WHILE THE MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST CADETS ARE WRITING DAILY NOTES FOR THIS PAGE, THEY ARE ALSO INVOLVED IN MANY OTHER PROJECTS, SO PLEASE DO NOT EXPECT THIS TO BE UPDATED EVERY SINGLE DAY.
* Scuttlebutt: Water for immediate consumption on a sailing ship was conventionally stored in a scuttled butt: a butt (cask or small barrel) which had been scuttled by making a hole in it so the water could be withdrawn. Since sailors exchanged gossip when they gathered at the scuttlebutt for a drink of water, scuttlebutt became Navy slang for gossip or rumours. (from Wikipedia). Day 1 (July 4): Upon arrival at Camp Roberts, cadets said their last good bye to their parents as they gathered their gear. For many parents, it was a tearful good bye to see their sons and daughters leaving for a two-week training. The cadets were met by USN Midshipman Steggink, along with three active duty sailors, who serve as Recruit Division Commanders, and who are in charge of training each company of about 34 recruits. They were told many different things, but the most important lesson they learned is military bearing. While not as intense as many people remember from their own actual military training, the cadets were still “greeted” by some surprising comments as they were seen to be looking around when supposed to be at attention. “Am I pretty?” and “Why are you laughing, am I funny?” were some of the comments heard by these brand new recruits. After learning a bit of military bearing, cadets filed into the admin building to be given their company assignment, have their records checked, and their sea bag dumped and inspected. After all this, cadets received a training T- shirt, a cap, and their knowledge, which is the notebook cadets will use to take notes. Once all cadets arrived, and had their first introduction to standing in line and then eating silently in the chow hall, they marched to the classroom building for an orientation briefing. After this, the cadet companies marched back to the barracks area, finished setting up their “racks,” and settled in for lights-out at 2100 (9:00 pm for civilians). Day 2 (July 5): The second day of
* = For those who may need understanding “our” talk.
Rack = Bed
PT = Physical Training
Grinder =Anywhere where you can march
Barracks = Consider it an one star hotel (they wish)
Parade Rest = A cross between attention and at ease, no moving or talking is allowed
Day 3 (July 6): Have you ever been woken up by a shrill wistle blast and a Petty Oficcer Second Class yelling at the top of his voice? This morning (July 6th) the recruits at Camp Roberts got to live through that heart stopping experience at five thirty. In ten minutes, they were formed up in their companies conducting another day of morning PT (Physical Training). however, soon got their hearts pumping strong enough to last them through a long day of learning. The overcast sky blocked the rising sun, keeping it cool for the morning activities. Much to everyone’s disappointment, the coverage broke up later in the morning, and the day turned hot again. At 0800 (eight o’clock) the staff and recruits formed up for morning colors. Several of the companies continued the more intense PT, to make up for time missed the day before, while other companies went directly to their baracks and started cleaning and learning how to care for their uniforms. Once more, after their hard work, they marched to the chow hall. During class time the retired Senior Chief taught them about classifying and fighting fires, and other similar shipboard activities. To finish the day the recruits had a delicious, but quick, dinner of beef, potatos, salad and buiscuts. They have shown no sings of dicouragement and should carry on strong tomorrow.
Day 4 (July 7): The recruits were woken up when their RDCs went to their barracks yelling revile. The recruits didn’t get much time to change into their uniform of the day because of the full list on the agenda. First the recruits had an hour-long session of “fun” PT. After changing out of PT gear and into utilities, they lined up for eggs and French toast, made by our finest chefs. Next on the POD (plan of the day) was muster for morning colors. Every company had their guidon out to receive “meatballs,” which are awarded for varying categories, and are counted in the point total toward Honor Company at the end of training. After this, the recruits went back to the barracks to get their dress whites ready for inspection and have their pictures taken by the cadets of the Mass Communication Specialist training. Each recruit had an individual picture and a company photo (only the company pictures will be posted on the website; after the MCS cadets learn some more editing skills).
Finishing with their pictures early, the recruits went back to their barracks to clean and straighten up their racks. After successfully completing their cleaning tasks, they again went to chow, then marched to the classroom to learn about ships and aircraft. With few breaks in between, several topics were taught during the classes. Next on the POD was evening chow followed by advanced marching. Marching was interesting for people to watch because the recruits were learning “flanks” and “to the rears”, which are facing movements that recruits in ranks turn at the same time as one. They are not complex moves but are fun to show off with. They then went to their barracks, took showers, and went to sleep to prepare for another day. Day 5 (July 8): Today recruits had some fun at morning colors by performing different skits, and Echo won the esprit de corps meatball, which is a banner placed on the company’s guide-on (flag). This meatball is awarded for the most spirited company. After morning colors, recruits marched around the barracks learning different maneuvers. After marching, recruits filed into the classroom for a morning of first aid instruction, and review for a quiz. After mid day chow, the recruits took a quiz to check on their academic progress. More courses followed soon after, with subjects including rank and recognition, and customs and courtesies. The recruits took a break to eat chow then soon marched back to the classroom to learn about harassment, fraternization and drug abuse prevention. After recruits crammed their heads with knowledge, it was lights out for the recruits, and another day of RTC was “in the books.” Day 6 (July 9): “Reveille, Reveille, Reveille, get up out of your racks!” Recruits were woken up again at 0530 by their company commanders (CC’s) shouting at them to move for some stretching, push-ups and sit-ups. Following the exercises, they went for a run to help motivate them, with the recruit division commanders (RDC’s) shouting out different cadences. Each company’s PT was different, but they all were definitely woken-up for another day of learning at RTC. After the recruits changed into dungarees, they ate breakfast then marched to colors. After dismissal, CC’s marched their recruits to the classroom to take notes on military drilling, knots and splices, and some seamanship. After chow, recruits took another quiz, then another class, which was on the core Navy values. By the time evening chow came, the recruits were tired and hungry. Most recruits and staff were surprised when they saw an unfamiliar face at chow. The recruits soon realized it was not an unfamiliar face they were seeing, but in fact was a face they had seen everyday for five days. U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd class Maller wore his dungarees to play a joke on the other RDC’s, and to see if the recruits would notice someone out of place. More classes followed chow and then the CC’s had some company time before lights out.
Day 7 (July10): It was finally time, the halfway point between the beginning and ending of boot camp. The recruits began the day to what they have discovered, to be the usual routine; wake up early, do P.T. eat chow, then go to colors, and onto classes. However, today was going to be much more different. At roughly 10 a.m., the recruits formed up in their companies on the grinder, with all four companies making up the entire battalion. Laying on the ground, and splitting the battalion in half, was a long piece of ship mooring line. It was time for some company competition, with a morning of tug-a-war. All four companies competed in a round-robin competition, until at last it came down to Echo Company coming out the best at this. Echo then challenged the cadet and Navy staff to a competition, and won. The other cadet companies cheered them on as they pulled against the staff with all they had to come out victorious. The training commander then gave the cadets a short break for some long awaited, but not anticipated, social time. Many cadets from the same home units, and even some siblings, were finally able to talk to one another, at least for a brief time. It wasn’t long before the companies formed up to head towards chow. After a delicious meal, the recruits prepared to march down the road toward an afternoon full of classes. Today the schedule was full of hands-on classes, including semaphore, which is using communication using flags. In this class, all of the recruits partnered up and practiced spelling his or her partners’ name as well as their own. During this, other cadets were receiving some hands-on instruction in first aid, including three different forms of carrying injured victims, and learning how to help a choking victim. From there, they moved to the Camp Roberts Historical Museum, where recruits learned of Camp Roberts historical past and also got to see some very interesting artifacts. Finally, as a last minute treat, the Army National Guard brought out some humvees to show the recruits. The soldiers, all military police, talked to the cadets, let them wear their gear, and even allowed them to crawl around in their vehicles. After all of today’s excitement, the recruits marched back to the chow hall to eat before showering and going to bed.
Day 8 (July 11): The recruits started this day much earlier, being woken at four in the morning for a short two and a half mile run. After changing to dungarees and eating chow, the recruits attended morning colors where each company had a little skit for the continuing battle for the daily meatball battle. The companies were awarded their meatballs and went back to the barracks for CC time. During CC time the recruits and staff had a chance to attend a morning church service. The next thing on the plan of the day was chow and a knot tying class. The recruits marched down to the gym for a few hours of classes and practice. The knots that are needed to be learned are those basic ones in the Navy’s Basic Military Requirements, or BMR. After the recruits were done, they walked down to the grinder (the parking lot) to learn and practice more marching skills. The last things for the recruits were eating chow and having more CC time until lights out at nine. Day 9 (July 12): The recruits began their day in the usual manner, with PT and a motivational talk with their CC’s. After chow the recruits enhanced their skills in marching and military drill. Taking a break from their physical obligations, LCDR Littrell talked to the battalion about NSCC advancements, future advanced training opportunities, and what the Navy can offer. After two hours of class time the recruits had chow followed by a quiz based on information from the BMR. Instr. Brown then taught classes on Ship Familiarization, Ships Communication, and Visual Signals. After a long day of learning the recruits had a delirious evening chow. Just as they were about to settle in for the night, the recruits were interrupted by the call of “fire” and had to evacuate in a rapid, but orderly manner. The recruits made good time in exiting their barracks and no one was left behind. Then it was lights out. Unfortunately the Mass Communication Specialist cadets were not there to witness the events unfold. They had left camp Roberts directly after morning chow for Monterey. There they met the Executive Office, who is also the Public Affairs Officer at the station. After this, and a great lunch in the station’s galley, the cadets left for NPS (Naval Post Graduate School) to learn a few tricks and techniques from the real Navy Mass Comm Specialists themselves. The highlight of the day was getting to sit and talk to Captain Wynn, a former Sea Cadet, and now the Dean of Students at the University. The talk was followed by a photo shoot with her on the front steps of the school. The Cadets then left for Fisherman’s Warf for a photo project, and some much appreciated time on the beach. This all made for a very long day, with the cadets arriving back to Camp Roberts past the official “lights out” time, but none of them were complaining as they hit their racks. The only regret was having to leave the cool of the Monterey coast, for the heat and dust environment back at “Camp Bob.”
Day 10 (July 13): Today started as a usual morning with the recruits waking up at 0530 and getting dressed for PT. Following PT, they had a talk with their CC’s, then had a great morning chow. Then all companies formed up for morning colors, with each day more companies leading more interesting skits and chants. They then spent their morning marching and learning about Naval history, as well as the Code of Conduct. The recruits had chow at 1200 and took a quiz right after. They then had an afternoon of classes about navy ships and aircraft. After evening chow the RDC’s and CC’s had more time to spend with their recruits to work on marching, studying, and other learning needs of their companies. Lights out marked another day of RTC.
Day 11 (July 14): Another early morning for the recruits at Camp Roberts, they were woken up at 0530 to get into PT gear to record the scores of their improvement in various PT related skills. All the recruits participated and motivated each other to get it done. The strong smell of bacon had the recruits speeding their marching pace toward the chow hall for a delicious breakfast. An unexpected turn happened at morning colors, as there were no meatballs given out, and no morning performances were allowed. At this point in their training, the recruits had been making very good progress as a group, but a number of them had a major slip in their behavior, leading to a loss of privileges for all of them. Hopefully they will all learn from this experience. After morning colors, the recruits went to their classroom (the base chapel, one of the few relatively cool buildings available to them). There they were met by a group of Marines, who came to instruct them in land navigation. There was a course set up in the fields behind the chapel and the recruits were given a starting point and a series of compass bearings to find their way through a series of predetermined points. Both the Marines and the recruits seemed to enjoy the class. Before long, it was chow time again, and they enjoyed a chicken-bacon cheese burger with some chips and other sides. After chow came a tradition for the days toward the end of training. It was time for the Damage Control Olympics, where cadets rotate between stations to practice some of the skills taught to them since arriving here at Camp Roberts. These stations included some timed events such as rack (bed) making, and others involving skills such as knot tying and throwing mooring lines. They also had to demonstrate proper reporting to an officer, and work as teams to come up with a way to transport loose bottles on a board, with just a few ropes, and not being allowed to hold the board to carry it. Things were going well, until the temperature really started heating up, hitting about 105 degrees. With a Black Flag condition being declared, all outdoor physical training was stopped and the recruits headed for the shade of the barracks. The remainder of the day and night was left up to the CC’s to work on the individual training needs of each company. Just a few more days to go! Day 12 (July 15): As the end of training draws near, the recruits are anxious for graduation, but still are being reminded not to relax and blow it. After days of studying, classes and a series of quizzes, recruits took the final written exam. The recruits took a sigh of relief after the testing was done, but that didn’t mean they could sleep and relax. The CC’s marched the recruits to the grinder for some final practice of their take twos. Take twos are when each company gets two minutes at graduation to show off to their family what they learned about marching during the two weeks at Camp Roberts. They could not march long though, because the temperature reached almost 107 degrees. Worried about the heat, the CC’s took their companies to the barracks for some company time. While in the barracks, recruits practiced different skits teasing their fellow recruits and all the staff. This was all for the Gong Show on Friday afternoon. The Gong Show is a comedy show put on by recruits and is way for them to release some stress. THE FINAL PORT CALL ! As tomorrow's Plan of the Day has the cadets spending their day cleaning the barracks and their uniforms, and completing other preparations for graduation and departure from the base, this will be our last installment of the Scuttlebutt. The Mass Communication Specialist staff will be finishing up our projects, and packing up their computers and printers. We thank you for following along with this voyage, and remind you that there will be more pictures posted in the coming weeks. After all of the pictures are reviewed and sorted, DVD's will be burned and passed out to all cadets and staff. For all units in Region 12, these will likely be given to the unit CO's at Pass in Review in September. They will be mailed as groups to other units, or individuals. ALL ASHORE THAT'S GOING ASHORE!