Basic Training
Probably one of the more interesting times of my life has been A.L.E.R.T. I did not actually know what I was getting into, but it has been a great help in getting me focused on God, and has worked on my endurance, stamina, an motivation.
R-Night:
Our introduction to A.L.E.R.T. Captain Rowh introduced us to our superiors, took a few pictures of us still in our civilian attair, gave a small speech, and then the fun began!
As we were ordered to our positions everything was looking quite normal. They briefly taught us the correct position of attention, then the correct manner to address authority, and lastly why and when we should come to the position of attention. We were ordered to read through our instruction manual while the dropped us for pushups at every code infraction. We probably did 200 - 250 pushups that night. Our heads were shaved and our uniforms and equipment were issued, Nave blue, a color we would get to know quite well. We were ordered to dump all personal belongings and they took all means of telling time, food, gum, candy, pain killers, non-subscription medication, sunglasses, and any distraction. We were hiked carrying full duffel bags a few miles in the pitch black to our barracks. We were dropped a few more times, showered, and bed.
Day's Fly By Slowly:
As the weeks went on we managed to get used to the 24/7 rigorouse exercises of boot camp. Those who could not subject to authority or were not physically able to keep up were dropped from the program, some dropped due to injury. Each week as we could not think of any way for it to be more difficult, but thay always managed to make it just that much harder.
Challenges:Throughout the 9 weeks there were many struggles. Here are the more difficult obsticales:
Voice Lockdown (3 weeks) - We were not to communicate(voice) with anyone other recruit, for the higher ranks where we used the proper protocall ("Recruit Baab respectfully requests permission to (ask a question)/(make a statment).
Multi-day Alarm - We would be anywhere, a mile away or sleeping in ou bunks. They would sound the alarm and we had a few minutes to have our hiking pack ready with all the required items. If you missed and item, did not have your cantene full, or arrived late to formation you would have to carry a large log on your pack as well as knock out 30 pushups with your full pack on for each item you missed.
12 Hour hike - We accomplished a 34 mile hike, fast paced over 12 hours. The last 3 hours were hardest as legs began to cramp.
Responder challenge - We awoke to a multi-day alarm around midnight, given coordinates, told to save a hunter, and find the materials salvage him. We hiked all night, found the materials, and finally picked the hunter up around 5am. I and another Recruit carried his 120lb pack the distance back to camp, and the others carried the hipothermic hunter on a stretcher. We also performed a river crossing with the hunter on a stretcher. We arrived at the barracks after the sun was pretty well up and they sent us to bed. 20 minutes and we had another multi-day alarm. I forgot to refill some water and was issued a log. We were given many objectives to complete, we managed to finish them by around 6pm, this time we were actually able to sleep.
24 Hour Hike - If the 12 hour hike was bad, the 24 hour hike was much worse. We left at around 7am and hiked up and down the mountains in Alabama, under a torrent of rain, and through probably every river possible to hike through in those mountains. It was a Cold rainy day. At night fall we hiked on roads, we couldn't stop and a few hiked on injured limbs; everyone had chaffing, blisters, cuts, and bruises. We finished the hike at 24:13 hours, and 52 Miles. A 7 hour busride back to the barracks and 35 exausted Recruits sleeping in every nook and cranny of that cold steel bus. Until then I did not think people could sleep and hike at the same time.
"And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. ..... .... ..." Revelations 6:8
Satuday Inspection - Every saturday we had to clean the barracks to perfection, have our uniforms perfect, and have or juristictions perfect. We had harsh correctional thrashings if we failed. one of the last thrashings was 1 set of 200pushups and then piramids from 30 down, bear walking 300M, 300-400 P.O.W.'s, runs up and down heartbreak hill, lunges up and down heartbreak hill. supermans and mountainclimbers in the sand.
Promotion Day:
The last week was nice, things went smoothly as we drilled for promotion day. We did a few presentations of our skills, had a cerimony and then a banquet. 33 out of the 44 that entered were promoted to the rank of responder.
