Sitrep-ConstantineCS

[ConstantineCS]

Rangers,

I graduated BCT with Bustysglock. We were in 2 seperate battalions throughout Basic, he got picked up at Reception a day before me. I managed to get plane tickets to FSH somehow though instead of a bus ride. 99% of Basic was just dealing with the people who made a bigger deal out of it than it was. Literally, the hardest part was Reception and that's only because you aren't used to doing things the way they are done there. Ft. Sill's weather though... that made it troubling some days. Despite biting winds, and low temperatures, our 1SG never found it necessary to put on anything other than PT Shorts and a Long Sleeve PT Shirt. There would be days that the wind would carry our PT matts 1/8 of a mile away and it would be just above freezing outside and we went running to warm up. It was something that I didn't appreciate till recently. Other than that, I stayed below my Drill Sergeant's radar for the most part. Although, once they find out that you have Ranger in your contract, they kind of treat you differently, sometimes it is snide side remarks. Other times they will smoke you cause you are supposed to be better. There were 2 other guys with Ranger contracts in my Battery and they were both in my platoon. One attracted more attention from the Drill Sergeants, and his Ranger Contract didn't help. On the subject of PT, my PT scores are all pretty solid save for my run time. I need to improve by like 30-40 seconds to meet the standard, I can almost max the situps, and do around 60 pushups on a good day, but my run just won't come out of the mid-14 minute range. I guess it didn't help that I gave blood a few days before the final PT test, but it is something I will work on here in AIT.

AIT is a unique shift from Basic. Here at Ft. Sam Houston, at least in 68W AIT the cadre expect you to be 10 minutes early to the posted formation. It's not an option, cause it is mandatory to be 10 minutes early. It leads to some humerous dialouge with the bay leader when we are discussing the issue of being 10 minutes early to being 10 minutes early to formation... The freedoms granted are a nice change from Basic, but, to any DEPS reading this, 68W AIT is NOT like college. The first 4 hours we got to our actual training company we carried the 90lbs of bags that encompassed our wall locker from Basic for 45 minutes (we didn't walk far with them cause E. Co. is right next to G. Co. Reception). Then we dropped them on the CTA, and went for a mile run in ACUs, which was nice considering they gave us canteens to run with. Afterwards followed an hour long smoke session which, while not terrible, encompassed everything Drill Sergeants couldn't do to us. That was the worst part physically, which honestly was not as bad as it seemed at the time. But you are on lockdown to a similar extent to Basic Training, at least initially.They do allow you to go places without cadre escort, but those places are limited to... the PX... and the big PX.

I am glad that I got to FSH when I did though. Cause the next AIT class picked up 2 days after I got here, and I was one of the last people from Ft. Sill to inprocess. So I managed to get assigned to E. Co. 232 while the rest of my battery stays in reception for a month until the next cycle ends.

To any DEPper wondering if they will have bays or dorms for their AIT, fret not. Every Company now has dorms to live in for AIT... that is... except my company. But don't worry cause E. Co. class 15-14 is the last 68W AIT cycle to EVER have open bays.
Also, the 1SG makes it a point to send his contract airborne soldiers to Ft. Benning prepared. So regardless of whatever run group you are supposed to be in, you will run in A-group.

I take my BLS test tomorrow and run through Mod 1-2 next week.

Sorry for waiting so long to post Ranger Jim, but I only have my phone and I have had a relatively busy week following BCT graduation.

[Jim]

ConstentineCS, OK, you are right on time. Personally, I did not enjoy Fort Sill. But, you and BuckysGlock survived. I hope you read all the letters from school on 68W. Extensive information. You need to absorb all they teach you. By the way, I was in the Fort Belvoir Hospital this weekend, and I was underwhelmed with the 68Ws I ran into. As a Ranger Medic, you will get much better training than any of the Sergeants I ran into. Never, never quit!














S

[cams]

Rangers,

On the subject of PT, my PT scores are all pretty solid save for my run time. I need to improve by like 30-40 seconds to meet the standard, I can almost max the situps, and do around 60 pushups on a good day, but my run just won't come out of the mid-14 minute range. I guess it didn't help that I gave blood a few days before the final PT test, but it is something I will work on here in AIT.

Sounds like you're looking for an excuse in the low standard area for your run. I say this because you did not write "My run has been to standard or above standard until I gave blood, then it faultered for this PT test." It reads that your run has sucked every time, and still does.

Remember that while America is at the mall, the United States Military is still at war against a well trained and battle hardened enemy that shows no mercy. You may be donating blood on the field without even asking too, and then still need to run and fight to keep up with your squad or team while leaking from various holes in your body.

Do not look for excuses young man, but search deep inside for the intestinal fortitude to train harder, harder than you ever have, because that's what it will take.

Drive on bud, train like a motherfucker and run more, a lot more, to get your times down. Good luck, I envy your youth, and wish I could do it all over again with you.

[Steadfast]

cams words are true.

This quote you made:

There were 2 other guys with Ranger contracts in my Battery and they were both in my platoon. One attracted more attention from the Drill Sergeants, and his Ranger Contract didn't help

We've had DEPS in the past receive letters from their Mentors saying the "DS couldn't smoke our Opt 40 enough" written on the outside of the letter. Consider yourself lucky no one sent a letter to you.

Small detail - It's BuckysGlock not BustysGlock.

[PerryB]

Keep busting ass and if you're coming home on Christmas exodus then train even harder you have no excuse young man. Your run times do suck and are actually embarrassing. My son ran his two mile in the low 12's with a temp of of 103 when he was at FT Benning. He was pissed he ran so slow. Good LUCK and NEVER QUIT.

Perryb