Gas Chamber

Here is Heather's Gas chamber experience:

"It totally and completely sucked. I'm so happy that I'll never have to do it again.
We got our makss the day before, and made sure that they fit and all that.... Then on Monday, when my platoon got all lined up to go in, I started getting really really anxious. I was next to one of the Mormon guys, Tobiassen. Anyways, when we put our masks on and sealed them, I started crying. Not tearing up, or my eyes getting watery-I started crying. Really hard. Tobiassen kept telling me I'd by okay, but I just kept crying. Thank goodness there were no drill sergeants around. One sergeant walked past me, read my name tape and said, 'You're scared as hell ain't you Howard?' 'Yes Sergeant!' (I had to scream 'cause those masks really muffle your voice. He said, "You'll be alright.' But I still kept crying.

It was dark in the gas chamber, they didn't have any of the lights on. All our light came from the door we walked in through. Almost immediately all our necks started burning. At first, it felt a little bit like a sunburn that you accidently put astringent on. Then it started burning really bad, and stinging like crazy!! The drill sergeants came past us one at a time and made us say our full name, rank and full SS #. I forgot to take a breath before I unsealed my mask though. So, I got a big breath full of tear gas and still had to sound off. Oh yeah, I was the first one to go too. Then I resealed my mask. After everyone else went (about 1/2 my platoon was there with me), we had to take our masks off the whole way. All the way off, open our eyes and say the soldiers creed. I got up to 'I will never leave a fallen comrade', then I started coughing too hard. When they let us out, we booked it out of there! I remember leaning on a yellow handrail after I escaped. Everything burned so dang much- except my eyes, but I think that's just because I'd been crying so much. Then we had to flap our arms(to air out our ACUs) and walk back down the hill. I had snot hanging down at least a foot and spit too. I kept coughing and there wasn't anything we could do. Then I dry-heaved like I've never done before. I'm surprised stuff didn't go flying. Two days later (Wednesday), my neck, face and hands itch really bad. I think it's cause we didn't get to shower for the rest of the day, so that gas was left on me.

Basic Training

Hello all associates and family of Heather The Mighty, this is Amber (Heathers friend). Heather asked me to update her blog for her while she was in Basic training and I was happy to oblige. I'm sorry it has taken me so long to post them. If you would like Heathers address, so you can send her uplifting letters, you can contact her mom or me at: ber602@yahoo.com. You can also leave a comment here and I will get it to you. here is Heathers first update from basic training:

Basic Training. It Sucks. I hate it here.

First day, all the drill sergeants in my platoon and for the platoon that I sleep in learned my friggen name the first day! It wasn't even my fault, it was because my laundry bag ((which has my name and last 4 digits of my ssn) got taken during the first shark attack. So my drill sergeants knew who i was right off. Then, because I wasn't in my sleeping bay all day long, I didn't know that my bag had been returned. So we all got smoked. Then I had to empty out everything I had including the assault pack that I just barely got issued. Then I had to pack it all back up in 30 seconds (I had to get two other people to help me) and it had taken me almost this whole week to get my locker in order.

The highlights of basic so far...uhm...I got to do laundry today (this was from Sunday the 15 of August) and I got to go to church!!! I slept through half of sacrament, its ok though I woke up in time to say the closing prayer. Thats it. All the high points. Oh! wait! We did victory tower this week. That was pretty fun.

3...2...1... !!!

Countdown: 2 days!

I'm freaking out a little! But it's ok. I'll be fine.

Kino Staff 2010; I will miss you all a ton! It makes me sad thinking about not being back next summer. Stay awesome!

Everybody else; I will miss you too. But I'll be back at Christmas if you still love me enough to hang out!

aaa!

8 days to go!! Not counting tonight.

Injury Update

A girl who works at Carson with me is a trainer during the school year. She taught me how to tape up my arches so that I can run without my shin splints getting worse. I don't have issues with shin splints anymore now. Since then, I had an accident at Kino, a little more than a week ago. I pulled a cart over the back of my foot, and was barely able to catch myself to keep from passing out. EMS had to be called, and Dad had to drive me to the hospital. On the drive there, I went into shock and had what I guess was a seizure. It was scary, and totally freaked me out. I couldn't work for a few days after that.

PT test

Tuesday was the first PT test that I actually went to. There are two tests you can do, the 1-1-1 and the 2-2-2. I did the 1-1-1. It's 1 minute of push-ups, 1 minute of sit-ups, and a one mile run. I have to be able to do 3 push-ups, 17 sit-ups, and the mile in under 10:30. I did 20 push-ups, 23 sit-ups, and the mile in 10:25. Yay!

And then my shin-splints that been growing more painful became terrible. After I taught lessons I raced our manager to see who would swim at Lifeguard Olympics, then my leg hurt even more! When I went and worked at Carson a few minutes later, I almost cried during the whole shift. I talked to a trainer, and now worry that my leg will break in the near future. Or that it already has an incomplete stress fracture. I'm choosing to believe that it hasn't fractured yet.

PT=physical training

After the first one a few weeks ago, my legs were so sore I could hardly walk for almost a week. The next week we ran. A lot. it was exhausting, but that's it.

I don't remember the next couple, I wasn't there for at least one.

This week, we started doing it in the mornings so that we won't pass out and have to call EMS. We ran. Significantly more than the last time I ran. I learned never to eat within two hours of running for that long. I also decided that I need to learn to throw up on command before I leave for Basic. And I believe that I may have injured my right I.T. Band, as it hurts.

hmm

At Future Soldier on Thursday, we learned first aid. SFC Soroka taught, even though it was SSG Meadows' turn. I knew pretty much everything already. About halfway through, Soroka finally said, "Female, stop answering!" It was funny.

Also, two soldiers who just finished AIT were there. They went to Basic at different times I think, but they went to the same place. Not Ft. Jackson so I don't remember where. We asked them some questions, my feelings on Basic still haven't changed. I must keep everything internal; pain, amusement, self-pity, stupid questions, manners, laughter... the works. At least in front of the Drill Sergeants.

The one thing that surprised me was that the Drill Sergeants will hit you if you give them a reason. The girl who was there said that she never saw anyone get hit, but every once in a while the Sergeants would take a kid in their office and you could hear it as you walked past. The guy said that he only ever saw one person get hit. She fired a round into the ground next to the Drill Sergeant's foot by accident. He kicked her in the shoulder/chest, and broke her clavicle and three ribs. She had to be sent home.

After our little question session, Soroka asked if anyone was terrified to go. One of the infantry boys raised his hand. Soroka: "You're all liars! I know every one of you is f***ing freaked!" Really though, I'm not. I'm still pretty stoked, the only difference is that the novelty of the idea is beginning to wear off. And the whole waiting for summer to end thing is already old. That's really all that's changed.

FST

Future Soldier Training. There are online classes, PT days, and office classes. Running in PT basically sucks, but I got new, better shoes and survived the first couple PT days, so things should get better from here. The online classes are fast and pretty easy. The best part is that you can go back to re-learn the fragments that get forgotten. Office days are pretty chill. If you do something wrong, you usually have to do push ups. If you do something right, you sometimes get some small reward hurled at your head (I get mocked for my lack of catching abilities). Yesterday was the board test. It was 15 questions on the stuff we've been learning on office days. If I did the best, I get to be the Future Soldier of the Month and get a plaque. Plus it can help me get promoted. I want it. All of it. Especially the promotion. I want to be a PV2 before I leave.

DLAB

I forgot to post my DLAB results. I got a 113, so I'm pretty happy. Martinez texted me the results along with "Good job crazy." I still don't know what language I'm going to learn though. I guess I'll find out when I get to Monterey. I'm excited!

Again, more Army

Today I went back down to MEPS to take the DLAB. It wasn't too bad. I'm slightly afraid though... Tomorrow I'll find out how I did. Fingers crossed for a 105 or better!!!

Enlisted

Today was long, but it may be one of best days of whole, entire life!!! Seriously! During the oath my legs were shaking cause I was so excited!! I'm actually in the army now!!! =D

So friggin HAPPY!!!

I took the oath at 2, and my dad was there and Amber and Martinez were there. I got my contract all written out, swore in, went to my liaison office, got a backpack, copy of my contract, some books and a couple stickers, and then I went home!

I'm so happy!!

I have a bruise from the HIV test (getting blood drawn).

Check it!!

MEPS

4:00 am, wake up, eat one bowl of cheerios, get ready to go. Make sure I have my ID and Social Security card.

4:50 am, Martinez calls to tell me she's outside.

5:17 am, park outside the MEPS office, get out of the car really fast to get inside before all the people who are shipping out.

5:40 am, get a plasticky sticker tag that has my name on it, a bar code, which branch I'm there for, and what I'm supposed to be doing today, stick it over my heart and leave it there. Wait with Martinez until the cranky security guy let's me go upstairs.

5:50 am, Martinez leaves and I ride the elevator up. Put my little backpack in a closet, turn off my phone and wait.

6:30 am, get a packet that's supposed to have all my medical info in it. It doesn't. Go the Army liaison office, get the huge stack of paperwork that my physical therapist faxed Martinez. Go get my picture and fingerprints taken. Go back to the liaison office and sign some stuff while they watch, leave my phone with them. Go downstairs to floor 5, sign another thing while the testing people watch. Go, sit, wait.

Get my vision tested.

9:45 am, Go with a bunch of other girls and wait to do the urine test. One of the chaperone lady people changes her mind and sends half of us to get our blood drawn instead. This was upsetting, cause I really had to pee!

Watch my blood get drawn. Finally get to go to the bathroom! Interestingly enough, having someone watch you pee isn't that freaky. Wait some more, then get my hearing checked.

Wait. Talk to the doctor, who is very rude. And old.

Go into a room with a bunch of other girls, strip to my underwear and bra. Get measured and weighed. Put my socks and shirt back on. Get told we all have to strip back down to our bras and underwear. Do a bunch of exercises while a female sergeant and the rude doctor watch to see if we can't do them, or if our joints dislocate.

Get told to strip all the way down, and put on those papery hospital gowns. I go first while all the other girls wait. Go in, sit. Get ears, eyes and throat checked. Get heart and lungs checked. Get my tummy squished. Then, a really (and I mean really) FAST breast and pelvic exam. Surprisingly, not awkward. To my surprise (and then later to Sergeant Allen's) I passed!

Get dressed while another girl goes. Grab my paperwork, and go to the bathroom again. Put my paperwork on the front desk and wait to be told I can go.

11:33 am, they tell me I'm totally qualified and tell me to take my papers upstairs to the army liaison office.

11:46 am, Get to the liaison office upstairs and give them my paperwork, they give me a copy, and I get my phone back. Go check out (via my fingerprints! so cool) and get my backpack.

11:51 am, walk to the cafeteria for lunch and call Martinez to tell her I'm done. She says that Meadows is waiting for me downstairs. Nevermind lunch!

Meadows makes fun of me cause I can't stop smiling. So happy to have passed the physical!!!

Drive around to pick up one of Meadows' recruits, and drop off a different one. Start getting sick in Meadows' car. I forgot that that happens if I don't eat frequently enough.

12:20 pm, I have not eaten in 9 hours and feel so crappy! I dump my stuff on Martinez' desk and go upstairs to get some food(it's the mall so I didn't have to go far). Go downstairs and eat while I talk to Martinez and the station commander Allen. Martinez eventually goes upstairs to get her lunch and leaves me with Allen.

1:54 pm, I realize that Martinez had called me four times and I never felt my phone go off. We talk about job stuff, because that's really all that I have left before actually signing a contract.

2:44 pm, Martinez drops me off at home. She's pretty cool. I like her.

3:47 pm, I'm posting this very long blog entry.

more army

My physical got cancelled for tomorrow. The job i want wasn't available when we called the ROC office, so Martinez is just having me wait. In the meantime I have filled out more paperwork. So now I have to decide if I want to wait for that job, or choose a different job and a shorter contract. If I do it that way I can try for the job I want again at the end of my contract. It is now a conflicted sort of waiting game...

More army stuff

Yesterday I talked to Martinez again, she's taking me to do my hardcore army physical in Phoenix next Friday. Also, on Monday she's giving me some more paperwork to do, I think it's background check stuff.

After I do my physical, I'll have to go into the office again the Monday after, fill out more paperwork, and call the ROC office. If my job is available right then, then I'll be pretty much set to go swear in!

recruiting

so. today i got my medical paperwork for the army. then i filled out preliminary medical paperwork. and my recruiter called lauren a name. i laughed.

now i'm waiting for martinez to get back the results of my medical read. after that we'll call the ROC office so i can get my job. yay!!

new

Lookit! I have a blog now. Chances of frequent updates are small... but still! Woohoo!