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.