Every second Saturday of the month, there is what's called a Poolee Function. All the poolees (and sometimes guests) show up to get killed by the recruiters. Sometimes Drill Instructors are present. Sometimes all we do is pt (physical training). Today was only my second Poolee Function. We had to do what's called a CFT, the Combat Fitness Training course. What is a CFT you ask? In a nutshell, heck....complete with burning flames!! It starts out with a half mile SPRINT that must be done in less than 4 minutes and change, then it involves lifting a 30 pound ammunition can over your head as many times as you can in 2 minutes, and then it ends in what's called the MANEUVER UNDER FIRE, which is an obstacle course that must be completed in less than 5 minutes for females...oh boy.....let me tell you... Here's what it looks like..compliments of youtube:
Yeah, so once our legs were tired from the sprint, and our arms were dead from the ammo can lifts, there was only so much left that we could give. How did I do? Ugh...I'm not too proud of my results:
Requirements:
1/2 mile/880 yard sprint: 4:34
Ammo can lifts: 20
Maneuver under fire: 4:57
My Results:
1/2 mile sprint: 3:30
Ammo can lifts: 45
Maneuver Under Fire: I finished the course! Time: undisclosed
Granted it was my first CFT and there wasn't much time to prepare (we were told of it 2 days before), I feel that I did pretty well!
During the Maneuver Under Fire, I was supposed to drag and carry a female poolee. It was way too strenuous, but I was able to carry a male poolee. I'm not really sure why that was. Anyway, it was fun. And I didn't throw up! My Gunnery Sgt said he would laugh at us if we threw up.
Just like every Wednesday's pt session, we played some Ultimate Football. My Sgt was almost done with his speech on teamwork...and one poolee was being disrespectful. My Sgt got mad and quarterdecked us all. That means we were killed on the grass with more pt while that one poolee watched us. It was our fault that we didn't police him about his actions. When one person in the platoon messes up, the entire platoon messes up. That's how you build teamwork and accountability. What a day! Needless to say, there will be no more Ultimate Football games during our pt sessions. Sgt literally dared us to show up Wednesday. I want this! There is no way I'm quitting now!
Two Wednesdays ago there was a new poolee that didn't want to pay attention to directions from the Sgt during the football game. Sgt chewed him out and ripped up his contract. No lie! These recruiters take their jobs very seriously. The Corps is downsizing now, which means the Fleet is getting smaller. We will all be in the Fleet with the recruiters one day, so we need to really show that we are responsible enough to be their replacements. Every session is a learning experience, and I've never been more sure that I'm joining the greatest fighting force in the world. Oorah!
NOW WITH THE PICTURES!!
My contract. Enlisting as rank E-2, Private First Class, which is the highest I can enlist with my degree.
Here's my ship date on the contract, April 9, 2012. More than likely, it will be sooner.
That's all I've got for you this time, kids! Until next time! I know I still need before and after shots from the weight loss. Come ahn, I'm working on it!!
Food for Thought:
"When your body is tired and your mind is going, you still have that thing ticking in your chest...Your heart will keep beating and you will keep on going." -Sgt. Faulkner
"Remember those who care and forget those who don't...never sell yourself short for ones that aren't even worth the short parts of your life...you deserve the world...own it..." --Sgt. Faulkner
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