is if you know someone is doing wrong, correct them. If they wont listen take it higher. Look out for your shipmates.

P.S. >> still no word on orders I will find out soon though, I think.

Orders and other things...

2008-02-24T17:07:00.002-05:00

Since it has been almost two weeks since I have posted something new I thought I had better get on it.

I have been in Basic Still Photography class since my last post. Since then we have taken a field trip to Baltimore and Washington D.C. to take photos of people. All I have to say about that is people do not like to be photographed. Either that or they LOVE to get photographed and just ham it up for the camera. Neither are really good for the assignment. The point of the field trips are to show us that it's not easy to take good photographs when people aren't comfortable around you. Our job as a photographer requires us to make our shipmates or our subjects feel comfortable around us so they will continue on with what ever they are doing when we come around with the camera.

On another note, I should be receiving my orders soon, within the next three weeks I would say. I asked Chief if I could go to London, and he told me we don't have a base there anymore, and then mentioned that there are a few other bases located in England, but I wouldn't be getting orders to any of those. So with that knowledge and the fact that the orders to the graphic design headquarters of the Navy in Millington, Tennessee have already been handed to one of my classmates, I have decided that I will just be surprised with where I go. I should be ok, the only bad orders I have heard come out of this place were for people who have earned them.

Well I have food on the way so I will wrap this up. Take care.

Graduation Number 1!

2008-02-12T19:38:00.001-05:00

Today was the day we graduated from the Basic Public Affairs Specialist - Writer course. The biggest chunk of our training at the Defense Information School. It covers all of the journalism/photojournalism aspects of the job. From here I move on to Basic Still Photography, followed by two more courses before finishing up at the end of April. Also from this point forward I'm only in class with other sailors. No more soldiers, no more airman, no more marines, no more coasties... it's all Navy, all of the time.

While it is nice in some aspects, it also sucks in others. Mainly the fact that I'm losing my best friend to Minnesota of all places(told you, you should've joined the Navy...) I'm noticing a common theme in the military though, you make friends and then you watch them leave. No worries though, I'm sure we'll keep in touch. At least I would hope so.

Q & A: pt 1

2008-02-12T17:56:00.000-05:00

Recently I received an email with some questions from someone who found my blog. So I answered his questions as best as I could, and then decided it would be a good idea to post this info just in case any one else may have similar questions. Also there is someone who wrote me a while ago and I haven't responded yet, so I'm sorry for that, I will respond as soon as I get a chance! but anyway...

He wrote:

So I've been researching on the MC rating in the US Navy and I'm pretty interested. While googling for info I stumbled upon your civilian to sailor blog. It has great insight. Is it true the chances of getting that job is as slim as you said in your blog? I'm just going to have to get lucky when I walk into the MEPS and hope there is a vacancy at that position. How is 'A' school at Fort Meade? Reading your boot camp blogs, how could you have better prepared yourself? Sorry for the bombardment of questions, I'm just curious to see if this is the right path for me.

Thanks for reading! Glad someone other than my family takes interest in my blog.

Actually it seems the rating has opened up a bit. There are a few people here who didn't even know what an MC was when it was offered to them. We get about 9-12 new recruits from boot camp a month. When you think of how many people are recruited total each month, that's not much, but hey I got it, right? Someone has to fill the slots.

A-School is amazing. Classes aren't too tough, the instructors are good, and all the staff are pretty helpful if you need it. Honestly I'm having the time of my life. But, as cliche as it is, life is what you make of it. There are, of course, some people here who hate it, but it's easy, just keep your priorities straight and you'll be fine.

If MC is unavailable you can always hold out, the recruiters may be difficult to deal with afterward, but it is your life. Personally I was prepared to join regardless of what I got. My second choice was IS(intelligence specialist) but I wasn't eligible because of my eyesight.

Preparing yourself for boot camp:

Mentally, just be prepared to be treated like a dumb little kid for a while. You'll feel useless and possibly even afraid, but just keep your head low, and get through it, it's only two months. Just remember, it is the RDC's Job to make you feel stupid, they are there to weed out those who can't make it, but you'd be surprised at some of the people who have made it through regardless.

Physically, although I wish I would've been more routine with my work outs before I shipped out, boot camp wasn't that bad. I wasn't really used to the steady physical training regimen that they have in boot camp, but if you push yourself harder before you leave it will be easier once you get there.

On one final note:

I would not go any other branch than Navy. Here on Fort Meade is what's called a "Purple Environment" meaning all the branches mix. And while you have to have respect for all the branches, I love the Navy. I feel like we have the most well rounded, and down to earth people out of all the people from the other branches I have met. I suppose maybe I am biased though, but I've met a few soldiers who say they should've went Navy. Never met a sailor who wished they went to another branch though, not yet anyway.

Hope that helps someone if not him, feel free to ask me any question you have and I will try to answer it.

Quick Update

2008-02-08T15:21:00.000-05:00

Hey, in the middle of Final Cut right now. Final Cut is the mock newspaper we produce at the end of the Journalism course, which happens to be my situation. Anyway, what that means is I'm pretty busy lately.

but here is what i've been working on... kind of:

Picture Pages

2008-01-30T19:43:00.000-05:00

Today's Assignment: Take lots of photos of a subject for a picture story in our "newspaper"

Today's Results:

To Chief

2008-01-27T15:19:00.000-05:00

I know none of you reading probably knew him, but Chief Bell, an instructor here, passed away sometime within the last 24 hours. I don't know much other than he had a heart attack. It doesn't mean a lot to most of you, but he was a well respected man here, with a lot of heart and love for the Navy and his "shipmates," be it student or instructor.

He was one of the most motivated, most squared-away Sailors I have met in my short time in the Navy, and I doubt that I will ever meet another who loves his job as much as Chief Bell.

He inspired everyone around him to be a better sailor, and inspired me personally to enjoy my life in the Navy through a positive attitude.

So thank you Chief for being a great influence on everyone around you. You are already missed.

Been a busy week.

2008-01-27T01:42:00.000-05:00

Since becoming section leader things have gotten a little more hectic around here. Being a section leader isn't the reason it's been so hectic, well not the only reason anyway.

Update on school: Things are going well, we finished up all the photojournalism assignments, I will try to post some more of my pictures up very soon(Took some wicked awesome photos). We've finished up all of our feature story writing as well. All four features were above 90% so I'm very happy about that, since I wasn't sure how well it would go. Now we have started layout and design. Word of the day: Pagination. The act of actually placing all the items on the page of the newspaper. It's a lot more technical that I would have hoped for, but I still love it. I will keep you updated on that. Caught report of my overall average for every assignment we've done: 96.04% last I heard. Depends on how I did on some of the assignments we turned in recently.

Talk of me getting Petty Officer 3rd class is going around, but I don't want to get my hopes up. So until I graduate I will just keep trying to keep my grades up and enjoy myself at the same time.

Until next time...

-Adam

He said, She said...

2008-01-13T14:14:00.000-05:00

For those of you who read my story, thanks. I'm sure you noticed, as a few of my friends have pointed out to me, that I use phrases like "said so-and-so" or "so-and-so said" quite a bit.

My friend Felicity asked me, "Do you guys really have to state THAT clearly who said what?"

Yes. We're given a little room for creativity in that aspect, but we are not allowed to put ourselves into the story. If we write something and then don't give credit to who said it, it looks like we said it ourselves. Also, as for using the word "said" so many times, we are given some freedom to be creative, but not too much. We are not supposed to guess or assume what someone is feeling or thinking. So something like "...recalled Frank with remorse" would be a no go.

In other news, as of Friday I was appointed to be assistant section leader of section 3. Basically, there are 3 duty sections in our detachment(the building all of the A School Sailors stay in). Each day a different duty section is on duty. The section on duty is in charge of cleaning the building for that day, making sure there is someone standing watch* at the front door and driving people places if needed. Also each weekend a different duty section is on duty.

As assistant section leader I will help make the watchbill(the paper that shows who has to stand watch), take roll call at the musters(meetings) and assign cleaning duties to the people in our section. When the section leader graduates, I will take his place, and someone else will be appointed to assistant section leader.

*Watch - Basically standing guard duty at the entrance to our building, and making sure no one gets in or out who isn't supposed to be, answering the phone and taking messages, and sometimes making tours of the building or around the outside to make sure everything is in order.*

A bit of what I've been doing.

2008-01-09T19:22:00.000-05:00

I asked and was told it's ok for me to post one of my news stories, so here...

Sailors get new uniforms, more money

" With all those Christmas bills to be paid off, sailors should resist the urge to spend the extra money that may be showing up in their bank account soon.
   The new Navy working and service uniforms, in development since early 2004 by Task Force Uniform, are scheduled to hit the fleet summer 2008, according to Navy Administrative Message 351/06.
   With a major change in the contents of a sailors’ sea bag coming fast, sailors here, and nationwide, will be curious about the changes to come to the familiar Navy uniforms.
   All pay grades, E-1 to 0-10, will be affected by the proposed alterations to the uniform sets, with the new battle dress uniform replacing dungarees and utilities, alterations to the dress whites, one year-round service uniform and changes to the officer dress uniforms, said Senior Chief Petty Officer Rhonda Moore, chief of military personnel at the Defense Information School here.
   According to a release by the Chief of Naval Personnel Public Affairs, the all ranks uniform is a BDU-style working uniform made of near maintenance-free permanent press 50/50 nylon and cotton blend with an eight-point cover. The new service uniform for E-6 and below consists of a short-sleeve khaki shirt for males, and an over-blouse for females, both with permanent military creases. Black trousers will be worn my males, and beltless black slacks or optional skirts for females, and a black garrison cap for both male and female.
   “We’re rich in tradition and heritage, and I think bringing those uniforms back will display that,” said Moore of the alterations to the uniforms. The changes give them a World War II era feel, she said.
   Moore said she was especially excited about the new physical training gear that would give the Navy a uniform appearance, which is important when stationed on an Army base.
   The new PT uniform is slated to be available spring 2008, said Moore.
   Sailors here can expect to see the uniforms in places like Annapolis, but not likely at the clothing store on post right away, explained Moore.
   The new clothing items will also be available online at the Navy Exchange website, said Petty Officer 1st Class Thomas Gilligan, a photojournalism instructor at DINFOS.
   The Navy has already begun distributing money for the new uniforms, and sailors who haven’t received theirs yet will be seeing the increase when their next clothing allowance is due, said Gilligan.
   The new uniforms will probably hit major bases and the NEX website first, beginning in June 2008, added Gilligan.
   The change is a necessary one, Gilligan explained. “I think that we have too many things in our sea bags right now,” he said.
   The BDU’s can also be worn off base for everyday tasks like stopping at the grocery store on the way home, making them a change for the better, said Gilligan.
   While it is definitely a change, the new uniforms hitting the fleet soon keep Navy tradition alive, while providing a fresh look for sailors around the world. "

Also, here are some of the pictures that I have taken, rather than just pictures of me:

(Photos property of the United States Navy.)

Back in the swing of things!

2008-01-08T20:03:00.000-05:00

Well, I've been back for five days and we're right back into the swing of things, hitting the ground running, taking the bull by the horns and any other appropriate expression that I can't think of. I finished my first news feature story. These were fun to write, but also a little rougher. We had to pick the topic of the story, something considered news, then we had to find two sources to interview, people who are experts on the subject, and then we have to mix it all together and get a story.

I started it before Christmas break, so it was a little difficult to pick right back up where I left off, but I think it turned out ok. I'm going to ask tomorrow and see if I can get permission to post the story on here. It's not a real story anyway, it's just a graded assignment, but I thought I may as well show what it is I've been learning and doing.

Speaking of, we had another day of photojournalism. My friend Green and I took some good photos too...

photos property of the United States Navy

Homeless for a while.

2008-01-03T09:55:00.000-05:00

Well I've been home for two weeks as of tomorrow. I've had a great time. I've definitely learned a lot. About my life, about my friends, about this town, and I feel safe to say I'm ready to go back.

I've been running nonstop since I've been back, trying to see everyone at least once, which is a lot harder than I thought it would be. I think I've done a decent job though, and if there is anyone I missed I'm sorry, I will probably be back in May.

Christmas was good, I spent it with my family. I got some things I needed, like white t-shirts, black socks and shoe polish! I also got to download all my music off of my old computer and put it onto my laptop, that made me happy.

Then I spent new years with my friends and had the best new years eve of my life, no doubt. Some friends were missing but it was still a good time.

I will spend today packing and saying some goodbyes, and then it's back to Maryland for another 4 months.

I wish I was sad to leave but I can't say that I am. Sad to leave some people but, like me and a friend talked about, this is not really "home" anymore. I was born and raised here, I have friends and family here, but it's just not the same. Not to say that Maryland is home either, because it is far from it. Maryland is just the setting for the current chapter of my life. Technically I guess that would make me homeless... I kinda like it though.

P.S. I apologize for not writing more. I was reminded by NC1 that the transition from civilian to sailor doesn't end after boot camp. That means my blog shouldn't either.

Life is Good!

2007-12-09T21:27:00.002-05:00

Ok so I know I'm slacking on my blogs. I'm sorry! I get pretty pre-occupied here. I am having a so much fun though, this totally makes boot camp worth it. Tomorrow we begin Photo Journalism. I don't know how well I'll do in it, but I'm sure I'll have fun either way.

Last week we finished up the first section of BPAS-W(Basic Public Affairs Specialist - Writing course). It was kind of a technical writing style, there is a formula for how to put these stories together and basically you just have to plug in the information. "Plug-and-Play" as Tech Sgt. Thornton puts it. So it's been really easy so far. I've been doing pretty well in class too. I found out last week that the distinguished honor grad(the person who graduates with the highest average) is automatically advanced to E-4, Petty Officer 3rd Class. I would love to earn that, but I'm not gonna get my hopes up. ** Side note; I would like to congratulate Charlie Brown on graduating first in his class with a 95% average, and getting a promotion because of it! Hooyah promotions =P**

But anyway, I'm worried I wont do so well on these next few parts, Photojournalism and Feature writing, which both involve creativity. Not saying I'm not creative but sometimes I don't feel too creative I guess, and I'd hate to ruin my grade because of it. Oh well, we'll just see how it goes!

2 more weeks and I'm coming home. So to my pals at 3SG expect to see me at some point. To my recruiters I'm gonna try to stop in and work with you guys, which i will be calling you about soon. To my friends you better get ready because the fun is coming back to Chilli ;D. And to my family, well i'll just be glad to be back home.

Happy Thanksgiving

2007-11-23T13:05:00.000-05:00

Good afternoon and Happy Thanksgiving! Sure it's a day late but at least I got around to it. Sorry it has been so long since I updated, but I'm still running on no internet whatsoever. I've got my cell phone and a laptop now, but still no connection. I'm going tomorrow to speak with some people in the mall nearby and have them come hook me up asap. If you need anything or just want to chat give me a call, if you don't have my number just ask, I may give it to you.

Things are actually going great here. School is awesome, I'm learning stuff and actually enjoying it. Right now we're just doing journalism, but I am surprised how much I like it. Soon we start photojournalism, and that is going to be amazing. I've seen what some of the other sailors who are in the class ahead of me are doing and it looks fun. The instructors are good too, very easy to talk to. So it's easier for me to get my questions answered.

Other than that not much going on here, just enjoying my 4 day weekend. OH YEAH! For those of you who do not know I'm coming home for 2 weeks around Christmas time(Dec. 23 to Jan. 4) So leave your schedules open for some Adam time :P Gotta go for now. My laptop is calling...

-Adam

Fort Meade, Maryland. Chapter 1.5

2007-11-02T18:39:00.001-04:00

Good Evening folks back home... and anywhere else you may be. SR Wolfe here, in the flesh(well the internet flesh) typing up my own blog entry for a change. As you know, I've been a bit busy, so I would like to start off by saying thank you to Kevin for all the long tedious hours he spent sweating over his keyboard, button-push after finger-breaking button push. I know it must've been horrible for him and I really wish I could repay him somehow, but since I think he wouldn't appreciate cash as much as he would internet props I'll just thank him by simply saying "Thanks Kevin!"

Moving on.

It's been a while since this has been updated, nearly two weeks I think. That is because there has been a lot going on. So I'll fill you in.

2 weeks ago I participated in Battle Stations. As fun and eventful as that was, you'll just have to settle for knowing it was both fun and eventful. I'm legally bound by a page 13 stating that I will not discuss battle stations with anyone who has not been through battle stations. I'm almost 300 percent positive that most of you haven't been, but if you have, feel free to write me about it. After Battle Stations we pretty much had a week of cool down, I donated blood and had some snacks, I shined my boots, we watched some movies and that was about it.

Last friday was graduation. Which was a blast! I finally got to see my family again, and was surprised to see my friends as well, so thanks to the gang for coming up, it meant a lot. I didn't do much over liberty weekend, but that was fine with me, the 2 months prior to that was spent doing all kinds of stuff, so the break was a welcome change. Just hung out with the family and friends, and enjoyed life again. Now I'm sitting here in Fort Meade, Maryland, the location of my "A" School. Classes begin on Tuesday and I'm pumped. One of the guys who's been here a while was showing me some of the stuff I will be doing and it looks like it everything I dreamed it would be. I can't wait to start.

Right now I'm in "Phase 1". Phase 1 is meant to be a transistional phase from boot camp back into somewhat normal life. In phase 1, I am not permitted to have electronic devices, wear civilian clothes, have food in my room, leave base on weekdays, and a few other little things. That may seem bad to some of you reading this, however, I'm pretty much in heaven right now, there are so many things I couldn't do in boot camp that I can do now. The good outweighs the bad, and in two weeks I'll be in phase 2, and life will be grand. In phase 2 I can do all those things I just mentioned not being able to do in phase 1.

When phase 2 rolls around I will buy a laptop, and then I will be able to update regularly, and post all the pictures I have from graduation and liberty that for some reason wont post from these computers on base. So until then I'm going to get on some stuff I need to get done around here.

-Adam

6-4 H (After Taps, when no one should be writing...)

2007-10-25T10:56:00.000-04:00

Hello all of Wolfe's friends. I am Seaman Recruit Brown (Wolfe's bunk mate). He asked me to do a "guest writer" entry in his blog and to try and go over anything that he may have missed.

I guess I'll go ahead and start off my talking about the flag that Wolfe effed up. I helped Wolfe work on the flag, which looked totally sweet on paper, but turned out looking like some medieval, Christmas obsessed, homosexuals painted it. So as you can imagine, the whole "Christmas obsessed, homosexual" type paintings aren't a real crowd pleaser here in Chicago. So our painting was placed on the back side of the flag. But, fortunately for me, I worked on both sides so my work will still be showing.

Also, because I'm stupid and nobody wants to write me letters, I found this to be a great opportunity to spam Wolfe's blog and say that my myspace is http://www.myspace.com/dr_kuofficus . There might not be an underscore in that. After two months of not being on, it's hard to remember that sort of thing.

My name is Charlie Brown. Just though I would clear that up so you don't accidentally find a different losers profile, and lastly, there is a bunch of stuff in there where I put down stupid answers to stuff. I guess I thought I was being funny or something, but I do not have the body of a body builder, I don't make freakin $300,000.00 Annually, I'm not freaking Bi.

And actually I lied the real last thing is that, those are about the only bull crap answers on there, the rest should be true. and I used some profanity in my profile (I think) so if that isn't you bag baby, don't look at it.

Oh, I'm dumb, I forgot to mention the entire point of this is to write me letters after learning a little bit about me. My mailing address is the same as Wolfe's except that instead of "SR. Wolfe, L.A." it's "SR. Brown, C.D"

The end

Battle Stations: Countdown!

2007-10-25T10:12:00.000-04:00

It's coming, and soon. This Sunday, by the time this is posted, it will be over. Battle stations, in case I haven't explained it yet, is the big event at the end of boot camp where you utilise everything you learned through the process: firefighting, line handling, and who knows what else. Unfortunately for you I can't tell you about it afterwards, I have to sign papers saying I won't talk about it with anyone who hasn't been through it themselves.

Anyway, I kind of felt bad after last weeks rushed entry so I'm going to write this one as the week goes on. First though I'll touch on some things I may have left out in my haste.

While my flag drawing did win the contest something was lost in translation from sketch to painting. So after a second vote my drawing was moved to the other side of the flag, the side not seen at graduation. No big deal the other side turned out better no doubt. Also we had our second surprise inspection. SURPRISE! I failed. It wasn't really a surprise though, chief told us it was coming. That just makes it even worse. It was 3 stupid hits too, a button had fallen off of one of my shirts in my locker and my pen fell off my chain into my locker and I didn't know it. So I got a gear adrift hit. I can't remember the other hit though. You can only fail one graded event per phase of training. That was my one. Two failures and you get set back a week in training. So needless to say I'm a bit on edge for the rest of this week. Personnel inspection is Monday, final PFA on Wednesday, and test 3 on Friday... It's imperative I pass all of those. So let the week begin!

*5-5 Monday 15 Oct 07 *

Today was a pretty important day. We had our final Personnel inspection. Half of us had to get into our dress blues (what we'll wear at graduation) and the other half put on the working blues, or "Johnny Cash's". I was pretty nervous but I ended up getting a perfect score. So that was a major relief. I was also pleasantly surprised when I learned we would go to the gas chamber a day earlier than I thought. It was actually pretty cool though. They put us all in a room with gas masks on (about 150 - 160 of us) and stood us side by side in rows of 18 or so. The first row stepped up to a red line on the deck and then took off their masks and held them up with one hand while forming a cup with the other to catch anything that may be expelled from the face holes. Then you had to state you name "seaman recruit Wolfe" , and your division "Division 379" . For most, however, it came out something like "seaman recruit" *cough*cough* "Schmuckatellie" *cough*gag*"Div.." *gag* " Division" *snot* " 379" *cough*gasp*. Once the whole line had sounded off they would file out and the next line would move up. I was in the second to last line so by the time I got up there I had already been breathing in the fumes that the mask didn't filter. So I took off my mask and waited for my turn to sound off with my cup at the ready. I sounded off and coughed a couple times and that was it. I sneezed for about 5 minutes afterward but that was not too bad. Some people were pretty affected by it though. After it was all over I wanted to do it again.

*6-2 Wednesday 17 Oct 07*

Nothing much happened on Tuesday, so I skipped to Wednesday. Today was an important day though. The final Physical Fitness Assessment. The requirements for my age: Push ups 42, sit ups 50, 1-1/2 mile run time 13:15. My scores: Push ups 60, Sit up 93, 1-1/2 mile run time 11:23. all in all a good day! Now that the PFA is behind me I just have to worry about test 3 on Friday and battle stations on Monday! Oh and I shouldn't forget the drill (marching) assessment tomorrow, I wasn't concerned with it but chief told us if we do well on test 3 and drill he will take us to the nex (RTC wal mart basically. Featuring shopping, food, computers, arcade, phones, etc). So i hope we nail it!

*6-3 Thursday 18 Oct 07*

Alas, drill went poorly this morning. We made a safety violation while crossing the street. Chief was unhappy with that. He was also unhappy when he was called in this morning because no RDC (Recruit Division commander) showed up this morning to get us up and one of my shipmates alerted another chief of the situation and mentioned that it happens all the time, which is untrue. You know what they say, "crap rolls downhill" so we got an ear full.

We did the firefighting today, and man was that fun. We put on the gear, well most of it, and put out some fires. They were all controlled and pretty tame, but it was still a blast. So much that for a few minutes I wished I had picked that as my job. So Brandon, I think It's something you would enjoy. I need to go for the night though, test 3 is tomorrow, and study is required.

*6-3 Hold Saturday 20 Oct 07*

The past couple of days have been pretty relaxed, and it's a welcome change. On Monday is when it hits the fan, Battle Stations! It starts sometime on Monday and ends sometime late Tuesday night. It's time for me to sleep. I told my pal Charlie Brown to write an entry for the blog since I was feeling lazy. So the next post is out of my control...

5-4 Day

2007-10-19T10:13:00.000-04:00

The end is near! I can see a light at the end of the tunnel, I call it “Taco Bell”…No, wait I mean “Graduation” although Taco Bell is definitely on my list of places to go. I can’t write a whole lot today but I figured I should update my loyal reader.

This past week was kind of quiet. Took pictures filled out some paperwork went to some firefighting classes. Next week is gonna be packed full of excitement. Personnel inspection on Monday, gas chamber on Tuesday, PFA Wednesday, drill inspection Thursday, and test 3 on Friday. So, like I said busy busy. I’ve gotta go now though need to practice tying my neck tie for my Johnny Cashes.

P.S. Dad, since I know you are reading this could you get a hold of mom and let her know about graduation. Tell her I said sorry I haven’t written in a while, but I will be making phone calls next week.

4-5 Hold

2007-10-19T10:11:00.000-04:00

Well we’re almost there now. Tuesday starts week 5 and battle stations, “The Main Event”, is all at the end of week 6, after that it’s all down hill. Last week we had a line handling lab, where we tied a huge fake ship to a huge fake pier. We also had our weapons training and qualifications. I scored a 186, which isn’t that great. It’s enough to get a marksman ribbon, but I’m going to take it again once I get out to earn my expert ribbon.

Next week we start firefighting that will make the week go fast. Also the “Confidence Chamber” is coming up. That’s where you take off your gas mask in the room filled with some gas that is no fun to inhale. But what I am looking forward to most is haircut #3, because I really need it … Not.

Alight I hate to cut this short but I have stuff I have to do before my free time is up. P.S. I told some people my next phone call was on the 13th but I was wrong, it’s on the 23rd

4-1 Day

2007-10-04T14:21:00.001-04:00

This Monday will begin week four. That's crazy! I'm over halfway out of here. This is a big week though. Monday at 0400 we have RDC assessment PFA, then another personal and locker inspection. Wednesday (I think) we have our drill (marching) inspection, if we do well we get another flag to carry at graduation. Friday is our second academic test, we already earned our scholastic flag, but we can earn a pennant to put at the top of it.

Speaking of flags... we had a competition to design a custom flag for our division and my design won. My rack mate, Charlie Brown, and I scaled it up and drew it on the flag we will spend probably all of our holiday routine tomorrow painting it. So, if you wrote me a letter, thanks, it means a lot to me but I'm probably not going to be able to write this week. I want to especially thank my aunt Kathy who wrote me an 8 page letter that started like this: "I really don't have anything to say..." classic.

All in all things are going well, I'm sick but most of us here are. 81 guys x 1 compartment = much sickness. There are some real tools here, but there are some cool people as well. Like Simons who plays FFXI, or Saunders, who plays WoW and Rainbow Six Vegas, and is also into graphic design. Plus he got it guaranteed in his contract that he will be stationed in Japan, lucky. Then there is Charlie Brown from Utah. He just cracks me up, he says some crazy stuff sometimes.

Well, I should get some sleep, I need to be up to iron in about 3 hours. So in closing I would like to say thanks for reading. Also, there has been some confusion with my address and all my mail took a little longer to arrive. My correct address is:

SR Wolfe, Larry A
Div: 379 Ship: 05
3610 Illinois Street
Great Lakes, IL 60088-3610

Hope to hear from you soon.

2-5 Hold

2007-09-26T21:07:00.000-04:00

23 Sept 07

It's 2-5 Hold (week 2 Day 5, and we're on hold because it's the weekend). Things are really speeding up now. Monday starts week 3. We get our second haircuts this week, not that i need it or anything. We will also start learning line handling and how to tie up a ship. The week after we start weapons training I'm excited for that.

Let's recount the events of the past week...

Monday - Personnel inspection and dynamic material inspection (DMI), that's where we get dressed into our utilities and they inspect us. I got a 4.0 because there was too much excess material on my belt, and because my shave wasn't good enough. the DMI is where they check my bed making skills and grade my folding and stowing of all my gear. I got a 5.0 on my locker, who would have figured.

Wednesday - Zone inspections and academic test 1. Zone inspection is pretty much the same as the DMI but they inspect the whole compartment as well. 5.0 again, and I also passed my test.

Thursday - We did uniform 2ND issue, where we got measured and issued our dress uniforms. That was awesome. It actually reminded me why I'm here. I don't mean just for the cool uniform, but for the reward at the end of all this.

Well I need to get working on my submission for our division flag. I hope to hear from some people back home.

4 1/2 weeks to go. Graduation it Oct. 26Th

P.S. I passed my swim Qualifications.

1-3 Day

2007-09-19T18:51:00.000-04:00

Wednesday 12 Sep 07

Now that boot camp has really started things are picking up a bit. Unlike P-Days, we actually do things other than make our beds and sit in lines that lead to different lines. On Monday we practiced our marching drill. We're definitely improving. After chow we did some PT to see where we stood athleticism wise. We did our warm ups and then sit ups and push ups. I pushed out about 35 sit ups and 27 push ups and could not manage any more. The mile and a half jog was just that, a jog, it was way slower than my normal pace, and I was beat. We left the gym with me feeling disappointed and worried because the baseline PFA (Physical Fitness Assessment) was only two days away. If I failed it then I would not get my automatic E-2 advancement. To pass I would have to do 47 push ups and about 50 sit ups plus the mile and a half in under 13:30. I was pretty upset because before boot camp I had no problem hitting those marks. I guess that's what one whole week of doing nothing but eating and sitting around will do for you.

When we returned to the compartment the RDC ripped me a new one for signing the deck log wrong and getting us a compartment hit from the surprise inspection while we were gone. So, for my mistake he took 5 more minutes on our phone call home. It started at 60 minutes and is down to 25 now =( it was my fault though, I listened to the division idiot on how to sign off on it. So needless to say I felt like complete crap Monday. I apologized to the rest of the division later that day, but I still felt like crap.

On Tuesday we had our swim qualifications early in the morning. I stepped off the ten foot platform and hit the water harder than I anticipated. I ended up sucking in a bunch and panicking. I got to the surface and tried to breast stroke all the way down the 50 yard pool, but probably made it about 10 yards before I wore myself out and they made me turn over and do the back stroke which was much easier, but much slower. My shipmates were running me over. I had about 10 yards left and someone swam over me and pushed me under making me inhale a bunch of water, so my immediate reaction was to surface, and quick. My feet hit the bottom of the pool and instantly I knew my mistake. Standing up in the shallow end meant failure. However on my second try with the rest of the failures, the loser’s bracket if you will, I passed no problem. No one was pushing me under. So, I went on to the 5 minute prone float. I probably made it 3 minutes but my legs we already so tired I could barely walk. We had to lay face down getting air only when necessary. Again though, the space was too crowded and I was being pushed down. After going under a few times I just gave up. I was mad at myself later, that meant I had to go back and try again another day. All in all I was pretty bummed. Add to that the fact that mail has been coming in since last Tuesday and I have yet to receive any, I was ready to go AWOL and jump the fence.

This morning, I had the retest for swim quals at about 0700 but we got there and we didn’t have our IDs on us so we had to double-time back across the base and now, again, will have to go back there to take the test. So today got off to a piss-poor start as well. After all the marching and double-time in those boots I wore blisters on my feet. So I was worried about my ability to run. However, when it came time I did 68 sit ups, 60 push ups and ran the mile and a half in 12:56, I passed! As long as I passed the academic test I’m an E-2!

Well that’s enough for now, 3 pages worth. I’m gonna hit the bead and get some rest, I think I have watch tonight, around 0400.

-Adam

P.S. Write me… Mail is like crack around here and I need my fix!

Sunday 09 Sep 07

2007-09-17T18:50:00.000-04:00

So far it has been the longest week and a half of my life. I've learned how to:
A. Fold utility trousers
B. Iron utility trousers
C. Fold T-shirts
D. Fold utility shirts
E. Iron utility shirts
F. Make my bunk
G. Shower with a bunch of dudes
H. Shower without ever looking down
I. Wake up fast
J. Do proper jumping jacks
K. Do 8-counts
and L. Keep my mouth shut and eyes straight ahead

I miss being at home, and normal life. But its only 8 more weeks, and things will be somewhat back to normal. Food is pretty good here, compared to how I normally eat, and I eat like a pig now too.

It's not really too bad here, as long as you pay attention and keep your head on straight and your mouth shut. I'm pretty home-sick. I have to go iron military creases into my utilities so we will be permitted to wear then to dinner tonight.

...8 weeks left, tomorrow starts 1-1 day, the first real training. Sorry not enough time to write a lot today.

My mailing address is:

SR Wolfe, Larry A
Division: 374 Ship: 05
Recruit Training Command
3301 Indiana Street
Great Lakes, IL 60088-3127

It's Here.

2007-08-29T02:16:00.000-04:00

Well the countdown has come to an end. It's about 0200 right now and I'm doing some last minute cleaning and getting ready to take my desk apart, and pack my computer up. I thought I should make one last post before I tear her down. Tomorrow I will leave from the recruiting office here in Chillicothe at about 1330(1:30pm). I will take a shuttle up to Columbus and check into my hotel where I will sit(and study) until I go to bed that night. In the morning I will wake up around 0430 and get some breakfast before heading off to MEPS to do some paper work and such. After that I will swear in and head over to the airport and grab the next flight to Chicago. Where I begin my "P-Days"

P-Days are the days before the actual training begins. The days when you do the in-processing, such as getting your shots, haircuts, smurf-suit(lovely blue sweat suit), and other naval goodies. After the P-Days are done is when my training begins and my 8 weeks in boot camp start counting.

Before I go, I just want to say thanks to all of my friends and family for their support. As hard as it may be for you, it is just as hard for me to leave everything I know behind. To think of my brothers growing up without me being around to tease them about their attempts at facial hair or just to beat them up every once in a while. The thought of all the things in the lives of my friends that I wont be around to share. Or some of the people I may never get to see again. It's all hard for me to deal with, but I know that sometimes you have to be selfish to be selfless(in the words of Maranda) So right now I'm being selfish so that if in the future I decide to have a family I will be able to provide for them.

To My family:

No matter where I go or what I do you're still my family, and I'll just be a phone call or email away. I credit my family for the person I am today, take that how you will =P

To My Friends:

I wont forget where I came from and who my friends are, because it is hard to forget the people who have been part of your life like you guys have for me. We will keep in touch, fo sho!

I made this slideshow at FreeFlashSlideshow.com.
Check out these MySpace Slideshows!

To the Navy:
I'll see you Thursday.

Family Reunion

2007-08-26T12:34:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was the day of our supposed family reunion. Although it didn't take me long to figure out that it wasn't a family reunion after all. It was a little too patriotic with the stars and stripes decorations, and Navy flag hanging on the wall. The big tipper was the poster on the wall that said "Good Luck Adam" next to a Carrier. It turned out pretty nice. Lots of family came, Parents and Grandparents, Uncles and Aunts, Cousins and Friends, and a few coworkers surprised me as well. I have to admit they got me. Apparently everyone thought I knew about the party, and normally I do know when something is up, but I was caught completely off guard, good thing it wasn't an ambush or anything, I would've been in some serious trouble.

I've got some packing to do, and I need to study for my E-2 exam, I was talking to people who recently graduated and they said make sure you study EVERYTHING in that PQS book, because the test covers it all. I kind of skimmed through the first aid section, so I'm going back through and freshening up on everything. Plus I bought this book called "Honor, Courage, Commitment: Navy Boot Camp". I highly suggest anyone going into boot camp read this book. It follows a division through the whole RTC process, from swearing in at MEPS to graduation. I feel it gives you an advantage because you know what to expect.

I'm going to leave my copy with my recruiters when I leave if anyone wants to read it. Even if you're done with bootcamp, or just interested in the Navy it's a good book. So check it out.

3 More Days.

6 Days left

2007-08-23T22:47:00.001-04:00

Time is going too fast now. 5 months ago today, I was at MEPS swearing in and signing my papers, thinking of how 5 months was such a long wait. Now I'm asking for just a few more days really. So many people I haven't visited enough who will be mad at me I'm sure. Things have been pretty hectic lately. And when I do get some free time I can't enjoy it because I feel like there are a million things I should be doing, other than relaxing. Just nerves I guess. Although the thought of Boot Camp doesn't bother me. I only get anxious when I think about leaving the night before to go stay in the hotel in Columbus. Which doesn't really make sense, I know. Perhaps it's just because it's the first step into my new Navy life, and my goodbye to Chillicothe, OH where I was raised and have lived all my life. Where my family and friends live, and will continue to live without me while I'm gone. But it's necessary to sacrifice a little to gain a little more, besides it wont be forever.

On another note Kevin, Marissa, and I went to a shooting range in Lancaster and got some target practice in. Which was nice, I wanted to get the feel for shooting a handgun before I left for boot camp. I have never fired a gun before and I didn't want to get there and look like a noob, well anymore than I already will that is. I did alright starting out, but the more we shot the worse I got. As we were wrapping up though, a guy a couple of lanes over gave us some pointers, so I hope to put those into practice tomorrow when we go again!

6 days left... that's no time at all.

Navy Links I Found Useful

2007-08-17T17:35:00.000-04:00

On the side bar I have placed a list of links that during my time in the Delayed Entry Program I have found informative or handy somehow. So for anyone reading who is in the Navy, in DEP, considering joining, or just bored I have explained what each site is and why it has been useful:

-Recruit Training Command Great Lakes, IL

- This is the website for Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes Illinois, where every sailor starts out. This site has information on what the recruits will go through, and how they can do better while in RTC. As well as what to bring, what not to bring. It also has information for the families of recruits, such as how to contact in case of emergency, or how to write the address on letters to the recruit, and info on the graduation ceremony.

-Navy Recruiting Command - Delayed Entry Program

-This is a site full of information about the Navy. Specifically things recruits should know before boot camp. A Guide to the Delayed Entry Program, with the sailors creed, the 11 General Orders, Naval History and much more.

-1Navy.com

-Similar to the Delayed Entry Program website above, this site has info about things you should learn before going to boot camp. It has flash cards, and games, and puzzles to help memorize the Sailors Creed and the 11 General Orders. It has the actual DEP PQS guide to look through also. There are plenty of other things aside from just resources for new recruits. My favorite feature is the "Find a Go-To Shipmate in your Rate" I used that to email an MC who is already active duty, and ask him a few questions that only an MC would really know. Very helpful page!

-Navy Personel Command - For Enlisted

-I just found this site recently, it has information on the G.I. Bill, calculators for pay and compensation, and quite a few other things, many of which as a new recruit aren't helpful to me but I'm sure will be in the future.

-Military.com - 10 Steps to Joining the Military

-I probably visited this article 10 times a day before I had made my decision that I was joining and what branch I would choose. Priceless information on what to expect, what to ask your recruiters, how to tell if the military is right for you, what each branch has to offer, and plenty other tips that help those unacquainted with military life learn what it's all about.

-Military.com - Navy Discussion Board

-A discussion board for the Navy. I have found that if I have questions I go to this board, and use the search function to see if anyone else has already asked and been answered and if not, I go to the "Joining the Navy" section and I post my question and wait for responses. Sometimes there is no other way than to just ask someone. Has been very helpful during my time in DEP

-U.S. Navy Slang - Wikipedia

-I've heard that it is best to learn as much of the Navy slang as possible before you go. It will save you some trouble. Like if someone tells you to get them a can of bulkhead remover you will know that a bulkhead is a wall, and bulkhead remover doesn't exist. Also worth remembering is that there is no ID10T form(pronounced Eye-Dee-Ten-Tango, but when typed out looks like idiot)

-Military Pay Charts

-Pretty self-explanatory. Military Pay charts as of April 2007.

-Basic Allowance for Housing(BAH) Calculator

-A calculator that figures up how much you will be paid in Basic Allowance for Housing to live in a certain area.

-Overseas Housing Allowance(OHA) Calculator

- Like the BAH Calculator, but this one Calculates how much for places located overseas.

Choosing your first duty station

2007-08-17T10:06:00.000-04:00

There are, from what I've gathered, a few things that factor in when choosing your first duty station.

Part of it is all on you. If you go through "A" school and do the best you can do,(which shouldn't be hard, just apply yourself. School work and duties first, play time later) and graduate #1 in your class that gives you first pick from the billets(a billet is basically a slot available for your rating, or job, on a particular base or ship). If you rank #2 you get to pick second, from whatever is left over after the #1 ranked student picks, and so on and so forth with the 3rd, 4th, and on.

A second and more important factor in selecting a billet(and one you have no control over) is the "Needs of the Navy". Sure you can do your best to get first pick from that list of billets, but if there isn't a billet available in the place you want, then it wont be on that list. Plain and simple. If the Navy doesn't need an MC at Pearl Harbor then it will not be on the list, regardless of how well you do in "A" School.

I imagine that down the road seniority also plays a great deal, although I haven't talked much with people about this one, as I'm just worried about making through RTC and "A" School still.

Of course I could be completely wrong about this, this is just what I have heard from all the people I have talked to about it. So if someone reading this knows better, feel free to let me know.

12 days.

IFA...

2007-08-12T13:01:00.000-04:00

My Initial Fitness Assessment(IFA) was yesterday

I woke up around 10:00 am, expecting my IFA to be at 1:00 pm I thought I'd have a nice bowl of raisin bran, since I would have plenty of time to let it all settle before running around and doing push ups. However AT2 Young, my recruiter, called me and suggested we do the testing a little earlier to avoid the heat. So I met him at about 11:15 with a stomach full of milk. The push-ups were no problem. The issues started when I was doing the sit-ups, with each one my stomach made a nice *glug-glug* sound, loud enough for everyone to hear. With my push-ups and sit-ups out of the way it was time for the run. It turns out one lap around the whole of the Shawnee Square building complex is a half mile. I took a few last drinks of water and started my 3 laps.

It's hard to gauge how fast you should go. While running on the flood wall there isn't much in the way of scenery, you pretty much run past nothing. It's just a straight shot so it's hard to compare speeds to when you're running by stores, and people, and cars, and street signs. So I started out at what I thought was a pace a little faster than normal. I finished my first 2 laps in about 7 minutes, but by the beginning of the third lap I was pretty sure I was going to lose my raisin bran. The whole time I could feel all that milk churning inside my stomach. I stopped to walk every time I got out of sight just to let my stomach settle again. It didn't help my legs to stop and start but my legs weren't what I was worried about. I was sure I was over the time limit, with all the walking anyway. AT2 Young informed me that I ran it in 11:17 though, so I was surprised. Since I started out at a fairly fast pace I bought myself some extra time and finished about 2 minutes under the limit.

Well that's just one more thing out of the way, and one step closer to RTC! Now I begin the busiest week of my life it seems, dental appointments, DEP meetings, birthday dinners and lunches, bingo, Hanging out with a friend from out of town and more... makes me tired just thinking about it.

17 days... woah! that's not that many, I better start packing.

Shaping up to Ship Out...

2007-08-08T11:15:00.000-04:00

I have heard that RTC(Recruit Training Camp) is 80% mental and 20% physical. So my goal is to knock out the physical part before I leave, and devote that extra 20% to the mental.

As a 20-24 year old male I am required to do a 1.5 mile run in 13 minutes and 30 seconds or faster. Also I have to do about 50 push-ups and 50 sit-ups. I don't remember the exact number, just that 50 of each was "satisfactory". 13 minutes 30 seconds for the 1.5 mile run is actually "probationary" so my goal is to do much better than that. The push-ups and sit-ups never worried me, I have been able to do that since before I even signed up. The run, however, was going to be problem.

So my friend Kevin and I started running about 2 month ago I think. We started out running a quarter-mile, and then walking a quarter-mile repeating 4 times. That lasted for about a week, and we upped it to running a half, walking a half, and then running another half. Next we bumped it up to running a the whole mile in times ranging from 7 to 8 minutes. Until finally we ran the whole mile and a half one day. I don't remember exactly but I think we were under 13:30. Now we always run a mile and a half, no matter how much we think we're going to cramp up and fall over, or get sick all over our shiny running shoes. Our best time is 11 minutes and 17 seconds, we must've had a good day that day because we haven't matched or beat that yet. My Initial Fitness Assessment(IFA) is this Saturday but I'm not worried about it, as long as I can get under 13:30 I pass. It will be strange running by myself though. I recommend running with a partner, one who will push you when you're ready to quit. You end up doing more than you ever thought you could. I went from running a quarter-mile and then walking a quarter-mile to running a mile and a half straight in under 13 minutes in about a month. If I had been doing it all by myself I would probably still be fretting about my test coming up.

Oh! almost forgot... 21 days!

Mass Communication Specialist

2007-08-02T12:40:00.001-04:00

First of all I need to start off by stating how thankful I am that Mass Communication Specialist(MC) was open to me when I went to MEPS. My paper work tells me that there are about 1400 individuals in this rating. That is 1,400 MCs out of about 340,000 active duty Sailors. So the odds were against me but I was very fortunate.

With that out of the way I will describe what an MC is and what they do:

(my rating insignia)

Mass Communication Specialists are Public Affairs and Visual Information experts. They present the Navy story to audiences in the Navy and to the rest of the world through a variety of media. MCs write and produce print and broadcast journalism news and feature stories for military and civilian newspapers, magazines, television and radio broadcast stations. They record still and video photography of military operations, exercises, and other Navy events. They serve overseas, on ships, and at stateside commands as photographers, public affairs specialists, newspaper and magazine staff, and TV and radio station staff and talent. MCs also create graphic designs in support of the public affairs mission, create and manage official websites, and perform high-speed, high-volume graphic reproduction.

What they do
The duties performed by MCs include:
Prepare and write news and feature articles for publication
Photograph events for publication and historic documentation
Operate and maintain a variety of state-of-the-art still and video cameras
Operate computer-based graphics software and desktop publishing systems
Create original visual information displays and graphics
Multi-media design and production
Design and manage public and secure websites
Layout and design military newspapers and magazines
Manage radio and television stations
Operate video and electronic imaging equipment
Operate digital electronic reproduction equipment
Edit video news, features, and documentation
Shoot still photographs and video for accident or incident investigations
Conduct interviews
Market stories
Perform as a Public Affairs Officer

Related Civilian Jobs
Screen Writer
Photographer
Photojournalist
Copy Writer
Reporter
Editor (Film)
Editor (Video)
Camera Operator (Television)
Graphic Designer
Multi-media Artist and Animator

Once Recruit Training Camp is over in late October/early November I will be heading to Ft. Meade, Maryland. There I will be attending my "A" school for 25 weeks. In "A" school you have more freedom than in RTC, meaning I will have internet access again. From what I've heard "A" School is much like college, just a little more strict. Earning more privileges as I progress. From here on expect a few updates before I go to RTC, I will be somewhat busy in this last month of civilian life, but I will have enough time to update a bit I am sure.

27 days!

The Beginning...

2007-08-01T17:28:00.000-04:00

Is it strange to say that an HBO miniseries changed my life? Because it did.

A while back, somewhere around the beginning of 2007, I caught a few minutes of "Band of Brothers" on The History Channel. About a week later my copy of the series arrived in the mail, and after the first episode I was hooked. Within a week I had finished the series. When the credits hit the screen on the last episode I was left feeling a little, well, hollow.

I looked at myself and compared to the men in that war and I did not like what I saw. I felt like I had nothing to proud of. I mean I sit all day and play video games, watch tv, and chat to people on the net. It was time for an extreme change, and what better way to do that than to test myself in the heat of battle, to throw myself headfirst into the fire and come out a better person because of it. However I wouldn't let myself join up just for "the rush" I felt like I was seeking.

One night, after a conversation with some friends about the military as a career option I really started looking into it though. I did research on pay and benefits, what jobs were offered from each branch, and comparison of civilian and military life. I was surprised by what I found. After a few months of reading up on my own and talking with friends I had settled on the Air Force. I gave all the branches a chance, and thankfully so, because after talking to the recruiters for the Navy I knew it was where I wanted to be. Better Educational opportunities, a better probability to get and keep the job I wanted, and the chance to see the world! I didn't rush it though, I took time to come back in and speak with the recruiters over a 2-3 week period, and they were patient with me. Had they not been I may have felt too pressured.

On 23 April 2007 I swore in at MEPS In Columbus as a Mass Communication Specialist(MC), the job I wanted. So here we are today!

28 days and counting.

Welcome!

2007-07-31T17:38:00.000-04:00

Hello!

The whole purpose of this blog is for me to document my time in Navy Recruit Training Camp possibly more if I decide to keep updating. The idea came to me while trying to figure out how I'm going to write to all the people who wanted me to keep them updated on how I was doing.

As it was I had about 7 or 8 people who wanted me to write to them. I gladly would have, however I found out that my time to write home is limited. Writing 7 or 8 letters will not be easy. Unless of course they all say "Things are ok! Yours truly, Adam" but who wants a letter like that? So I decided I would keep a blog of the whole experience. Meaning I don't have to write 8 letters and people are still informed! Perfect idea right? Sort of, except for the tiny fact that there is no internet in bootcamp... surprise! However, My plan to remedy this predicament is I'm having one of my friends update my blog for me while I'm in boot camp. I will just write to him with a letter including what I want posted and he will type it up for me and post it, thus I can update my blog while in boot camp.

That's all for the moment. Thanks for stopping by to read, and if you want to know how Navy life is check back often!