HELL WEEK!!!! - Recovery, Inspections, and Test

This was the worst week of OCS yet, and as I write this it still isn't over.

It all started with a nice weekend when we got back from the field. That weekend was the result of us doing the initial recovery in a quick and efficient manner. If you haven't figured out already, the initial recovery was about all that went well. Because, to ruin a perfectly good weekend, you have Monday.

We reported in at 0900 on Monday probably given to us on account of the Super Bowl (a very disappointing game, by the way.) We had a few briefings before we found ourselves in the push up position being yelled at for being complacent. Apparently the barracks were a mess. I find that hard to believe considering all of us were in cleaning mode all weekend and the student leadership had inspected. (More on the student leadership later.) With that, our "walking to chow" privileges as well as our off barracks privileges were revoked for tonight. We spent it cleaning TA-50 gear and cleaning our weapons - well into the dark of night.

Now, to further complicate the week, the second History test was on for Friday. Normally, this wouldn't be a huge deal but with a huge recovery inspection on Thursday as well as a room and wall locker inspection, study time was in horribly short supply. Not only that, but many people needed facilities outside the confines of the barracks in order to properly clean their Class A's and TA50 gear. We lost our off barracks privileges on Monday and it would continue into Tuesday. Now, we get to Tuesday. First Sergeant yanked our privileges making us clean stuff all night. Apparently, on Tuesday, the barracks were still a mess. I guess that may have been correct, in a parallel universe or something, but with all the crap we had been taking I assure you that they were gleaming. Many people believed the cadre were playing a game or something to tighten the leash a little to remind us we weren't done yet. I sort of agree. It also didn't help that 8 people went to sick call on Tuesday when we had Monday morning off for them to do it. That would make me mad too, I think. Oh yeah, and the 1 mile run to the track where we do PT. Many people fell out of that little run. At this point, I was wondering if I'd ever get off post.

Sleep, like time, was almost non existent this week. I got a full night's sleep on Monday, I think. Otherwise I was up most of the night every night this week. The only real night I got to study for the test was Thursday after the inspection. I won't talk much about the inspection. Like all others, it didn't take long. Preparing for it was much more painful than the inspection itself. But, alas, the weapons were apparently really bad. No weekend for us.

Now, this week wouldn't have been nearly as bad if it weren't for the collective failures on the part of the student leadership. Each one of them are very good people. I like them all. But something went horribly wrong this week. First off, as we cleaned weapons and believed they were clean, the cadre inspections indicated the contrary. The student leadership's response was that everyone must go back down and clean their weapon. Usually, after a recovery in a real unit, you clean your weapons and the armorer inspects them. The weapons that are clean start to go in a separate pile. Then those who cleaned the first weapons help to clean the remaining weapons. Usually, in one day's time, you have all of the company's weapons clean and ready. Here, there was just an angry directive to "clean weapons." Nobody in leadership set up a cleaning plan, nobody used their heads and asked the cadre what the problems they were seeing were, nobody set up weapons inspectors, nothing. What's worse? Every time the prior service offered advice, the current leadership (student CO) waved his hand at them and just sent them away not listening. I don't blame the college options folks in leadership positions to lack experience in this stuff, but I do blame them when they make no effort to listen to a better and viable plan. So, no surprise, weapons didn't get cleaned in time. This same leadership took on a "blue falcon" approach to their operations as well. Many of us overheard the student CO telling the cadre that we deserved to have our senior privileges stripped. Well, that's what happened this week. But that moment took away any ability the leadership had to get full support from their soldiers. It's like in the real army, when you screw your soldiers over and give them the idea that you won't take care of them, you lose their support. Oh yes, they'll do what you say, but they won't give you that little bit extra. And that little bit extra determines a failed mission or a successful one. The student leadership this week was constantly frustrated that they couldn't get that little bit extra from us this week. Their blue falcon ways were why. So, they continued their yelling and screaming all week, but they constantly tried to turn people into cadre. They also refused to release a schedule this week. Try going to a unit and not posting a T to T+6 training schedule and see what happens. Then they didn't release an inspection SOP until Wednesday, the day before the inspection!!!! That also was unacceptable. I am looking forward to the leadership change on Sunday.

Meanwhile, I sit here preparing for a formation on Saturday to spend 6 hours cleaning weapons and cleaning barracks. If we're lucky we might get released at 5 or so. When that happens, I'm going to get a very large alcoholic beverage. I'm also looking forward to finally calling my wife, who I haven't talked to in days because of the hellish fiasco that became this week. On a happy note, I did pass my history test.

Next week - week 11 - The PT test is really all we have left and that will be on Monday morning. I have no idea what we have to do after that. I guess it's another week where they can mess with us, but we shall see. Until next time....

SOC Sharp.