Saturday Inspection
November 10th, 2009
One of the greatest tests of teamwork, diligence and attention to detail in Basic Training is the weekly Saturday inspections. Each time, the recruits spend hours working to bring every area of the barracks and their uniform to the highest standard.
Every week the recruits get closer and closer to passing as they learn to thoroughly clean even the most mundane objects. Here, Recruit Barr polishes the brass threshold of the barracks.
No areas are left unchecked as recruits even work with flashlights to reveal dust.
Recruit Derbyshire gives a final check to a bed, tightening the blankets and ensuring that all the folds are correct.
After the preparation time, the unit forms up on the flag field for a thorough uniform inspection by their drill instructors, senior drill sergeant or officers.
Moving inside, Senior Drill Sergeant Archibald examines a drawer for cleanliness, proper folding and order of layout.
Recruit Engell stands at attention while Drill Instructor Price inspects his bed.
Any area not clean, spots of dirt, or other problems result in a “gig” for the unit.
Drill Instructor Moody checks a week of journal pages to make sure that the recruit has filled them out.
Each week that the unit does not pass, inspection is followed by an intense PT session to provide motivation for future improvement. Hard work at last pays off when the unit finally does pass inspection.
Survival Week: Skills
October 28th, 2009
During the week the men sharpened their survival, orienteering, firstaid and wilderness rescue skills. Pictured in this post are a few of those skills.
Recruit Block places the final touches on a deadfall trap sized to catch a small animal.
The week started out wet and rainy. The men found that their shelters actually shed rain. Charlie Third tries to warm up around their fire.
Lashing – the art of tying poles together with cord – was also taught. This skill is useful when building structures in a wilderness situation.
The men also learned and practiced alternative methods of fire starting.
Here Charlie 2nd demonstrates how to correctly package a patient into a Stokes basket.
In this simulated rescue the object is to move the patient across a river. Here Charlie 2nd carries the patient to the river crossing site.
They set up the rope system for patient ferrying.
Part of this exercise includes the rescue team crossing the river on the rope “commando style”.
The patient moves safely across.
Survival Week: Shelter Building
October 27th, 2009
Survival week is designed to teach the men basic survival skills and to expose them to the potential hardships faced in a survival situation while keeping them in a safe environment. It also builds into the men the character qualities of patience, endurance, and determination as they face the different challenges of the week. The men learn that God is in control of all the events in their lives and that He will provide in their time of need.
At the beginning of survival week the men build shelters in which they will live for the rest of the week. Here Charlie Third poses in their shelter.
After a class on different types of shelters and construction techniques, the men commence building.
First a framework of poles is built which is then covered with leafy branches and forest litter. Here Recruit McKenzie shovels forest litter onto the shelter.
Recruit Staller gathers materials.
Recruit Kalich finds it difficult to start a fire with wet materials.
After construction is finished the shelters are graded by the cadre. Here Drill Instructor Falkenstien tests the stability of Bravo 2nds shelter.
Charlie Second fails the water test.
The prizewinning shelter – built by Bravo 3rd.
Pogie Night
October 26th, 2009
For the first part of Basic Training all sweets and other p.o.g.i.e. (Personally Owned Gear I Eat) has been banned in order to teach the recruits discipline in the area of food consumption. Tonight they are about to gain that privilege back.
Third platoon ends their evening rather normally with a devotional on wisdom by Drill Instructor Price.
Sometime later the recruits are awakened.
They are not quite sure what the evening will hold.
The whole unit formed up on the flag field.
The results are worth it. Recruit Engell.
Recruit Hand.
Recruit Savino.
Six Hour Hike
October 23rd, 2009
During the six hour hike the Sabine river was crossed twice. The men placed their packs inside trash bags and floated them across the river. Pictured here is recruit Winkler.
Captain Pendergast and Senior Drill Sergeant Archibald lead the unit.
The men enjoyed taking a lunch break during the hike
The recruits usually hike in two columns with the squad leaders to their left.
Recruit Harding uses a break as a chance to rest his feet.
The recruits are taught the importance of caring for their feet by keeping them dry and changing socks. Here Recruit Kalich applies foot powder. Proper foot care reduces blisters and prevents foot diseases.
Chaplain Burch tries to meet the unit at breaks to encourage the men. Here he talks with Recruit Marr.
Recruits Reckner and Lapp hiking.
The Unit ended the hike by doing three pushups for motivation. They then camped out for the night.
Rappelling, Rock Climbing, and Rope Work
October 13th, 2009
Basic training ropes courses provide an introduction to rappelling and rope systems which provide a foundation for further rope rescue training in ERT and beyond. These skills build confidence in the men teaching them to push themselves to conquer their fears.
Here Charlie 1st squad is practicing tying their Swiss seats. The Swiss seat is a harness tied from webbing which provides a secure attachment point to the rope system.
Captain Pendergast gives Recruit Creedon some rappelling pointers.
Corporal Agemy instructs a recruit in how to tie off - allowing him to work hands free in the middle of a rope.
The men also had a chance to practice their climbing skills. Here Recruit Dieckmann nears the top of the climbing wall.
Recruits learn how to belay each other while rappelling to ensure safety. Here Log Chief RFC Tijerina and Specialist O’Sullivan belay the climbing wall.
In preparation for learning the river crossing Recruit Pfieffer learns how to use a prussik.
Here Bravo First practices setting up a river crossing system. A “river crossing” allows a group of men to cross a river with only one man getting wet. It also allows a patient to be carried across a river without a watercraft.
Unit 42 Three Hour Hike
October 8th, 2009
Recently Unit 42 completed the three hour hike. In contrast to the micro hike, the three hour hike is considerably longer and continues to build the recruits stamina and perseverance.
Every hike is started with prayer.
Then the whole unit knocks out 5 pushups for motivation.
Captain Pendergast and Senior Drill Sergeant Archibald lead Unit 42 on the hike.
Recruits Dolan and Stoner enjoy a break. Regular breaks are taken during the hikes to ensure an adequate work/rest ratio.
Recruit Knowles hiking.
Unit 42 formed up at the end of the hike. The men camped out overnight.
The next morning, the recruits were given the challenge of navigating back to campus using their newly gained navigation skills. Pictured here is Charlie 3rd planning their route.
Recruit Alford taking an azimuth for Charlie 2nd.
Part of the challenge of navigation is keeping a straight course while navigating around various obstacles.
One of the goals of this and many other exercises during basic is to teach the recruits teamwork Here a squad consults as to the best course of action.
Alpha 2nd is hiking.
Navigation Training
October 7th, 2009
The men of Unit 42 continue to spend a lot of time in the classroom. One of the main topics of instruction for Week 2 was Land Navigation. These skills will be heavily used during the rest of Basic Training so it will be imperative that the men get a good foundation in them.
The classroom instruction focuses on navigation theory as well as lots of practice in plotting different points on a map.
Later in the week the recruits were given a chance to practice their navigation. Here Lieutenant Harmon explains to the men the details of the exercise which includes navigating over short distances between several different points.
Writing down the first point and azimuth (compass heading).
Recruit Hardcastle getting started.
Recruit Alford taking a bearing while enroute.
Drill Instructor Price gives Recruit Kelly some navigation pointers.
Third Platoon marching back from the exercise.
Unit 42’s First Hike
September 30th, 2009
The first Hike of Basic Training is called the Micro Hike. It is a short hike which teaches the recruits the basics of hiking and exposes any problems so that they can be dealt with before the longer hikes. Before the hike the recruits had time to practice their fire-starting and field cooking skills by cooking lunch.
Recruit Fields works with his squad to start their fire.
Recruit Barr chops the vegetables before cooking. Each squad is issued cooking equipment including a stock pot, grill, knife, dish soap etc.
Pictured here is Charlie Third cooking their meal.
After lunch the recruits packed up and prepared to hike. Pictured here is Recruit Stoner.
Unit 42 formed up on the flag field ready to hike.
Recruit Kalich is enjoying the hike.
After the hike the recruits set up camp and relaxed. Here Recruit Stephenson and Recruit Burch are catching up on their journaling.
Supper time. After being issued the ingredients and given instructions the men prepared hobo stew.
Response Drills
September 25th, 2009
ALERT men must be able to respond quickly in times of crisis. This is taught during basic training using response drills. Different alarms are used to signal the men to respond in readiness for different events. In their first week Unit 42 spent time learning to respond to the different alarms.
Sergeant Archibald explains the different alarms to the men.
Here the men are running out for a fire alarm with their blankets over their heads.
Recruits from Third Platoon heading out for a muitiday alarm.
Recruit Oautu ready to go.
After each response there is a pack inspection in which the men demonstrate for their squad leaders that they have all the required items in their packs.
Recruit Harding
