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THE LAUNDRY P.O.'S DIARY...
JUST A DAILY JOURNAL I STASHED IN MY A&B LOCKER....

05APR02
BOOT CAMP END OF DAY 2. THIS IS A TOTAL TRIP. A WHOLE NEW WAY OF LIFE... FOR 2 WEEKS. DAY 1 CONSISTED OF TRAVEL AND GETTING ACQUAINTED WITH THOSE WHO WOULD BE CONTROLLING OUR LIVES FOR THE NEXT 2 WEEKS. BEING INTRODUCED TO A NEW WAY OF THINKING, NEW CONCEPTS AND A NEW WAY OF BEING CONTROLLED. LAST NIGHT WAS VERY CONFUSING AND EXTREMELY FAST PACED, BUT ON WITH OUR FIRST FULL DAY. AFTER ABOUT 4 HOURS OF SLEEPING WE WERE RUDELY AWAKENED BY SCREAMING AT 3AM... TODAY THERE WAS QUITE A BIT OF MARCHING. I GOT TO BE A ROAD GUARD. THAT WAS A FUN JOB WHICH I DOUBT I'LL GET TO KEEP. CHOW WAS A TRIP. HOW ABOUT OVER 3,000 RECRUITS IN AND OUT OF THE GALLEY IN 15 MINUTE INTERVALS. TB TEST, MENINGITIS SHOT AND STENCILING NAMES ON ALL OF OUR GEAR TODAY. I EVEN VOLUNTEERED FOR A JOB WHICH SOUNDED PROMISING. A JOB THAT WAS GEARED TOWARDS BEING DETAIL ORIENTED. WELL FORGET THE PROMISING PART, I'M LAUNDRY P.O.! RATS! WELL IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE MUCH OF A JOB BUT AN IMPORTANT ONE IF WE ALL DON'T WANT TO BE FUNKY! WELL IT'S BEEN A LONG AND EXCITING DAY. 2100 AND ITS TAPS AND I'M GONNA LAY IN THIS RACK, (TOP BUNK) AND DOZE OFF... OH GREAT I GOT A SNORER ON THE BOTTOM RACK!

05APR02
CAN'T SLEEP ANY LONGER. JUST GOT UP, BRUSHED MY TEETH AND WASHED MY FACE. NOT GOING TO LET THEM GET ME LIKE YESTERDAY MORNING. I HAD ONLY WOKE UP 30 SECONDS PRIOR TO THEM SCREAMING AT US. THIS TIME HOWEVER ALL THAT SMALL STUFF WILL BE DONE BEFORE THAT CATTLE CALL IS RECEIVED! I CAN'T QUITE SAY IF I'M LOVING BOOT CAMP YET, BUT I JUST NEED TO GET THOUGH THE NEXT 2 WEEKS AND THEN SO BE IT.

06APR02
I HAVE NO CONCEPT OF WHAT DAY IT WAS TODAY. NOT MY TYPICAL SATURDAY. EATING IS CRAZY. I NEVER HAVE GONE TO SO MUCH ROUTINE AND STRUCTURE JUST FOR A MEAL I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE SKIPPED. I HAVE TO KEEP REMINDING MYSELF THAT ITS ONLY 2 WEEKS AND NOT THE REST OF MY LIFE. IT SURE FEELS LIKE IT THOUGH. FOR 20 SOME YEARS I HAVE MADE MY BED ONLY ACCEPTABLE TO MY LAZINESS AND NOW I AM BEING RETRAINED TO MEET MILITARY STANDARDS! WHAT A TRIP. I KEEP ASKING MYSELF WHAT ON EARTH WAS I THINKING OCTOBER 30 WHEN I SIGNED MY LIFE AWAY BUT I REALLY DIDN'T REALIZE THE WHOLE JUST OF IT ALL. IT'S STILL SOAKING IN AS I CONTINUE TO MEMORIZE MY HEART AND MIND AWAY. LOTS OF MARCHING TODAY, A 15 MINUTE RUN WITH OUR DIVISION AND TO SPICE IT UP A LITTLE.. FRICTION BETWEEN SHIPMATES. IT SEEMS AS IF SOME PEOPLE BROUGHT THEIR ATTITUDES UP IN HERE. WELL LAUNDRY P.O. IS NOT AS BAD ANYMORE NOW THAT I'M STARTING TO UNDERSTAND THE JOB BETTER. JUST THE FACT THAT I'M BEGINNING TO KNOW WHAT I'M DOING MAKES IT EASIER. ALSO HAVING CLEAN SKIVVIES AND HAVING SHIPMATES HAPPY IS A NICE REWARD. WELL, IT'S PAST TAPS AND I HAVE WATCH AT 0100 IN THE MORNING. GREAT, 4 HOURS SLEEP, WATCH AND THEN 3 HOURS OF BROKEN SLEEP. OH WELL, I SIGNED THE DOTTED LINE..... NITE SHIPMATE.

07APR02
JUST WHEN I WAS STARTING TO DISLIKE BOOT CAMP I FOUND MY HAPPY PLACE AGAIN. ACTUALLY I JUST STARTED FEELING A LITTLE BETTER ABOUT MY NEW POSITION AS LAUNDRY P.O. IN MY DIVISION, 817. I NOW GET TO WEAR A COLLAR DEVICE. (PETTY OFFICER 2ND CLASS!) IT'S A LITTLE THING BUT TO ME IT MEANS A LOT. IT MEANS I HAVE A STAFF POSITION IN MY DIVISION AND I HAVE A JOB THAT MY FELLOW SHIPMATES ARE DEPENDING ON ME FOR. IT SEEMS CRAZY BUY I TAKE THIS 2 WEEKS AS MUCH MORE THAN A 2 WEEK BREAK FROM NORMAL LIFE. RIGHT NOW, BESIDES MY KIDS AND MY APARTMENT, IT'S ABOUT ALL I GOT RIGHT NOW. BUT IT'S OK THOUGH. I ACTUALLY FEEL LIKE AN 18 YEAR OLD WHO HAS SIGNED UP FOR THE 9 WEEK BOOT CAMP! TODAY WE EVEN GOT TO WEAR OUR UTILITIES LIKE THE REST OF THE 9 WEEKERS INSTEAD OF WEARING OUR NAVY SWEATS WE'VE BEEN WEARING THE LAST 2 DAYS IN A ROW. (WITHOUT A SHOWER!!) WELL I'M STILL TRYING TO GET USED TO THIS WHOLE THING. IT REALLY FEELS STRANGE. I FEEL AT TIMES MY CHILDREN ARE SO FAR AWAY FROM  ME. OF COURSE THEY ARE, BUT I FEEL AS IF THE MILITARY IS TRYING TO STRIP AWAY ALL THOUGHTS OF MY LITTLE ONES. THE TRUTH IS, I MISS MY KIDS MORE THAN ANYTHING IN MY LIFE. I'M JUST BEING INTRODUCED TO A LIFE THAT DOESN'T OFFER MY CHILDREN AS A PRACTICAL CHOICE. THANKFULLY ITS ONLY 2 WEEKS, BUT MAN IS THIS CRAZY! THIS IS THE 4TH NIGHT AND I'M PRETTY MUCH GETTING USED TO THIS LIFE BUT I SURE MISS THE SIMPLE THINGS SUCH AS A LONG DINNER MEAL WITH CONVERSATION. EACH MEAL HERE YOU CAN'T TALK TO ANYONE. YOU HAVE TO USE SIGNALS FOR EVERYTHING. OUR MEALS ARE TIMED AND THERE'S SO MUCH DETAIL INTO ENTERING AND LEAVING THE GALLEY. IT ALMOST MAKES MEALTIME NOT WORTH IT. I THOUGH I WAS GOING TO LIKE ALL THE STRUCTURE, BUT SOME OF IT IS JUST CRAZY. IT'S LIKE WE HAVE TO RELEARN EVERYTHING WE LEARNED IN KINDERGARTEN ALONG WITH LEARNING HOW TO WRITE IN RECRUIT HANDWRITING AND MAKING OUR BED DOWN TO SALUTING THE TOILET (PUTTING THE SEAT UP) AND FOLDING OUR CLOTHES. IT'S JUST AMAZING HOW MUCH ORDER, DISCIPLINE AND CONTROL IS PUT INTO EVERY LITTLE THING. IT'S ON LY 2 WEEKS.. I KEEP TELLING MYSELF. SOMETIMES I JUST GET SO FRUSTRATED WITH IT ALL. PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY FEMALES ARE GETTING ATTITUDES WITH EACH OTHER. BUT THAT'S A SIMPLE EXPLANATION. THEY HAVE AN IMPORTANT DIVISION POSITION AND THEN THEY LET THE RESPONSIBILITY GO TO THEIR HEAD. I'M NOT SURE HOW THE GUYS ARE DOING ON THAT ASPECT, BUT GUYS USUALLY CAN GET ALONG BETTER WITH EACH OTHER ANYWAYS. I'M GLAD I DON'T HAVE ANY MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES, HOWEVER I DO GET TO LEAD 3 LAUNDRY P.O.'S. 2 WERE ASSIGNED TO THE FEMALE COMPARTMENT, ONE ON DIVISION 816 AND THE OTHER ON DIVISION 817. SINCE I'M SUCH AN ORGANIZE FREAK AND I REALLY HAVE A THING ABOUT CLEAN LAUNDRY, I PICKED A GOOD JOB. WELL, I DIDN'T PICK IT, IT PICKED ME! WELL I'M GOING TO SLEEP. LAST NIGHT WAS ALL JACKED UP SINCE I HAD AN HOUR WATCH DUTY IN THE MIDDLE OF MY SLEEP. AND SINCE IT WAS DAYLIGHT SAVINGS I WAS WOKE UP REALLY EARLY. FORTUNATELY I DON'T HAVE A WATCH TONIGHT SO I'M GOING TO REST UP. WELL, I'M OFF TO HAVE MARCHING DREAMS. OH YEAH, I'M GETTING SICK AND TIRED OF HEARING THAT DARN CADENCE IN MY HEAD!!

08APR02
TODAY WAS A PRETTY ROUGH DAY. WE HAD SWIM QUALIFICATIONS. I PASSED THE JUMP IN THE POOL AND SWIM TEST BUT THE UNDER WATER PRONE TEST I DIDN'T PASS. IT SURE DIDN'T HELP HAVING THE INSTRUCTORS YELL AND SCREAM AT ME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TEST NOR DID IT HELP TO GET KICKED IN THE HEAD WHILE TRYING TO RETEST. A FEW OTHER SHIPMATES, APPROXIMATELY 8 OTHERS DIDN'T PASS IT EITHER. AND TO BE HONEST, IT REALLY MADE ME FEEL BAD. I MADE IT PAST THE FIRST 3 DAYS AND TODAY WAS OUR FIRST FULL DAY OF TRAINING. ALSO THE ATTITUDES OF FEMALE SHIPMATES ARE STARTING TO CROSSFIRE. I'VE HEARD THE STORIES AND THEY ARE PRETTY ACCURATE. WHEN YOU GET 50+ WOMEN SHARING ONE ROOM AND SPENDING EVERY WAKING MOMENT TOGETHER ITS EXPECTED. I USUALLY DON'T MAKE A FUSS UNLESS SOMEONE IS BEING CONSTANTLY RUDE TO OTHERS AND THEN I HAVE TO SAY SOMETHING. WELL THERE'S A LOT OF THAT GOING ON LATELY. WELL, OTHER THAN A LITTLE FRICTION ITS BEEN A FAIRLY INTENSE DAY. BOTH DIVISIONS WERE COMMISSIONED TODAY BY THE MASTER CHIEF OF GREAT LAKES TRAINING CENTER. THAT WAS AN HONOR CAUSE NOW WE WON'T BE LOOKED AT AS A BUNCH OF PRACTICING RECRUITS. IT WILL ACTUALLY LOOK AS THOUGH WE BELONG.. AND WE DO! THE GALLEY WAS PRETTY MUCH THE SAME. SAME TASTELESS FOOD BUT I WON'T COMPLAIN CAUSE I EAT REAL GOOD. WELL, AS MUCH AS I CAN UNDER PRESSURE... AND TIMED! I WILL SAY THAT THIS BOOT CAMP TRAINING IS TOTALLY INTENSE.  IT REALLY MAKES ME THINK HARD ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT I WANT TO LIVE THE FULL MILITARY LIFE. I USUALLY ALWAYS WANT WHAT I KNOW COMPLETELY NOTHING ABOUT. I DO WANT TO HAVE THE MILITARY TRAINING BUT IF I HAVE TO GO FOR THE NORMAL BOOT CAMP I COULDN'T AND WOULDN'T WANT TO. IT'S JUST WAY TOO CRAZY. I SEE HOW THE YOUNG KIDS ARE TREATED UP HERE AND I WOULDN'T WANT TO BE SUBJECTED TO THAT. BESIDES, I'M A GROWN WOMAN AND HAVE ENOUGH STRESS AS IT IS BEING A SINGLE PARENT. THE LAST 5 DAYS HAVE REALLY OPENED MY EYES UP. I HAVE 10 MORE DAYS OF INTENSE TRAINING AND I WILL KNOW WHETHER I'M EVEN MENTALLY CHALLENGED FOR TAKING IN A FULL TIME CAREER WITH THE NAVY. FORTUNATELY IT'S NOT AN OPTION FOR ME BUT I DO LOOK FORWARD TO BEING APART OF THE NAVAL RESERVE. BUT BOY IS THIS PLACE A TRIP! WELL IT'S AFTER TAPS AGAIN. I'M NOT REALLY TIRED, JUST DRAINED. THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS THAT I MISS MY KIDS AN I WANT TO GO BACK TO MY NORMAL LIFE. I KNOW THAT AFTER THESE 2 WEEKS MY THOUGHT PROCESS IS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT ABOUT THE WHOLE MILITARY. IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING BUT I HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT ITS ONLY 2 WEEKS OPPOSED TO 9 WEEKS. WELL, I'M OFF TO SLEEP...

09APR02
TODAY WAS A FINE NAVY DAY! WE HAD PT STRETCHES IN THE MORNING AND THEN WE DID TEAM CHALLENGE. THAT WAS A LOT OF FUN. IT REALLY TOOK AWAY QUITE A BIT OF STRESS THAT HAS BEEN BUILDING UP. THE CAT FIGHTS ARE SUBSIDING A BIT BUT IT GETS MORE AN MORE INTENSE EACH DAY. I'M TRYING MY HARDEST TO TAKE IT ALL WITH A GRAIN OF SALT BUT ITS REALLY GETTING GOLD SHARING YOUR PERSONAL SPACE WITH 50 OTHER WOMEN 24/7. ACTUALLY, I'M SO READY TO GO HOME. I MISS MY KIDS SO MUCH. WELL, AFTER ALL THE MARCHING, THE REALLY BAD 3 MEALS TODAY WE HAD OUR FIRST FIRE FIGHTING CLASS. ALTHOUGH WE WERE ALL PRETTY TIRED TODAY THE CLASS WAS PRETTY INTERESTING. I LEARNED A LOT. ALSO, I REALLY AM LIKING MY STAFF POSITION IN MY COMPARTMENT. CALL ME CRAZY, BUT I ENJOY ORGANIZING AND GETTING THE LAUNDRY TOGETHER. THE OTHER LAUNDRY P.O. IS ALWAYS STRESSING. I JUST RUN AROUND LIKE MY HEADS CUT OFF BUT I'M SMILING AND TELLING PEOPLE HOW MUCH I LOVE WASHING MY SHIPMATES SKIVVIES! IT'S ACTUALLY A GOOD JOB CAUSE IT'S NOT A JOB THAT GIVE YOU A POWER TRIP OR A BIG HEAD. IT JUST MAKES ME FEEL GOOD WHEN MY SHIPMATES PRAISE ME FOR MY GREAT JOB AND WONDERFUL ATTITUDE. I WAS FEELING PRETTY DOWN YESTERDAY BUT TEAM CHALLENGE REALLY MOTIVATED ME. ALSO, ONLY 9 MORE DAYS OF THIS CRAZINESS! I DIDN'T HAVE A CLUE TO WHAT I GOT MYSELF INTO FOR THESE 2 WEEKS. SOME REASON I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE DIFFERENT. IT'S QUITE FUNNY HOW PEOPLE WILL TELL YOU ABOUT IT, BUT IT'S NOT QUITE THE EXPERIENCE TILL IT'S ACTUALLY LIVED OUT. SOMETIMES WHEN I'M MARCHING I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT I'M ACTUALLY HERE. I'M SO USED TO TELLING EVERYONE THAT I'M GOING , BUT NOW I'M THERE. SEEMS WEIRD TO ME CAUSE IT'S NOT ACTUALLY WHAT I THOUGH IT WOULD BE. IT'S ACTUALLY ALMOST WORSE!! BUT ITS AN EXPERIENCE THAT I WILL TREASURE FOR A LIFETIME. ONE THING IS THAT I'M MAKING A LOT OF NEW FRIENDS. WELL, ITS PAST TAPS AGAIN AN I'M GONNA GO TO SLEEP. I HAVE TO GET UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND GET LAUNDRY TOGETHER FOR MY SHIPMATES!

10APR02
IT'S BEEN A PRETTY INTENSE DAY. I GOT UP AT 0200 TO FINISH UP LAUNDRY FOR MY SHIPMATES. I HAVE FOUND THAT IF I JUST DO MY BEST AT MY LITTLE JOB THAN THE REWARD WILL BE THE RESPECT OF MY FELLOW SHIPMATES. ALSO SINCE I'M TRYING TO JUST GET THRU THIS NEXT WEEK, I NEED TO KEEP MYSELF BUSY. WELL TODAY WE DID QUITE A BIT. WE HAD A VERY EXHAUSTING PT STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING WORKOUT THIS MORNING. ANOTHER VERY ROUTINE BREAKFAST AND WE DRILLED (MARCHED) FOR OVER AN HOUR AND A HALF. IT WAS REALLY EXHAUSTING AND MY FEET WERE SO TIRED! AFTER THAT WE WENT TO LUNCH, AGAIN VERY ROUTINE, AND THEN OFF TO FIRE FIGHTING CLASS. IT WAS PRETTY COOL THOUGH, CAUSE THE INSTRUCTOR BROUGHT IN A PAPER AND SHARED WITH US WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING THE PAST WEEK. IT'S AMAZING TO ME THE FEELING THAT THE WORLD HAS STOPPED. HERE I A M DOING INTENSE TRAINING WHILE MY FAMILY IS 3,000 MILES AWAY HAVING THE THEIR LIFE. ALTHOUGH IT HAS ONLY BEEN A WEEK IT STILL FEELS LIKE AN ETERNITY AWAY FROM MY CHILDREN. I MISS THEM SO MUCH!! MY VERY KIND BUNKMATE GAVE A PIECE OF STATIONARY, ENVELOPE AND STAMP SO I COULD WRITE THEM! HOPEFULLY THEY'LL GET IT IN A FEW DAYS. I REALLY CAN'T SAY I'M LOVING BOOT CAMP. ACTUALLY I'M HATING ABOUT 50% OF IT. PLUS SINCE THERE ARE ABOUT 130 NON PRIOR 2 WEEK BOOT CAMPERS WE GET TO SEE A LOT THAT GOES ON HERE. I WILL SAY I DON'T LIKE THE WAY THE INSTRUCTORS TALK TO THE YOUNG RECRUITS. THEY EVEN TRY TO COME AT US LIKE THAT BUT USUALLY THEY LEAVE US ALONE SINCE A LOT OF US ARE AS OLD AST THE PETTY OFFICERS AND SOME CHIEFS UP IN THIS PLACE. BUT, I'LL TELL YA, IT'S A CRAZY PLACE. SURE ITS AN EXPERIENCE, BUT THERE IS SO MUCH HERE THAT I KNOW I WOULDN'T WANT TO SPEND ANY LONGER THAN 2 WEEKS HERE. WELL, I WANT TO MENTION AN INCIDENT CAUSE IT BOTHERED A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE. YOU SEE, LAST NIGHT SOME GIRLS WERE CHATTING FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES AFTER TAPS AND APPARENTLY A FEW OTHERS DECIDED TO TELL THE PETTY OFFICERS ABOUT IT. WELL, EVERYONE GOT MOTIVATED (PUNISHED) FOR IT. EVEN THE GIRLS WHO RATTED ON THE OTHERS AND WHO EVEN MADE OUT A LIST OF THOSE WHO WERE TALKING WERE PUNISHED. MY SELF AND ANOTHER SHIPMATE MISSED IT BY LUCK CAUSE WERE WERE IN THE LAUNDRY ROOM CLEANING OUT THE THE WASHERS WITH A TOOTHBRUSH!  I FELT BAD THOUGH CAUSE WE ALL ARE A TEAM AND I WASN'T THERE SUPPORTING THEM. BUT I WILL SAY I'M GLAD I MISSED OUT CAUSE A BUNCH OF THE WOMEN WERE CRYING AND WERE VERY UPSET. ITS REALLY SAD THAT IT HAD TO GET LIKE THIS. SO MANY OF US ARE HERE JUST TRYING TO GET THROUGH THIS TOGETHER. WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE A TEAM HERE. I JUST DECIDED LAST NIGHT THAT ALTHOUGH I HAVE SOME PROBLEMS WITH A FEW PEOPLE HERE THAT I COULDN'T LET IT JEOPARDIZE THE JOB THAT I HAVE HERE. AND FIRST AND FOREMOST IT BEING MY DESIRE TO BECOME A SAILOR AND SECOND MY LAUNDRY JOB. I KNOW THAT SOUNDS CRAZY, BUT ITS WHAT'S KEEPING ME SANE. I THINK THAT BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE PROBLEMS HERE, I AM USING THE LAUNDRY JOB AS A WAY TO ESCAPE. PLUS I HAVE BEEN DOING A GOOD JOB, (SO I'VE BEEN TOLD) AND IT REALLY FEELS GOOD WHEN ALL MY SHIPMATES ARE PRAISING ME FOR MY HARD WORK. THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR ME SINCE ITS SO CONTROLLED HERE. IF YOU WANT TO GET ANY COMPLIMENTS HERE YOU HAVE TO GET IT FROM YOUR PEERS. THE LAST 6 DAYS ITS BEEN NON STOP YELLING AND SCREAMING FROM MOST OF THE RDC'S BUT ITS NOT NEARLY AS HORRIBLE AS THE KIDS THAT ARE HERE FOR REGULAR BOOT CAMP! WELL, OTHER THAN THOSE PROBLEMS, I'M JUST TRYING REALLY HARD TO HAVE A GOOD ATTITUDE AND MAKE IT THROUGH THIS LAST WEEK. I MISS MY KIDS LIKE CRAZY AND WISH I COULD JUST HOLD THEM AND SNUGGLE WITH THEM. WELL, I GRADUATE A WEEK FROM TOMORROW SO HOPEFULLY THE TIME GOES FASTER. WELL, I'M OFF TO BED. OOPS, LET ME KEEP MY MILITARY BEARING... I'M OFF TO LAY IN MY RACK!

11APR02
ANOTHER DAY PAST. IT'S BEEN A REAL BUSY DAY. IT SEEMS AS THOUGH TIME IS GOING A LITTLE FASTER. PROBABLY BECAUSE I HAVE A FEEL FOR WHAT GOES ON NOW. IT'S NOT AS SHOCKING AS IT WAS A WEEK AGO. NOW IT'S PRETTY SIMPLE. FOLLOW DIRECTIONS, PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO DETAIL AND DON'T TALK AND YOU'LL BE FIND AND NOT GET YELLED AT. WELL, THIS MORNING WE HAD PT. THAT WASN'T TOO BAD BUT A LOT OF SHIPMATES WERE UNABLE TO RUN CAUSE OF MEDICAL. NOT SURE IF I MENTIONED THAT THE 2ND DAY HERE WE LOST 3 FEMALE SHIPMATES DUE TO THEIR WEIGHT, BUT WE LOST ANOTHER FEMALE TODAY. APPARENTLY SINCE THE DRAMA IS SO BAD IN HERE THIS PARTICULAR FEMALE GOT SO MAD SHE HIT HER FIST INTO THE WALL AND BROKE HER HAND. IMAGINE THAT, A GROWN WOMAN UNABLE TO RESOLVE A COMMUNICATION PROBLEM SO SHE INFLICTED PAIN TO HER SELF. ITS REALLY TOO BAD. MOST OF THE WOMEN HERE HAVE BEEN ACTING CRAZY LATELY. SINCE I HAD MY PROBLEM WITH A SHIPMATE A FEW DAYS AGO I JUST DECIDED TO LET IT ALL GO. NO POINT IN MAKING ENEMIES WITH ANYONE HERE. I ALSO MADE A PROMISE TO MYSELF THAT I WAS GOING TO DO WHAT I COULD TO STAND OUT AND BE AHEAD OF THE GAME OF BOOT CAMP. I EVEN SET OUT AND MADE IT MY GOAL TO TRY FOR AN AWARD. I KNOW THEY GIVE THEM OUT AND I WAN TO BRING BACK AN AWARD FOR MY RESERVE CENTER AS A SQUARED AWAY SHIPMATE WHO IS AN EXCEPTIONAL SAILOR. THAT IS WHAT I'M STRIVING FOR. WELL BEFORE I HIT THE RACK (NOT LITERALLY!) I WILL MENTION THAT TODAY WAS THE DAY FOR THE GAS CHAMBER. ACTUALLY ITS CALLED THE CONFIDENCE CHAMBER. IT REALLY WASN'T BAD AT ALL. MOST EVERYONE REALLY HAD A HARD TIME. EVERY BODIES EYES WERE BLOOD SHOT AND PEOPLE COMPLAINED FOR HOURS. I ON THE OTHER HAND HAD FUN. I TOLD MYSELF THAT CHILDBIRTH WAS A WHOLE LOT MORE PAINFUL AND 40 SECONDS OF BURNING AND GAS IN MY SYSTEM WOULD BE NOTHING. IT REALLY DIDN'T' EFFECT ME MUCH. I DIDN'T EVEN THROW UP AND MY EYES DIDN'T EVEN GET RED. I THINK I DID GREAT! I WOULD HAVE DONE IT AGAIN IF I NEEDED TO! AT LEAST WITH THAT IT MADE ME FEEL GOOD ABOUT MYSELF AND I KNOW THAT I CAN HANDLE JUST ABOUT ANYTHING. I'M SO LOOKING FORWARD TO LEAVING THIS INSTITUTION AND GO BACK TO NORMAL SOCIETY. YES ITS FEELS AS IF I'M IN PRISON! BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO GRADUATION. IT WILL BE SUCH A PROUD MOMENT FOR ME!

12APR02
ANOTHER FINE NAVY DAY. THE COUNT DOWN IS ON, ONLY 5 FULL DAYS LEFT AND HALF A DAY ON THURSDAY. I'M SO SICK OF THIS PLACE! LAST NIGHT A CHIEF AND PETTY OFFICER CAME INTO THE FEMALE COMPARTMENT AND HARASSASSED US ABOUT EACH AND EVERY LITTLE THING THEY FELT WAS WRONG. THEY WEREN'T EVEN QUIET ABOUT IT AND IT WAS 1:30AM. OF COURSE I WAS MISSING SOMETHING AND THEY GOT ME UP TO EXPLAIN. IT'S ALL JUST A CONTROL THING SO I SHRUGGED IT OFF AFTER THEY LEFT AND GOT UP AND DID SOME LAUNDRY FOR MY SHIPMATES. I REALLY HAD NO CLUE TO WHAT THIS WAS ALL ABOUT. AT LEAST NOW I KNOW SOME OF WHAT THE 9 WEEK BOOT CAMPERS ARE GOING THROUGH. OF COURSE ITS MUCH WORSE AND THEY GET YELLED AT MORE. BUT I'M JUST TRYING TO CONCENTRATE ON GOING HOME SOON. I MISS MY CRAZY LIFE AND I HAVE SO MUCH TO LOOK FORWARD TO WHEN I RETURN. WELL, OTHER THAN THE USUAL MARCHING, EATING, PUMPING AND DUMPING, I WAS EXTREMELY TIRED TODAY. STAYING UP AND DOING LAUNDRY FOR 61 WOMEN IS REALLY TIRING. BUT HEY, IT'S MY JOB AND I REALLY DO ENJOY MAKING EVERYONE SO DARN HAPPY! TODAY WE DID DRILL FOR GRADUATION AND SOME FIRE FIGHTING CLASS. WE WILL BE PUTTING OUT A SIMULATED FIRE ON MONDAY AND I'M GOING TO BE THE 2ND PLUGMAN ON TEAM #1, DIV. 817. THAT SHOULD BE FUN! WELL, THE FOOD AT THE GALLEY ISN'T ANY BETTER. ALSO THAT REAL NICE DAY WE HAD YESTERDAY IS GONE AND I FELT LIKE I WAS IN SEATTLE AGAIN. I HAVE TO GO DO MY SWIM QUALS AGAIN TOMORROW  AND I'M NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. I HOPE I PASS SO I CAN GET IT OVER AND DONE WITH. WELL, I'M SUPER TIRED AND I'M GOING TO SLEEP.

13APR02
ANOTHER GRUELING DAY. PT IN THE MORNING AND THEN I HAD TO GO BACK AND RE-QUALIFY FOR SWIM QUALIFICATIONS. I EVEN MISSED OUT ON THE BIG INSPECTION WITH THE CHIEF. WELL SWIM QUALIFICATIONS WENT MUCH BETTER THIS TIME IT WAS A DIFFERENT TEST THIS TIME INSTEAD OF 5 MINUTES OF PRONE SWIMMING. YOU HAD TO SWIM CONSTANTLY FOR 5 MINUTES, JUMP OFF THE DIVING BOARD AND SWIM TO THE SIDE AND THEN DO THE PRONE FLOAT FOR ABOUT A MINUTE AND THEN LEARN HOW TO MAKE YOUR PANTS INTO A FLOATING DEVICE. NOT BAD AND I PASSED! I WAS REALLY GLAD THAT I PASSED CAUSE I WAS PRETTY NERVOUS. NOW I DON'T REALLY HAVE MUCH STOPPING ME WITH GOING FORWARD. I HAVE A PRT ON TUESDAY AND A MULTIPLE CHOICE TEST ON WEDNESDAY OVER EVERYTHING I HAVE LEARNED THESE 2 WEEKS. I CAN'T WAIT FOR GRADUATION. IT WILL BE SO NICE TO WALK DOWN THAT AISLE AND NO THAT I REALLY ACCOMPLISHED SOMETHING GREAT IN MY LIFE OTHER THAN MY 2 BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN. BY THE WAY I GOT TO CALL THEM TONIGHT. IT WAS SO NICE TO TALK TO THEM EVEN IF THE CALL LASTED 2 MINUTES. IT WAS SO NICE TO HEAR MY SONS AND DAUGHTERS VOICES. THEY SOUNDED SO SWEET! IT WILL BE NICE TO JUST HOLD THEM AGAIN. WELL, ITS PAST TAPS AGAIN AND I'M GOING TO GET SOME SLEEP BEFORE I GET UP AND DO MORE LAUNDRY! I'M WASHING 61 PAIRS OF SWEAT TOPS AND BOTTOMS TONIGHT!

14APR02
IT'S BEEN A FINE NAVY DAY! I HAVE COME OUT OF MY BAD NAVY FUND ATTITUDE. JUST THINK, 3 1/2 MORE DAYS AND I'M BACK TO CIVILIAN LIFE ONCE AGAIN. LAST NIGHT I GOT UP TO DO LAUNDRY 3 TIMES. WHAT WAS WEIRD WAS IT JUST FELT SO NATURAL. LIKE IT WAS MY FULL TIME JOB. I'M ALMOST WONDERING HOW ITS GOING TO BE WHEN I GET HOME AND DON'T HAVE 61 SETS OF UNDER GARMENTS AND TOWELS TO WASH! ACTUALLY, AS CRAZY AS IT SOUNDS, I' GONNA MISS THIS WHOLE GROUP. I'VE REALLY MADE SOME FRIENDS HERE. WHAT IS GREAT IS THAT THE ENTIRE FEMALE COMPARTMENT, BOTH DIVISION 816 AND MY DIVISION 817 HAVE WELCOMED ME! POSSIBLY MAINLY BECAUSE I'M THE MAIN LAUNDRY P.O. BUT ALSO CAUSE I'VE MADE AN EFFORT TO CHAT WITH EVERYONE. 60 OTHER FEMALES WHOM I'VE EXCHANGED ADDRESSES AND EMAIL WITH. WELL, TODAY WAS A PRETTY LAZY DAY. SUNDAY IS HOLIDAY ROUTINE WHERE WE HAVE TIME IN BETWEEN BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND DINNER TO STUDY, CHAT, IRON OR DO ALMOST WHATEVER INSIDE THE COMPARTMENT. THEY EVEN PLAYED 2 MOVIES: GI JANE AND MAJOR PAYNE. I OF COURSE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE TIME AND DID ABOUT 7 LOADS OF LAUNDRY. I EXCHANGED PLENTY OF EMAIL ADDRESSES AND DID SOME RELAXING. WE HAVE 3 MORE INTENSE DAYS LEFT. MONDAY IS FIREFIGHTING, TUESDAY IS OUR PRT TEST AND TEAM CHALLENGE AND WEDNESDAY IS THE BIG TEST. THURSDAY IS GRADUATION AND THEN WE'RE OUT OF HERE! WELL, I'M GETTING SOME SLEEP TONIGHT. MY OTHER LAUNDRY P.O.'S ARE GOING TO FINISH UP THE LAUNDRY SO I CAN ACTUALLY GET SOME SLEEP TONIGHT!

15APR02
ANOTHER FINE NAVY DAY. TIME IS SLIPPING BY AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT I'M GETTING A LITTLE SAD ABOUT HAVING TO SAY GOODBYE TO EVERYONE. I HAVE REALLY MADE SOME NEW FRIENDS HERE. IT'S AMAZING WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU JUST PUT ASIDE ALL THE PROBLEMS JUST TO FOCUS ON DOING A GOOD JOB AND GOOD THINGS JUST HAPPEN. ALTHOUGH SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE MY LAUNDRY JOB GOES UNNOTICED AND TAKEN FOR GRANTED I REALIZE THAT THESE LADIES REALLY DO APPRECIATE ME MORE THAN I THINK. TONIGHT WHEN I GOT INTO MY RACK THERE WAS A CARD LAYING UNDER MY COVERS. A WHOLE BUNCH OF THE LADIES SIGNED THIS REALLY NICE THANK YOU CARD FOR ME. IT REALLY MADE ME FEEL GOOD CAUSE TO ME IT WAS PRICELESS. HERE ARE A BUNCH OF WOMEN WHO HAVE ONLY SPENT 12 DAYS WITH ME AND APPRECIATED WHAT I DID FOR THEM. BESIDES DOING A JOB THAT WAS ASSIGNED TO ME, I JUST DID MY HARDEST TO TAKE CARE OF EVERYONE. THAT'S WHAT BEING A SAILOR IS ABOUT AND ALTHOUGH THE NAVY MAY NOT ALWAYS SEE THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE BEHIND THE SCENES, IT STILL IS BEING DONE! WELL TODAY WE HAD A FIREFIGHTING ACTIVITY WHERE WE LEARNED TO PUT OUT FIRES. IT WAS INTERESTING BUT NOT SOMETHING I REALLY WANT TO DO ON A REGULAR BASIS. SOME OF THE INSTRUCTORS WERE PRETTY MEAN AND YELLED AT US QUITE A BIT, BUT OVERALL I LEARNED SOMETHING NEW. THE FOOD IS GETTING WORSE AND SINCE THEY WERE IN A HURRY IN THE GALLEY OUR TIME WAS JACKED! I HATE EATING A MEAL IN 10 MINUTES AND CONSTANTLY HAVING THE TURN STYLE REMIND US WE HAVE "2 MINUTES SHIPMATES!" WELL I FOUND OUT TONIGHT THAT I AM 1 OF 8 PEOPLE NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD. I GUESS THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE A COMPETITION TOMORROW AND I'M NOT REALLY SURE HOW THAT'S GOING TO GO. USUALLY THE RPOC AND APOC GET CHOSEN AND THEN ONE OTHER INDIVIDUAL GET CHOSEN AND THERE ARE QUITE A FEW CANDIDATES. I'M GOING TO THINK POSITIVE THOUGH. IT'S JUST A GOOD FEELING TO KNOW I WAS PICKED OUT, 1 O 8 OUT OF 60 SOME IN MY DIVISION. OBVIOUSLY I'M DOING SOMETHING RIGHT! WELL REGARDLESS IT WILL BE INTERESTING AND AT LEASE IT MAKES ME FEEL GOOD TO KNOW PEOPLE HAVE SEEN AND APPRECIATED MY HARD EFFORT. ONLY 2 1/2 MORE DAYS LEFT! TOMORROW IS THE BIG PRT TEST AND THEN TEAM CHALLENGE. WELL, I'M OFF TO SLEEP. I HAVE SOME LAUNDRY TRY TO DO TONIGHT AS USUAL....

16APR02
TODAY HAS TO BE THE MOST EXCITING AND MEANINGFUL DAY THAT I'VE HAD SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE. TODAY STARTS OUT WITH THE EARLY PRT TEST. RIGHT AFTER BREAKFAST I DID 61 SITUPS AND 24 PUSHUPS IN THE 2 MINUTES. I ALSO RAN THE 1.5 MILES IN 15 MINUTES 5 SECONDS. I'M NOT SURE ALL THE FINAL NUMBERS BUT I'M THINKING I DID ALRIGHT. I WAS A LITTLE TIRED BEFORE IT CAUSE I WAS DOING ROAD GUARD DUTY AND THAT WORE ME OUT A BIT. WELL AFTERWARDS I HAD MY 5 MINUTE INTERVIEW BY A PANEL OF JUDGES FOR BEING AN AWARDS NOMINEE. I FELT LIKE A BABBLING IDIOT AS I COULDN'T SEEM TO GET ANY OF THE QUESTIONS RIGHT. I GOT MY ANSWERS MIXED UP AND I WAS SO NERVOUS! I WAS EVEN LAST WHICH MADE ME FEEL AS THOUGH I HAD TO MAKE THE LAST IMPRESSION. BOY WAS THAT NERVE WRECKING. GOOD THING WAS THAT THE SENIOR CHIEF TOLD ME TO EMAIL HIM ABOUT ME POSSIBLY HELPING HIM REDESIGN THE NPSAC WEBSITE. NOW THAT WAS JUST AN HONOR TO BE EVEN CONSIDERED FOR THAT! I HIGHLY DOUBT I'LL GET THE AWARD BUT AT LEAST I KNOW IT MY ALL. SURE I LOOKED SILLY BUT AT LEAST I WAS HONES ABOUT IT. TO BE HONEST, I HAVE SPENT MORE TIME TAKING CARE OF MY SHIPMATES LAUNDRY AND NOT DOING ENOUGH STUDYING. OH WELL, IT'S JUST A SILLY AWARD BUT IT SURE WOULD BE NICE. OTHER THAN THAT, THE OTHER EXCITING PART OF THE DAY WAS THE BATTLE STATIONS. THESE WERE SIMULATED EVOLUTIONS FROM DIFFERENT INSTANCES SUCH AS THE TRAGEDY WITH THE USS COLE AND OTHERS. IT WAS PRETTY EXCITING! I DID GET STEPPED ON BY ONE OF MY FELLOW SHIPMATES WHO WAS 200+ AND 6 FEET 2! IT WAS ON ACCIDENT THOUGH. I WAS PLAYING A WOUNDED VICTIMS IN ONE OF THE SIMULATIONS. OTHER THAN THAT IT WAS A LOT OF FUN. IT WAS PART OF OUR TEAM CHALLENGE AND IT LED TO US RETIRING OUR RECRUIT BALL CAPS. WHAT AN AWESOME CEREMONY. SENIOR CHIEF RUDD AND LT. KNUTH CAME AROUND AND SHOOK ALL OR OUR HANDS AND WELCOMED US AS OFFICIAL SAILORS! I THINK THOSE MOMENTS WERE FARE MORE MEANINGFUL THAN THE DAY I ACTUALLY ENLISTED. THEY EVEN LET US HAVE A 30 MINUTE DINNER AT THE GALLEY THAT NIGHT AND LET US TALK AND GO BACK FOR SECONDS!! WELL, FOR EVERYTHING I WENT THROUGH THE LAST 2 WEEKS, IT SURE FELT GOOD TO KNOW I WAS FINALLY A SAILOR! IT'S STILL SOMETHING THAT SHOCKS ME EACH TIME I REMEMBER WHAT I'VE BEEN TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH. WELL, IT HAS BEEN A PROUD MOMENT FOR ME TODAY, JUST KNOWING I'M NO LONGER JUST A FACE IN THE CROWD. TO KNOW THAT I'VE BEEN RECOGNIZED FOR MY EFFORTS AND MY ENTHUSIASM. HEY, I EVEN GOT ANOTHER THANK YOU CARD FROM MY DIVISION 817 SHIPMATES THANKING ME FOR THE AWESOME LAUNDRY JOB! THAT JUST TOPPED MY NIGHT OFF!

17APR02
THE DAY BEFORE GRADUATION. TODAY WAS VERY BUSY. WE HAD RDC TIME AFTER BREAKFAST AND THEN AFTER LUNCH WE HAD OUR NAVY ACADEMIC TEST. I REALLY HADN'T HAD A LOT OF TIME TO STUDY THESE PAST FEW WEEKS BUT I GOT A 4.0 OUT OF A 5.0. I PASSED IT AND BY NOW THAT ALL I CARE ABOUT. IT'S BEEN A LONG 2 WEEKS AND I'M SO READY TO GO HOME TO NORMAL CIVILIZATION. ALSO, TODAY WE MET WITH QUITE A FEW OFFICERS. THERE WAS A LIEUTENANT, A COMMANDER, A VICE ADMIRAL AND A FEW OTHER BIG WIGS. IT WAS QUITE INTENSE THOUGH. EARLIER BEFORE GOING TO THE GALLEY WE HAD ABOUT 40 CHIEFS IN OUR BUILDING. THERE WERE CHIEFS, SENIOR CHIEFS AND MASTER CHIEFS! THAT SURE WAS A SITE TO SEE! WELL THE AWARD WINNERS WERE ANNOUNCED TONIGHT AND UNFORTUNATELY ID DIDN'T MAKE IT. I WILL SAY I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED SINCE I WORKED SO HARD TAKING CARE OF MY SHIPMATES. UNFORTUNATELY, MY MILITARY BEARING ISN'T AS STRONG AS IT SHOULD BE. I GUESS I DON'T WORK TOO WELL UNDER PRESSURE. I DEFINITELY SEE HOW THE INDIVIDUALS WHOM WORK THE HARDEST AND ARE NOT IN THE LIMELIGHT NEVER GET THE PUBLIC RECOGNITION. I THINK IT'S JUST A WRITTEN RULE. I WILL SAY THAT I'M HAPPY THAT I EVEN GOT THE RESPECT FROM MY SHIPMATES. THE TWO CARDS I RECEIVED MEAN MORE THAN ANY SHOWY AWARDS. BUT GOD ONLY KNOWS HOW GREAT IT WOULD HAVE FELT TO BE RECOGNIZED IN FRONT OF MY DIVISION. OH WELL. AT LEAST I KNOW I HAVE THE RESPECT OF MY SHIPMATES. WELL, IT'S BEEN A LONG 2 WEEKS. THIS DIARY IS COMING TO A CLOSE AS I SWITCH BACK INTO MY NORMAL LIFE AGAIN. I HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH ABOUT MYSELF AND OTHERS. ONE THING I HAVE LEARNED IS THAT MY TRUE TALENT IN THE NAVY IS BEING A DEDICATED AND COMMITTED SAILOR. ALL I SHOWED THESE PAST 2 WEEKS IS MY ABILITY TO HELP OTHERS WHEN THEY NEEDED IT. THERE MAY BE NO AWARD THAT I'LL BE ABLE TO CLAIM OR EARN FOR THIS, BUT I WILL KNOW IN MY HEART THAT IT WAS WORTH IT!! ANCHORS AWEIGH!!

Finished and want to read more experiences on Boot Camp? Here's another Journal written by one of my Shipmates in Division 817. Check out IT3 Moses' Journal Page!

THIS DIARY HAS BEEN VIEWED TIMES!